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RDC
Inspiring learning
and nurturing hope
in every student.
403.343.1405 www.rdpsd.ab.ca
AT RED DEER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
We all want our kids to get off to a great start.
Some need a little extra help.
Learning through play, children aged 3 - 5 develop
social and communication skills.
creating brighter futures...
To learn more about pre-kindergarten
contact any Red Deer Public School
or phone 403.342.3703
www.rdpsd.ab.ca/Pre-Kindergarten
2 • Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 3
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cover stories
5
6
9
10
THE New Beginnings ISSUE
Baby Shoes: From Pain
to Joy
PUBLISHER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendy Mueller
[email protected]
2014: The Year of the
Better Parent
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/SALES DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine Reeve
780.974.5355
[email protected]
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerri Leland
[email protected]
2014
It Snowed. The Kids are
Home. Now What?!
Winter Olympics
Fun Facts
HAPPY NEW YEAR
DESIGN/LAYOUT/ADVERTISING DESIGN . . . . Ardis Baldwin/Allykat Graphics
PRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gryphon Publishing Inc.
PRINTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transcontinental Printing
OUR COMMITMENT
Red Deer’s Child is funded and published solely through the support of our advertisers
and sponsors. They support us, so please support them! With the support of our
advertisers, Red Deer’s Child is committed to sponsoring and supporting a variety of
organizations that help families in Red Deer and the surround communities.
If you would like information on advertising rates, or if you have some feedback, story
ideas or information for our calendar of events, we would like to hear from you!
Red Deer’s Child is published six times a year. You can find us at many
locations throughout Red Deer and the surrounding areas.
departments
4
Letter from the Editor
health matters
7
8
The opinions expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the
publisher. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the express written
permission of the publisher. Red Deer’s Child is not responsible for unsolicited materials.
community matters
11
Body Shaming’s Effect
on Women
12
New Moms and Dads
Need Feeding, Too
13
14
Experience Central
Alberta
REACH US AT
Red Deer’s Child
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780.484.3360
Email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]
Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.RedDeersChild.com
Mailing Address:
Suite 369, 9768 - 170 St. , Edmonton, AB., T5T 5L4
How to Start a
Babysitting Co-Op
Our Contributors
Help is Just a
Phone Call Away
The Marketplace
Jill Amery
Judy Arnall
ATCO Blue Flame
Kitchen
Stacey Hawley
Justin Hubert
Sara Kendall
Blythe Lipman
Beth Malcolm
Tammi Roy
R.N. Whitehead
Distribution
Red Deer’s Child Magazine is
available at a variety of
locations in Red Deer including
Wolf Creek Public Schools, libraries,
Co-op, Sobeys, Wal-Mart, Value Drug
Mart, Noah's Ark Playschool, A&Ws,
Red Deer College, Ricky’s All Day
Grill, Family Services, Greyhound
Bus Centre, Red Deer Recreation
Centre, Red Deer Regional Hospital
and Parkland Mall. Please go to
www.RedDeersChild.com for
more detailed information.
Looking for more of Red Deer’s Child Magazine?
Visit us at www.reddeerschild.com, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook!
COVER IMAGE
Lukas 9, Liam 7, and
Jenna 4.
Photo by Deanna Hall
Photography.
NEXT ISSUE: March/April will be our
“Health Break” issue. Deadline is
February 5, 2014; distribution is scheduled
to begin on February 28, 2014.
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 3
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 4
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Letter from the
editor:
ife has a beautiful way of renewing a fantastic lesson in goal-setting...one we
itself...whether through the changing truly should keep up with.
of the seasons, the start of a new week,
But you know what? I might actually have
or the Grand Poobah of new beginnings: New
to
take back what I said about New Year’s Day
Year’s Day.
being the Grand Poobah of new beginnings. I
New Year’s Day marks the first day of a mean there truly is no newer beginning than
fresh, unblemished year. There are 365 days the birth of a new baby. And at Gryphon
of potential awesomeness...365 days lay ahead Publishing, that’s why it made complete sense
where you will exercise, eat right, spend more to partner our New Beginnings theme with
time with your kids, and finally perfect that the idea of a Baby issue. While one family is
family budget. Well, at least that’s how you gearing up to welcome a new baby, another
family might be adding on to their own by
intend on spending the next year!
creating a blended family. While one family
Does your family make New Year’s might be grieving the loss of a pregnancy,
Resolutions together? I’d like to say that another might be navigating the transition of
that’s one of our family traditions, but it’s not. having a stay-at-home mom return to work.
It sure should be, though! One year we sat And so this is the issue where we take on
down with our kids and all came up with some many aspects of new beginnings,
resolutions. And you know what? Those two including the addition of a new baby.
little ones made them and kept them! It was
L
SOUND CONNECTIONS
LITERACY AND LANGUAGE CENTRE
Thank you to Deanna Hall
Photography for this great
cover photo of Lukas 9,
Liam 7, and Jenna 4.
Helping children reach their potenal!
Concerned about your child’s literacy or speech/language skills?
Does your child have specific learning difficul es?
Do you simply want to give your pre-schooler a head start?
Experience fun, mul-sensory learning.
Sound Connecons provides literacy intervenon and/or
speech/language smulaon for all learners of all ages.
