When I excitedly told family and friends that we were going away to Sudbury for the weekend I got several questions of “why Sudbury?” and “what’s there to do in Sudbury?”. To be honest, I only really knew about Science North and Dynamic Earth but I was excited nonetheless as it was a mini-vacation and time to spend with family which is always needed! Little did I know that Sudbury Tourism had a whole itinerary full of family-friendly activities to keep us busy all weekend long!

We planned to leave home fairly early so, after a stop at our local library to tire the kids out before the drive, we headed out. After only one quick stop for a bathroom break and to stretch our legs, we arrived at our hotel – the Microtel in Sudbury. We lucked out with early check-in at 2pm and quickly got changed into swimsuits to cheer the kids up after a long drive. We were impressed with the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms and the kids loved running back and forth from the hot tub to the pool and back again.

 

Once they’d had a good swim we went to grab dinner at the Taphouse Northern Grill + Pub. The kid’s meals at the Taphouse were the perfect size – 2/3 kids ate their entire dish (and I didn’t want to bring leftovers back to the hotel so that made me happy!) and there were veggie options for me which is always a bonus too! The boys had energy to spare and the first stop on our itinerary was KUPP Centre – an indoor playground with laser tag! Insider tip – wear some slippery shorts/pants here because those slides are FAST and even more fun with slippery bottoms! Avery flew down and of course us adults had to climb up and slide down more than a few times too. Indoor playgrounds can often be really noisy and overstimulating but I have to say, this place was awesome! I’m sure it helped that we were there in the evening so it wasn’t crazy busy but there was quite a lot to do there – including a rock wall – so the kids were spread out and everyone had so much fun. We even got 2 rounds of laser tag in - that was Avery and Jackson’s favourite part, Lucas couldn’t get enough of the slides! Awesome way to tire everyone out before heading back to the hotel for a comfy sleep!

   

On the itinerary for Saturday morning was the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre. I’ll admit – I wasn’t overly excited for this excursion. It was in Capreol, about 45 minutes away from our hotel, and I wasn’t sure how the kids would do at a “museum”. I was worried they’d get bored and be a pain the whole time. We got there as soon as it opened and were taken on a tour to show us the trains that are on the property. The kids actually listened pretty well to the information and history and they LOVED getting to climb aboard the trains and see what everything looked like inside (especially the school car). What was amazing was that my hubby had mentioned he had family who worked for CN and that there might be some kind of mention of them at the museum. As it turned out there were several framed photos/documents of his Great Grandfather so we got to take photos of him with them and send them home to the rest of his family. Although our boys are too young to really understand and appreciate this little bit of history, it was really amazing for Gerald to be able to see this and I loved sharing that with him. After the Railroad Museum we were taken on the second part of the tour which took us to the old Fire Hall. The kids were able to climb on a fire truck and the best part was that they got to touch all the buttons and turn all the lights on! It was hard convincing them to get off the firetruck after that! We toured through the rest of the building which included the old jail in the basement and then mine and Avery’s favourite part – the miniature railway set up. I wish I had thought to take photos of the setup because it was incredible! The detail that went into constructing this is truly amazing; the kids would have stayed a lot longer I think! Definitely don’t miss out on the Railway Museum if you’re headed to Sudbury, it’s absolutely worth the extra little drive!

 

 

  

The town of Capreol is teeny tiny so we considered heading back to Sudbury for lunch but we were all hungry so we stopped in at the M&R Grill instead. We were surprised to find it was packed inside but we got a table and the kids loved that there were toys to play with while they waited for food. The staff were SO friendly and even gave each of the boys a train hat to take home. The “small town feel” was awesome and it was the perfect choice for lunch. The boys got in the car happy, full from lunch and sleepy so they had a great little nap on the way to our second stop on our itinerary – Dynamic Earth!

