Fun Neighbourhoods

The active getaway - Laurentides (Tremblant) & Charlevoix

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Are you planning your annual family vacation yet? Every spring I make plans and look for vacations that are easy, fun and fit a wide range of tastes for everyone in our family. The destination of Laurentides, (Tremblant), Quebec fits all my family fun requirements.

Located in Quebec, close to Ottawa is the resort area of Tremblant in the Laurentides. Most people think of Tremblant for skiing but I think the best deals for a getaway can be found here in the Spring and Summer.

There are a lot of accommodations to choose from and many active pursuits to explore. What I love about this area is that you can bike through the rails to trails and then soak away at a nearby spa. Quebec is actually listed in National Geographic's best places to cycle - world wide.

It is rustic but comfortable. Fun but peaceful and quiet.. all the elements you need for a great getaway.

There are so many hotel choices and packages to consider that travel agencies which understand Quebec best and will be most helpful for planning your vacations to places like remote Charlevoix.

Years ago my husband and I took in Quebec City and then headed further east to the beautiful scenery of Charlevoix. It was so quaint. Biking here is also a great option as you ride through the winding open roads and stop to see art galleries and small cafes. I was totally blown away by the scenery here.

Tips for an active trip to Quebec:

Bring good shoes and socks. Be prepared to walk and bike for hours. The weather changes frequently and without a lot of notice so make sure you have warm clothes as well as lighter summer options for May through to the Summer.
Get recommendations from your travel agency as to where the best deals are to rent bikes in order to save money and time. Some accommodations might have bikes on site at no additional cost.
Bring a french/english dictionary (or smart phone application). The further away you are from the main tourist areas the less likely people are to speak english. Be prepared by knowing key french phrases to help make your communication more enjoyable. The locals will appreciate that you are trying to speak french.

Active trips with your family are a great way to keep everyone happy and sleeping well each night. It will make your rest time even more luxurious. Start planning your trip today!

Photo credit: Government of Quebec (Bonjour Quebec)

Exploring Golfing Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:52:00 +0000

When given the chance to go on vacation a great way to check out the local beauty of the a new community is to get out and golf. The bonus is that is also a healthy way to spend your vacation. My family and I are looking to head to Ottawa soon to explore and will likely throw in a round of golf at a gorgeous Ottawa golf club called Loch March.

The Ottawa area is so beautiful at this time of year and I can't wait to get away from it all with a fantastic adventure on the golf course. I love golfing because it gives me a chance to unwind, relax and not get too crazy in my pursuit to see "everything" when I go away on a trip. It is peaceful and a nice time to connect with family while we are away. It is quiet and the atmosphere helps to promote a feeling of well being.

I love to walk the courses that I golf on (the few times I have actually gone) as I find I get to really take in the golf course better that way and it is a perfect way to actual make it a calorie burning adventure. I am not very good at golfing but do find that with each game I improve. Practice does make perfect.

It is also a great activity to do with your children. They get to appreciate the natural setting and learn the fine art of patience as they learn to play and also it is good quality time together.

So I hope you get a chance to enjoy this fall season and plan a fun family getaway if you can.

The Easiest Way to Get Travelling

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:57:00 +0000

I love to travel. It has been a life long passion of mine and it is now a passion that I have passed onto my kids. My husband and I have been traveling for years. First without kids to places like the Caribbean and then on our honeymoon we went to France and Italy. I was officially hooked and have had the travel bug ever since. Given that my husband frequently travels on business we would often cash in our areoplan points and hop on a Air Canada flight to Hawaii with our little one in tow. The best Areoplan Card for traveling is the American Express Aeroplan Card. This credit card allows you to get up to 1.25 areoplan points for every $1.00 spent. It is a great way to start building your mileage by just using your card for everyday purchases!

Some other cool perks include access to the Front Of The Line® which allows you to purchase tickets for some of the best seats in the house at many sought-after concerts, theatre shows and special events before tickets go on sale to the general public.

You can also use your Aeroplan Miles to redeem other rewards. Choose from car rentals, hotel stays, fashion, home, dining, spa, and entertainment gift cards, or brand name small appliances and home décor.

So what are you waiting for? Get out exploring the world and all it has to offer now! I can't wait to get away for my next getaway which happens to Vancouver in November. I am flying on Areoplan points and I can't wait!

My new natural cleaning products!