Check out Deanna’s amazing portfolio of
maternity, newborn, family, and weddings at
www.soundconneconscentres.com
www.deannahallphotography.com
Tel: (403) 347-3050 • soundconnec[email protected]
Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us!
4 • Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
So as we embark on this very special new
beginning, at Gryphon Publishing we wish
you all the very best for 2014! Here’s to a year
where goals are met, relationships nurtured
and dreams come true.
Kerri Leland
• Editor-in-Chief
Gryphon Publishing
[email protected]
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 5
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family matters
Baby
shoes:
From Pain to Joy
Photo Credit: Karey Wood Photography
By: Justin Hubert
I
t is rumored that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to
write a story containing only 10 words. In response he
wrote: “Baby shoes; for sale, never worn.” Can “New
Beginnings” come from such a situation? I am here to say not
just ‘yes,’ but, “THEY MUST!!”
On November 30th 2008, you would have never heard
me say, “Joy will come from this moment of pain.” Seeing
anything positive in our present circumstance - of leaving
the maternity ward empty handed the day previous - was
impossible. Our world was shattered, and seemingly nothing
could put the pieces back together.
Marriage in shambles. Daughter lost to stillbirth two
short weeks prior to due date. Full of rage. So many
questions. Empty.
Last night: I kissed a gregarious, bouncy, three-year-old
girl on the forehead. We did our nighttime gratitudes... our
prayers. I am very thankful. Full.
Full of joy.
New beginnings can rise from the ashes of past pain. But
they do NOT without effort. This effort can be found in the
insignificant moments of every day: in feeding our bodies, in
washing them, in simplicity of just breathing. In just carrying
on, life renews itself. “Old things are passed away; behold, all
things are becoming new.” This is a written natural law. How
do we quicken its progress? With each other.
I imagine on that day five years ago, although we could
not imagine a future for ourselves, in that exact moment,
someone else could. We need each other, because you have
been where I have not been yet. You have seen what I can’t
see past. You have felt the conclusion, of what I find
impossible. Together WE are strong. Together We are
community. I need you.
joy was restored to its rightful place. We did it with each
other. Like a tribe, on a journey, we made it through the
wilderness, and the valley of death. In doing so, we found
new chapter heading:
“Baby shoes; worn, by sister.”
Justin Hubert is a husband, dad, friend, dreamer. He’s the Cultural
Architect of: www.heritagefamilyservices.com and blogs at:
www.slv2all.blogspot.com.
RDC
Can good come from calamity? Can joy come from
excruciating pain? Yes. It always has and always will.
November 2008 was not the final day of our story as a family.
And in the days that followed this immense pain, in a
community of others that held our faith, our very essence in
their hands, a marriage was restored, addictions were beaten,
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 5
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family matters
RDC
A Better Parent
in 2014?
By: Tammi Roy
he new year is synonymous with resolutions. Promises
made to better your life, heath and happiness - usually
in the form of diet and exercise. Yet my top role in life
is being a parent, and my vow for 2014 is to become a better
one. 'Better' being a loose term, since we all have specific
areas we know we could be improved.
T
With the busy schedule and jam-packed days, I've
mastered the art of multitasking. Perhaps the day you
become a parent is also a time when you graduate from
juggling school. The to-do list increases tenfold yet we aren't
allotted more time on the clock. Yet, multitasking took a toll
in one parenting aspect - listening.
One way is to take a step back and try to see things
through your child's eye. With clear vision, there could be
aspects of yourself and the way you parent, that could most
definitely use some fine-tuning.
It's true that I often find myself cooking dinner while
going over homework with a child, making school lunches in
between pot stirring while also on the phone making dental
appointments. All of a sudden I realize that I've agreed to
something my other child said, without even realizing it.
Wait, they were in the room as well?
So, I hereby vow to make a conscious effort to most
importantly, have more patience. I am a person that explodes
when pushed to my limits and with 3 kids {a job and house
to manage}, that limit is frequently tested. To work on
patience, I will train myself to think before speaking, even
simply walking away more often to regain composure and
balance before acting.
I know it's a lot of work, and easier said than done. Yet, I
believe that it's not impossible to find that place inside of
me, where all my patience lived, before my kids existed. I will
find you, old friend!
Some people and at certain times - should have your
complete undivided attention. Teaching myself to put down
all the balls in my hand, just for a while, will make me a
better parent. Other things will fall into place as well,
including respect.
Being more relaxed, calm, and attentive will benefit child
and myself with each moment I find success. Perhaps all
those failed resolutions of years past will all fall into place
once my inner self is at more balance and the parent-child
relationships are in check.
What is one thing that would make you a better parent
for 2014?
Tammi is the mom of three girls (twins plus one) and is passionate about
photography, food and travel (with luck, all at once). Her thoughts on
parenthood and all the chaos in between can be found on her popular
parenting blog, My Organized Chaos. While has been widely recognized
as a leading Canadian woman in social media, she is an ordinary mom
often found pacing the kitchen wondering what to cook for dinner.
RDC
Looking at my small and attainable list of parenting
resolutions for 2014, I can't help but notice something. With
many making huge promises to themselves this time of year,
perhaps the key to success is taking smaller steps.
!
