By Wes Bloom
Events planned by the Town of Assiniboia Recreation Department for 鈥楩amily Day鈥� on Monday, February 19th, were many: in the morning, 鈥橭pen House鈥� at the new Family Drop in Centre beside the Post Office, 鈥楶ickle Ball鈥�, and Family Curling at the Prince of Wales Centre. In the afternoon, there were Shinny and Street hockey planned at the outdoor rink, tobogganing at Centennial Park, and Public Skating at the Civic Centre. Sounds like 鈥榝un鈥�, right?
Well, it WAS fun - for those who attended. You could see the 鈥榝un鈥� written all over their smiling faces. But for some strange, and unknown reason, not many people took advantage of outdoor events that were planned for the afternoon. Town of Assiniboia Recreation Director Cheryl DeNeire said in an interview, that weather is always a huge factor in planning outdoor events and activities. She felt that the 鈥榳ind chill鈥� on Monday was just far too high for all but a few very brave souls.
Attendance was good for indoor curling and 鈥榩ickle ball鈥� at the Prince of Wales Centre with some 30 - 40 people in attendance. However, a free movie - 鈥淭he Incredible鈥� - which was playing at the Prince of Wales鈥� Olympia theatre in the afternoon, seemed to draw the best overall attendance of all activities, planned or otherwise. Those in attendance for the movie appeared to be mostly 鈥檉amilies鈥�, which was totally in keeping with the Family Day theme.
This year was the 10th annual Family Day in Assiniboia. Events like 鈥楩amily Day鈥� depend heavily on volunteers. Cheryl DeNeire shared her admiration and gratitude for those who faithfully 鈥榮tepped up to the plate鈥� and helped out. Besides the town of Assiniboia, a few other organizations that offered their support helping to make Family Day a success were, the Assiniboia Curling Club, Assiniboia in Motion, and Safe Communities Assiniboia.
DeNeire seemed quite happy with participant turnout in the morning, but was somewhat saddened that more folks didn鈥檛 take advantage of the afternoon activities. She said, however, that apart from providing activities on Family Day, one of its goals is to simply show that these activities do exist and are available to the public. Hopefully, more people will take advantage of them in the future.
The old public library, next to the Post office, is the new 鈥楩amily Drop in Centre鈥� that recently opened its doors a couple of months ago. This new and all important resource facility held its official 鈥極pen-House鈥� on Family Day this year. It鈥檚 open to all parents and 鈥榞uardians鈥� of young children and is partially funded by the Early Childhood Coalition through a Community Initiatives鈥� grant. It鈥檚 a 鈥榝ree to the public鈥� service, whose mandate is to provide safe and knowledgeable activities for young children, as well as good parenting techniques and nutritional advice. Its format is 鈥榗asual鈥� and relatively unstructured.
Organizers look forward with great anticipation to next winter and the 11th annual Family Day that is planned.