 

When we were in Sudbury briefly last year we had stopped at the Big Nickel and the kids had wanted to go down into the mine but we didn’t have time so they were thrilled to be back and actually able to go inside this time. We arrived just in time to join a group heading into the mine for a tour! After waking everyone up from their nap in the car, an hour long tour underground sounded…..fun?.....but after the really cool movie on the elevator on the way down, they were a little more awake. We put on our hardhats and ventured into the wet underground. The tour was really informative and interactive too which kept it interesting for children. When the hour was up I was surprised it had gone so quickly actually! And then we had lots more to discover outside of the mine. The kids played with an interactive sand table, climbed into the play area, went outside to the slide and sandboxes, and explored all the different rocks to see. I would absolutely add Dynamic Earth as something to see on your family trip, it was a lot of fun and didn’t take up too much of the day. I think we spent about 3 hours max there and that was enough to see most everything in enough detail for young kids.

  

We decided to head for dinner at Tucos Taco Lounge which we’d read great reviews about on social media. I was excited because the whole restaurant is vegan and vegan tacos are very exciting! It was REALLY hard to choose what to eat when we arrived; we wanted a bit of everything. So we ordered a big plate of nachos, small mac & cheese dishes for 2 of the kids and then 3 different taco options to try out. Our eyes were obviously bigger than our stomachs but the food was DELICIOUS. The kids didn’t even balk at the mac & cheese (vegan cheese can sometimes be different tasting), they loved their dinner too. We left very full and wishing we had room for a few more of those yummy tacos! Vegan or not, add this to your list of restaurants to try, my hubby is not at all vegan and even he’s still raving about this restaurant!

Saturday evening we headed to Bell Park beach to meet up with the rest of the Life With A Baby crew to check in and get some family and group photos. As community managers with Life With A Baby we are always chatting away online to the other managers but we are from all over the place so we rarely get to see each other in person. It was wonderful being able to catch up if only for a moment and the kids had a great time playing at the park and running up and down through the flower gardens! On the way back to the van we took our time walking the boardwalk and stopping on the rocks to watch the boats. Needless to say, we had a great sleep Saturday night after a full day of activities!

 

Both mornings we had breakfast at our hotel – the continental breakfast was more than I expected. We had loads of options – cereal, oatmeal, bagels, muffins, fruit, yogurt, waffles – there was something for all of us and we may have snagged a few muffins for the inevitable mid-morning snack that is expected by our boys! Nice to have this included in our hotel stay – it definitely makes a difference when travelling with family.

I was most excited to go to Science North so I was really happy to see that on our itinerary for Sunday. We had brought the kids last summer on our way through so I knew there was enough to do there that we’d be spending most of the day and I definitely wasn’t wrong. We arrived shortly after it opened and the kids raced in to start exploring! What I love most about Science North is that EVERYTHING is geared towards the kids – they get to see and touch and learn about every exhibit and not once was anyone bored. We went into the butterfly area and waited for butterflies to land on us, we watched a movie about climate change, we built and raced cars around a track, we got to see and touch a whole bunch of different animals, the activities were endless. We made sure to get to 2 of the live shows that were offered and Jackson was even chosen as a volunteer to demonstrate how a vacuum seal works! He was smiling from ear to ear. Lucas LOVED the flying squirrel demo and they are so soft to touch! While Daddo and Avery were exploring a few exhibits that the younger boys weren’t interested in, I took Jackson and Lucas down to play in the toddler area which kept them busy for at least a half hour until I told them we should go back and check in with the other two. We stopped briefly for lunch at the Elements restaurant right in Science North – it was pretty reasonable for a pizza and a few drinks and the kids gobbled it all down so that they could get back to exploring! We stayed until about 3pm and only left because we knew we had a long drive home, we definitely could have stayed and seen even more. Maybe next year!

  

Before we left Sudbury we had to stop at Flurples for vegan ice cream! It’s this cute little walk-up ice cream place that had a whole bunch of options and it was busy! Between us we tried quite a few different treats (go for an oreo milkshake or a chocolate cone – my 2 faves!) and I wish I could go back right now because it was so GOOD! The kids didn’t even notice that their ice cream was vegan and my hubby said if I hadn’t told him he wouldn’t have known his strawberry milkshake was vegan either. Absolutely worth the stop - put it on your list!

