For some people Family Day is just another day off. But the mid-winter long weekend provides a golden opportunity for families to connect.
Alberta was the first province in Canada to institute Family Day, a statutory holiday in February devoted to spending time with family.
The holiday was controversial when first proposed by Premier Don Getty, partly due to the expense to businesses of giving paid time off to workers.
Family Day was later deemed Getty’s most widely touted achievement. The holiday, a welcome respite between New Year’s and Easter, has gained popularity. Since Alberta’s first Family Day on Feb. 19, 1990 three other provinces have followed suit with a Family Day of their own, including B.C. most recently in 2013.
In a statement in 2015 Premier Jim Prentice supported Family Day as an important part of Alberta life. “Strong families teach us to live with others, to value differences and to believe in ourselves. They are the foundation of strong communities, and a stronger Alberta,” Prentice was quoted as saying.
This is the day that most Albertans can pay more than lip service to the importance of spending time with their families. And after 27 years, you can see more and more families taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a weekend together.
In many communities including St. Albert and Morinville, there is no shortage of activities to engage in on the Family Day weekend. In St. Albert it will include Fire and Ice festivities hosted by the local fire department. In Morinville the annual Snowman Festival will draw families near and wide. Many provincial sites are free to the public on Family Day, including the Art Gallery of Alberta. The Alberta Legislature is offering free music and events inside including a block-building event to build a Lego version of the Alberta Legislature.
However you spend it, the Family Day weekend is a great opportunity to kick back and connect with your loved ones. It does not have to involve high costs, or trips out of town. It can be as simple as families playing board games, skating on the local pond or sliding down the neighbourhood hill.
Many studies have shown that people who have strong social connections have better mental and physical health. A large scale American study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family in 2015 reported that connecting with children and building relationships is important for the well-being of both parents and children.
So get out and connect with your family at one of many local events. Or, if you prefer, spend the day quietly by having a family meal, playing cards or just getting reacquainted with loved ones.
Now spending time with family on Family Day will not replace a year’s worth of time with your family. But it may reconnect you with your family in a way that encourages you to create other opportunities during the year. Consider it a little shot in the arm to create well-being for both parents and children, whatever their ages.