WIN
Netflix
to
Netflix wants you to be able
t this winter and
Fas
stream hits such as Turbo
onth subscription
beyond by giving you a six-m
ce to find all
to Netflix! Netflix is a great pla
shows.
kinds of kids movies and TV
Fast and more
Win and you can watch Turbo
nce at
on Netflix! Enter for your cha
and click on the
www.reddeerschild.com
contest link on the left.
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• Non profit
• Low cost
• Proven effective
• Men, women, families
• First meeting free
780-437-0167
1-800-932-8677
www.tops.org
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 7
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Tips on nurturing
resilience in girls:
effect
❶ Don’t talk about how fat you look. If you
criticize your own appearance in front of
her, or put other women down for how
they look, she will learn that outward
appearance is more important than inner
qualities of courage and curiosity.
on Women: Instilling
Confidence in Our Girls
❷ Don’t
bite your tongue. If you disagree
with what people say or feel disrespected,
speak up! She needs to know it’s okay to
stand up for herself.
By: Beth Malcolm
R
ecently, Lady Gaga criticized the heavy editing of her
photo on the cover of Glamour magazine, saying they
had made her look “too beautiful.” She further
elaborated by stating that she hopes to “inspire young people
to fight back against forces that make them feel like they’re
not beautiful or important.”
❸ Don’t
put yourself down. Never make
jokes about how incompetent you are
because she will too learn to minimize her
own accomplishments and reduce her
future ambitions.
❹ Let
her lead! Ask your daughter openended questions that will allow her to
share her opinion and choose what she
genuinely would like to do.
But despite the growing number of celebrities such as
Lady Gaga and the Hunger Games’ Jennifer Lawrence, who
has also spoken out against body-shaming, the media
continues to disseminate heavily altered images of celebrities
that set unrealistic standards of beauty for young women.
❺ Let
her take risks! Try not to be overprotective rather let her learn that she has
to be accountable for her own decisions.
Learning from her mistakes will make her
strong.
Today, the vast majority of media images of women and
girls are artificially constructed. Unfortunately, these images
never come with a caption that reads, “Warning! This
photograph does not represent reality.” As a result, girls
blame themselves for not looking the same, and their selfconfidence suffers.
A new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation
reveals that Canadian girls between the age of nine and 16
experience body shaming and lack of confidence at more
than double the rate of young boys. The same study found
that one-in-five Canadians know a girl who calls herself fat;
an almost equal number know a girl who is dieting.
It’s time for girls to hear a different message from media,
educators, and parents. Adults must make sure both girls and
boys understand there are many definitions of beauty, and
that vast majority of the images of women and girls in
magazines, video games, movies, and other media are
manufactured. Since children can consume up to ten hours
of media from different sources every single day, it is also
essential that they become more media literate: able to
notice, evaluate and critique the images that surround them.
Adults must also teach our children—girls especially—
that what really matters is who they are, not what they look
like. We can encourage them to develop the confidence to
❻ Validate
say what they think and wear what they like, and to develop
the inner strength to step out of a constructed ‘ideal’ and
embrace who they really are.
her experience! Don’t cheer her
up for the sake of cheering her up. If she
has negative feelings, don’t say “It’s not
that bad”. Listen with respect and
acknowledge the difficulty she faces. She
might not want to talk to you about it
then, so don’t pressure her. But make sure
she knows you will be there for her and
encourage her to think critically about the
situation.
❼ Provide
Beth Malcolm is the Director of the Girls’ Fund at Canadian Women’s
Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to investing in the power of
women and the dreams of girls. Beth has led the development of the Girls’
Fund, an initiative funding programs across the country working with girls
nine to 13.
her with fair and consistent
structure. Rules help young people feel
protected and connected. So set clear
expectations for behaviour related to
school, chores, or abiding by curfews.
RDC
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 7
health matters
Body Shaming’s
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 8
health matters
RDC
New Moms
and dads
Need Feeding, Too
Submitted by: ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen
atcoblueflamekitchen.com
Before baby, cooking supper from scratch on a weeknight
was relatively normal, especially when two people shared
kitchen duties. With a new baby in the house, energy and sleep
are at a premium, and intricate dinners are too often replaced
by drive-thru, take-out and frozen pizzas. It’s a rut many new
parents fall into, and it’s easy to see why. When a new member
of the family takes centre stage in a household, menu planning
and shopping forethought can move to the backburner.
To help make sure mommy and daddy are nutritionally
taken care of, consider stashing away a freezer full of makeahead meals that can be reheated for supper when you’re
running on three hours of sleep. When one partner has an
extra hour on the weekend, whipping up and freezing a large
batch of chili, lasagna or pasta sauce in meal-sized portions
can make all the difference mid-week, when both parents are
tired and tempted to succumb to fast food cravings. Add a loaf
of French bread picked up at the grocery store and you’ve got
a satisfying meal.
It’s worth noting that many of our recipes for soups, stews
and casseroles can be frozen, even though not all recipes
mention this. If in doubt, get in touch with our Answer Line via
the contact info at the end of this article.
This recipe for Everyday Chili is easy to put together in a
pinch, and the ingredient list is modest and affordable – another
great trait in a recipe when part of the family budget has been
redirected to diapers and baby monitors. The recipe can easily be
doubled for extra food prep efficiency. For added flavour, serve
it with a dollop of our three-ingredient Lime Cream.