 

As you can tell, we had an absolutely amazing time in Sudbury! I was so impressed with all the different activities – especially because most of the families that were there from Life With A Baby were off on different adventures from us – there really was something for everyone and all ages too! So to answer all the “What is there to do in Sudbury?” questions – EVERYTHING and more! I can’t wait to go back and check out even more attractions (and restaurants!) next year! 

**Check out more photos and fun by searching #LWABSudbury

My husband and our two kids, aged 4 and 5, have started our summer vacation out with an amazing trip up north to visit Sudbury! Leaving Cambridge around noon on a Friday, the drive to Sudbury took us about 5 hours, with a short stop for a bite to eat. I came prepared with several ‘activities’ for the kids to keep them busy on the drive, dry erase activity cards, drawing boards, story stones and new library books were a great investment to help keep them occupied.

Our reservation was for the Hampton Inn Sudbury, which is one of the first hotels you pass as you come into town. It is located approximately 10 minutes from both Science North and Dynamic Earth so the location was great! When we walked inside we were greeted immediately by the friendly front desk staff who checked us in and let us know about all the hotel amenities. We’ve stayed at other Hampton Inn locations, and like all other locations the interiors are bright and welcoming, have a large dining area for their daily hot breakfast, and offer 24 hour coffee, tea and fresh fruit.  One thing I love about staying in a Hampton Inn is being able to count on a good breakfast to start the day.  With everything from cereal, toast, yogurt, oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, fruit, waffle station (with whipped cream of course) and chafing dishes of scrambled eggs/omelettes, and sausages/bacon there is something for everyone.  The hotel also had an indoor pool which we were able to make use of on our last morning.  Checkout at the hotel wasn’t until noon so we decided to take advantage of this later checkout time and use the swimming pool before we left on Sunday.  The pool faced to a patio on one side and the end wall faced the fitness centre which had the standard treadmill, elliptical machine and weights. After swimming and packing up our stuff we were a few minutes past checkout time, the front desk staff was super nice about it though, it was apparent we were the last people to check out as she knew which room we were in J

After arriving at the hotel on Friday night we quickly dropped our bags in our room and were headed out for our next adventure of the weekend – the IMAX  at Science North.  With our later arrival time in Sudbury there was one movie option remaining, Superpower Dogs at 6pm.  We got out tickets and settled in for the 45 minute film.  For me it’s probably been over 15 years since I’ve seen an IMAX movie and for the kids this was the first time, this was a perfect movie for them, a mix of my daughter’s love of Paw Patrol and my son’s love of Avengers! It was fun to watch the kids experience this type of movie - one kept looking over their glasses to compare the 3D to the regular view (I admit I’ve done this too, trying to figure out how it works) and the other on the edge of the seat the whole time, even forgetting the bag of popcorn sitting beside him!  The theatre is located in the lobby of Science North, so if you had the time, this could easily be added onto your visit the science centre.

After the movie we headed to Di Gusto Wood Fired Pizza, Pasta and Wine Bar for a late dinner. We arrived around 7:30pm and were seated right away, the dining room was fairly busy with groups ranging from couples on date night out to large groups and families enjoying some time together. There wasn’t a printed children’s menu but the waitress let us know they offered child portions of pizza (cheese or pepperoni) and pasta (spaghetti or penne with tomato sauce and meatballs or butter).  Both kids wanted spaghetti with meatballs which in the end cost $26 ($8 for the each plate of pasta and $5 for the meatballs). In hindsight I should have ordered a regular portion of pasta for them to share for $18 as neither finished their plates as the portions were HUGE (but not worth paying $13 for a kid’s meal).  My husband and I opted to order a few different things and share so we went with the Calamari, Caprese Salad and a prosciutto and arugula pizza, all were delicious, and we ate every last bite! Everything is made in house so the texture of the pasta is not what you’d get in most places but was quite good. And the kids thought it was neat to be able to watch the pizzas cooking in the oven.

