News & Special Events
Mothercraft News
Event Volunteers for Touch a Truck Needed!
Parents as Teachers Wins Trillium Support for Social Enterprise
Touch a Truck *** NEW DATE*** July 18th 2010
Birth Companion Awarded Community Builder Recognition from United Way Centraid Ottawa
The Gingerbread Event 2009 - Thank you for Another Great Year!
OEYC Ottawa Centre Named Best Start Lead for Ottawa Centre
Mortgages for Mothercraft Program Underway
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Youth, Families and Groups welcome! Flexible Shifts between 6 am and 5pm on July 18th at Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre.
See our Posting on Volunteer Ottawa http://www.volunteerottawa.ca/vo-clean/app/view.php?lang=&opportunityId=60 or email trucks@mothercraft.com for more info!
Parents As Teachers-Ottawa Embarks on Social Enterprise Thanks to a $68,500 OTF Grant
Parents As Teachers-Ottawa is embarking on a new Social Enterprise plan, thanks to a $68,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
“This grant will make a tremendous difference in our community by giving Parents as Teachers the resources to reach more families,” said MPP Yasir Naqvi. “This means our kids are learning more and at a younger age, giving them a better chance at success in the future.”
The OTF grant will be used to develop a Social Enterprise that is a strategic solution to the sustainability of this award winning parenting support program in the Ottawa and surrounding rural areas. Three (3) fee for service components will be developed and shared in order to generate an alternative source of income to sustain the coordination of PAT- Ottawa, the critical community partnerships and the service to the “at risk” population.
Parents As Teachers (PAT) is a parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. Parents are supported by PAT certified parent educators trained to translate scientific information on early brain development into specific when, what, how and why information for families. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can easily capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child’s language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills. www.parentsasteachers.org
A leading grant- maker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Govt. of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities. www.trilliumfoundation.org
Get your Engines Started, its Time for Touch a Truck!
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What: BIG FUN WITH BIG TRUCKSHow Much: $5.00 per person,Maximum Charge per family: $20.00(up to 2 adults and children)Where: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre2525 Carling AveWhen: 9am-2pm Sunday July 18th, 2010 |
Join The Mothercraft Page on Facebook to stay in the loop on new performers and exciting developments for Touch a Truck (event page) this year!
Each year thousands of children and their parents come to honk horns and climb on board the big trucks we see every day in our community! Drivers love to show their trucks off and regale the children with tale of driving truck and the day is filled with excitement for all.
Special appearances by the Power of Dads strong man, Gerry the Giraffe, the Rideau Valley Roller Girls and other special guests keep the day lively, and when a cool down and relaxing time is in order, kids can enjoy the free craft area and have their face painted indoors in the Atrium.
This marvellous opportunity generously hosted by our partners, RioCan at the Lincoln Fields shopping Centre on Carling Avenue. The front lot is filled with about 60 vehicles from construction to towing, and agriculture to armed forces. Busters Bar and grill provides a delicious bar-be-cue to satisfy any appetite, and good times are rounded out with live entertainment with kids in mind. Families enjoy a fun filled day which is kept financially accessible through the generous donations of our sponsors.
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Birth Companion Volunteer Shannon MacFarlane wins a Community Builder Award from United Way/Centraide Ottawa
United Way/Centraide Ottawa honours Ottawa’s outstanding volunteers through its Community Builder Award program — those organizations, partnerships, agencies, neighbourhood groups and individuals who work tirelessly, passionately and collaboratively to make Ottawa a better place in which to live, work and raise a family
Shannon McFarlane
Shannon is a valued volunteer with Mothercraft’s Birth and Parent Companion Program (BPCP). As a volunteer at BPCP, Shannon provides one-on-one support to at-risk expectant women during pregnancy, labour and childbirth, as well as the early months of parenting. Although she has a family of her own and works full time as a doula, Shannon is always ready to accept a match from BPCP. Shannon has donated pregnancy photography to the women in the program who otherwise would never be able to afford such a luxury.
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Gingerbread 2009 a Magical Day Shared with the Community
Did you notice a little extra joy in the air this year? You may well have because this year we did something a little different at Mothercraft, we took this amazing event that for many years has been a cornerstone of our fundraising efforts, and we gave approximately half of the seats away to low income children and their families.
Mothercraft has always provided seating through sponsorship for such families, and it has been a real enrichment to the event and to our contribution to the community. This year we decided to open it right up. It was such a pleasure to be able to share this event with so many families who could not have otherwise come. Thanks to the agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club, Christie Lake Kids, Cauldwell Family House, and the many others who helped make this expereince possible.
Our gratittude to our faithful and amazing core sponsors: Rogers TV; The Ottawa Citizen; Loblaws and Create-a-Treat.