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:44:00 +0000

My cleaning lady has up and left me! Well not exactly - but she gone on vacation for 8 weeks to see her family in Poland. In her absence I have decided that I better get my act together and start cleaning my house before things get out of control.

I hate using harsh cleaners because of the smells and I also fear breathing in the fumes so I have have decided that I need to find gentler alternatives.

By chance I found a great article in Reader's Digest about homemade cleaning products and thought I would share one I am going to use. It is really easy to make kitchen cleaner.

The ingredients are:
2 tbsp phosphate-free
Dishwashing liquid
1 tbsp cornflour
1 cup (250ml) water
1 cup (250ml) distilled white vinegar
A few drops of eucalyptus essential oil or tea-tree essential oil

The Directions are:
Put the ingredients in a plastic spray bottle and shake gently to combine.
Spray a fine film of the mixture over the grubby surface and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Presto! I have an easy cleaner to use that I know is not toxic or hard for me or my family to use.

I also found out that you can use eucalyptus oil to help removing stains—particularly grease and perspiration—from clothing and other fabrics. Moisten a clean rag with a little oil and dab the stain from the edge to the middle, then launder as usual.

I can't say that I am super pumped about cleaning my house for another 4 weeks but at least I have some help to make it nicer along the way!

The ESL Community

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:01:00 +0000

The best way to learn a new language or country is to do with other people who know the challenges you are experiencing.

If english is your second language and you want to explore opportunities to learn through a variety of different programs then you must check out the ESL Classes at Conestoga College. They are located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada’s largest and most diverse province, and provide an unparalleled educational experience.

Conestoga has consistently been ranked among Ontario’s top colleges. The College is well-recognized for its career-oriented Degree programs in Applied Technology, Applied Health Sciences and International Business Management. We also offer Diploma and Certificate programs in Business Administration, Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Health Sciences and Community Services.

The Conestoga Language Institute offers an English for Academic Studies program designed for students who want to acquire English language skills for entry into post-secondary programs at Conestoga College. English for Academic Studies program is an ESL program with an academic focus. It provides an opportunity for students to acquire the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills needed for post-secondary studies.

Conestoga College has strengthened its commitment to international students and is proud to offer IELTS International Student Entrance Scholarships!

• 3 IELTS International Student Entrance Scholarships ($3,000 CDN) for eligible applicants applying to a full time College post-secondary program.

• 4 International Student Scholarships for existing students enrolled at Conestoga College in full time studies.

There are working opportunities as well.

On Campus – International students can seek part time employment on campus Off Campus – Once you have completed six months of study in your post-sec-
ondary program at Conestoga, you may be eligible to work off campus!

Co-op Work terms – After completing your first year in a post-secondary program you can apply to enter into the co-op program and participate in work placements

Post Graduation – Once you graduate from your post-secondary program at Conestoga you can apply for a post graduate work permit and may be eligible to work for up to 3 years in Canada!

For more information visit the Conestoga web site.

Hey Boaters! Learn how to pass the boating exam.

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Here in Canada we are certainly blessed with beautiful lakes and rivers to explore and often times that means hitting the water with a boat. However you should know that the Canadian government has instituted legislation that mandates operates a boat on the water to obtain a boating license by completing a boater exam. So you might be wondering how you can go about doing this.

Boaters must pass a test on topics such as how to share waterways, use safety equipment and respond to emergencies in order to get the card. They will then be required to carry it on board their watercraft at all times.

Private companies are conducting training courses, administering the testing and issuing the operator cards. Transport Canada has posted a list of accredited companies on its website.

The test includes 36 multiple-choice questions. Boaters have to answer 75 per cent of the questions correctly to obtain the boat operator's card, which is good for life.

Get your Operator Card in 3 easy steps by taking the boating exam

Step 1: Study the Online Course

Register and take chapter 1 for FREE!
Pay $49.50 + tax to complete the remaining 4 chapters
80% pass mark is required for chapter quizzes, in order to advance
3 hours of study time is required

Step 2: Take the Final Exam

Take the 50 question multiple-choice exam, 75% is required to pass
The exam is timed: 90 seconds per question, 1 hour and 15 minutes total.
This is an open book exam
If you fail, you may attempt the exam again for free after 24 hours
If you fail a second time, you will need to take the online course again (FREE)

Step 3: Get the Card!

Print your temp card immediately
Permanent card is mailed to you in 4 weeks
Go boating immediately, the card is good for life across Canada and never expires

Street Games - Do Your Kids Play Them?

