I SPY Montreal » Workshops

Home Depot Workshops for Kids

Jessica Howard — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:09:15 +0000

Home Depot stores hold monthly workshops for kids, with one coming up on Saturday, Nov. 12. According to the website, this month’s project is a Remembrance Day-themed photo frame.

The workshops are free, last two hours, target age 4 to 12, and materials are provided. One parent is required to accompany the child at the workshop. All you have to do is register in advance on the site, which lets you choose a Home Depot location based on your postal code.

Home Depot Children’s Workshop: Remembrance Day frame
When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Home Depot locations around Montreal
Cost: Free, but registration required.

Exposcience 2011 in Pointe Claire

Jessica Howard — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:50:13 +0000

Pointe Claire’s Stewart Hall hosts the 28th annual Exposcience on Nov. 5 and 6. Staffed by Concordia University students and staff, the event introduces various scientific concepts in a fun, interactive way. Bonus: It’s absolutely free.

The indoor event welcomes families with activities geared to about age 4 and up, including an experimental race car, ice cream making and crime-scene investigation. Tip: There is no food onsite, but there are some casual cafés in the nearby Pointe Claire village.

Exposcience 2011
When: Nov. 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Stewart Hall, 176 Lakeshore Rd., Pointe Claire
Contact:514-630-1220

Main image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Book Reading: Ten Big Toes and a Prince’s Nose

Jessica Howard — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:31:50 +0000

This weekend, Montrealer Nancy Gow will be reading from and signing copies of her book Ten Big Toes and a Prince’s Nose at Balouni Enfants toy store on Nuns’ Island. On Sunday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m., you can hear the story of a princess and prince who are struggling with being “different”. In this short interview, Nancy talks about why she wrote the book. Keep reading for full details about the event.

I Spy Montréal: The book is about a princess with big feet and a prince with a giant nose. What inspired the story and what do you hope it inspires in children?

Nancy: I had come up with the idea for a refrain, I am what I am and that’s all right with me / I don’t have to be different, I just have to be . . . etc., but had no idea what kind of story could be built around it. Meanwhile, the rhythm and meter of the refrain were chugging along in the back of my mind for a couple of months. Then one warm spring day, just as I was about to have a nap, the words for the story started bubbling up from my subconscious.

The refrain has a lot of meaning for me because self-acceptance has been something I’ve worked on most of my life – and I know I’m not alone! If children can get a feeling of self-worth at a young age, they’re off to a good start. And reading about the humourous struggles of a big-footed princess and a big-nosed prince makes the story easily accessible.

ISM: The illustrations are such a big part of the story. Can you talk about how the images evolved from basic ideas?

Nancy: It comes as a big surprise to most people that I’ve never met or talked to the illustrator. He was working totally on his own, and when my editor asked me if I had suggestions for the art work, I gave her only one. I didn’t want to interfere with his creative process.

I did see early sketches and thought they were hilarious. It’s not easy to illustrate a princess with big feet skiing without skis, but he saw the story in romantic, wistful terms and drew from that perspective. He managed to portray the prince and princess in a comical yet compassionate way. And I love how he envisioned the snowy Alps and the courtly royal dances.

ISM: What do you like most about writing children’s books? Are you working on other books at the moment?

Nancy: Writing for children is much freer and more fun than writing for adults. I can be quite silly, and I just love to play with words. Recently, I finished a collection of poetry called Down in the Deep Blue Sea, and a musician friend, Ian Cooney, set ten of the poems to music. It’s been so much fun to record them – with crazy titles like A Porpoise with a Purpose, Three Slick Sharks, and Barnacle Bob. My dream is to have them developed into an animated film (just in case any producers are reading this article!).

Ten Big Toes and a Prince’s Noes
When: Sunday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m.
Where: Balouni Enfants, 7 Place du Commerce, Nuns’ Island
Tip: Very close to Balouni is a Second Cup, and various lunch options.

Semaine des bibliothèques publiques

Jessica Howard — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:26:21 +0000

Kids in the children's section of La Grande Biliothèque. © BAnQ, Bernard Fougères

It’s Public Library Week from Oct. 16 to 23, which means there are some special activities on for families. In case you aren’t acquainted with your local library, this is a good time to get a membership.

Municipal libraries typically have children’s sections that come in handy on rainy days, and often hold story times and workshops for various ages. Here are some of the special activities happening this weekend:

Saturday, Oct. 16: Breakfast and books: Breakfast will be served for families at the following municipal libraries. Registration and membership are required, unless otherwise noted:

Beaconsfield, 8:30 to 10 a.m., breakfast for families, bilingual story time. Call 514-428-4400, ext. 4468.
Dollard, 9 a.m. breakfast followed by story time; bilingual, for age 6 to 12 with parents. Call 514-684-1496.
Dorval, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., breakfast followed by stories. Call 514-633-4170.
Pointe Claire, 9 a.m. to 10:30, breakfast with accordian music. Children welcome. Call 514-630-1218, ext. 1624.
Town of Mount Royal, 10 a.m. to 11:30, a family breakfast including fruit, pastry and pancakes will be served. No registration required. Call 514-734-2967.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m.: Storytime and actvities for age 3 to 6, with a pumpkin and broomstick theme, at Mile End Library, 5434 Park Ave., Montreal. French. Registration and membership required. Call 514-872-2141.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 10:15 a.m.: Storytime: La Fête de Mademoiselle Nancy, for age 4 to 7, about a character who loves to dress up. Fancy costumes encouraged. At St. Laurent Library, 1380 de l’Église St., St. Laurent. Registration required. 514-855-6130, ext 4744. French.

