‘Tis the season…to delegate!

By Paula Roy

If there’s one thing the holidays are all about, it’s details. Trying to get each aspect of the festive season just right including gifts, decorations and entertaining can be nerve wracking and exhausting. When it comes to food, there is a better way: get professional help. We are fortunate to have an abundance of fantastic food purveyors in Ottawa – why not welcome some of their treats into your kitchen this year? Here are a few suggestions to get you started on making the holidays deliciously easy.

Appetizers & nibbles

Thyme and Again 
Epicuria 
Tulips and Maple 
The House of Cheese 
The Red Apron 
Richard’s Hintonburg Kitchen 
NEXT 
Le Café at the NAC 
Cuisine & Passion 
Second Avenue Sweets 
Top of the Hill Bakery 
Auntie Loo’s 
JoJoCoCo 
La Bottega Nicastro 
Culinary Conspiracy
The Table 

For over twenty years, Thyme and Again’s take home foods have enhanced parties throughout the region. Among their best sellers are several delectable pâtés including smoked salmon and stilton-port as well as a great assortment of heat-at-home appetizers such as spiced pecan and brie in phyllo or bacon, caramelized onion and cheddar in puff pastry. Epicuria on St. Laurent Boulevard has a great selection of appetizers to be served warm or cold; two of their most popular are crepes with barbequed duck and chili coconut shrimp with pineapple lime salsa. 

C’est cheese

Tulips and Maple offer both a traditional cheese platter featuring classic favourites, complemented by a blue cheese and poached pear spread, grapes and baguette as well as an artisanal cheese showcase platter with several of Ontario and Quebec’s finest cheeses, accompanied by a house-made compote or jelly, fresh fruit and baguette. The House of Cheese in the ByWard Market is a favourite among embassy chefs thanks to its incredible selection and expert advice. They can prepare cheese trays in a wide range of styles and prices, using imported or local cheeses, along with a huge assortment of crackers, jellies and more to enhance your platter.

On the Side

Having someone else prepare the side dishes – sometimes among the most labour intensive elements of your meal – is a great time saver. Visit Gladstone Avenue’s The Red Apron for all sorts of delicious dishes, from the traditional to the creative, including organic quinoa with black beans, sweet potato, cranberries, mushrooms, spinach and walnuts or a lentil, tofu and roasted vegetable ragout. Pick up some tasty, house-made condiments to spice up any holiday menu at Richard’s Hintonburg Kitchen.

The main event

There are quite a few spots around town that offer complete take-home holiday meals, whether you fancy turkey, roast beef, glazed ham or roast pork. NEXT in Stittsville serves up a full menu including roasted free-range turkey with a root vegetable and brown butter sage stuffing, olive oil and horseradish mashed potatoes, green beans and glazed carrots, along with chef Blackie’s delicious star anise and orange cranberry compote and seasoned gravy; extra side dishes and dessert options are available too. Le Café at the NAC similarly prepares hundreds of meals with a variety of desserts and sides including rosemary and pear stuffing, gravy, three vegetable dishes plus citrus, cranberry and ginger compote. Cuisine & Passion in Orleans has an à la carte menu, ideal for those looking for just the turkey – even half a turkey, if you prefer – and their version is marinated, plus it comes with apricot and bread stuffing as well as gravy. 

Sweet treats

Freezing a stash of homemade cookies and squares on hand for the holidays is always a good idea. Second Avenue Sweets in the Glebe uses local butter and cream to make many different sweets; among their best sellers are pecan squares and lemon squares. Top of the Hill Bakery in Orleans draws customers from all over Eastern Ontario thanks to the calibre of all its goodies. For the holiday season, they’ll be baking up hundreds of gingersnaps and shortbread cookies, but don’t forget to grab some of their decadent, chewy triple chocolate cookies too. For vegan treats, check out Centretown’s Auntie Loo’s – the peanut butter and jam bars are outstanding, as are the Queen Elizabeth cake squares.

