Anne's Blog for Mississauga Kids…

According to Wikipedia:

In most of Canada, Family Day is a statutory holiday  occurring on the third Monday in February. This corresponds with Presidents Day in the United States. In the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, the statutory holiday on this date is instead termed Louis Riel Day and Islander Day, respectively.

And…

After Dalton McGuinty’s appointment as premier was supported by the election, McGuinty advised the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario   David Onley  to establish Family Day on 11 October 2007, with the first being observed on 18 February 2008. Its creation raised Ontario’s number of public holidays to nine per year, Unionized workers whose collective agreements do not yet include this holiday will continue to work on Family Day.

My Husband, ever the cynic, loves to joke about this holiday.  “They should call it:  Please Oh Please Vote For Me and I’ll Give You a Day Off in February Just Like the American’s Have Day.” Which refers of course to the above paragraph.

My 16 year old son does not care how it came about.  He does not care why it came about.  He does not care what it is suppose to celebrate.  He is however delighted that he can sleep in and does not have to go to school.

I however find this newly generated holiday quite interesting. It is interesting to me that the holiday also arrives close to Valentine’s Day.  When I was young and in love Valentine’s Day was all about doing romantic stuff with your boyfriend and dinner out and roses and candy.  I’m older now, and still in love, but once you have kids past the age of 2 it becomes more about them.  You find yourself hanging heart shaped cling-ons on the big glass patio door.   You make heart shaped pancakes for breakfast.  You help them fill out the little Valentine’s Day Cards for their class.  Rolling Family Day and Valentine’s Day up into one long weekend Family Love Fest is certainly an appropriate way to go.

The first year it was held it seemed no one knew quite what to do with themselves.  That is slowly changing as families and businesses start to  form new traditions.  The City of Mississauga has really stepped up to fill a void.  Many of the usual fun places to go will be closed that day, but it is the perfect day to set aside to get out and get active with your kids.  If you check our website you will find an article with some great ideas on Family Day Activities in Mississauga.

As we explore this new holiday families will begin developing traditions of their own.  Our family went up to the cottage  for the last 2 Family Days.  It is more like luxury camping in the winter.  There is no running water.  We bucket water up from a hole my husband drills in the lake so we can flush the toilet.  We do have electric heat, the refrigerator, stove and the tiny TV that is not hooked up to cable all work.  We read books, play board games, and force our son to watch old black and white movies.  (Because of this he knows that:  “Badges?  We don’t need no stinking badges!” is not an original Cheech and Chong line, but actually comes from the 1948 movie “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” with Humphry Bogart.)

This year however we will be staying in Mississauga.  My son is taking his WSI (Water Safety Instructors) course with the city and needs to be in town Sunday afternoon.  And that’s okay!  The Olympics are going to be starting that week and we are going to love watching those on our high def TV in the city.  So I think I’ll cook up something yummy for dinner (TBD) and I’ll take some time to make a home made chocolate cake with white icing in my heart shaped cake tins.  It’s going to be a cozy relaxed Olympic Family Valentine at our house!

What does Family Day mean to you?  What will you be doing?  If you leave us a comment about Family Day below AND fill out our contest form you’ll be entered to win a Playdium family prize pack of 4 X 160 credit Playcards valid anytime!  For rules and additional details check our Mississauga Kids Contest Page!

It is being reported in the Mississauga News that the Salvation Army has issued a warning to the residents of Mississauga regarding a door-to-door Santa Scam.

On Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009 complaints were received about a man dressed as Santa going door to door soliciting money donations for the church’s annual Christmas Holiday fund raising campaign. This man is NOT authorized to collect donations for the Salvation Army.

“It’s not good, is what it is,” said Capt. John Murray, who believes tough economic times are behind the scam.

“Desperate times, desperate measures … some (people) are trying to take advantage of people to put money into their own pockets,” he said.

It is important to remember that the Salvation Army does NOT go house to house. They do collect donations through a direct mail campaign, a Santa Schuffle Fun Run and the traditional Christmas Kettles located in Mississauga Malls and stores.

Donations are also accepted online at www.SalvationArmy.ca or at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800 725-2769)

We at Mississauga Kids find this crime to be especially despicable. Santa comes to your door and asks you for money for a good cause in front of the kids and you have to turn him away. We suggest you say something like: “Santa it is lovely to see you and we will be delighted to make a donation to the Salvation Army but we are going to do it online this year, or at the kettle at the Mall when we’re shopping for Aunt Betsy! Say good night to Santa kids you know he is very busy and has other people to visit.” Then call Peel Region Police to report the incident.

If you are looking for places to see the real Santa in Mississauga this year please check our website www.MississaugaKids.com.

Christmas Traditions in Mississauga and around the world.

Our family has always celebrated Christmas. When I was a little girl we would go to a Christmas tree farm and bring home a tree and decorate it. My father would, under my mothers careful direction, make sure the tree stood straight in the stand. He would string the lights on the tree and my mother would fuss over the bulbs unscrewing them and rearranging them to ensure that there were not to many flashing bulbs in one area and that the colored bulbs were distributed in an esthetically pleasing way.