Everyday Chili
Lime Cream
Ingredients:
1 lb (0.5 kg)
1 large
1
1
1 can (19 oz/540 mL)
1 can (14 oz/398 mL)
2 tbsp (25 mL)
2 tbsp (25 mL)
1 tsp (5 mL)
1/2 tsp (2 mL)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (375 mL)
2 tbsp (25 mL)
1 tbsp (15 mL)
lean ground beef
onion, chopped
green bell pepper, chopped
clove garlic, finely chopped, optional
diced tomatoes
red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
vinegar
chili powder
salt
freshly ground pepper
Directions:
In a large fry pan, brown beef. Drain off excess fat. Add onion,
green pepper and garlic; sauté until vegetables are tender,
about 7 minutes. Add remaining ingredients (tomatoes through
pepper). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring
occasionally, for 1 hour. Serves 4.
BeeSmart Open House
February 11 & 12 from 5 to 7pm.
See for yourself what makes our
playschool beesmart special.
Find Red Deer’s Child
on Pinterest!
We are accepting applications for the
upcoming school year. If you have any
questions regarding our program or
applications please email
us [email protected]
or call 403 986 6032.
20 Kelloway Crescent, Red Deer
(in the building of New Fellowship Church)
www.beesmart.ca
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sour cream
fresh lime juice
grated lime peel
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate
until serving or for up to 24 hours. Makes 1 1/2 cups (375 mL).
For tips on energy safety, food or household matters, call
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen’s Answer Line at 1-877-420-9090 tollfree, visit us online at atcoblueflamekitchen.com, or email us at
[email protected]. To buy a copy of our latest
cookbook, the just-launched 2013 edition of our popular annual
Holiday Collection, visit the online shop on our website, drop by
the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen office, or call our toll-free
cookbook order line: 1-800-840-3393.
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 9
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education matters
It Snowed.
the kids are home
Now What?!
By: R.N. Whitehead
I
f you live in area where the temperature really drops,
snow can be a special event for youngsters. Next time it
snows, use one of these enjoyable, yet educational,
activities. It brightens up a day and even better, it’s fun!
Add music to your activities. As children play in the
snow, encourage them to sing about what is happening.
Show your children how they can take the tune of any
familiar song and add new words. For example, they know
the song “Jingle Bells” and they are rolling snowballs. Start
singing about what they are doing to the tune of Jingle Bells:
Rolling snowballs,
Rolling snowballs,
This is lots of fun.
I’ll just roll a few more balls
And then I will be done.
If you can’t think of a tune, have the kids make one up.
Do poems between snowballs. Here is the script:
• Make a snowball.
• Ask, “What rhymes with ‘fun’?”
• Throw the snowball.
• Get the rhyme and make a poem.
• “Making lots of snowballs can be fun. There’s hot
chocolate when we’re done.”
• Now, make up a tune and sing while you throw.
• Don’t forget to laugh, even if you are brushing a
snowball off your nose.
TIP: A little vegetable spray on the inside of the bucket
can help the towers come out easier. Other containers can
also be used to create interesting sculptures.
Showing children how to create their own music to
accompany their activities gives them a new creative way of
expressing themselves. Singing about current activities also
makes music meaningful to young children. Singing can
increase memory and therefore increase general knowledge.
Bet you can’t wait for the next snow day. Keep that radio
tuned in and your long johns close by.
OR
Snow painting is another great activity. Fill one or two
spray bottles with water and add a few drops of a different
food coloring to each bottle. Let your child take the bottle
outside and spray designs on the snow. These spray bottles
can also be used to paint snow sculptures. The snowman will
really appreciate a nice bright red nose.
Crunch, crunch, crunch
Crunch, crunch, crunch
Marching ‘round the yard
When there’s snow on the ground
Walking’s kind of hard!
Who needs a beach for castles? Make snow castles!
Youngsters can have fun designing and building snow castles
just like they build sand castles. Provide them with small
buckets and show them how to fill the buckets with snow.
These tower shapes can be made in a circle to create a castle.
Do I hear Don Ho anywhere? Make frozen bubbles. Chill
a container of bubble solution in the refrigerator. When the
temperature outside is below freezing, take your child outside
to blow bubbles. Have him observe the bubbles closely as he
blows. There are ice crystals forming on the surface of the
bubbles. Let him pop the bubbles to see what happens. (They
shatter.)
Established in 1984, Oxford Learning has grown to include more than
100 locations across Canada and the United States. Oxford Learning goes
beyond tutoring to help students reach their learning potential, not just for
one grade or one year but for a lifetime. The unique programs teach
children to learn how to learn. Visit Oxford Learning on-line at
www.oxfordlearning.com for complete program information.
RDC
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 9
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 10
fun facts
RDC
Fun Facts about: the Winter Olympics
• Only sporting events practiced on ice or snow Colour and cut out the Olympic Flag.
are considered as sports in the Winter Games.
• The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi
Russia on February 7th to 23rd.
• The 2014 Winter Games will have a record
number of events – 98 different events in 12
different sports.
• The Olympic Flag is made up of five
interlocking rings – blue, yellow, black, green,
and red. Every flag of a country participating
includes at least one of the same colors in
their country’s flag.
http://www.sochi2014.com
Did you know...