Edible Gifts

Having a few hostess gifts on hand for the holidays is always a good idea. For unique, top quality chocolates, head to JoJoCoCo in Kanata where you’ll find locally-made koko truffles, SOMA artisan chocolates from Toronto and the fun, tasty line of Newfoundland Chocolate Company gourmet chocolate bars. For savoury gifts, La Bottega Nicastro in the ByWard Market has a huge selection of balsamics, olive oils and other gourmet products, or you can visit Culinary Conspiracy in the Trainyards for house-made artisan chutneys, jams, barbeque sauces, spice rubs and more.

Non-traditional fare

Wondering what to feed those with dietary restrictions over the holidays? Make a quick trip to The Table vegetarian restaurant’s new gourmet grocery shop, dubbed The Table at Home, and pick up a selection of their delicious freezer-to-oven prepared foods. Choices include fresh frozen soups, gourmet gluten free pizzas, quiches, fruit pies, lasagnas, tourtières and much more, with vegan items available too.

Happy handmade holidays!

By Anita Grace

Véla Furlong-Perry (7), makes thumbprint snowmen on a blue tree ornament – a quick and easy craft that is guaranteed to look unique and festive. Photo by Anita Grace.

There is something about the holidays that brings out the crafter in almost everyone.

“I have good memories of doing Christmas crafts with my mom,” says Michelle Perry. She now enjoys doing homemade crafts with her seven-year old daughter Véla each holiday season. “It’s a nice family thing to do together.”

“Crafting is sentimental,” agrees her sister and mother of two, Megan Perry. “It’s tradition.”

If you find the idea of crafting more overwhelming then nostalgic, don’t worry! Here are some easy ideas that don’t need a lot of advance preparation and are suitable for children as young as three. 

A new take on an old standard

There is the ubiquitous cut-out snowflake, a simple craft that is sure to please.

“We make a lot of paper snowflakes,” says Westboro mother of two, Rebecca Maguire. “My kids are entertained by that for hours.” 

But if you’re looking for ways to add something new to this classic craft, here a few things to try:

• Add sparkle with glitter and glue-on gems
• Make small snowflakes and glue them to blue card stock to make handmade cards.

Get back to nature

Go for a walk where there are lots of trees and have your kids hunt for nicely shaped pinecones and acorns. Decorate the pinecone scales with glitter glue and use a glue gun to attach a bright ribbon loop to the top.  You can also paint the acorns in festive colours and display them in a pretty jar, or, if you’re really talented, draw miniature elfin faces on each one. Glue a loop of golden thread to the top. 

These colourful little ornaments make perfect gifts for teachers and caregivers and look lovely hanging on the tree or decorating the mantel.

Unique as your fingerprints

There’s another ornament craft which allows kids to really get their hands messy. Find some plain Christmas ornament balls (blue works nicely, and you can find them at most dollar stores), and have the kids dip their thumbs in white paint and make thumbprint snowmen. Once the paint is dry, use markers or coloured paints to add eyes, noses, mouths, and accessories like hats and scarves to complete the scene. 

These little thumbprint snowmen also work really well for DIY holiday cards. 

Simply dip your thumb in white paint and press it onto blue cardstock to create little thumbprint snowmen. Use markers or paint to dress them up and you have a hand-made card that’s sure to bring a smile to whomever receives it.

Four-year-old Miya Nagaraj tried this craft and had fun making a whole family of little snowpeople and then adding lots of dots of white to fill the sky with snowflakes.

Kids can also make rows of colourful thumbprints – then connect them together with a black line to make it look like a string of Christmas lights. 

These unique cards are perfect for sending to friends and family over the holidays.

Deck the halls

For another easy craft, use Christmas cookie cutters to trace outlines on felt. Cut out the same shape in two different colours of felt. Glue the pieces together with a looped ribbon sandwiched in between for a simple, yet attractive, ornament. Young children will enjoy embellishing these with glitter glue, while older ones might enjoy sewing on buttons. or trying some simple decorative stitches with embroidery thread.

For another colourful ornament idea, take small Styrofoam balls and small patches of brightly coloured fabric. Glue the fabric onto the ball, making sure the pieces overlap and that every bit of Styrofoam is covered. Add another layer of watered-down glue to seal everything in place. Have an adult use a glue gun to secure a ribbon at the top, or criss-cross ribbons around the ball to support the weight when it’s hung.

