Next Monday should be a beautiful day for families to spend together. Alberta has celebrated Family Day since the '90s and now people in the area are saying it's time to go off the grid.
Families are encouraged to participate in the Family Day Unplugged Challenge by disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with yourself, your loved ones and your community. It's a cross-municipal contest of sorts put on by the Edmonton/Evergreen region of the Family & Community Support Services Association of Alberta. According to the group's statistics, 73 per cent of kids would rather play with their parents than watch TV or use the Internet.
That suits Connie Smigielski. The manager of community strategy with St. Albert's FCSS department believes the best reason for parents and children to enjoy their company more often is because it's healthier.
"It was just through a conversation that actually stemmed out of Strathcona about stresses on families," she said. "Why don't we promote a day where families completely unplug from everything and hopefully de-stress?"
Smigielski added families don't have to join the community activities to participate in the contest.
"You could stay at home and cook a meal together and sit down and have a meal together. No TV, no distractions, no phones, no iPods."
Log the hours you or your family unplugged on Family Day to see which of the 10 participating communities can connect the most. St. Albert and Sturgeon County are up against Bruderheim, Stony Plain, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Beaumont, Gibbons and Strathcona County.
There isn't a formal prize at stake but Smigielski did mention bragging rights as an incentive.
Fill out the Family Day Unplugged form found in Saturday's St. Albert Gazette and then drop it off at the community services desk in St. Albert Place. On Tuesday or Wednesday, you can also log your hours online at www.fcssaa.ab.ca.
Family Day Snow Festival
The Family Day Snow Festival takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. at Lacombe Lake Park. There will be sleigh rides, skating, a cabane à sucre, a lumberjack match, as well as milk jug curling and entertainment.
Rendezvous 2011 committee chair Margaret Plain stated the activities were planned to celebrate the city's past and present.
"It was important to us that we find activities representing some of the things St. Albertans have enjoyed in the winter for all of our 150 years."
Other suggested activities include skating at any of the 17 local outdoor rinks, reading at the library, sledding at Seven Hills or any other location, or just going for a walk along the Red Willow Trail.
Heritage Lakes
The annual Family Day Winter Games takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. at école La Mission at 46 Heritage Dr. The Heritage Lakes Community Association tries to create opportunities for neighbours to come together and have fun.
Tim Osborne, one of the association's directors, said that the annual event is always well attended.
"It's been huge! Last year we had 500 people out. There's definitely a demand for these kinds of events. People are quite eager to come out and meet their neighbours."
There will be free skating, sliding, hayrides, and plenty of family games. This event is open to all residents of St. Albert.
Please visit www.heritagelakes.ca for more information. Osborne added that more volunteers are always welcome to help with this and the organization's other events.
Morinville's hot snow creations
Morinville has its own Snowman Festival taking place at the Ray McDonald Sports Centre. Families can enjoy children's crafts, broomball, face painting and even go for a skate. Free hot dogs and juice will be served.
Peggy Gilchrist, the town's marketing and special events co-ordinator, is most looking forward to the frosty competition.
"We're going to have some outdoor activities in addition to people being challenged to come up with their centennial theme snowman," she said.
For more information call 780-939-4361 or visit www.morinville.ca.