Many people that grew up in Red
Deer and area have competed in
the Winter Olympics?
• Marcia Parsons Beckner was the first athlete
•
•
•
•
Credit: www.first-school.ws
Make your own Olympic Torch.
from our community to represent Canada at an
Get your friends and family together to play your own
Olympic Games. Marcia competed in the 1968
outdoor Olympic games. Make this super simple Olympic
Winter Olympics in Grenoble France.
torch to cheer on the teams.
Jamie Salé first competed as a single figure
skater. In 1998, she and partner David Pelletier Supplies:
• 1 sheet of construction paper or poster board
tied for a gold medal at the 2002 Winter
• Clear tape
Olympics in Salt Lake City.
• Red, yellow, and orange tissue paper,
Jeremy Wotherspoon set 10 world speed
about 12" square each color
skating records between 1997 and 2007. In 1998,
• White craft glue
he won a silver medal in the 500 m at the
Nagano Games.
How to make:
• Roll the construction paper or poster board into a cone shape,
Deidra Dionne won a bronze medal in aerial
tape closed.
freestyle skiing at the Salt Lake City Winter
Games. After suffering a severe neck injury in • Layer the tissue paper, red, then orange, and yellow on top.
2005 she competed at the Torino 2006 Winter
• Gather the squares like a bouquet of flowers
Games.
Mike Reitmeier won four gold medals in speed • Put some white craft glue into the sides of the opening inside
the cone.
skating at the 1986 Alberta Special Olympics,
and set world records at the World Special
• Place the tissue paper into the cone and let the glue dry
Olympic Winter Games in 1997.
completely.
Credit: http://spoonful.com/crafts/ceremonial-olympic-torch
10 • Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 11
RDC
November 25-February 17: Expedition Arctic.
Museum and Art Gallery. Retrace the steps of this
epic adventure of exploration and discovery in
Canada’s Far North.
http://www.reddeermuseum.com/exhibits-andevents/expedition-arctic/
january
ongoing
Experience
Ongoing until April 25, 2014. Remarkable Red
Deer: Stories from the Heart of the Parkland.
Several prominent buildings have been a part of
Red Deer's landscape for many years. The
exhibition features several, including the
Stephenson Hall Block (Red Deer's first
commercial building), the Train Station, the Club
Cafe and the Capitol Theatre. Each area is unique
and offers interactive stations where visitors will
discover more about the past.
http://www.reddeer
museum.com/exhibits-and-events/remarkablered-deer-stories-from-the-heart-of-the-parkland/
february
Every Saturday. Penhold Winter Market.
10:00am-2:00pm.Penhold Regional Multiplex.
Local vendors are displaying homemade and
well-known products for sale. Come out and
support local!
central alberta
January 1: New Year's Day Fireworks. 7:00pm.
Sylvan Lake Provincial Park. Start your New Year
off with a bang! The first fireworks show of the year
takes place at the end of the Pier.
www.sylvanlake.ca/2013-01-23-17-54-43/winterevents.html
January 2: Snell Auditorium, Red Deer
Downtown Library. 12:15-1:00pm. First Thursdays
in the Snell FREE concert. Meet the amazing
vocalists of the Wild Rose Harmonizers at this fun,
upbeat concert. Bring the whole family!
www.rdpl.org/node/243
January 3: Snell Auditorium, Red Deer
Downtown Library. School's Out Programs for
Kids: Monsters University. 2:00-4:00pm. Watch the
movie and earn your Monsters University diploma
with monster games, activities and snacks. Ages six
and up (under six with an adult).
www.rdpl.org/node/324
February 15. Sweetheart Gala. Heartland Room,
Harvest Centre .1st Annual Sweetheart Gala. All
proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House-Central
Alberta. Dance, drinks, silent auction. Adults. For
more information, contact Courtney Malone
403.392.5211.
February 12: Waskasoo Kiwanis Meeting Room,
Red Deer Downtown Library. 2:00-4:30. This
program will focus on a variety of issues from the
environment to history and anything in between. A
documentary film will be shown and then
discussion will follow facilitated by a staff member.
www.rdpl.org/node/241
February 15. Polar Dip. Sylvan Lake. Do you have
what it takes? Raise money for a Local Charity of
"your choice" by literally going and jumping in the
lake, in February, in Alberta. Not ready to take the
plunge? Come out and cheer our jumpers on.
Registration is limited to the first 50 jumpers.
Contact Jennifer for more information at
403.887.1192 ext. 511.
February 15: Backyardigans Live: Sea Deep in
Adventure. Memorial Arts Center 4214 - 58 Street,
Red Deer. Dive into the action as these five friends
explore clues, discover underwater magic, and
match wits with an all-too-tidy octopus and a pair of
playful (but messy!) dolphins. With a splashy range
of song-and dance styles to wade along to –
including psychedelic soul, Bollywood, bossa nova,
and more – our heroes save the day. Blacknight Inn
Ticket Center.
https://tickets.blackknightinn.ca/TheatreManager/1/
online.
January 15: The Band Perry Concert. The World
Tour stops in Red Deer, with Special Guests: Easton
Corbin and Lindsay Ell. Enmax Centrium. Tickets
available at Ticketmaster.
