Activities on Family Day
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There’ll be plenty to do in Tillsonburg on Family Day 2013.
“We wanted to celebrate families in our community,” said Julie Dawley, recreation program coordinator at the Tillsonburg Community Centre. “The value that we put on family is very important to us and the partners that we’re working with.”
On Monday, Feb. 18 families in several provinces across the country will observe the special day set aside for them and participate in family-oriented activities and events aimed at celebrating the importance of families and family life.
Here in Tillsonburg, the town is coordinating a number of activities for both children and parents to enjoy.
“(Family Day), is family oriented and very cost effective because activities are free as they’re being sponsored,” said Dawley. “If you look at the pancake breakfast, it’s only $5 for a family so it’s very reasonable.
“I really think it’s going to be a fun day.”
Family Day 2013 will kick off with a pancake breakfast in the Lions Auditorium, at the Tillsonburg Community Centre from 8-10 a.m. Later in the day, families can enjoy a free skate from 9–10:30 a.m. and again from 1-2 p.m. at the Memorial Arena and finish their Family Day fun with a free swim at the Community Centre between 3–4 p.m. thanks to community-minded sponsors, including Jeff VanRybroeck of RE/MAX, Andrea Vandevyvere of RBC and Carrie Smith from The Co-operators. Also providing sponsorship are Kwik Kopy, Tim Hortons, Coyle's Country Store, Sobeys, Metro and Bethel Pentecostal Church.
Also on Monday, Annandale National Historic Site is hosting its 6th annual Scavenger Hunt.
“The museum thought it was important, right from the very first Family Day, to create a fun, family event,” said Patricia Phelps, curator at Annandale National Historic Site in Tillsonburg. “Scavenger hunts have been around a very, very long time – it’s something that people used to do. They’re always a lot of fun.”
The scavenger hunt begins any time after 10 a.m. and must be completed by 3 p.m.
“Ours is a two-part scavenger hunt because it involves both things that you have to find but also questions that you have to answer,” explained Phelps. “There is a questionnaire and the answers to the questions can be found either in the museum itself, or out in our community.”
Families pay a nominal $5 fee to participate in the scavenger hunt at Annandale House, and if all questions are correct and every item on the list found, they will be rewarded.
Prizes include a $60 gift certificate at Kelsey’s in Tillsonburg - to enjoy a Family Day dinner, a gift basket full of family board games and third prize is a family pass for the water park and a family pass for the museum.
“There are lots of prizes to be won. It’s a great way to see the museum if you’ve never been in and it’s a great way to bring your family all together and have a great time.”
Family Day is observed in British Columbia (February 11), Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario (February 18) every year. Alberta was the first province to introduce the annual event in 1990, followed by Saskatchewan in 2007 and Ontario in 2008. British Columbia observed Family Day as a statutory holiday for the first time in 2013.
In addition to Canada, several countries around the world mark Family Day, including Australia and South Africa.
For more information on Family Day 2013 in Tillsonburg, visit www.tillsonburgfamilyday.ca.