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Mar
31
Tue
Sticks & Stones – Outdoor Play @ MERC
Mar 31 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

A Nature Play Group for Families

Drop in Tuesday mornings for FREE, fun, family friendly outdoor play!

(in The International Garden behind the MERC)

For children ages 0-6 and their caregivers.

Snack provided.

For more info contact outdoorplay@communities4families.ca

Jun
26
Fri
Virtual Annual General Meeting
Jun 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Our AGM this year will be held virtually.  Please click here or complete the form below to RSVP. We’ll send you the Zoom invitation a few days ahead. See you there!

No Fields Found.
Dec
3
Thu
Bookmates’ “LEARNING AS WE GO”: Literacy strategies to support young children during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dec 3 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Connect via Zoom
Thursday, December 3, 2020
9:30 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.

Learning As We Go Poster DEC2020

Register 

Jan
26
Tue
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom
Jan 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom

You are invited to come and learn how to lead this exciting parent/child program virtually.

Wiggle, Giggle & Munch offers families with young children a time to develop skills and have fun together through active play and a healthy snack.

Along with learning how to run this program virtually, we will have a special focus on outdoor winter activities during this training to allow us to get the most out of outdoor play during this pandemic.

You will receive the Wiggle, Giggle & Munch handbook and learn:

  • how to lead a Wiggle, Giggle & Munch program
  • why it is important for toddlers/preschoolers to be active
  • how to encourage parents to play with their toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to promote healthy eating for toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to encourage healthy outdoor play during winter

This training is free of charge and especially for those who live in or serve members of the downtown area.  Others, outside of the downtown will be considered if there is space.

This event is limited to 12 participants. Priority will be given to individuals and groups from the downtown area.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.
Jan
27
Wed
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom
Jan 27 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom

You are invited to come and learn how to lead this exciting parent/child program virtually.

Wiggle, Giggle & Munch offers families with young children a time to develop skills and have fun together through active play and a healthy snack.

Along with learning how to run this program virtually, we will have a special focus on outdoor winter activities during this training to allow us to get the most out of outdoor play during this pandemic.

You will receive the Wiggle, Giggle & Munch handbook and learn:

  • how to lead a Wiggle, Giggle & Munch program
  • why it is important for toddlers/preschoolers to be active
  • how to encourage parents to play with their toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to promote healthy eating for toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to encourage healthy outdoor play during winter

This training is free of charge and especially for those who live in or serve members of the downtown area.  Others, outside of the downtown will be considered if there is space.

This event is limited to 12 participants. Priority will be given to individuals and groups from the downtown area.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.
Jan
28
Thu
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom
Jan 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom

You are invited to come and learn how to lead this exciting parent/child program virtually.

Wiggle, Giggle & Munch offers families with young children a time to develop skills and have fun together through active play and a healthy snack.

Along with learning how to run this program virtually, we will have a special focus on outdoor winter activities during this training to allow us to get the most out of outdoor play during this pandemic.

You will receive the Wiggle, Giggle & Munch handbook and learn:

  • how to lead a Wiggle, Giggle & Munch program
  • why it is important for toddlers/preschoolers to be active
  • how to encourage parents to play with their toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to promote healthy eating for toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to encourage healthy outdoor play during winter

This training is free of charge and especially for those who live in or serve members of the downtown area.  Others, outside of the downtown will be considered if there is space.

This event is limited to 12 participants. Priority will be given to individuals and groups from the downtown area.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.
Jan
29
Fri
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom
Jan 29 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Virtual WGM workshop @ Zoom

You are invited to come and learn how to lead this exciting parent/child program virtually.

Wiggle, Giggle & Munch offers families with young children a time to develop skills and have fun together through active play and a healthy snack.

Along with learning how to run this program virtually, we will have a special focus on outdoor winter activities during this training to allow us to get the most out of outdoor play during this pandemic.

You will receive the Wiggle, Giggle & Munch handbook and learn:

  • how to lead a Wiggle, Giggle & Munch program
  • why it is important for toddlers/preschoolers to be active
  • how to encourage parents to play with their toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to promote healthy eating for toddlers/preschoolers
  • how to encourage healthy outdoor play during winter

This training is free of charge and especially for those who live in or serve members of the downtown area.  Others, outside of the downtown will be considered if there is space.

This event is limited to 12 participants. Priority will be given to individuals and groups from the downtown area.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.
Feb
1
Mon
Travelling the “Road of Life” with Resilience – a virtual workshop @ Zoom
Feb 1 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

A resilience promotion workshop from Reaching IN…Reaching OUT: Promoting Resilience in Young Children

Please note:

  • Priority will be given to agencies working with downtown families. Others will be added to a waitlist.
This workshop has reached its participant limit.
Feb
8
Mon
Travelling the “Road of Life” with Resilience – a virtual workshop @ Zoom
Feb 8 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

A resilience promotion workshop from Reaching IN…Reaching OUT: Promoting Resilience in Young Children

Please note:

  • Priority will be given to agencies working with downtown families. Others will be added to a waitlist.
This workshop has reached its participant limit.
Feb
23
Tue
Virtual Parent-Child Mother Goose training @ Zoom
Feb 23 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This training has reached its limit of participants.