January 28: Real Men Singing Group. 7:009:30pm. Davenport Church of Christ, 68 Donley Ave,
Lacombe. The Wild Rose Harmonizers Barbershop
Chorus is a chorus for males all ages who love to
sing four-part cappella harmony.
www.lacombeevents.ca/events/index.php?com=det
ail&eID=9220&year=2014&month=2
January 8: Waskasoo Kiwanis Meeting Room,
Red Deer Downtown Library. 2:00-4:30. This
program will focus on a variety of issues from the
environment to history and anything in between. A
documentary film will be shown and then
discussion will follow facilitated by a staff member.
www.rdpl.org/node/241
February 6: Snell Auditorium, Red Deer
Downtown Library. 12:15-1:00pm. First Thursdays in
the Snell FREE concert. Meet the amazing vocalists
of the Wild Rose Harmonizers at this fun, upbeat
concert. Bring the whole family!
www.rdpl.org/node/243
February 14: 2014 Canyon will be hosting its 2nd
annual Valentine’s Day “Tube and Dine.” You and
your sweetheart can both enjoy a night under the
stars of snow tubing and a delicious pasta dinner in
our lounge in front of a romantic fireplace for only
$49.99. It’s a truly Canadian way to spend Valentine’s
Day. Call Canyon Ski Resort office at 403-346-7003
to reserve your table!
January 9: Blue Rodeo Concert. 26 years after the
release of their first album, Warner Music Canada
recording artists Blue Rodeo prove that their
creativity continues to bloom as they announce a
plethora of information regarding the release of
their 13th studio album. Enmax Centrium. Tickets
available at Ticketmaster.
February 15-16. Winterfest. Sylvan Lake. The Family
Day weekend offers fun for the whole family at
Winterfest. Come on down to the lake and enjoy a
day of outdoor activities. Running all afternoon, the
event is topped off with a fireworks show at 7 pm it is sure to be a day to remember.
www.sylvanlake.ca/2013-01-23-17-54-43/winterevents.html
February 22: Red Deer Symphony Orchestra,
Voices of Heaven. Gaetz Memorial United Church.
Bach's great Mass in B minor, his musical gift to the
world, will be performed in the magical setting of
Gaetz Memorial United Church with Early Music
Voices. This concert will be performed on period
instruments - a first for our Main Series.
www.rdso.ca/
Editor’s Notes: Times and dates are accurate at time
of printing; however, changes can occur. Always call
ahead to confirm. To list your event in Red Deer’s Child,
e-mail us at [email protected].
!
WIN
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from The Bra Lo
a His & Her
to win
Enter for your chance
hich includes two
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ys panties of her
pairs of Hanky Pank
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choice, two pairs of
Wash, and towels.
his choice, a Delicate
eddeerschild.com
To enter, visit www.r
est link on the left.
and click on the cont
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as we tweet about fun family events,
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Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 11
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 12
community matters
RDC
How to Start
a babysitting
Co-op
By: Judy Arnall
A
re you alone in the city with no family or relatives
to babysit? Do you need occasional babysitting to
get your haircut, visit the dentist, or enjoy an
evening out with your partner? Perhaps a babysitting co-op is
the answer.
To find a babysitting co-op in your area, check the
community centers, mom’s time out groups or churches to
see if one already exists. If not, check with other moms at the
playground while you are supervising your children. Many
co-ops exist by word of mouth only.
If your community doesn’t have one, it’s easy to start one.
All you need is another mom and some agreed upon rules,
tokens, and structure. Here are some considerations:
Numbers: Aim for about 10 – 12 families. Not too big
that you don’t know everyone, and not too small so that you
run out of phone numbers before you find a commitment to
baby sit your kids whenever you need it.
Tokens: wood disks, poker chips, painted coins, etc.
Many co-ops start with 30 hours allocated to everyone to
12 • Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
begin, and everyone leaving has to hand in 30 hours. Tokens
are made in different colours to represent one hour and 1/2
hour tokens. In my co-op, we pay one token per hour for the
first child and a quarter token for each child per each
additional hour. That way, larger families are not penalized
too much. Some co-ops charge a half token for second and
subsequent children.
Rules: Keep the rules to a minimum, and make sure that
all charter members agree to them. Some general
considerations are that the mother is the one babysitting
☞
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 13
RDC
Help is Just a
Phone Call Away!
Find Red Deer’s Child
on Facebook!
AADAC Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-332-2322
Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-2606
Up to the minute contests, news,
product reviews and more!
Child Abuse Hotline (24 Hours) . . . . . . . 1-800-387-KIDS (5437)
Central Alberta & Family Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-341-8642
unless otherwise agreed to. During the day, the children to be
babysat are transported to the babysitters and in the evening
the babysitter comes to the children’s house to sit and put the
kids to bed in their own house. Meals, transportation and
outings are negotiated between two parties. Discipline policy
should definitely be discussed at the charter
member meeting. Communication is important, so
misunderstandings are avoided.
Structure: Some co-ops have a Secretary that one would
phone and request a sit. The Secretary would then phone
the lowest token holder first to fill the sit and go down the
list if needed. The Secretary position is rotated monthly.
