There are some who say Family Day is a "made-up" holiday.
Celebrated on the third Monday of February, it’s a holiday only in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., New Brunswick, and Ontario, and federal employees don’t get a break.
But it does provide a long weekend – in that long stretch between New Year’s and Easter – and it encourages families to get active together, especially outdoors.
In Ontario, the Family Day long weekend is a Free Family Fishing Weekend when no licence is needed to drop a line and go ice fishing.
And in communities across the province on Feb. 18, all kinds of Family Day events took place.
The BWG Leisure Centre in Bradford was open for Family Day with activities scheduled from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., including shinny hockey, lane swim and leisure swim, drop-in Zumba and stretch classes, parent/toddler play in the gym, and drop-in family sports.
Most activities charged regular admission fees, but once again RBC Financial sponsored a morning of free leisure skating, filling both ice rinks at the Leisure Centre. RBC staffers also handed out free hot chocolate, popcorn and stickers
“I get more staff out every year,” said Wayne Brakeboer, RBC community manager. “This has been the seventh year. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Brakeboer added, “It’s nice to see. Family Day is such a great idea – especially in February!”
Over in the gym, parents and tots played together, with toys, balls and building blocks. As son Jaxson, 3, pedalled around the open space, his mom noted, “We already skated, and had some hot chocolate, some popcorn, and then came here. It’s a lovely morning!”
On Dissette St., Kidergy Indoor Playground organized two holiday events; an Ariel Party with the Little Mermaid, and in the afternoon, a magic show. And for families willing to travel outside the municipality, there were activities at the Magna Centre in Newmarket at the Simcoe County Museum north of Barrie and elsewhere around the region.