After breakfast on Saturday morning we made the 40 minute drive north to Capreol to see the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre. As we approached the museum we saw several train cars behind the main building (which a one point was the home of the railroad superintendent), the kids were already excited! I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t think we would be there very long, however we easily spent 2 hours seeing everything and playing at the park. We opted for the guided tour, but I believe you can also look around on your own if you prefer that. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the railroad and the area (her grandfather used to work for the railway), she even kept the kids entertained with fun facts about different pieces of equipment used on the railroad in the past. The house is set up with each room highlighting a different aspect of history in the area – logging, railroad, mining and telegraphy - so much history and info in such a small place. After looking through the rooms we headed outside to what is known as Prescott Park to see the train engines and cars up close. We were able to go inside 3 train cars, the original engine the museum acquired, a school house train car and the engineer’s sleeping car. 

Our annual Life With a Baby Community Manager retreat took us to Sudbury, Ontario. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit uncertain about the variety of activities that would be available to my family - my husband and our two girls aged 2 and 4. Not only were my uncertainties erroneous, I was amazed by the amount of activities we were able to fit into our weekend away.

Day 1

Sudbury was only a 3.5 hr drive from our home in Vaughan, Ontario. We timed our departure to correspond with nap time so both girls slept for the majority of the drive and my husband and I were faced with time to ourselves to chat – something that does not happen very frequently these days!

We made a couple of pit stops along the way. Our first was to Bokkies Biltong, a South African store in Barrie, Ontario. My husband is originally from SA so the thought of going on a road trip without some biltong was inconceivable (for those who don’t know what biltong is, think beef jerky, but better). Our second pit stop was just to a small trading post on the side of the road with a grassy area and picnic tables, a fountain and plenty of room to stretch our legs.

We arrived at our hotel – The Microtel around 4 pm and were very impressed with the friendly staff, the cleanliness of the lobby and our room, the indoor pool and of course the fitness centre!

After a short rest and shopping trip to stock up on some snacks in our room, which had a kitchenette, we headed out to P&M Kouzzina for dinner. The kids’ menu was full of pictures to colour and activities to keep the kids entertained. Our waitress also brought out some cucumber slices for the girls to snack on while we waited for our food to arrive which is now a MUST anytime we go to a restaurant as a family. The food was fresh, super tasty and I would absolutely add it to your itinerary when you are in the area and craving some authentic Italian eats.

After dinner we headed to the KUPP Centre, a local indoor playground and let the girls burn off some energy before bed. They both had an absolute blast. I have been to a few indoor playgrounds in my time, and this one truly had something for kids of all ages. They had lots of climbing structures, a super fast slide (my two year old couldn’t get enough of it), and even a separate area for laser tag.

After a busy day we were off to bed to get some rest for another fun-filled day.

Day 2

We started our day off with the complimentary breakfast at The Microtel. Then, we were off to Science North for the morning. We have season passes to the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and go there at least once a month since both of my girls, myself and my husband love it. I was not too sure how Science North would compare. As we entered we walked through a tunnel made to look like we were beginning to walk underground. It was very realistic – so much so that my 2 yr old was a little nervous and I had to hold her as we walked. We started at the bottom and made our way up the four levels. Each level had a different theme filled with all sorts of activities. The lower level catered to toddlers as they had a treehouse and pirate ship made into an interactive play area.

As we made our way to the second floor we walked through the butterfly gallery which hosted ~400 free-flying butterflies, walked quickly by the tarantulas in their enclosures as neither myself nor my husband had any interest in holding one, found fossils in the fossil table and stopped at the millipede station. There was another family next to us who were holding the large millipede and I thought they were absolutely nuts. But, after my husband and 2 yr old took a turn holding it I thought I better put on my brave girl pants and show my 4 yr old that there was nothing to be afraid of. It took a LOT of courage but even I held the millipede – only for a few seconds, but I did it!

One the third and fourth levels we met a lot of live animals such as a beaver, skunk, porcupine, turtles, snakes and bees! Music started to play from the theater, so we made our way to the center to get ready for the science show. This was possibly my favourite part and which separated it from the Ontario Science Centre. It was very interactive and entertaining for the whole family. After the show we made our way to the final level that was full of so many activities, but it was getting close to lunch and nap time so we didn’t spend too much time although we still managed to fit in car racing, the human gyroscope and bed of nails.