Sunday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Open House at Côte St. Luc Library, including various activities for kids: treasure hunt, craft from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., face-painting and balloon animals from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m., puppet show (Yorgo and the World, by Panadream Theatre. Cost: $5) at 2 p.m., family story time at 3:30 p.m. Call 514-485-6900. See full schedule.

Sunday, Oct. 17, 1:30 to 3 p.m.: Scrapbooking workshop for age 5 to 12. Participants are invited to bring photos and other mementos to personalize during the session, at Dorval Library, 1401 Lakeshore Dr. $3 for members, $6 non-members. Registration required. Call 514-633-4170.

Sunday, Oct. 17, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Contes de verre et feu: A musical show with stories from around the world, along with the sounds of didjeridoo, xylophone and other percussion instruments, for age 6 and up, at La Grande Bibliothèque, 475 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E. French. No registration or library membership required. More information.

To see the full program of activities for Public Library Week, go to the Semaine des Bibliothèques website.

This Just In: La Semaine Québécoise des Familles

Les Journées de la Culture Family Events

Jessica Howard — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:26:15 +0000

Les Journées de la culture is a province-wide art and culture celebration, held September 24 through 26, 2010. Artists open their studios and cultural organizations have special activities planned all over Montreal. There’s lots on the program for families.

To find out what’s going on in your neighbourhood, you can go to the Les Journées de la culture website and search for children’s events in your area. Most activities are free, but registration is typically necessary.

Here are some of the highlights for kids:

SATURDAY

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2 to 3 p.m.: African Beats: an intro to African drumming for age 6 and up at Park Extension Library, 421 St. Roch. 514-872-6071. Reservation required.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 10:30 a.m.: Storytime with Caroline Barber at Ahuntsic Library, 10300 Lajeunesse St., Ahuntsic. Registration required. 514-872-0568.

Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.: Janvier et les histoires oubliées, a puppet and music show for age 3 to 8 at Cartierville Library, 5900 de Salaberry St., Ahunstic-Cartierville.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: I dance, you dance, we all dance: An opportunity to participate in and observe dance classes including ballet jazz, hip hop and classic ballet, for age 2 and up, at Académie de dance d’Outremont, 999 McEachran Ave., Outremont. Reservation required. 514-276-6060.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 1:30 to 3 p.m.: In Search of Lost Tales: A walking tour in search of the lost tales of Côte des Neiges, to learn about the area’s history and residents. Leaves from Côte des Neiges Library, 5290 Côte des Neiges Rd. 514-872-5118. For age 6 to 12. Reservation and passes required.

Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1 and 3 p.m.: Les Chantiers de la Ferme, an adaptation of Orwell’s Animal Farm with a sense of humour, targeting children age 7 to 12, at Verdun Cultural Centre, 5955 Banantyne St., Verdun. 514-765-7170.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 1 to 5 p.m.: Family activities (bilingual) will be held in Greenfield Park, including creation of a collective mural, demonstrations of violin-making and playing, and square dancing demonstrations, at the Greenfield Park municipal offices, 156 Churchill Blvd.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Arts and craft Workshops, for age 3 to 16, led by animators. Workshops include jewelry making, painting, crafts and dance demonstrations at Centre Communautaire Vimont, 1900 Bedard St., Laval. 450-662-4906.

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 and 26: Show Business: With the help of experts, transform a children’s story into a puppet show, for age 5 to 10 (with parents), hosted by Illusion Theatre, 783 de Bienville St., Montreal. Reservation required. 514-523-1303.

Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.: Treasure hunt at Stewart Hall, 176 Lakeshore Rd., Pointe Claire. 514-630-1220.

SUNDAY

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2 p.m.: Panadream marionnette theatre presents Yorgo and the World, for age 2 to 8, 45 minutes, at Playwrights Workshop Montreal, 5337 St. Laurent Blvd., suite 240. 514-843-3685.

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2 to 3 p.m.: Fiestango, a children’s show, will be presented for age 3 to 5, followed by meeting with the artists, at Kirkland Sport Complex, 16950 Hymus Blvd., Kirkland. 514-630-2719.

Sunday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m.: Gumboots workshop, for age 6 to 12, with dancers from the Bourask company. Rubber boots and passes required. At Stewart Hall, 176 Lakeshore Rd., Pointe Claire. 514-630-1220.

Sunday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m.: A pas de Géant, a children’s play about a Loco, who dreams of the circus and playing many musical instruments. He collaborates with a dancing clown to put a show together. At Centre Socioculturel, 7905 San Francisco St., Brossard. Passes required from the Centre. 450-923-6340.

Sunday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. to noon: Sunday outdoor activities for kids, including storytelling and music for age 3 to 5, storytelling and djembe music for age 6 to 10, at Montarville Boucher de la Bruère Library, 501 Chemin du lac, Boucherville. 450-449-8100, ext. 8984.

Sunday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Verdun Circus School hosts free circus orientation workshop for age 5 and up. Participants can try circus equipment and tricks, with the help of animators, at 5190 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun. 514-768-5812.