We would go to see go to sit on Santa’s lap much like Mississauga Kids go to sit on Santa’s Lap now. We would bring our carefully written out notes for him. We would promise to leave milk and cookies for him and carrots for his eight beautiful reindeer. He would carefully promise to do his best to bring us something we would like.

Christmas Eve we hung our stockings by the chimney with care and went to bed and tried to sleep. Do you remember how hard it was to fall asleep on Christmas Eve when you were little? Do you remember wondering if that bump or creak on the roof was Santa’s sleigh? When we finally fell asleep Santa and his elves would work their Christmas Magic.

Christmas morning there were presents from Santa under the tree and the stocking were filled with fun little treats and funny little prizes. The cookie plate was empty and the milk was drunk. The carrots were missing as well. Sometimes we’d find a few bits of carrot left over in the snow.

Here’s hoping Santa can make sure every child gets a little something special this year.

If you think you’d like to help him please click here! – Peel Region Police Toy Drive

Do you have holiday memories to share? Christmas , Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or others we’d love to have you post them below!

The students of Montessori Works School will have a special treat on their annual “Trick or Treat” visit to the Village of Erin Meadows Long Term Care Centre on Saturday October 31, 2009. They will dress up in their favourite costumes and parade on the main street of this facility. The residents of this centre will cheer the children as they parade and give out treats.

It is a wonderful opportunity to create an intergenerational program that fosters a community spirit in Mississauga. Montessori Works is fortunate to be part of this program and supports the efforts of the centre in making its presence.

Halloween is a hoot for children and dressing up for a parade with an appreciative audience can only be FUN!

If you are looking for more information on Halloween Events for Mississauga visit our website! www.MississaugaKids.com

Mississauga Kids Canadian Thanksgiving

Next weekend will be the weekend Canadian’s celebrate Thanksgiving. Mississauga families will gather together and share good food and tell old family stories. Some will go out of town to be with families. Some will go north to the cottage to begin the task of closing up. Some will be going to Alpha’s Discovery Centre’s 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Celebration!

I recently found some great video footage on the New York Times website. The first video shows you how to roast a turkey in 45 minutes! Now that could really come in handy if you are working around the cottage all day! Maybe you’d rather be out enjoying one last ride around the lake? The second video shows you how to carve a turkey properly. I don’t know about you but this is an annual debate in my family! I do hope you find both those links useful!

Canadian Living Magazine has a very useful web page with a list of Thanksgiving Recipes. You can find everything there from Air-dried Bison with Roasted Beet and Pear Salad to Wine Poached Baby Apples with Cipollini. I dare say you’ll find a recipe for stuffing there that will be much better than Stove Top Stuffing!

There are lots of fun craft ideas to do with the kids for Canadian Thanksgiving. They can make a cute little turkey note holder magnet for Grandma’s refrigerator. They can trace their hands and feet and turn them into a great turkey door decoration to give to Uncle Mike. When I was little my siblings and I would always spend the morning making the place cards for the Thanksgiving table.

Whatever you do to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family remember to take time out to remember the reason for the day. Let’s all be thankful for the blessing we have, both large and small. Why not take a moment to leave me a comment about what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving!

Anne is thankful for all her friends and family and even her crazy airedale terrier. She has a degree in Elementary Education for the State University of New York at New Paltz. She lives with her husband and son in Ontario and publishes Mississauga Kids an online resource for families featuring Mississauga Private Schools, Tutors, After School Activities and great articles for parents from anywhere!

This year Canada Day falls on a Wednesday.  Some people will be disappointed that it does not make for a convienent way to make a long weekend.  But I have found that when the holiday falls on a day in the middle of the week people often take time to be more mindful of the meaning of the day.  It becomes less about a weekend to bum off and more about what the holiday means.

There will be several Canada Day Celebrations in Mississauga.  There will be one at the City Centre with Mayor Hazel kicking off the festivities.  There will be a miniature yacht regatta in the reflecting pool and a ton of activities for the kids.  Of course there will be fireworks in the evening.

Port Credit will hold their annual “Paint the Town Red” Event.  There will be a “Oh Canada” sing along and a cake cutting ceremony.  Memorial Park will host some great Music and in the evening… fireworks!

Streetsville will celebrate Canada Day with a celebration in the evening.   Beginining at 6pm there will be a procession lead by the Streetsville Pipes & Drums & Colored Party and the Streetsville Cadet Corp followed with the Singing of O’Canada.  Mayor Hazel will preside over the cake cutting ceremony at 7 pm.  Hey that Mayor Hazel sure gets around doesn’t she!  After the ceremony there will be music and the traditional fireworks at 10 pm.

We at Mississauga Kids would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Canada Day.  We would like to remind you that there are 3 different locations in Mississauga where you can watch fireworks safely.  Please consider attending one of these events in lieu of shooting off your own fireworks.  Every year there are stories of children who get injured at family fireworks displays.  Lets make this Canada Day a safe one.