Other co-ops have each person do their own phoning for
sits, which has the advantage that the person can choose
who their child likes to play with the most. Generally, the
person with the lowest number of tokens should be phoned
first. Regardless of structure, members should meet monthly
on a rotational basis, at each other’s house, to discuss token
counts, arrange future sits, and problem solve any issues that
have come up. Moms really look forward to the monthly
meeting as it’s a social visit and support group also!
The advantages of babysitting co-ops are many. To
children, they are like a play date with their friends. Often,
babysitting other children helps keep yours occupied and the
babysitter can get more done too! It’s inexpensive, and
parents have the security of knowing that an adult is in
charge rather than a teen. Many moms like to baby sit at
another’s house in the evening as they are free to do some
quiet work, read, or hobbies once the children are in bed,
things they wouldn’t otherwise get done in their own home.
Perhaps the most compelling advantage is that the social
and support network of similar aged children and parents is
wonderful to have in this day of isolated nuclear families.
Judy Arnall is a professional international award-winning Parenting
Speaker, and Trainer, Mom of five children, and author of the bestselling, "Discipline Without Distress: 135 tools for raising caring,
responsible children without time-out, spanking, punishment or bribery"
She specializes in "Parenting the Digital Generation For more
information, visit www.professionalparenting.ca, call 403) 714-6766, or
email [email protected].
RDC
Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter . . 403-346-5643
Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society . . . . 403-347-2480
Community Crisis Response Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-5466
HEALTHLink Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-408-5465
HEARTS (Helping Empty Arms Recover through Sharing)
Red Deer Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-342-2266
Kids Help Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-668-6868
Website: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kidshelp.sympatico.ca
La Leche League of Red Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-348-1829
Mat Program, Safe Harbour Society . . . . . . . . . . 403-347-0181
McMan Youth, Family &
Community Services Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-309-2002
ParentLink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.parentlinkalberta.ca
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.tripleP-staypositive.net
Parkland Youth Homes Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-8995
People’s Place Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-342-4722
Red Deer County Community Services . . . . . . . . 403-350-2150
Red Deer Crisis Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-1120
Red Deer Crisis Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-1124
Red Deer Family Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-343-6400
Red Deer Family Support for
Children with Disabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-5478
Red Deer Food Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-346-1151
Red Deer Mental Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-340-5466
Red Deer Salvation Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-346-2251
Sylvan Lake
Family & Community Support Services . . . . . . . . . . 403-887-1137
Lifeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ext 222)
49th Street Youth Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403-342-6500
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 13
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 14
RDC
The
marketplace
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Canyon Ski Resort • Red Deer
403-346-5588
RR 2, Site 8, Box 26 Red Deer
[email protected]
www.canyonski.ca
Located 7 minutes East of Red Deer in the beautiful river
valley. Canyon has 6 lifts, 18 runs, Terrain Park and offers a
164 meter vertical, giving everyone a slope to suit their
preference. Total skiable area is over 70 acres from which
40% are novice, 40% intermediate, and 20% expert.
Central Alberta Family Expo
Red Deer – Westerner Park
403-346-8226
[email protected]
centralalbertafamilyexpo.com
March 23rd & 24rth. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE
YOUR BUSINESS TO RED DEER AND CENTRAL ALBERTA
FAMILIES. With bouncers, a petting zoo, face painging, &
entertainment, plus a wealth of family information. The
Expo assists and supports local family organizations as well
with proceeds from the admission fee. Contact us for more
information or visit our website.
FIVE STAR Party Planning
Penhold
403-304-8140
[email protected]
fivestarpartyplanning.webs.com
We will plan a party your children will not forget. FIVE STAR
creates a completely child friendly atmosphere with crafts,
games, pizza and so much more! We plan children’s parties
for weddings, birthdays, Christmas and anywhere there are
children looking for fun!
Koba Entertainment
204-988-1120
468 Stradbrook Avenue
[email protected]
www.koba-entertainment.com
A prominent producer of original family musicals, Koba
Entertainment has been captivating audiences throughout
the world with celebrated characters from literature,
television, and pop culture. Koba Entertainment
productions have enchanted people of all ages in more
than 165 North American cities, 12 countries and 4
continents. Production credits for young audiences include:
Dora The Explorer, Max and Ruby, The Backyardigans, Toopy
& Binoo, the Doodlebops, Strawberry Shortcake and Caillou.
Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery
Red Deer
403-309-8405 • 4525 - 47A Avenue
[email protected]
www.reddeermuseum.com
Passion for History and Art - The MAG is committed to
creating memorable experiences for visitors of all ages that
reflect the rich and complex diversity of Red Deer and the
surrounding area. In 2013 the MAG will launch a
permanent history exhibition which will become a starting
point for discovering our city, and a way of building our
sense of pride in our community.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS
Red Deer Skating Club
403-396-5107 • Box 562, Red Deer
[email protected]
www.skatereddeer.com
For over 50 years The Red Deer Skating Club has been
committed to providing a safe and positive environment to
encourage the development of quality skating programs.
The Red Deer Skating Club has many programs for ages 3
years old to adult, there is something for everyone. All
programs are taught by certified professional Skate Canada
coaches who focus on fitness, fun, skill development, and
awards and incentives while promoting the development
of life skills.
