Family fun in Waterloo
Free activities, family fun and a celebration of Waterloo’s 150th anniversary are all great reasons not to miss the 6th edition of Familles en Fête! being held, rain or shine, on Saturday, May 13 in Waterloo and Townshippers’ Association is excited to once again be a part of the action!
This year’s celebration will be extra special as it marks Waterloo’s 150th anniversary with a journey through time. Inspired by the theme of “generations throughout the history of Waterloo”, a historical scavenger hunt has been planned. Each kiosk will hold the answer to one historical question about Waterloo. Answer them correctly for a chance to win $150!
Stop by the Dessin ma rue/ Drawing my street kiosk for Townshippers’ historical answer and, while you’re here, help decorate the pavement with us using sidewalk chalk. If it rains, we’ll be inside with our answer and ready for your artistic contributions to a chalk mural on paper.
Activities will take place from 10am to 4pm, at the l’orée des Cantons school, outside on the playground of Pavillon Saint Bernard (14 rue Lewis Ouest, Waterloo) and inside in the Sacrée Coeur room. If you get hungry stop by the Maison des jeunes de Waterloo’s healthy canteen (bring your cash). They will also challenge you to make your own smoothie… in an innovative way.
The organizing committee reminds the community that this event can’t take place without you—the families! So, whether you are from Waterloo or the surrounding area, we look forward to creating fond memories together!
Let's save the planet!
With Earth Day on April 22, last month focused on ways we can help make our environment a little more sustainable. But we don’t have to wait for next April to show our planet a little more love. the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has some great tips to practice a little planetary kindness:
•Daily - do an energy check, turning off the lights and unplugging any unused appliances
•Weekly - carpool or take public transportation to help reduce your carbon footprint
•Monthly - take a walk outside with gloves and a trash bag to collect any garbage, then sort it into the trash or recycling bins when you get home
•Yearly – inspire others to give back to the planet by gathering friends, family, and co-workers for a service project that focuses on conservation rather than consumption.
While you are being a superhero for the planet, don’t forget the bees! These busy pollinators of 70 of the 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, are in trouble and need our help to secure their futures and our food sources.
Little steps can do a lot - from buying raw honey locally that supports local beekeepers, planting bee-friendly flowers and flowering herbs, letting some weeds live (like dandelions and clovers), and avoiding chemically treating gardens.
More ideas can be found online at Randomactsofkindness.org
Modernizing Canada’s Official Languages Act
Since its creation in 2002, the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages has tabled more than 15 practical reports on official languages issues.
The committee is now focused on studying Canadians’ views about modernizing the Official Languages Act. Monday evening, the voice of Canada’s youth was heard on the issue. Providing the perspective on behalf of Quebec's English-speaking youth were Mario Clarke and Sarah Lukassen from Youth Employment Services Foundation, and Alexander Gordon and Rachel Hunting, as members of the Quebec Community Groups Network.
For more on the committee or to view the video, visit Sencanada.ca/en/ollo. The video will also be posted to www.facebook.com/townshippers.
For more on Townshippers’ Association and our activities, keep reading this weekly column in The Record and visit our website www.townshippers.org. You can also follow us on Twitter @Townshippers and Facebook.com/townshippers. Connect with Townshippers’ offices in Sherbrooke at 100 – 257 Queen, 819-566-5717, toll-free: 1-866-5665717, or Lac-brome at 3-584 Knowlton Rd, 450-242-4421, toll-free: 1-877-242-4421.