Since 1990, Albertans have been spending the third Monday of February has a day to be with their families. The holiday was proclaimed by Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley, on the advice of her premier, Don Getty. Premier Getty said it was important for all Albertans to take time for their families, and that this holiday would emphasize the importance of family values.
Families have spent their time that day doing many different things together. Some leave town, some head for the snowy Alberta mountains – but for those that call Chestermere home, the Family Day Unplugged event is the place to be.
Held at the Chestermere Recreation Centre, the event was a collaborative effort – all with the goal of having families ‘unplug’ from the devices that we’re all guilty of spending too much time on and spending that time with each other. Talking. Playing. Reconnecting.
The 2nd annual Family Day Unplugged had some of Chestermere’s community partners on hand with a variety of activities. Chestermere/Rocky View PC MLA Bruce McAllister was on hand serving up free coffee that was generously donated by the Waiting Room Café. The Chestermere Lions Club provided free chili and buns, tea provided by Steeped Tea and Hot Chocolate provided by the CRCA Out of School Care Program.
The amazing youth of YELL were all set up to do airbrush tattoos and face painting while the Chestermere Public Library had an assortment of crafts for those creative types that came out to enjoy the day. Stepping Stones to Mental Health sponsored hayrides and had planned on sponsoring the snowshoeing activity, but in the true unpredictable Alberta weather – there was no snow.
As families attended, it was so amazing to see games being played, crafts made and conversations going on. Taking that time to check in with each other and really connect in a world that sometimes doesn’t allow the time to do that.
Alongside the celebration of Family Day, it was also a very special anniversary celebration for one of Chestermere’s important family resources. This was the 10 year anniversary for the Alberta Parent Link initiative. Parent Link Centres provide parent and family support to families in Alberta. Each centre provides services based on the needs of families in its particular community. With 46 Parent Link Centres working continuously to reach out to more than 160 communities across the province, qualified and knowledgeable staff are prepared to deliver parenting programs, answer questions and offer advice about positive parenting and dealing with parenting and family issues. Parent Link Centres invite parents to participate in a range of activities, including:
A range of programs and activities with their children such as “Mom and Baby Time”, “Daddy and Me”, music and movement, literacy and numeracy. Parent learning opportunities such as Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. It’s a program where parents/care givers can gather information about a variety of programs and services available to young children and their families, including; speech and language resources, community kitchens, toy lending and resource libraries.
The Kidz 1st Network Parent Link Centre in Chestermere is funded by the Government of Alberta to provide Parent Link Centre Services to parents and caregivers of children 0-5 years of age in Chestermere and South East Rocky View. Their beautiful space located on the main level of the Chestermere Municipal Building, offers a playroom, a variety of early learning programs, Children’s Lending Library, Developmental checkups, extended evening hours, family support, parent education and coaching, parent resource library and toy, clothing and book exchanges. You can learn more about the programs and services they offer by visiting http://www.chestermere.ca/DocumentCenter/View/434.
“The Alberta Parent Link Initiative is celebrating 10 years in Alberta, and what better way to celebrate than with the community, and families who attend our programs and access our services! The Parent Link Initiative ensures young families get the support they are requiring throughout the early years of their child’s development. As a working network, both the family and Parent Link facilitators are contributing to the child’s physical, emotional, and social development, and their overall well-being. The Province currently funds 46 centres, reaching out to more than 160 communities across Alberta. Since 2004, the PLC Initiative has grown from serving approximately 6,000 Albertans to over 94,000 by 2014”, says Aia Clamp, ECS Coordinator with Kidz 1 Network Parent Link.
“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” – Charles Kuralt
