I SPY Montreal » Area

Superkidz Day Care Open House

Jessica Howard — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:07:36 +0000

Superkidz, a brand-spanking new daycare in the Pierrefonds area, is holding an open house soon so that parents can see what it’s all about.

Superkidz welcomes babies, toddlers and preschoolers
Superkidz offers child care for up to 150 children, ranging from infants to age 5. The day care’s website offers a virtual tour of the centre, showing bright, modern rooms, an indoor gym and outdoor play areas, plus bonuses like a media room/library and computer lab stations in each toddler class.

Bilingual Educational Program
The educational program is bilingual, and additional activities – including yoga, dance and science – are offered at no extra cost. Meals are catered and the daily menu is designed to surpass Canada Food Guide standards.

Superkidz Open House
To see the Superkidz facility and meet the staff, drop in at the open house on Sunday, June 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 12995 Pierrefonds Blvd., corner Fredmir.
Call 514-683-8898 for more information.

I Spy Montreal Interview: La Culotte à l’Envers

Jessica Howard — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:25:45 +0000

A boutique/café recently opened in Rosemont-La Petite Patrie that’s a family business through and through. Barbara and Johanna Vyncke, who are both moms and sisters, started La Culotte à l’Envers to offer clothing for children age 0 to 10, as well as a comfy café for parents with babies. In the following interview, Barbara talks about why they decided to open the Masson St. shop, and tips us off to some other family-friendly spots in the area.

I Spy Montreal: What made you and your sister decide to start La Culotte à l’Envers?

Barbara Vyncke: We had both been speaking for some time about starting a project together. We were both on maternity leave and were looking for a new professional challenge, so we thought more deeply about our interests, as well as our complementary strengths and skills. With Johanna’s keen interest in kids clothing and my business background, a neighbourhood children’s clothing boutique was a natural fit!

I Spy Montreal: When did you decide to add the café?

Barbara Vyncke: We both quickly loved the idea of opening a small neighbourhood boutique but we also wanted to have a social aspect to our business venture. We had many of our discussions relating to our project at a café-boutique in NDG and we both knew how important it was to us to have access to spaces in the community which were child friendly, so it was a natural fit to combine the two in one space.

I Spy Montreal: How old are your own children and how are you balancing childcare with running the new business?

Barbara Vyncke: We have three children between us, aged between 2 and 5 and we are very lucky to have wonderful day cares for them. Although starting a business requires a lot of time at the onset, one of the reasons we wanted to be entrepreneurs was to be able to dedicate more time to our families and have a more flexible schedule once the store is running well and we have a few employees assisting us.

I Spy Montreal: What is one of your favourite products at the store?

Barbara Vyncke: There are so many it is difficult to choose! In terms of clothing, OOM offers very cute collections, all made in Quebec from organic cotton. Our other ‘coup de coeur’ is Red Fish Kids, a collection from Vancouver, for its alternative look and amazing dresses.

I Spy Montreal: Can you share a favourite family outing or destination in your area?

Barbara Vyncke: Rosemont is bustling with new families and has many kid-friendly spots. One of our favorite is a breakfast place called La Grand Mère Poule on Masson, which offers a children’s play area.

Another is Tik Tak Toc, the local toy store. On the community side, the Joujouthèque de Rosemont offers a wonderful toy-sharing program and Cinema Beaubien is one of the last true community cinemas and hosts the annual Children’s Film Festival.

I Spy Montreal: Great to meet you Barbara! Best wishes with the business!

La Culotte à L’Envers
Where: 3162 Masson St., between 9th and 10th Ave., Rosemont La Petite-Patrie

Amusements Spectaculaires 2012 Montreal Tour

Jessica Howard — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:58:42 +0000

Amusements Spectaculaires, which sets up temporary fairgrounds in and around Montreal, starts its 2012 tour on May 3.

The fairgrounds are often constructed in parking or empty lots, and are usually up and running from Thursday through the weekend. The fairs happening this weekend are in Lachine and St. Léonard.

Amusements Spectaculaires fairs are typically great for children age 2 to 6, with many small-scale rides, mazes, ferris wheels, carrousels and small roller coasters.

The downside is that there are tons of games where you pay to win stuffed animals. Although the game operators typically make sure that young players “win” at least one of the smaller stuffed animals, expect that kids will want to keep playing (and paying!) for the giant stuffed gorillas.

Though there typically are food kiosks, it’s usually casse-croûte style, so if you want healthy food, bring your own or plan to eat elsewhere.

Amusements Spectaculaires
When: May 3 to 6. On Saturdays and Sundays, the fair sites are typically open from noon to 10 p.m., depending on the weather.
Where: Carrefour Langelier, St. Léonard. (View map) and Galerie Lachine, 2824 Remembrance Rd., Lachine (View map)

I Spy Parent Interview: The Great Cloth Diaper Change!

Jessica Howard — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:25:56 +0000

Today we’re meeting Samantha Cockburn, owner of BabyAuric cloth diaper service. Baby Auric has been working with Bummis cloth diaper boutique to organize a Montreal event that’s part of the global Great Cloth Diaper Change.

