Family Matters

Connecting with English-speaking parents of young children in the Quebec City area 

A message from Jessica 

Do you find that you are feeling drained and exhausted these days?  You are not alone.  As we transition into colder and darker days, a lack of sunshine can greatly affect energy and mood.  Fall is also a very busy time of year for families that can drain everyone's energy reserves.  Between running after little ones, homework in the evenings, extracurricular activities and fall colds settling in, I don’t know about you, but I often find myself rubbing my eyes and reaching for that extra cup of coffee during the day.

On top of all of it all, do you feel an extra weight on your shoulders this fall?  You could be suffering from pandemic fatigue...

Nov. 10: Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents of young children

Are you the parent of a child aged 10 and under? Are you concerned about their exposure to screens?  Do you worry about their online safety and how to manage it?  This information session is for you! Learn how you can be pro-active as a parent and set boundaries while also letting your child access technology in a healthy manner. Join us on November 10 at 7:00 pm for: Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents of young children. 

Nov.11: Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents and teens  

Parents, are you worried about keeping your pre-teen / teen safe while they browse the internet or use their electronic devices?  Please join us on Thursday, November 11 at 7:00 pm, for a Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents and teens by Dr. Geneviève Vohl from the Centre Cyber-aide on the impacts of technology and how to use it safely. 

Nov.23: School registration and English schools in Quebec

The education system in Quebec is unique in many ways.  Language laws dictate who is eligible to attend school in English and who is not. Parents and newcomers may find it hard to navigate the school system. The session “School Registration and the English School System in Quebec” will feature a panel of professionals from Central Quebec School Board to help answer your questions.  Join us on November 23 to learn about School registration and English schools in Quebec. 

Also, be sure to check out our entire School Readiness Series schedule for 2021-'22.  

English-speaking Parents in Québec (EPIQ)

EPIQ (English-speaking Parents in Quebec) events are organized by volunteer parents with support from the community Wellness Centre. Some activities are just for parents (who doesn’t enjoy a night out without the kids?) and other events are for the whole family.  Here are EPIQ's upcoming events!


Getting through it together, November 11 & 25

Getting Through It Together aims to create a familiar place to allow parents to be heard, feel connected and maybe have a laugh. If you choose, come share what is going on in your life and be a listening ear for someone. 
This is a bi-weekly event on Thursdays.

EPIQ Parents soap making night, November 19

Join volunteer hosts Amanda and Polly for an enjoyable in-person evening learning all about soap.  You will even get to make your own soap to take home with you!  Polly, master soap maker, will explain the what, how and why of cold-process soap.   During the evening you will be making what is called “melt and pour” soaps.  Very limited places for this event so reserve your place fast for the EPIQ Parents soap making night. 

Together, we can make a difference for young children right from the start!

Early Childhood Week aims to give a voice to the 534,000 children aged 5 and under in Quebec and make early childhood development a true priority for our society.  In the greater Quebec City region alone, we have close to 45, 500 children under aged 5.  It is an opportunity for everyone to stop for a moment and focus on early childhood development in Quebec in order to collectively reflect on what we can do to make sure every child gets the best possible start in life. Today’s toddlers are tomorrow’s adults: let’s give each and every one of them an equal chance at realizing their full potential and becoming well-rounded, engaged members of society.  

Over 20 partners and allies have come together to bring more attention to early childhood development and to impress upon policy-makers and the public at large the key role today’s young children will play in the future of our society. Many activities are scheduled across Quebec throughout the week.  For more details, go to grandesemaine.com.  

• Download your Early Childhood Week colouring sheet here! 
• Celebrate World Children's Day on November 20. 

Get your mustache on for November and read below for some great resources

• Participate in Movember to support men's health 
• Great article on How Canadian dads are doing more at home than before the coronavirus pandemic
• Article from Dad Central on How dads can help their kids build good character
• Read these 21 positive phrases dads can say to their kids from Dad Central
• Check out these physical activity ideas from Active for Life.  Great ways to connect with your little one and also develop their physical literacy

• Regroupement pour la valorisation de la paternité (RVP) 
• Dad Central 

Are you a guy raising a child in Quebec City? 

In-person activities

• Baby Chat Café- Signing with Baby- November 9
• VEQ's Winds of Change workshop for newcomers to Quebec, November 9
• EPIQ Parents soap making night, November 19
• Café au Lait crew- November 23
• VEQ's Health 101 & Winter in QC- November 25

• Consumer rights in Quebec, November 10
• Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents of young children, November 10
• Cyber Safe: Workshop for parents and teens, November 11
• EPIQ: Getting Through it Together - Bi-weekly on Thursday evenings
• School registration and English schools in Quebec, Nov. 23
• Bibliothèque de Québec - Stories online (Contes en ligne)

Things to do with your family 

• Spread some holiday cheer support our 26th annual  Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
• Check out the South Shore English Network (SSEN) programming 
• Valcartier Family Centre fall programming
• Ressource espace familles fall programming
• Library reopening at the Morrin Centre - Reservations required
• Entraide parent November schedule
• Jeunes musiciens du monde (musical activities in French) 
  • Musical activities for young children: Eveil musical
  • Choir for children aged 12-18

Some great resources

• How to dress your kids in winter guide for parents from Naître et grandir
• The clean up song for toddlers
• Gross motor skills activities at home with pillows
• Do you have a child with food allergies?  Contact Jessica at the Wellness Centre for your free copy of the Worry Free Treats cookbook!

• 2-1-1 Information Service
• 8-1-1 Health Info
• Jeffery Hale Community Services
• Amiquebec Action on Mental Illness
• Éducaloi: Your Starting Point for Legal Information
• HemaQuébec: Public Mothers' Milk Bank
• From Tiny Tot to Toddler Guide
• Parents Matter
• Nobody's Perfect Parenting tips
• Triple P Positive Parenting Programs

• FORT Employability Program
• Ludothèque Ste-Foy Toy Library
• Morrin Centre
• Quebec Art Company
• Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph 
• Quebec City Reading Council
• Solidarité familles et sécurité routière
• Valcartier Military Family Resource Centre
• Voice of English-speaking Québec