Next, we headed to Tucos Taco Lounge for lunch. We sat outside on their super chill and colourful patio and the kids hopped from colour tile to colour tile as we were ordering our food. As we were looking at the menu we saw a lot of vegetarian options, but we weren’t aware that it was a vegan restaurant until later in the day when we were talking to others about it. We ordered the phish tacos, nachos, mac and cheese and fruit. It was excellent!! My husband is not one to typically choose to eat at a vegan restaurant, but he couldn’t even tell it was vegan – everything was delicious!!

After lunch we headed back to the hotel for family nap time. When we awoke it was time to continue the festivities.

Our next adventure led us to the Northern Exotics Animal Exhibit. My youngest is obsessed with animals so I knew this would be a highlight for her – and was it ever! We saw everything from lizards to parrots to monkeys, alligators, chinchillas, foxes and lemurs!

We then came back to the hotel for a quick swim (had to fit that in) and then it was time for dinner at M.I.C. Canadian Eatery & Whisky Pub and a visit to Bell Park. I was still pretty full from our amazing lunch so I just had a small pasta dish and my husband ordered a burger. Everything was very fresh and tasty. Again, we got the cucumber slices for the girls’ appetizer – I am telling you, this is a sanity saver!!

Bell Park was wonderful! There was a great grassy area and beautiful flower garden which made a perfect setting for our family photo, a nice sandy beach and a playground in which my girls could not get enough of the swing and slides. We visited the park after dinner, but it would be the perfect spot for a family picnic and beach day!!

Day 3

Our final day in Sudbury started again with a fresh continental breakfast at the Microtel and then it was off to the Dynamic Earth to learn all about nickel mining. We were greeted by the Big Nickel in which I thought it would be cute to show the girls a real nickel and have them compare it to the BIG Nickel. Inside there was a great area for kids to play and had all sorts of interactive stations. My 4 yr old panned for gold while the two year old got pretty good at manoeuvring the wheel barrow full of ‘rocks’. We decided not to opt in for the underground tour of the mine given the 2 yr old’s reaction to the walk through the ‘tunnel’ at Science North. There was also an amazing outdoor playground, but by the time the kids were finished playing indoors it was time for us to leave as we were continuing our family vacation in the nearby Manitoulin Island.

Our final meal in Sudbury was at Di Gusto Wine Bar and without knowing it, we saved the best for last. We started with an amazing garden salad while the girls had their cucumber slices and olives followed by a wood oven pizza (It was gone before I could get a picture). It was one of the best pizzas I have had!! This restaurant is an absolute must when visiting Sudbury!!

All in all I was amazed by everything Sudbury had to offer. From the incredible food options to the endless family-friendly activities. One weekend was not enough to fit it all in, so I can’t wait for our next visit!!

For more pictures #LWABSudbury

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You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial to evaluate an online decision tool if you:

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Research, is open to all women across Canada.

For more information and to access the pre-screen questionnaire, please visit:

www.womensresearch.ca/PDAstudy

Sudbury is for “explorers”. My kids, 6-years and 4-years, loved being explorers!! Along the drive, we stopped at a rest station, that had great large rocks for the kids to climb, and burn off some energy while we waited!

Explorers get hungry

The restaurants we chose did not disappoint.

We explored Deluxe burgers. They had a delicious poutine, made with curds and their barbeque sauce! I would have liked more vegetarian options on the menu. The kids loved the chicken strips, and my husband enjoyed his hamburger. The restaurant filled our water bottles which was a nice bonus while trying to save bottles.

We explored the Laughing Buddha. The location was great – we sat on the front patio, and my children enjoyed watching the trains at the junction station across the road! We had the Feisty Feta dip and fresh veggies, and it was so good. I had the Bon-Ami Banh-Mi sandwich which was also delicious.

We explored Tucos Tacos – I was so excited to go to a full vegan restaurant. For my children, we ordered a “Baby Plate” – it was the perfect combination for them of mac & cheese, strawberries, and homemade chips – so perfect we had to order a second plate! My husband and I split the Phish tacos, and the Buffalo taco – they were delicious!! 