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:02:00 +0000

Recently I had the opportunity to watch New York Street Games DVD complete with a game instruction book. I really enjoyed watching the interviews with various celebrities that lived in New York City. Their descriptions of what games they played as youth were funny and entertaining. I have worked in the field of recreation my entire career and I can certainly say that children learn so many skills from free play. Children learn fine and gross motor skills and most importantly they learn social skills (and emotional intelligence). As a mom I can say that I want to ensure my children get enough exercise (a national problem amongst this generation of children) and allowing your children to play outside gives them an easy opportunity to get their daily exercise. Lastly, play is a great stress reliever (since our children are under constant pressure in school and formal activities). So if you need inspiration - please pick up a copy of the DVD available on Amazon.com.

Family Friendly Neighbourhoods in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:08:00 +0000

When it comes to making house-hunting families happy, parents and realtors alike put access to good schools, community centres and well-rounded amenities at the top of their wish lists. Some parents cite more intangible attributes—small-town feel and community spirit—while others value urban diversity and commuter convenience. Checklist in hand, we searched for neighbourhoods that offered as many family benefits as possible. Here, the 10 that came out on top.

The Beach is as close to living in a resort town as you’ll get in Toronto, complete with lakeside boardwalk and a stroll-worthy shopping district. “The Beach has a small town feel to it,” says Valerie Schmitchen, 50, who has lived here for 15 years with her husband and two children. “It feels like we’re connected to the people in our neighbourhood rather than just the businesses.” Schmitchen says she loves being close to the city’s core while still having enough amenities at her doorstep that downtown trips aren’t neccesary. With its annual jazz and arts and crafts festivals, the Beach also bustles with activities the whole family can enjoy.
South Riverdale’s population is a mix of professionals and creative types. Of particular family appeal: the many parks, the shopping strip along the Danforth and easy subway access. Tanya Gallus, who lives here with her husband and two young children, was drawn to the area by both its amenities (daycare, toy store, grocery store, subway access) and its diversity. “It is perfectly normal to my daughter that some kids have two mommies,” she says. “And I love that.
Think of Leslieville as tomorrow’s Riverdale. (Indeed, the City of Toronto seems to have done just that, as they’ve rolled the neighbourhood of Leslieville into the larger district of South Riverdale.) With housing prices high, it can be difficult for young families to buy into more established neighbourhoods. As a result, many have ventured into emerging neighbourhoods like Leslieville, says Chestnut Park Real Estate’s Kara Reed. Tim Millan and his wife Leslie were drawn to the area eight years ago by its affordability. Two kids later, they’re still there, opting to stay even as their fortunes have improved. “I grew up in Cabbagetown and saw that neighbourhood transform,” says Millan. “I see that same potential here. It’s a great place to be and is only getting better.”
Zannat Reza, 34, and her husband have lived in Bloor West Village since their daughter, Raisa, was born three years ago. On the Bloor subway line, the neighbourhood has become a favourite for families. “One of the things we sacrificed by living close to the city is the size of our backyard,” says Reza. But that trade-off was made easier by the family’s proximity to High Park, 399 acres of green space complete with a small zoo, an adventure playground and a large pond. Not only does Raisa thrive on being outdoors, but Reza identifies having access to High Park as a community-building opportunity. “You get to talking to other parents and the kids get to know each other. It’s invaluable,” she says.
Etobicoke’s The Kingsway has established itself as a family community that feels as close-knit as some downtown neighbourhoods while still offering the benefits of suburban life—like bigger lots and more green space. That’s what drew Colette Pearson and her husband, Todd, to the area. “It’s like a suburb within the city,” she says. “I can walk everywhere and things are in close proximity, but it has a more suburban feel.”

Content Courtesy of : Toronto Life

Why I Love My Neighbourhood - Willowdale!

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:55:00 +0000

I love my neighbourhood because we can walk to everything we need -
swimming pool, grocery stores, library and parks. I love taking walks
with my son to Mel Lastman Square in the summer just to see if
something's going on. There's usually a variety of cultural events
that we can experience. The best is hopping on the subway - even if
we're not going anywhere because my son loves to rife the train!

Submitted by: Lori T.