Young children will also enjoy threading red and green buttons or beads on green pipe cleaners to make simple wreaths. Add a red ribbon on the top for a finishing touch.

Grandparents will be proud to decorate their tree with these handmade decorations. Don’t forget to put your child’s name and the year on each ornament, as it is likely to become a treasured keepsake.

And years from now, your kids may have their own nostalgic moments as they recall making Christmas crafts each holiday and pass on their family traditions.

Did you know that Capital Parent is on Pinterest? Follow us at pinterest.com/capitalparent/ for more fun holiday craft ideas, kid-friendly activities, recipes, and more. 

Giveaway for Sens tickets!

Hello Capital Parents! 

We have one pair of 100-level tickets to give away to one lucky reader for the December 14 afternoon game against the L.A. Kings. Woot! Just use our Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

p.s. Don't forget to review the terms and conditions at the bottom of the widget. 

Over to you. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sound advice... about Christmas trees

There are pros and cons to having a real or artificial tree. Picking out a real Christmas tree can be a lot of fun (see this post for Christmas tree farms in the Ottawa area). They smell great and can be recycled at the end of the season, but they do require some extra work in terms of regular watering and vacuuming. Artificial trees on the other hand are fairly low-maintenance (no sap, no needles), can be stored and put away with ease, and provide a cost savings over time.

So where do Ottawa parents stand on the issue of Christmas trees? We turned to Facebook to see whether you preferred real trees, artificial trees, or none at all. Here’s what you said:

Allison Johansen Burnett: “First Christmas at home with the kids, so we are going real this year! Can’t wait to go and cut one down! I have great memories doing this as a kid and so am excited to share the experience with my boys this year!”

Sarah Babbitt-Reznicek: “None. Might decorate my Norfolk Pine though.”

Natasha Wilson: “Real trees, trimmed in the spirit of a classic Christmas. We decorate extensively inside and outside as early as mid-November. This is one of the ways we can share warm holiday spirit in an otherwise stale winter season.”

Judy Lincoln: “We do a fake tree for the easy aspect with kids, and to leave it up longer! Growing up we had one real and one fake, so both work for me.”

Sara Middleton: “I grew up in the Balsam Fir Christmas Tree Growing Capital of the World. Real. Always. Unless you are very, very allergic.”

Laurel Anderson: “We always get a “real” tree! We actually have a tree hunt party most years! Everyone meets in our driveway (picture an updated National Lampoon’s Christmas scene) and we drive out together, hunt for trees and head back to our house to eat, drink and be merry. We usually have lots of homemade soups, cheese trays, tourtière, homemade breads and desserts!”

Amy Boughner: “I love a real tree. I love the tradition, the smell, all of it. We always had a real one growing up.”

Danielle Donders: “We’re recent converts to formerly live trees and I would never go back. Not only do I love the tree itself, I love the hunt for the perfect tree and the ceremony of cutting it down. I’m already excited and looking forward to this year!”

Sharon Sweetness: “Artificial for me. More affordable, less mess and my little girl and I make it a tradition to decorate it differently every year!!”

Tracy Noble: ”My grandparents always had a real tree in their living room and an artificial tree in their family room. We alternate from one year to the next because my husband prefers artificial and I prefer real - this year it’s a real tree!”

Mike Reynolds: “We roll with both. The real tree is the focus and where the presents live but we have a few fake trees that we decorate and place around the house.”

Sabrina Sevigny-Hare: “Fake... with those ‘real tree smell’ things hanging in the tree. We tend to have a tree up for quite a long time and the real ones don’t always last that long. Maybe we’ll venture to real ones (as I grew up with real) when the kids are a bit older. I don’t have time to constantly clean up pine needles. I currently have a daycare and my own two boys and some of them put EVERYTHING in their mouths. Hmm, poop with pine needles in them?? I wonder if that would make the poop smell a little better? Now I’ve got myself thinking...”