Feb
24
Wed
Virtual Parent-Child Mother Goose training @ Zoom
Feb 24 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This training has reached its limit of participants.

Feb
25
Thu
Virtual Parent-Child Mother Goose training @ Zoom
Feb 25 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This training has reached its limit of participants.

Feb
26
Fri
Virtual Parent-Child Mother Goose training @ Zoom
Feb 26 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This training has reached its limit of participants.

Mar
23
Tue
Thriving Families and Communities: Tapping into Resiliency @ Zoom
Mar 23 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Mar
25
Thu
Thriving Families and Communities: Tapping into Resiliency @ Zoom
Mar 25 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Nov
30
Tue
Gentle Heroes: Men as Nurturing Caregivers @ zoom
Nov 30 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Gentle Heroes is a workshop in 3 parts.  It is offered free of charge to downtown agencies working with dads/male caregivers.

Men will develop their capacity to explore and share their own experiences of being around nurturing gentle heroes (grandfathers, elders, community leaders, teachers, fathers) using the senses to delve into these gentle stories.

Storytelling has been part of our cultures for millennia, as entertainment and as a way of sharing knowledge, building attachment, and empowerment. Stories help us reflect on and overcome our challenges and develop skills like empathy, gratitude, and more.

This workshop will develop and enhance our appreciation of diversity.  It will give participants an opportunity and method to communicate their “story”. This is made possible through speaking, listening, reading and writing, art, music, humour, and role-playing, providing a language-rich environment for children, essential for early literacy.  Honouring each family’s culture through storytelling encourages attachment and bonding by giving parents the opportunity to be a significant part of the literacy process as a storyteller.

Dates: Tuesday, November 30, Wednesday, December 1, Thursday, December 2

Time: 1:00-3:00pm

Location: Online via Zoom (participants will be emailed the login details after registering)

Cost: Free to Downtown agencies

 

The Workshop:

Part 1 – Sharing stories and storytelling about men as gentle heroes. 

Part 2 – Stories that develop storytelling skills in dads using folktales where they can gain the confidence of sharing stories with children while having fun and being goofy and active.

Part 3 – Men as gentle heroes connected to personal stories and storytelling.

 

Recommended Participants: 

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Child care centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

Register here

Dec
9
Thu
Let’s Play Outside! @ zoom
Dec 9 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am

What:

  • Explore the importance of outdoor play for early childhood development, and how to best support children in their outdoor experiences. This will include discussion topics such as child-led play, loose parts, and risky play.
  • Share our own experiences with delivering outdoor programming.
  • Share and explore ways to incorporate the outdoors in our programming – both in-person and virtual programs.
  • Have fun!

 Who:

Recommended participants include:

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Child care centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

Please note that this workshop is similar to the “Taking Wiggle, Giggle & Munch Outdoors” workshop presented in June 2021, so it may not be useful to those previous participants.

Maximum 12 participants

Register:

Jan
20
Thu
Wiggling, Giggling & Munching Through Storytelling workshop
Jan 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Jan
26
Wed
Tapping into Resiliency Through Storytelling (TRTS)
Jan 26 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Storytelling has been around for millennia, not only for entertainment but as a way of imparting education, connection, and empowerment. Stories help us reflect on and overcome our challenges and develop resiliency skills like empathy, diversity, gratitude, and many more. We wanted to discover ways of bringing resiliency and storytelling together, and there has never been a more critical time to do so. Throughout the pandemic, our resiliency has been put to the test. Communities 4 Families’ workshop helps participants reflect and explore the many ways to build on their resiliency skills through the lens of each oral story we share.

Date: Wednesday, January 26 and Friday, January 28

Time: 12:30-3:30pm

Location: Online via Zoom (participants will be emailed the login details after registering)

Registration: Register here

 

Recommended Participants: 

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Families and caregivers
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Child care centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

Topics: 

  • Benefits of Storytelling
  • Internal and External Resiliency
  • Community as a protective factor
  • Reflecting on personal and community agency

Quotes from workshop participants:

“Although I may read books to the children in my live, I don’t do much time doing oral storytelling. Yet as a child, many of my fondest memories with my parents are when they would tell me their own stories. Whether it be stories about their lives or ones that they imagined themselves. There is something very intimate about an oral story. The engagement between audience and storyteller is enhanced. I definitely want to do more storytelling.” 

“By using animals and specific themes, storytelling allows people to address systemic and cultural challenges without pointing blame at certain groups. This creates a pathway through difficult conversations and within this workshop it allowed us to reflect on personal and communal experiences where we have faced adversity and how to overcome it.” 

