New and Notable
September 2010

Laval treats families to a day of fun
Picture an entire village dedicated to children, where clowns, magicians, a theatre of marionettes and a line-up of entertainers wait eagerly to capture young imaginations. If that sounds like fun, then look no further than the 11th annual Fête de la famille in Laval’s Centre de la nature on September 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

There will be a range of free activities, organized by zones. In the X-Zone, youth from ages 12-16 can enjoy graffiti painting, a skateboarding competition and a biathlon. The Plaine de Jeux will include a nutrition kiosk, a firefighter challenge, inflatable games and a zip line. The Laurentian Bank area will host a medieval festival, complete with horses and dancing.
A variety of food will be available, including treats from Latin America and ears of corn selling for 50 cents, with proceeds donated to the Red Cross. The festival will also feature live music, including reggae, New Orleans jazz and percussion. For a complete list of activities, call (450) 978-8000 or go to www.ville.laval.qc.ca (click on Fete de la famille). 

Festival spotlights Ukrainian culture 
From September 10-12, Montrealers can discover the traditions and contributions of this city’s Ukrainian community at the 11th annual Montreal Ukrainian Festival in Cote Visitation. The festival is free and will feature local and international artists, traditional cuisine and entertainment for the kids. Canada has the third largest Ukrainian population in the world after the Ukraine and Russia. Half of the festival space will be geared towards children, which is an expansion from previous years thanks to additional sponsorship. Children will be entertained with face painting, tattoos, inflatable games and a clown. Kids can watch concerts featuring dancing and colourful costumes. The festival begins on September 10 at 6 p.m. at Parc de l’Ukraine, corner of 12th Avenue and Bellechasse. Activities for children start on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For information, call (514) 885-6419 or go to http://www.ukefestmontreal.org/en/. 

New preschool opening in Pointe Claire 
Parents interested in the Montessori method of teaching have been attracted to the Orchard House preschool in N.D.G. for its homelike atmosphere and flexible programming. And now the owners will be bringing the same concept to Pointe Claire when they open a second location in October. 

Founder Yasmine Ghandour says they have purchased a very charming building that allows them to keep that “home away from home” feeling that parents appreciate at their location in N.D.G. 

There will be space for about 80 students who will participate in the Orchard House program, designed by Ghandour, which combines the Montessori emphasis on building gross and fine motor skills by using specific materials as well as activities that develop creativity and imagination. 

In the afternoons, there will be a wide range of programs that cover French, Mandarin, cooking and physical activity. Children can start as early as age 2 with a two-day-a-week Mom and Tot class that encourages a slow, gentle separation. After that, children can be enrolled for mornings, afternoons or both. There is also a kindergarten readiness program for 4-year-olds. 

Monthly costs (for five days a week) range from $600 (mornings) to $800 (full days). The fees can be deducted as part of childcare costs (check with a tax professional for more information). 

The new building is located at 159 Place Frontenac, Pointe Claire (corner of St. Jean and Brunswick Blvds). For more information, call (514) 483-6556.

Free classes demystify developmental disorders 
The West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH) is holding four free information sessions on Wednesday evenings for parents who suspect their child may have a developmental disorder. 

Natalie Chapman, the director of the organization, says the series will help demystify developmental disorders, inform parents of services and programs and encourage them to be active in their child’s education. 

On September 22, the session will focus on programs and services available to children with developmental delays. On October 13, parents will learn about strategies to improve the child’s communication skills. On November 3, the topic will be managing a child’s behaviour and on November 24, the discussion will be about the impact of caring for a child with special needs on the whole family. 

Each class will include a question and answer period. The sessions will be held in English at 7 p.m. at the CLSC Lac St. Louis, 180 Cartier Ave., in Pointe Claire. To register, call (514) 738-3674 or go to www.wiaih.qc.ca (click on Parents, It Starts with You).

Open house to showcase art therapy programs 
The Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Centre, which provides a range of services to children with special needs, is hosting an Open House on September 12 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will highlight five different programs: art and music therapy, drama, yoga, and social skills for teens. Ayala Conway, the centre’s administrator, says these are wonderful programs for children to tap into their talents and discover their inner voices. The aim is for children to learn motor skills and communication techniques as well as increasing their self-confidence. 
During the first half hour of the Open House, parents and children can meet the staff and ask questions about the specific programs. Then there will be demonstrations of each of the five programs. The creative art therapy courses are held once a week for 12 weeks at the Yaldei Centre, 2100 Marlowe Ave., 5th floor, in N.D.G. For more information, call (514) 278-3666 or go to www.yaldei.org (click on News and Events).

Dance school opens its doors to kids
The Centre de Danse de Montreal (CDM) in Griffintown, open since 2009, is now offering lessons for children ages 6-14. Located near the Lucien-l’Allier metro station, the centre features bright, airy studios and a team of experienced instructors. There will be classes in hip-hop, Latin dancing, ballet and jazz during the fall session, which begins September 13 and runs for 14 weeks. The studio will also host birthday parties where youngsters can celebrate by learning different styles of dance. 

The centre is located at 1390 William St. For schedules and pricing, call (514) 932-0001 or go to www.centredansemontreal.com.

Personalize a lunchbox with a picture
Look around the school cafeteria and you’ll see hundreds of similar lunch boxes. But you can make your child’s box unique thanks to a service offered by Magenta Photo Studios. They will transfer pictures onto a metal lunch box, creating a unique item for kids. Prices start at $49 if you bring your own photo or you can arrange a photo shoot for an additional $45. In 2008, the Quebec Breakfast Club used these boxes as a fundraiser, using photos of popular Quebec stars and raffling off the boxes to raise funds. For more information or to find out the nearest studio, go to www.magentaphoto.com. 

Parents get a peek into world of medicine
The world of medicine is continually evolving and many parents are keen to keep up with the latest health and science information. To help them do so, the Montreal Children’s Hospital will be hosting its 6th annual Mini-Med series, which is a series of talks given by medical experts. 
This year, some of the topics will include genetics and medicine, anxiety disorders in children and using humour as a form of alternative medicine. The talks will take place on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. from October 5 until November 2. There is a question and answer period from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (A series in French is also offered on Wednesday evenings, starting October 6). Classes are held in the Forbes-Cushing amphitheatre located at 2300 Tupper St. in downtown Montreal. Register by calling (514) 412-4400, ext. 23996 or go to www.mchminimed.com.