Joy Kelly Mills: “We always have a fresh tree, since I was a child. Love the smell and the look and the feel of a real tree.”

Loukia Zigoumis: “We used to do real, and I love real! Since having children, we switched over to fake, but it LOOKS really real, so I’m okay with that. Also: white lights on the indoor tree, coloured lights outside, because that’s what the kids want!”

Amelie March: “Artificial. I find the real ones too messy and I’m paranoid about fires. The new trees with LED lights already on them are great! And one tree is plenty!”

Amy McSheffrey: “Nothing beats a real tree. It’s such a great family event to go out and pick the perfect tree! And the smell of a real tree is the best smell around the holidays aside from a fresh batch of cookies.”

Did you know that Capital Parent is on Facebook? Follow us at facebook.com/CapitalParent to connect with fellow parents and get the scoop about great family friendly events, recipes, and more. 

Where to find your special, natural Christmas tree

Ryan and Cleo Thompson, search for the perfect tree with Brody (7) and Tyler (9). Photo by Kate Settle.

By Katharine Fletcher

The holiday season is upon us and youngsters everywhere are increasingly excited. How to best channel your kid’s energy? What could be better than heading out to a local tree farm to find the perfect Christmas tree together?

There are several tree farms near Ottawa, where you can stroll about tree-plantation forests to find, cut and haul a tree to your car. Most also offer tractor- or horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides, so you can experience an authentic farm adventure while finding your tree.

Here are some destinations, including tips from the owners themselves. Check their respective websites for hours, directions, and costs.

Hillcrest Tree Farm
North Gower
hillcresttreefarm.com

Dave and Bronwyn Harper started planting their farmland with pine, spruce and fir in 1991. 

“It takes at least ten years to grow a good-sized tree,” explains Bronwyn. She notes that balsam firs remain the most popular species because they’re highly fragrant and have such soft needles.

Many tree farms offer activities, not solely trees, so that your family’s experience becomes a holiday outing. Hillcrest is no exception. 

“This year, we added a new building where we offer hot drinks, so everyone can get cozy after choosing their tree. And, because we’ve not had much snow in recent years, we got a wagon for our horses, as well as the traditional sleigh, so unless it’s pouring, everyone can enjoy getting out with the horses,” says Bronwyn.  

Although their horses, Parker and Maggie, enjoy pulling the sleigh – they love it even more when kids visit them in their stable.

“Kids often haven’t seen horses up close and personal, so seeing them in the barn is a highlight,” she adds. 

Hillcrest offers trees in a variety of shapes and sizes – and even colours (they sell Colorado blue spruce) – and wreaths as well.

Ian’s Christmas Adventure Park & Tree Farm
Beckwith
iansevergreen.on.ca

Austin, Ethan and Isaac Connah at Ian's Christmas and Adventure Park & Tree Farm. Photo by Selena Connah.

Talk about a Christmas country experience! Here not only can you find a tree, you can scoot down a sliding hill, hike on trails, try tossing snowballs at a “bull’s-eye-target”, get lost and find yourself again in a hay maze, and even check out Santa’s workshop. If this doesn’t leave the kids absolutely tuckered, linger after dark to enjoy the Christmas tree lights from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Ian Andrews wanted his farm experience to be more than just cutting a tree.

“We aim to offer a memorable family outing,” says his wife Linda. 

“Our farm takes on a whole new feel in the evenings with the campfires burning. You can sip a free hot chocolate and take a walk down candy cane lane. This year we’ve added two 15-foot reindeer with a sleigh, which will be great for taking pictures.”

There is a small admission fee for those who want to visit but don’t actually want a tree. 

“For $3.00 people can enjoy what we have to offer here at the park – and meet Santa every evening from 6:00 p.m – 9:00, p.m.” says Linda.

Thomas Tree Farm
North Gower
thomastreefarm.ca

Choose a tree, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, then munch homemade cookies and sip hot chocolate around the fire at the sugar house. With 50 acres of trees, your family is bound to find one that’s perfectly suited. Want a wreath? Choose from many styles.

 The horses will be busy working on December 7, 8 and 14, 15. 

