A16 • Friday, February 8, 2013 • Burnaby NOW
Family: Check out events inspired by new provincial holiday continued from page 15
Bonsor event
It’s all-day fun at Bonsor Recreation Complex in Burnaby, with all ages badminton from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; a Zumba party for ages five years and up (children must be accompanied by an adult) from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., free family gym from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m., more family badminton from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m.; family yoga (for eight years and up, children with an adult) from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and a family swim from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Regular admission rates apply to all drop-in programs.
Franklin fun
Though not on Family Day, here’s one sure to catch the eye of anyone with small kids: Franklin and Busytown are going to be at Brentwood Town Centre in early March. Performance times as follows: Franklin at 11 a.m. on March 2 and noon on March 3; Busytown at 1 p.m. on March 2 and 2 p.m. on March 3. For more information, see www. brentwoodtowncentre. com.
Rec centre
Here’s another recrea-
tion centre event: the Cameron Recreation Centre at 9523 Cameron St. is hosting a Free Family Day event, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Family Day, for families and children aged 10 months up to five years. Play time, crafts and more, including face painting and riding toys. Call 604-297-4456 for more information.
Get green
While the ski hills are offering special deals for Family Day, don’t forget that there are plenty of outdoor opportunities here at home. In this area, there’s bike trails, Deer Lake Park, Queen’s Park, and more. Check out www.burnaby.ca, www. newwestcity.ca, and www. metrovancouver.org for plenty of information about outdoor spaces and trails. Keep your eyes open for the natural wildlife in the area – Queen’s Park recently had a visit from a rare bird from Asia.
Games day
As luck would have it, the annual (and always popular) Jan Ken Pon day at Nikkei Centre is happening this weekend. The traditional Japanese event is aimed at families with children aged four to 12,
and gives participants a chance to check out heritage games and toys. Play with tops, a Japanese style cup and ball, make your own sumo wrestlers, and then take part in the ultimate rock-paper-scissors tournament. Antique Japanese toys will be on display. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets available by phone 604-777-7000 or in person at Nikkei Centre. Admission is $5 for children over two years and free for accompanying adults. The centre is at 6688 Southoaks Cres.
Get reading
The New Westminster Public Library and all branches of the Burnaby Public Library will be closed for the stat holiday, but prepare in advance with a visit on Saturday to pick up a few extra books – then make Monday a literary Family Day. Throw up some tent forts and get comfy with a stack of books – perhaps a few of the Pigeon series for the young kids, Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the older ones, and maybe a book or two for mom and dad to round out the reading.
To the library
If home reading hour leaves you wanting more,
the New Westminster Public Library has a family storytime the day after Family Day, for all ages, running from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes with this free, drop-in program for all ages. This is a special family story time: Clifford the Big Red Dog will be visiting the library for it.
Head downtown
If you’re willing to go a little further afield, the province’s official Family Day celebration is taking place at the Vancouver Art Gallery with a full day of all-ages activities, concerts, street entertainment, face painting, a hockey shootout, artists and more. Science World, Britannia Mining Museum and the Royal B.C. Museum will be on hand with educational activities, and free ice skate rentals and skating will be available at the Robson Square ice rink nearby. Runs Monday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. See blog.gov.bc.ca/ bcfamilyday for more.
File photo/burnaby now
Walkers: Zoey Demuynck walks on stilts with help from Crystal Zhang at last year’s Jan Ken Pon Day. This year, the event is running this weekend.
Get your special surprise with File photo/burnaby now
Check it out: Elsa Rahim checks out a white sturgeon at an event at Fraser River Discovery Centre last year. The site is hosting a Family Day event on Monday.