14 • Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
Red Deer Rhythmic Gymnastics
403-343-7994
[email protected]
Red Deer Rhythmic Gymnastics provides rhythmic
gymnastics programs for pre-schoolers through
performance gymnasts of any age under the guidance of
enthusiastic, certified coaches. This beautiful sport is
especially appealing because it is a unique combination of
dance and gymnastics skills performed to music using
hand-held apparatus such as ball, hoop, rope, clubs and
ribbon.
Sportball
Red Deer
403-597-4151
[email protected]
www.sportball.ca
Sportball is a non-competitive sports program for children
16 months – eight years old. Children are introduced to
seven popular sports: soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball,
volleyball, tennis and golf. Sportball classes are highenergy, fun and creative.
EDUCATION
Red Deer Public Schools
Red Deer
403-343-1405
4747 - 53 Street
[email protected]
www.rdpsd.ab.ca
Serving the families of 10,000 students in the city of Red
Deer, we provide a wide range of programs and services
that inspire learning and nurture hope in every student.
Our caring and dedicated staff believes in the potential of
every student and work together with parents to ensure
their success. Your Children, Our Students, Everyone's
Future...we are Red Deer Public Schools.
Sound Connections Centre Literacy
and Language
Red Deer
#203 7429 Gaetz Avenue
403-347-3050
[email protected]
www.soundconnectionscentres.com
Helping children reach their potential! The Sound
Connections Centre works with children starting from 3
years old and upwards and specializes in literacy and
speech and language development and intervention. We
have trained and qualified instructors that will work with
your child twice a week through a unique series of
programs that use a fun, kinaesthetic and multi-sensory
approach. The programs are game and play based; perfect
for any type of learner whether they have identified
learning needs or not.
HEALTH & SUPPORT
Alberta Blue Cross
Red Deer
1-800-394-1965
www.ab.bluecross.ca
Protect Your Health. Thousands of Albertans enjoy the
affordable protection of Alberta Blue Cross individual
health plans. You can too. If you’re without employersponsored group benefits, we’ve got a plan to fit your
family’s needs and your budget. Prescription drugs, dental,
vision, ambulance and more. Call us today or visit our
website for your free information package.
Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre
Red Deer
403-340-2606
4826 47th Street
www.aspirerespecialneeds.ca
We are Central Alberta’s resource for children with special
needs. Our professional staff work together to provide
assessment, intervention and consultation. We offer
learning opportunities to professionals and group
programs for families. By discovering each child’s strengths,
together with family and community, we can build hope
for their future.
Family Services of Central Alberta
(Village Gate Parent Link Centre)
Red Deer
403-343-6400
5409 50th Avenue
[email protected]
www.fsca.ca
FSCA offers programs and services that are available to
parents in Central Alberta. If you are looking for a drop in
play group, parenting information, mom's time out, home
visitation, parenting information, community resources,
Ages and Stages Development or a free toy lending library
- We are the place for your family.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
1-800-932-8677
www.tops.org
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support group.TOPS
advocates a basic exchange menu plan and moderate
exercise for losing weight and maintaining it.We do not
sell, promote or endorse any products. TOPS provides the
support, encouragement and educational opportunities
needed to make healthy, permanent lifestyle changes.
PLAYSCHOOLS
BeeSmart
403-986-6032
36 White Avenue
[email protected]
www.beesmart.ca
BeeSmart open house February 11 & 12 from 5 to 7pm. See
for yourself what make our playschool BeeSmart special.
We are accepting applications for the upcoming school
year. If you have any questions regarding our program or
application please email us at [email protected] or
call 403-986-6032.
SHOPPING & SERVICES
AMA
18 locations throughout Alberta
1-866-667-4777
AMAtravel.ca
AMA Travel offers a wide range of specialized travel and
related services with the convenience of one-stop
shopping. Whether you’re planning a weekend in the
Rockies or a dream vacation,
AMA Travel will help make your travel experience
unforgettable.
Parkland Mall
403-343-8997
4747 – 67 Street
www.parklandmall.ca
[email protected]
Come and shop at Central Alberta’s most popular
destination for shopping, food, and fun. Featuring over 100
shops, services and restaurants, including Wal-Mart, Sport
Check, Safeway and The Keg, there’s something for
everyone at Parkland Mall.
Editor’s Notes: This guide is provided as a reference only. Please
research your choices carefully and choose the companies that work
best for you and your family.
RDC
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 9:08 AM Page 15
RDC
Find more at www.RedDeersChild.com • 15
RDCM JanFeb2014 16pgs_Layout 1 2013-12-05 8:36 AM Page 16
March 22 & 23
WESTERNER PARK
Old fashioned family fun...join the party...
• BOUNCERS • THISTLE HILL PETTING ZOO
• RED DEER’S CHILD COVER KID CONTEST
• ENTERTAINMENT • FREE ACTIVITIES
• GREAT EXHIBITORS • FACE PAINTING
• WEALTH OF FAMILY INFORMATION
Assist and support local family organizations
MEET ANOTHER EXCITING TREEHOUSE CHARACTER
Be part of the Fabulous Family Event
centralalbertafamilyexpo.com
FAMILY EXPO 2014
IS PROUD TO ASSIST:
403-346-8226
SHOW HOURS:
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
ADMISSION:
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS...
red deer’s
live well • learn well • play well
Adults $8
Under 14 Free