“Wagon rides are complimentary for our Christmas-tree customers,” says Gary Thomas. “And all tree prices are the same as last year save for balsam fir, which are $51.33 this year.”

Want to know where the warmest spot on the farm is? It’s nestled in the woods, beside the bonfire! 

This farm has a particularly eco-friendly touch. Their helpful website is chock full of tips on how to look after your tree and how to recycle it. 

Do remember to bring a hand saw to the farm to cut your tree, else use one of theirs. Thomas tree farm does not permit chain saws or axes.

While you’re there, why not gather some pine cones for future crafty projects? Photo by Kate Settle.

Fallowfield Tree Farm
Stittsville
ottawatreefarm.com

Here, elves can help you cut your tree if you wish, and Santa’s been sighted here, too, so youngsters should keep their eyes peeled for crimson-clad Father Christmas. Hop on the horse-drawn wagon which heads into the forest or go for a family stroll to find the perfect tree. At Fallowfield, the cost of your tree includes having the snow shaken from it and placed atop your vehicle.

Can’t take the time to visit this year? Call ahead to place your order and your tree will be delivered to your door. 

Quick tips for treehunting success:

• Check the tree farm’s website for hours of operation as well as information related to saws. Do you have to bring your own? Find out before you get there.
• Make a plan in regards to how you’re going to bring the tree home. Do you need to bring extra bungee cords? A blanket to cover the trunk of the car? A roof rack?
• Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting sticky from a brush with pine pitch. The same goes for mittens and gloves! Work gloves are perfect for the tree farm.   
• Wear rubber boots if there’s no snow on the ground. It’s bound to be mucky!
• Fill up the family thermos with hot chocolate before you head out to the farm. Your family will be grateful, and so will you!

Safety first!

Fresh trees contain moisture (their needles and boughs are flexible) and represent less of a fire hazard. Remember to set them in a large, sturdy stand which contains two or more litres of water, and top it up daily to extend the tree’s colour, scent, and needle retention. Never put candles on or near a tree, and use certified CSA (Canadian Standard Association) strings of lights.

For more Christmas safety tips, check canadasafetycouncil.org.

What about the car seat?

For more detailed information about all the car seat “stages,” consult your car seat user guide and your car’s owner manual.

by Annie Pisanu, Ottawa Public Health Nurse

So you’re expecting a baby, what an exciting time! Soon you will be picking names, decorating the baby’s nursery and buying baby stuff. What about the car seat? This will be one of the most important items you will need for your child.

According to Parachute Canada, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in Canadian children. Transport Canada states that every year about 10,000 children (from infants to 12-year-olds) are hurt or killed on the roads. However, you can reduce the risk of injury or death significantly, by as much as 75 per cent by:

Placing your child in a properly installed child car seat

Using a child car seat that is appropriate for your child’s stage of development

There are three stages of children’s car seats: 

Stage 1, rear-facing car seats

The law in Ontario states that your baby needs to be in a rear-facing car seat from birth to at least 9 kilograms (20 pounds). However, safety recommendations suggest keeping your child in a rear-facing child car seat for as long as possible. Some rear-facing child car seats are made for children that weigh up to 20 kilograms (45 pounds). Don’t worry about your child’s legs touching the back of your vehicle’s seat as long as your child is still below the weight and height limits of the child car seat.

How to install your rear-facing car seat: Make sure the back of your rear-facing child car seat is at a 45-degree angle. The child car seat should not move more than 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) from side to side. 

Make sure the shoulder harness straps are positioned at or slightly below your baby’s shoulders. Only one finger should fit between the harness strap and your child’s collarbone. The chest clip should be at armpit level.

Stage 2, forward-facing car seats

The law in Ontario states that your child needs a forward-facing car seat from 9 kilograms (20 pounds) up until 18 kilograms (40 pounds). However, safety recommendations suggest keeping your child in a forward-facing child car seat for as long as possible. Some forward-facing car seats are made for children weighing up to 30 kilograms (65 pounds).

How to install your forward-facing car seat: Remember all forward-facing car seats must have the tether strap connected. The child car seat should not move more than 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) from side to side. 