I Spy Montreal: Hi Samantha, please introduce yourself!

Samantha: Over 5 years ago, I started BabyAuric, and have since been running Montreal’s only cloth diaper service. Both my kids have used our service, as well as hundreds and hundreds of other bottoms around Montreal, the West Island and South Shore.

I Spy Montreal: What is the Great Cloth Diaper Change?

Samantha: The Great Cloth Diaper Change is a global effort to outdo the Guinness World Record set in 2011 – when 5,026 babies were changed into cloth diapers at the very same minute. Bummis & BabyAuric, the Montreal organizers, plan to host more than 100 cloth diaper babies and their families at this year’s event, doubling last year’s numbers.

The goal of this event is to create awareness of cloth diapering as an affordable, easy to use alternative for parents. The fact is that today’s cloth diapers are surprisingly easy to use, and using cloth diapers will prevent at least one ton of garbage per baby from ending up in our landfills.

Diaper services deliver to your door, but cost the same or less than using disposables. Buying and washing your own cloth diapers will save you about $2,000.

Not only that, but cloth diapers are now incredibly cute and very comfortable. If you are thinking pins and plastic pants, think again! Snaps, Velcro and high-tech comfort fabrics have changed everything.

Bummis and BabyAuric encourage both parents and the media to attend this fun-filled family event. Spend the day before Earth Day 2012 with us to show your support for this important environmental initiative. Find out more about why Quebec leads the world in diaper subsidy programs, and how to encourage your municipality to offer subsidies for cloth diaper purchases!

The official record breaking event will be taking place at 12:30 p.m. at 4302 St. Laurent Blvd. Arrive around noon for opening ceremonies. Extra cloth diapers will be on hand for those who need something to change into!

I Spy Montreal: We hear there are gift bags? Can you give any hints about them?

Samantha: To date there are over $5,000 worth of raffle prizes. Plus there will be face-painting, story time, baby yoga, snacks and more!

Very important: Pre-register to participate at http://gcdcmontreal.eventbrite.ca and get a free gift bag! Our suppliers and partners have been incredibly generous: baby balms, wash cloths, pacifier chains, toothbrushes, bibs, sunglasses, swim diapers…and that is just a small sampling.

For more information: Jamie Wolfe (514 831-9688) or Samantha Cockburn (514 483-2874), or visit http://www.facebook.com/GCDCMontreal

I Spy Montreal: Can you share a favourite family weekend activity?

Samantha: As for weekend activities, you have already said a lot about sugar shacks, however we recently celebrated my daughter’s 3rd birthday at the Chalet des Érables in Ste. Anne des Plaines. It is a busy place, but only about 40 minutes from the city and incredibly well set up for a full day of kid fun.

My 3-year-old loved the big bouncy castles and merry-go-round, while my 6-year-old son went on a mini 4-wheeler (twice!) and even a roller coaster. Exciting times! The food was good with efficient service and the whole thing was reasonably priced. All in all, a successful family day.

Star Wars: Identities at the Montreal Science Centre

Jessica Howard — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:03:16 +0000

When your four-year-old tells you that he wants you to find him a General Grievous costume for Halloween, you know that he’s wayyyy into Star Wars. He really wanted to go beyond the hackneyed Darth Vader routine, but it turns out Grievous costumes weren’t as widely available as he anticipated, so Darth it was.

There are many indications of Star Wars fandom in our house: the growing collection of Star Wars vehicles and figures, the Darth Vader alarm clock, the glow-in-the-dark light sabres that make irritating noises, the hard-cover character compendiums, and the father who is saving up to buy himself the 3,803-piece Lego Death Star. Until then, we make do with The Star Wars Craft Book. See those magnets?

So you can bet your wookiees we’ll be checking out Star Wars: Identities – a new exhibition starting at the Montreal Science Centre from April 19 to Sept. 16. The exhibition includes props, costumes and art work from the films, as well as background on how the movies were made. There is also an interactive identity quest, which invites participants to create their own Star Wars heroes.

It’s a relatively pricey outing, with family passes going for $63; throw in parking and a bite to eat and it’s going to be $100. So, let’s hope the exhibition impresses kids more than, say, re-renting one of the Star Wars movies. And maybe there will even be a section for those of us still trying to undersand what the fuss is all about?

Some tips on the exhibit:

Buy tickets in advance online to avoid lineups at the centre; tours start at particular times. Tickets: adult $23, age 4 to 12, $13.50, family $63 (2 adults, 2 children). Get tickets.
The Science Center says to plan around 90 minutes for the visit
Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult
For lunch or snacks, the Science Centre has its own café/sandwich shop.

Star Wars: Identities
When: April 19 to Sept. 16, 2012
Where: Montreal Science Centre, Quays of the Old Port
Tickets: Adult $23, age 4 to 12, $13.50, family $63 (2 adults, 2 children). Get tickets. Ticket price includes admission to other Science Centre exhbitions.
Parking: Metered parking on surrounding streets, on-site parking lot $16/day.