We explored the continental breakfast at Travelway! They had a good variety of items (3 hot foods, plus toast, muffins, fruit, cereal, etc.), coffee, tea, juice. Travelway always had a refreshment station set up for people to indulge in. They had coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and orange infused water! They had oranges available, and mints. My children enjoyed that they could have the mints.

Explorers get tired.

We explored the Pauza Den at the Travelway Inn. We picked up a pizza and ate there one night. My children enjoyed watching television in there on the couch, while my husband and I finished dinner. My daughter fell asleep, and I had to carry her back to our room!

Our room was great. They had a cot set up for my children, and they said they were going to sleep on it (they didn’t stay on it for long though and wanted to cuddle, but that’s not unusual).

Explorers explore!

We explored attractions! We went to see Super Power Dogs at the Imax theatre! It was a great movie – I was worried that my children wouldn’t like the movie, but they only didn’t like the 3D glasses! They loved watching the adventures of the dogs and all the ways they help people. My children played with other kids outside of the theatre on the “Top of the Earth” for a long time. Simple little details like that, even though my children didn’t understand how it was a scale model of  the Earth, provided a lot of entertainment.

We went kayaking at Laurentian University. I was worried as Lake Ramsey was very rough as we were getting there. It is a long walk down to the water that we kayaked on, but it was so worth it! It was a secluded little beach – some other people were there using SUP’s, another person was doing slacklining at the volleyball nets, and a few other people. Thankfully, our lake was beautiful and calm! My children tried walking into the sandy water and fishing. They did not have any luck fishing, but had a great time. After I kayaked for a few minutes by myself, I picked up my kids. The rental agency at Laurentian did not have children’s lifejackets. The ones they had were a bit big, so I stayed in water shallow enough that we could stand up. My kids enjoyed acting as a motor to my boat! Overall, it was a very pleasant way to spend the morning. We saw campus security come and check the area while we were there which was nice to see.

We were very lucky that the Northern Lights Festival Boreal was happening while we were there. We got to see Al Simmons play as part of a workshop. We arrived just as he played “The Cat Came Back” – a popular song among the preschool groupies there! The festival was well set up – the volunteers were helpful in directing us to the stage we needed, and there were free bouncy castles, so my kids were very happy! We didn’t even get to see other stages in the afternoon – we stayed near the activities at the kids tent. We treated the kids to cotton candy, and a snow cone, and found a spot in the shade. There was actually a band practicing in the shade, so it was like we got a private show while we had our break! We left, then came back to the festival after dinner. We went to the main stage and watched from a lovely grassy knoll for a while. My children were tired, but we fueled them with ice cream, and the dancing started! We love music festivals, so I am so glad my daughter and son did too!

We explored Nepahwin park for a swim. The water was lovely! There were two areas marked off, with a shallow end, and a deeper end. There was a lifeguard on duty. There was a change room and washrooms near the beach.

We explored as we walked from our hotel, to Bell park playground to meet with other Life with a Baby community managers. The boardwalk was beautiful and there were lots of things to see as we walked. There were lots of friendly dogs out walking and the trail was nice. We got to see people fishing, and if we had more time, would have grabbed the kids rods. The playground was great – it was set up on different levels, which my kids love climbing so they had a blast. We had a group photo near the flower beds. We all had children who had lots of energy, so I challenged some of them to race to the top of the flowers and back. They loved doing it and it was so cute to see! The flower bed was gorgeous, and my son loved the turtles made out of flowers.