Make sure the shoulder harness straps are positioned at or slightly above the child’s shoulders. Remember only one finger should fit between the harness strap and your child’s collarbone. The chest clip should also be at armpit level.

Stage 3, booster seats

The law in Ontario states that your child needs a booster seat for kids who weigh over 18 kilograms (40 pounds) until one of the following occurs:

• The child reaches 8 years of age or
• 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or
• 145 centimetres (4 feet 9 inches) tall

However, safety recommendations suggest if your child has reached one of the above three criteria, they may not be entirely ready for a seatbelt. The shoulder belt needs to rest on your child’s shoulder and not on their neck or arm. The lap belt also needs to be snug and resting on their hips. 

Remember, think A1Secure for every car ride;

• Armpit level for harness chest clip. 
• 1 finger space only between harness straps and the child’s chest.
• Secure car seat to vehicle according to the car seat’s user guide.

Here are some other helpful tips:

• Bulky snowsuits and other winter clothing can affect the tightening of your child car seat’s harness. 
• Do not leave loose items in your vehicle because they may hit and hurt someone during a sudden stop or crash.
• Items that did not come with your child car seat may not be safe to use. 
• Register your child car seat with the manufacturer; if your child car seat is recalled, you will be notified.
• Replace your child car seat, if it was in a car during a crash, if it is expired or if it is torn or damaged.

In Ottawa, failure to properly secure a child in a child car seat is a $240.00 fine and 2 demerit points.

Good luck on the wonderful journey you are about to embark upon with your baby through the various child car seat stages. If you need more help with the installation of your child’s car seat you can have it inspected by a certified technician at S.E.A.T.S. for Kids Canada (www.seatsforkidscanada.com) or at Ottawa’s Safety Council’s Best Fit Program (www.ottawasafetycouncil.org/childrens-programs/car-seat-program). You can also visit www.a1secure.ca for multilingual pamphlets and installation videos in various languages.

If you need more information you can call the Ottawa Public Health information line at 613-580-6744.

Pinterest roundup: Elf on the Shelf ideas

It's Monday! And that means we're sharing some of our favourite bits of inspiration from our Pinterest boards. There are thirty days until Christmas and we're slooooowwwwly trying to get in gear.

This week we're sharing some Elf on the Shelf ideas. Have you seen the Elf? It's a fun thing to do with kids during the month of December. The story that comes with the elf lays out the basic premise. The elf's job is to watch over the family to make sure everyone is good in the days before Christmas. But the big idea (and you don't tell the kids this part) is that parents are supposed to move the elf around the house every night as if he's real. And judging from what we've seen on Pinterest there are a lot of parents out there who are having a lot of fun with this part:

Check out our Elf on the Shelf pinterest board for a few other suggestions of things you can do.

Another idea that's had us in stitches is this dinosaur version of the Elf.

Looking for other activities you can do as a family? Follow Capital Parent on Pinterest or check out our past Pinterest picks.

Parenting blogs we love: Coffee with Julie

By Lynn Jatania 

Meet Julie Harrison from Coffee with Julie. Photo by CL BUCHANAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Julie Harrison of Coffee With Julie is like a lifestyle detective. She’s always on the case, looking for the next fantastic family vacation, the next delicious family dinner, or the best new eco-friendly products for your home. She’s completely open to new experiences, new thoughts, and new adventures, and her blog is the top place to go for ideas on how to make your family life - in a word - better. 

With two young kids, Julie still finds time to travel, both with and without her family. She’s got all the tips on how to make travel fun and easy with children, from staycation spots like Gatineau Park to farther destinations like New York City. This summer, she dared to explore the Northwest Territories during a multi-day camping/fishing canoe trip; her series was inspirational both for the gorgeous scenery and the spirit of adventure involved. Even if you’re not up for a trip to the great white north (and there were times when Julie herself was wondering what she was thinking), reading her reports can inspire you to be brave and seek out new experiences for yourself.