Why I love My Neighbourhood - Norseman/Sunnylea

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:28:00 +0000

I live just south of Bloor St., between Islington and Royal York Rds. I love my neighbourhood. Why? We are still totally TTC accessible, but we have a bit more space between the houses. There are TONS of families who live here, so we are always bumping into friends. We live by all the conveniences that one could need, so we can walk, bike, scoot to just about any destination.

The playgrounds are great, and shady, which doesn’t always happen. There is water of all kinds – the creek, the splash pad, the wading pool.

The school (Norseman JMS) is great – we have had such great teachers teaching our kids and the administration is responsive as well. People really seem to care about how things are working, and will step in to right any wrongs. For example, last summer a bunch of families got together to mow the parks while the city workers were on strike.

But I guess the best thing that I love about my neighbourhood is that we live in it! Home is where you hang your hat, and Toronto is a pretty darn good place to be.

Written by: Lara Dominguez

You can submit your entry up until June 4, 2010!

Why I love My Neighbourhood- Yonge & Sheppard!

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Tue, 25 May 2010 05:33:00 +0000

My family and I live at Yonge and Sheppard, north of Sheppard and West of Yonge in a bungalow that was built in 1955. My daughters and I love the neighbourhood for many reasons:

1. The people are so fantastic. We have a wonderful mix of people at many stages of their life, families, middle-age couples, retirees and so many different cultures!

2. The amenities in the area are unmatched! We are a 10 minute walk from the Yonge subway line, two major movie theatres, Mel Lastman Square and civic offices, North York Central Library that offers many family oriented drop-in programs and a huge array of books, great restaurants and the Douglas Snow Acquatic Centre. We also have the North York Centre for the Performing Arts and the Solar Stage Theatre that puts on performances for children throughout the year and offers drama camp in the summer!

3. Earl Bales Park is right around the corner! There is a fantastic nature area for walking and having picnics. And there is great skiing and snowboarding during the winter months.

4. The under construction Bathurst Jewish Community Centre is a great meeting places for all members of the community in the neighbourhood. It will be a state of the art fitness and community centre facility.

5. The new Edithvale community centre that is currently under construction. Many city and privately run community programs are offered here. It is a real hub of community activity.

Having lived in Toronto my entire life and for all of it until I moved to this neighbourhood south of the 401, I can honestly say I have hit the jackpot. It is so quiet here, the people are very friendly and unassuming. The neighbourhood is in flux as older homes like ours are being torn down and large beautiful homes are taking their place. We are so fortunate to live here and I am lucky to be raising my two daughters in such a neighbourhood.

Amanda Bertoia

Outdoor Play Groups- Play in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:49:00 +0000

A lot of the time it is hard to know how to start things. Like changing a habit or how we can get more outdoor time. Finding an outdoor program or the occasional family trip to nature is a good start, but let’s make a point to discover the everyday nature first.Remember that local park or ravine in your community. Little explorers are not born to skiing on Whistler or hiking the Rocky Mountains. Exploring starts in your neighborhood, in your backyard and in the many natural space you can find around you.

Organizing outdoor playgroups
Leigh, Debra, Mari, Kristen and Cinza are all organizing outdoor playgroups in their communities in Toronto. Free and open to anyone who wants join. Why do they do it?
Debra organizes so she makes sure that she has one set day that she gets out of the house.
Mari is an active woman and loves to spend time outside. Her passion in life is skiing and wants to meet like minded parents and kids.
Designer Kristen has a quite connection to nature that she wishes to foster in her children. She is a walker and loves to discover bugs and create nature art.
Cinza is a new mom and a runner who looks forward to connecting with other moms for a high energy stroller tour around her neighborhood.
Leigh is a busy mom of two and mom entrepreneur who hosts a group in Etobicoke.

Grassroots without any rules
Outdoor playgroups get organized differently for individual reasons. Some have one activity when they meet while others are constantly changing. An outdoor playgroup is not meant to be a program or service to any particular parent, it is suppose to be a place where parents discover nature, play together and build connections between parents, their kids and nature.
It is not any different than a indoor playgroup, other than it is just outside. The beauty of an outdoor playgroup is that it is inherently grassroots. There are no rules how you are suppose to do it.
At Activekidsclub.com we like to believe we are living dangerously when we live our motto; no bad weather, only bad clothing. Basically we see ourselves as a part of nature and bad weather is... well it is natural.
Making sure that you get your outdoor time
Whether you love to be outside or maybe just want to live healthier and give your kids some much needed green time, being part of an outdoor playgroup is an excellent way to make sure that you get your daily nature time. It is more fun in groups. As an added bonus, it can create friendships among both the kids and the parents.
Wanna start an outdoor playgroup where you live?
Join Debra, Mari, Cinza and Kristen here at Activekidsclub.com and start your own outdoor playgroup. Collectively we know a thing or two about organizing a group and what to do outside so we have created some useful tools for you. We bet you have lots of other ideas that we would of never though of without your input. Together we can move mountains.