 

 

 

Jan
28
Fri
Tapping into Resiliency Through Storytelling (TRTS)
Jan 28 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Storytelling has been around for millennia, not only for entertainment but as a way of imparting education, connection, and empowerment. Stories help us reflect on and overcome our challenges and develop resiliency skills like empathy, diversity, gratitude, and many more. We wanted to discover ways of bringing resiliency and storytelling together, and there has never been a more critical time to do so. Throughout the pandemic, our resiliency has been put to the test. Communities 4 Families’ workshop helps participants reflect and explore the many ways to build on their resiliency skills through the lens of each oral story we share.

Date: Wednesday, January 26 and Friday, January 28

Time: 12:30-3:30pm

Location: Online via Zoom (participants will be emailed the login details after registering)

Registration: Register here

 

Recommended Participants: 

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Families and caregivers
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Child care centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

Topics: 

  • Benefits of Storytelling
  • Internal and External Resiliency
  • Community as a protective factor
  • Reflecting on personal and community agency

Quotes from workshop participants:

“Although I may read books to the children in my live, I don’t do much time doing oral storytelling. Yet as a child, many of my fondest memories with my parents are when they would tell me their own stories. Whether it be stories about their lives or ones that they imagined themselves. There is something very intimate about an oral story. The engagement between audience and storyteller is enhanced. I definitely want to do more storytelling.” 

“By using animals and specific themes, storytelling allows people to address systemic and cultural challenges without pointing blame at certain groups. This creates a pathway through difficult conversations and within this workshop it allowed us to reflect on personal and communal experiences where we have faced adversity and how to overcome it.” 

 

 

 

Feb
9
Wed
Gentle Heroes
Feb 9 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Gentle Heroes is a workshop offered free of charge to downtown agencies working with dads/male caregivers.

Storytelling has been part of our cultures for millennia, as entertainment and as a way of sharing knowledge, building attachment, and empowering community members. Stories help us reflect on and overcome our challenges, developing skills like empathy, gratitude, and more.

This workshop will also develop and enhance our appreciation of diversity.  It gives participants an opportunity and method to communicate their “story”. This is made possible through speaking, listening, reading and writing, art, music, humour, and role-playing, providing a language-rich environment for children, essential for early literacy.  Honouring each family’s culture through storytelling encourages attachment and bonding by giving parents the opportunity to be a significant part of the literacy process as a storyteller.

Recommended Participants: 

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Childcare centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

 

 

 

 

Feb
15
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Feb 15 @ 9:00 am – 11:30 am

NOTE:  For certification, you must complete ALL sessions.

 

RIRO offers evidence-based, resiliency skills training programmes to strengthen well-being and resilience in adults and children through role modeling and relationships.

Since 2002 RIRO has helped fuel resilience and support well-being in adults and young children under 8 years. RIRO teaches childcare and early learning staff and service providers the “3Rs of Resilience” – relaxation and reflection skills to help them respond instead of simply reacting to challenging situations.

 

RIRO 12-hour resiliency skills training programmes:

Teach adults resiliency skills to…

  • Reach IN to develop healthy ways to cope with stress and tough times
  • Reach OUT to find support and offer it to others

Show adults how to help children by…

  • developing caring relationships
  • being positive role models
  • passing along the resiliency skills to them.

Register here

Feb
22
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Feb 22 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mar
1
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Mar 1 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mar
8
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Mar 8 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mar
10
Thu
Gentle Heroes
Mar 10 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Gentle Heroes is a workshop offered free of charge to downtown agencies working with dads/male caregivers.

Storytelling has been part of our cultures for millennia, as entertainment and as a way of sharing knowledge, building attachment, and empowering community members. Stories help us reflect on and overcome our challenges, developing skills like empathy, gratitude, and more.

This workshop will also develop and enhance our appreciation of diversity.  It gives participants an opportunity and method to communicate their “story”. This is made possible through speaking, listening, reading and writing, art, music, humour, and role-playing, providing a language-rich environment for children, essential for early literacy.  Honouring each family’s culture through storytelling encourages attachment and bonding by giving parents the opportunity to be a significant part of the literacy process as a storyteller.

Recommended Participants: 

  • Community leaders and administrators
  • Family support practitioners
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Childcare centre administrators
  • Program leaders and facilitators

 

 

 

 

Mar
15
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Mar 15 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Mar
22
Tue
Reaching In Reaching Out workshop
Mar 22 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wiggle, Giggle & Munch Facilitator Training
Mar 22 @ 1:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Wiggle, Giggle & Munch Facilitator Training

Register here

Mar
23
Wed
Wiggle, Giggle & Munch Facilitator Training
Mar 23 @ 1:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Wiggle, Giggle & Munch Facilitator Training

Register here