Recently, Julie’s been on a tear to find new eco-friendly products for her home, specifically in the realm of personal care and makeup. She’s doing all the legwork for us, trying out different products and reporting back, while we just get to sit back and reap the benefits. She makes it almost inexcusably easy to join in her quest to make the world better for herself, her family, and future generations.

And that’s just barely scratching the surface of her great content. At any point you might find thoughtful discussions of parenting issues, hilarious digs at getting older, fast and easy dinner recipes, interior design insights, or even the occasional high-quality giveaway. Add in her friendly, easy-going, chatty tone, and you’ll soon find yourself pulling up a chair for a regular cup of coffee with Julie.

Noteable Quotes

“I’m always trying to encourage my children to try something new. Whether it’s a new food or an activity, I want them to have these opportunities. I don’t expect them to like everything they try, but I believe that the simple act of trying has value in and of itself.

I don’t think I’m unique here. I think most parents feel the same way. And yet, as parents, are we modelling this kind of behaviour to our children? Are we trying new foods? Or we pushing our comfort zone and trying a new activity?

Change is hard because it’s uncomfortable. I also find that, for me, it takes more time and energy than just doing the same old thing. And as parents we tend to be low on time and energy. So it’s really not surprising that we tend to fall into a cycle of doing the same types of things day in and day out.

But if I’d like, for example, my son to ‘put himself out there,’ and try out for a school team, shouldn’t I be able to confidently point to a time when I recently did the same?”

Do some Santa spotting!

Santa loves to visit different parts of Ottawa before the big day. Whether you pay him and his elves a special visit at the mall or just wave to him while he’s on a parade float, it makes for a great family tradition.

Santa Claus Parades

Bundle up, wear sturdy boots, pack a thermos of hot chocolate and a stash of Christmas cookies along with your charitable donation. This might also be a good time to bring hand and boot warmers. 

Ottawa
The 44th Annual Help Santa Toy Parade 
Saturday November 23, starting at 11:00 a.m.
Note the time change: the Help Santa Toy Parade doesn’t take place at night anymore. The route starts on Wellington just east of Parliament Hill near the National Archives, goes down Bank Street, and continues west along Laurier Avenue. Bring some toys – and some spare loonies – to donate to kids in need.  Members of the Ottawa Firefighters will be collecting them along the route. 

Orleans 
Santa’s Parade of Lights 
Saturday November 30, starting at 6:00 p.m. 
Santa’s Parade of Lights takes place on St. Joseph Blvd., (Youville Drive to Prestone Drive). Meet your friends and neighbours as you enjoy the sounds and sights of the parade! Toy and cash donations will be collected by firefighters along the route. 

Barrhaven 
Barrhaven Lions Santa Parade 
Sunday December 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. 
This volunteer-run parade sees entries including elaborate floats, marching bands, entertainers and costumed characters, all lit up to the delight of 30,000 spectators. The parade begins at Beatrice Drive and Strandherd and now ends at the corner of Strandherd and the Park n’ Ride. Do note that there’ll be a variety of local food vendors along the parade route.  Families are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or cash donations for the needy, which will be collected along the route.

Mall visits

Plan your visits around off-peak hours to avoid crowds and potential melt-downs. If you’re having photos taken with the big guy, make sure the kids are wearing a nice outfit that isn’t too scratchy or uncomfortable. No pinchy shoes either! And don’t forget to bring your letters to Santa.

Bayshore Shopping Centre
Santa returned to Bayshore on Sunday November 17. Check the website so you can time your visit with the big guy himself.

Carlingwood
Visit Santa at Carlingwood in the Centre Court in front of People’s Jewellers. He’s there every day until December 24. Check the Carlingwood website for visiting hours. There are other special activities planned on the weekends too.

Rideau Centre
What’s on your wish list? Santa’s visits to the Rideau Centre began on Saturday, November 16 and run each Saturday and Sunday until Sunday, December 22. 

St. Laurent Centre
Visit Santa and his friends at the Root Court at St. Laurent Centre. There’ll be jolly music and fun for all.

Place D’Orleans
Santa’s visits to Place D’Orleans started on November 18 and run daily until December 24. Check the website for his exact schedule. You won’t want to miss him!