This is how you do it
Register at Activekidsclub.com
Read How to create an outdoor playgroup
Join us on our forum with questions
DOWNLOAD Outdoor Outdoor playgroup flyer
Add a new outdoor playgroup in our forum and we will set you up with a blog
Add images to our photo gallery

Get into the discussion and be a champion for getting your kids outside.

Get Out and Play!

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:44:00 +0000

If ever you needed to be inspired to be outside more often with your family you need to watch this video by Active Kids Club.

How walkable is your neighbourhood?

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:28:00 +0000

I came across this really interesting web link called "How walkable is your Neighbourhood?" www.walkscore.com . Find out your score as you might find the results exciting!

Active Kids Club & Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:48:00 +0000

The recent news about Haiti is heartbreaking, and we are all thinking about what we can do for the children of Haiti. Susana, a friend of ours, is making cupcakes for Haiti from her house this Saturday. It is a lemonade stand like event where she and her family are selling the cupcakes with the proceeds to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

You might be wondering what does this have to do with outdoor play? It has everything to do with building an outdoor community and getting people outside for a good cause. It helps parent and kids come together and hopefully to play together while helping those who are in so much need that play could be the last thing on their minds..

Chip Danoe, organizer of a nature club in Virginia, http://kidsadventuring.org/blog/ hosted a walk in their park to fundraise for a local food bank.

Which makes me think that we should all try to organize fundraisers in 2010 for Haiti, based on getting kids outside in our communities. Haiti is going to need a lot of help in the year coming, not just the next few months. So we want to challenge everyone to organize outdoor fundraising events. Let us create an outdoor play movement to fundraise for Haiti... Action For Haiti, Skating for Haiti, Sledding for Haiti, Skiing for Haiti, Walk in the Park for Haiti, Snow Art for Haiti, Bike in the Forest for Haiti… It does not matter how big or small the event, just do it!

In “The Beach” outdoor playgroup, we are thinking about selling waffles and hot chocolate as part of our weekly outdoor playgroup for starters. We are also talking about organizing an outdoor ice-skating day or a sledding day (if we get some snow again) for Haiti relief. I know it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the damage in Port au Prince, but even if you raise $20 and drop it in a Red Cross collection box, the playgroup can feel like they have done something tangible. And who knows, maybe it will be much more AND you get to go outside while you are raising money.

When you are looking for organizations to give your funds, it is important that you choose a well know organization like Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders. (There have recently been a lot of spammers trying to get money without being a legal organization.)

Some ideas for what you can do in your neighborhood to get kids outside and raise money for Haiti.

Organize walks in your community

Sledding parties (a Sled-athon?)

Skating parties

Organize hikes in the park

Let the kids make snow art in the snow

Get to know the neighbors by walking in your neighborhood asking for donations to your cause.

Make bird food and sell it to people

Make seedlings to people and sell it (too early to do in cold climate)

Do you have any ideas to add?

Ka Boom Facebook Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Dear KaBOOM! Friend,

We've been challenged by a generous donor to increase the number of members we have on our Facebook Cause. And in challenging us, this special friend has offered to donate $5,000 if we can grow our Facebook Cause by 1,000 people for a total of 2,500 members or more!

That means if you're not already a member of the KaBOOM! Facebook Cause, you can secure $5 for KaBOOM! with just a few clicks of your mouse... or $50 by getting 10 friends to join the KaBOOM! Facebook Cause.

By helping us build our Facebook Cause, you also help spread the word about the importance of play. As a member of the KaBOOM! online community, you know that the time children spend playing builds imagination and character, as well as muscles. It's time spent learning how to make friends and gain vital social skills. These benefits stay with kids for the rest of their lives.

Today we're asking you to think about our children's future. When you join or recruit friends to the KaBOOM! Facebook Cause, you bring us closer to meeting our $5,000 challenge!

Thanks to people like you, we've built over 1,700 playgrounds, enriching the lives of countless children in cities and small towns all across America. Your support means the world to us... and to boys and girls who share smiles and laughter thanks to KaBOOM!.