Important Announcement for Breastfeeding Mothers and the Professionals that Support them
Mothercraft Ottawa is currently hosting the Breastfeeding Drop-ins that would normally take place at Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre and Carlington Community Health Centre. We are happy to help out to ensure this essential service continues to be available to mothers while our Public Health system is so busy with H1N1. This change will be in effect until further notice. For more information please contact Mothercraft Ottawa 613-728-1839.
Tuesday
Breastfeeding Drop-in
1:00 to 3:30
Temporarily hosted for Pinecrest- Queensway CHC
Wednesday
Breastfeeding Drop-in
12:30 to 3:00
Temporarily hosted for Carlington CHC
We continue to offer the usual drop-in at the Early Years Centre
Friday
1:30 - 3:30
Best Start
Best Start is a province-wide imitiative that will bring greater collaboration between services for young children and their families. Mothercraft's Ontario Early Year's Centre is leading the Ottawa Centre Community in redefining services for families with children 6 years and under. Working with families, schools and service providers in Carleton Heights, Centretown, Dalhousie, Glebe, Ottawa West and Westboro, we are working to increase access to services in each of these six neighbourhoods. See Best Start Initiative for more info.
Mortgages for Mothercraft
Mothercraft parent and Mortgage broker, Amanda Farris, has generously offered to make a donation of $200.00 for each mortgage she helps anyone mentioning Mothercraft attain. The receipt will be in the name of the mortgagee, and the proceeds will go directly to our playground renewal project! For more information, please see the attached flyer, and call Amanda, brokers are a wonderful way to know your options and get the best deal! Share this exciting opportunity with your friends and family!
Mothercraft Ottawa Hosts PAT
The Parents as Teachers Program is an innovative parenting support and early literacy program with a solid track record which has been offered in our area since 2005. Mothercraft Ottawa is pleased to now host the coordination of this program for the region. For more intformation about PAT, please see our Parents as Teachers page.
Blue Celery Partnership Brings Slings and Funds to Mothercraft
In a demonstration of great generosity, Blue Celery slings owner and Mothercraft Parent, Colleen Colley has entered into partnership with the Birth and Parent Companion Program which will make slings available to mothers in need and provide evenue to the program too! For details on this endeavour, please see the BPCP News.
UsTIme Partnership Helps Mothercraft with Perfect Holiday Gift Fundraising Initiative!
Kathleen Guy, local Child development expert and entrepenuer has delighted Mothercraft's children with the introduction of plush early literacy toy, KT Cat. Currently available exclusively at Play Value, $2 from the puchase of each KT Cat with help support the work of the Birth and Parent Companion Program at Mothercraft.
Getting Ready for Touch-a-Truck 2009!
Mark the date, Father's Day 2009 is June 21st at Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre on Carling at the Parkway- that means you can look forward to another great day of big trucks and big fun at Touch-a-Truck!
Do yo have a truck you'd like to share with the kids? Would you like to Sponsor or volunteer? Please email trucks@mothercraft.com, we'd love to hear from you!
To read about Touch-a-Truck 2008, check out this report.
2009 Touch-a-Truck Poster
Want to bring your BIG TRUCK? Contact us and/or fill in this Registration Form.
Another great year for Gingerbread !
A sold out year for the 2008 Gingerbread Event, which means great things for the Birth and Parent Companion Program. Thank you to all who helped to make this possible!
Article
Poster
2008 Gingerbread Report
Three Cheers for our Celebrity Judges!
Ron Eade, Ottawa Citizen Food Editor; Patrick Garland, Chef/owner of Absinthe Restobar; Nelson Borges, Executive Chef of The Westin Ottawa; Derek Benitz, Chef/owner Benitz Bisto; T.L. Rader, Co-Host Daytime on Rogers; Derick Fage, Co-Host Daytime on Rogers; Councillor Christine Leadman; Cheryl Mousseau, The Co-Operators; Max Keeping, CTV News Anchor; and Paul Dewar, M.P. Ottawa Centre
Many thanks to our sponsors that make this event possible!
Event Sponsors:
Rogers Television, The Ottawa Citizen, Loblaws, Create-a-Treat, Tudor Hall, Scotiabank,
Community Builder Sponsors:
RioCan/Westgate Shopping Centre, Dundee Wealth Management, The Cooperators
Children's Table Sponsors:
Blue Celery Inc, Nelligan, O'Brien, Payne, R.G Packman and Associates, The Candy Store, Deloitte, Collected Works, The Village Quire/Kitchenalia, LiveWell Health
Volunteer Care Sponsors:
Back in Balance Chiropractic, Metta Massage and Yoga Studio, Earl Bullis, Bridgehead, Jiffy PhotoEntertainment