Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in vancouver, CN

BC Election

May 04, 2009

Unless you have been hiding out, most people know that there is a provincial election happening on May 12^th 2009. What some people may not know, is that as well as an election, there is also a referendum on voter reform. The Single Transferable Vote question should be enough to get you out to the polls. Even if you feel that your vote doesn't matter, voting in this referendum could really change that.

If you haven't been registered to vote you still can vote at your local polling station with the correct identification. The Election Act establishes that voters must prove their identity and residential address in order to receive a ballot or register to vote in conjunction with voting in a provincial general election or by-election. This includes:

• one document issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that contains the voter's name, photograph and residential address, such as a B.C. driver's licence or B.C. Identification Card (BCID)

• a Certificate of Indian Status

• two documents that contain the voter's name.  At least one of the documents must also contain the voter's residential address.

For more information on these documents check out the Elections BC website.

For more information on the STV referendum you can check out the No campaign's site called No STV and the Yes campaign's site BC-STV.

Whatever you think, make sure you vote on May 12^th.  Make it a family event and bring your kids.  Maybe they will know who to vote for.

Ways to Make Giving a Reality

April 14, 2009

On Monday I wrote about different local charities that help sick children and their families and I encouraged you to donate. Today I am listing some ideas to raise money for some of these charities.

My son had his 4^th birthday recently and I asked that no presents be brought and that in lieu of gifts donations could be made to the BC Children's Hospital Foundation. This year it didn't work out so well, but next year I have an idea. With the invitations I am going to put in some information about the foundation and give them a link to the donation page. I am also going to encourage his grandparents to make a small donation as well. I know that my son will still get presents, but hopefully there will also be something for the hospital as well.

Clean out your change jar. With my Girl Guides last year we raised $125 in just a month with change under a looney. Quarter, nickels, dimes and pennies added up to $125 without even really trying. How much change do you have lying around the house? I bet it is much more than you realized.

Have a small bake sale or raffle with a small group. Most social groups have a charitable bent to them and a quick sale can make quite a bit. Have a home poker tournament and take a percentage for the charity of your choice. Maybe this can be a way to make charitable giving part of your everyday life.

Join a walk or run or ride for your favourite charity. My husband has done the MS bike tour both in Nova Scotia and here in BC. The one in Nova Scotia I had a hand in running and the money it raised for research was incredible.

Whatever you do, include your children in the discussion and the action if possible. Knowing why you are raising money, and what that money can do to help will help your child to become socially responsible. They understand a lot more that we give them credit for. As for us we are going to roll up our coins this week and pick one or more of the charities I highlighted yesterday. Good thing my son loves counting.

Charity Begins at Home

by Gwendolyn Floyd

December 15, 2008

How do you teach your child about charity? I have been really pondering this especially this year. I want my son to understand that he has a very easy life and that there are are lots of kids (and adults) that don't have very much at all. With that I have tried to help him understand with some concrete activities to help. The first thing we did this year was to pack up a  Read more...

Give A Little Food

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 20, 2008

Since before my oldest son was born I have been attending CBC Vancouver's Food Bank Day the first Friday in December. The local radio shows The Early Edition, BC Almanac and On the Coast host lots of local entertainers and businesses that donate time and prizes for people to  Read more...

Operation Christmas Child

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 19, 2008

Since my oldest child is getting really excited about Christmas, I thought I would take advantage of this and teach him a little bit about the less fortunate. Operation Christmas Child is run by Samaritan's Purse, an organization that is helping to meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. Samaritan's Purse Canada is working in more  Read more...

Vote! (Again)

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 13, 2008

In case you have forgotten, the municipal elections are happening on Saturday. You again have a chance to give your child an opportunity to see voting in action. There are so many names to fill out (27 to elect from 85 or so) you can have your child help you to avoid getting carpal tunnel syndrome.  Read more...

Voting in Vancouver

by Gwendolyn Floyd

November 03, 2008

Last Wednesday we had a provincial bi-election in two ridings in Vancouver. It so happened that one of these ridings was Vancouver-Fairview, and was our riding. Since I had the baby on Saturday I was a little unsure as to whether or not I would actually get out to vote. It turned out to be a family affair.  Read more...