Yours in Play,

Your friends at KaBOOM!

Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:53:00 +0000

HOLIDAY CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

At Home:

Use timers throughout your home to control indoor lighting.

Motion sensor flood lights are an excellent choice for outdoors and double as a silent alarm when someone approaches.

Shopping:

In large crowds, your children can quickly become separated from you. Carry a complete description of their physical appearance, clothing worn that day and an up to date photograph. In the event police are called to conduct a search this information will be invaluable.

Never leave your purse or wallet unattended even for a moment and don’t carry credit cards or other identification with you e.g. passports, SIN card or birth certificate if you are not using them on a regular basis.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Remember to always shield your PIN number and watch where your credit card goes when you hand it over to the sales agent.

Park your car in a well lit area and try to leave the store with a group of people. Look inside your vehicle before getting in and inspect around your car before driving off.

Place your purchases in the trunk out of sight. If your vehicle is a hatchback cover your parcels with a blanket.

Don’t overburden yourself with parcels. Frequent trips to and from your car will make this easier and your shopping experience much more enjoyable.

Keep one arm free at all times.

Have your keys in your hand and ready as your approach your vehicle.

Away for the Holidays:

Have a friend or neighbour regularly check the house, collect the mail, pickup the newspaper and shovel the snow.

Christmas Garbage:

This Christmas, please, DO NOT advertise to strangers passing by what Santa brought you this year. Full size cartons with giant coloured photos on the outside of the box telling everyone that you just got a brand new 52” plasma TV or other new electronic device is not a message you want potential thieves having knowledge of. Break down the boxes and tie them up before placing them out for garbage collection.

PACT's One Village Care In South Etobicoke

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:38:00 +0000

PACT's One Village Care is a South Etobicoke community awareness and engagement initiative designed to identify and address the fundamental social issues that prohibits our growth as a community.

These issues include:

        • at-risk youth
        • poverty
        • social neglect
        • environmental sustainability

In partnership with our community, PACT's One Village Care Initiative seeks to build the most innovative and effective social delivery programs that help build a sustainable model for social change.

PACT’s One Village Care Initiative is a Call-To-Action for South Etobicoke to gather around the table, and help define the common language that promotes our growth as a community.

By providing community members with the ability to think freely and talk openly, we can begin to address the fundamental social issues we seek to change. Only by understanding what we have in common, as a community, can we begin to produce a cycle of empowered and socially integrated individuals and families

Let the power of one become the power of many.

Aviva Community Fund - Win a chance to improve your Community!

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:06:00 +0000

The Aviva Community Fund competition is giving you the chance to voice an idea that will create a lasting change in your community. The most popular ideas, as chosen by Canadians, will have a chance at sharing in the $500,000 Aviva Community Fund.

They are holding a competition with 3 opening rounds, where you can enter your idea or support your favourites. At the end of each round, 20 ideas go through to the Semi-Finals, and those that don't make it through are still in the running. They will have their vote count reset to 0 and are automatically entered into the next qualifying round. That means everyone has up to 3 chances to compete to be one of the 62 semi-finalists.

Boo! Who sent it?

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Today I woke up and went outside to get the newspaper and guess what was waiting for me? A orange pumpkin bag, inside was a note (read below), with a bottle of wine, a pair of socks for my oldest son and a pumpkin bib for my youngest son. The note read like this: BOO

The air is cool, the season is fall
soon Boo's will come to all.

The treat that came with the special note
Is yours to keep, enjoy them both.

The fun comes with friends like you
now copy this and make it two.

Then others here among our friends,
will give warm fuzzies that will never end.

We'll all have smiles upon our face,
no one will know who BOOed each place.

Just one short day to work your fun,
or a big ZAP will strike, SO RUN!

And don't forget a nifty treat,
like something cute or something sweet.

Please join the fun, let's really hear it,
and spread some Boo's and lot's of spirit.

Directions:
1. Enjoy your treat.
2. Place the picture of your BOO on your front door.
3. Now you have 24 hours to copy this twice, make 2 treats and 2 BOO's and secretly deliver them to 2 neighbors who do not have BOO on their front door.
4. Then watch how far this spreads by Halloween.

Guess what? I am now going shopping now to surprise 2 of my neighbours with a halloween surprise. Do you think you might want do the same?

How to Organize a Successful and Fun Neighborhood Block Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:57:00 +0000

I’m sure you’ve heard of the popular yard and garage sales and have probably had one or more of your own. Yard sales are a great way to make some extra money while de-cluttering your home of unused items. An even better method of doing this is to organize a neighborhood block sale. Anyone in your neighborhood can participate and each family has a sale at their own home. The beauty of a neighborhood block sale is that you draw a huge crowd of customers by having many individual sales at the same time and in the same neighborhood.

Instructions

Decide on a date that will best suit the neighborhood to have the sale. It’s best to plan and advertise the sale about one month before the actual sale to give your neighbors plenty of time to gather their sale items. Think about weather conditions in your area, holidays that may be coming up and anything that would prevent neighborhood participation. You won’t be able to please everyone with the date, but you want a date that will get the most participation. Saturday is the preferred day for a block sale and usually a little before school starts or before summer begins.
Create and print plenty of flyers to advertise the neighborhood block sale once the date has been decided upon. Be clear about the date, the starting and ending time of the sale, precise directions and that this is a neighborhood sale, not just an individual’s sale. List a few sale items of interest that your neighbors have told you they will be selling, such as electronics, baby items, furniture or tools. List items that may relate to the time period you are having the sale, such as nearly-new school clothes, if you are having the sale just before school starts. Be sure to include a rain date in case you have to cancel due to bad weather.
Post the flyers in stores or anywhere they will have visibility. Pass the flyers out in your neighborhood so your neighbors will be aware of the sale. Consider advertising on a local paper and through social media sites.
Ask friends or family members who have items to sell, to bring them to your sale. Even if they don’t live in your neighborhood, they can participate and this means more variety for your customers and more earnings for everyone.
Have a BBQ after the event to celebrate your success!
Gather your committee after the sale, to discuss anything that can be improved upon for next year’s sale. Get word out that the neighborhood plans to make this an annual and fun event! Consider having a neighbourhood BBQ afterwards to celebrate your success! Content courtesy of E-How

My Cottage Community

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Do you live or spend time in a cottage community? Every summer I do and I have come to really appreciate it through the eyes of my children. Check out the story I wrote for
Active Kids Club

World Wide Day of Play

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Grass Stain Guru tell us that Saturday, September 26th is the World wide Day of Play. Of course, around these parts, EVERY DAY is a day of play. It’s also National Public Lands Day — a day when you can give back to the parks, trails, and public lands that enrich your life.

There are thousands of events at schools, parks, and recreation centers going on around the country. Find out what’s going on near you and take a day to connect with your community.

How will you celebrate? What can you do to honor the role play plays in enriching your life and the lives of the children in your world? Let me know — I would love to hear about it! (Content courtesy of Grass Stain Guru)

Host a Great Play Day and you could receive $10,000

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Host a great Play Day and you could receive $10,000 from NFL PLAY 60 to improve a playspace!

Learn more.
What is a Play Day?

Play Day [plā-dā] –noun
1. a free, fun-for-the-whole-family outdoor event that celebrates play
2. KIDS + FUN + PLAY
3. See also: block party, backyard BBQ, day of service ex. 1: Hopscotch + Flower Planting + Hot Dogs = Play Day

How you do it is up to you, the only rule is to have fun! We’ve created this turn-key program to help you plan a terrific event for your community that celebrates the fact that PLAY MATTERS.

Using their Play Day Planner they'll guide you step-by-step to plan, organize, and execute your Play Day. Join hundreds of others hosting their events between Sept.19 and Sept. 27, 2009!

Follow these easy steps to get started today!

Step 1: Click the purple “Plan a Play Day” button above
Step 2: On the next page, sign-up for a KaBOOM! account by clicking “Join KaBOOM!” in the yellow box.
Step 3: Check your email for the confirmation email from us.
Step 4: On the Plan a Play Day page, enter a name for your Play Day, a location, a tentative date, your mailing information.
Step 5: Start your Play Day!

For more information visit here

Halifax, Nova Scotia Good Neighbours, Great Neighbourhoods Web Site

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh Mitchell) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:20:00 +0000

I came across this web site and think it is a great inspiration for community development and promoting good will amongst neighbours! Residents are encouraged to submit stories about great neighbours (or neighbourhoods). You can print a great neighbour thank you card and there are tons of resources such as how to plan a block party, clean up day, and much more. Here is the link to see this great web site: http://myhrm.ca