The biggest thing in Sudbury for explorers was Science North! It has been on my to do list for many years! It did not disappoint. Based on advice from friends, we started at the top floor – my kids loved taking up the clear elevator, then watching from the outside how the gears worked. Every floor had many hands on activities to explore for kids of all ages. I tried the bed of nails, while my kids played with the black hole exhibit. The location was not busy, there were many staff members (blue coats) available who checked in with us if we had any questions. There were so many exhibits that we didn’t have any wait time to play. We watched the show about climate change, voiced by Rick Mercer, and my children love that they got “rained” on!  There was a live show with experiments by one of the blue coats, based on space travel! We got to try freeze dried fruit. On the insect floor, my husband tasted crickets! When that wasn’t enough to fill us, we had lunch at the restaurant there, they had a great veggie burger, the children had chicken nuggets and my husband had a burger and salad. The butterfly area was amazing. They have vests to ensure butterflies land on you. We did not put on the vests, but butterflies explored us, by landing on us! In addition to the blue coats helping to make our experience great, things like water stations that had step stools, and step stools in the washrooms made it easier to allow kids to have autonomy. We briefly explored the toddler play area, and even my older kids found things to play with. We loved seeing the porcupine and beaver enjoying their lunch – happily snacking on leaves! It was amazing to see the beaver swimming – I got to see how big his webbed feet were, so know why they can swim so well! We had seen lots of beaver dens along the drive up north, so it was great to learn more about them. We had intended to only explore there for a few hours, but ended up spending most of the day there. There were little areas like the kitchen and store, that my children loved! It was great for explorers of all ages!

We briefly explored Dynamic Earth, my children enjoyed the outdoor playground, and the children’s mine in the basement. They partnered with some other children – one who became the manager, who I overheard say “Staff meeting in my office!” and all the kids ran upstairs! While they played I enjoyed controlling the rock breaker 70 feet below me! We chose not to do the mine tour as we were out of time. There were blue coats there also making our experience great – explaining the different exhibits and telling my son the type of rock he purchased at Science North!

Most of our activities were based around Paris street. It made it easy to navigate around the city. Our drive home, my daughter fell asleep instantly. My son took longer, but he enjoyed counting inuksuk, and made a point to build one in our garden with rocks he has collected over the years.

Our explorations around Sudbury were amazing. It was a great mix of indoor activities and nature activities. My children enjoyed being an explorer, and was sad to hear that some other families were doing different activities, and that we wouldn’t have time to do them all! We intend to come back to try some of the other things we didn’t get a chance to explore!

You can see more pictures by searching  #LWABSudbury on Facebook.

Hey Parents! 

You probably already know this, but Life With A Baby Support Groups and Life With A Preterm Baby were started by Healthy Start, Healthy Future to provide a way for parents to connect face-to-face through events and chat online with others about the things no one talks about out loud. Things like the unpredictable rollercoaster of new parenthood, isolation, managing the health of a preterm baby, or navigating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders like postpartum depression. 

That was 11 years ago, and we have no intention of stopping. We have a renewed vigour to create more programs in more locations, so moms and dads everywhere have access to a community that has their back. 

Here’s where you come in. We’re all about multitasking, so having fun while you do good is an easy decision! We’d like to invite you to come out to the 6th Annual Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament on July 8 at The Thornhill Club for a fun-packed day, all while raising funds to develop and deploy support programs across the country. It doesn’t matter whether you play like Tiger Woods or Happy Gilmore, you’ll have a great time! If golf isn’t your thing, you can still  join us for the evening portion for a delectable dinner and exciting entertainment! Click here to register or donate today. 

Can’t make it that day? You can still make a big difference by sharing this opportunity with your personal and business network, or providing product or services for silent auction and giveaways. Healthy Start, Healthy Future is a registered Canadian charity, so cash donations above $20 are tax-receipt eligible. 

Last thing - thanks for changing lives. You have many choices to exercise your philanthropy muscles, and we’re grateful you choose us. 

Finding Viable Work From Home Opportunities As New Parent - Landmark Transportation School Bus Driving Option

Being a new parent is not always what you expect and there is definitely no job description. Every baby is different and unique which is why motherhood can be so scary, fun, terrifying, exciting, and rewarding all at the same time!! What is especially challenging as a new parent is making the difficult decision to quit a full-time job to be home with your children and finding ways to supplement income.

As a stay at home parent myself an entrepreneur, I am always approached by fellow mommy friends wondering how I made it work.  My response is always to weight out the options and costs of going back to work full time vs. staying home to raise your children and perhaps supplementing your income with some viable work from home options on a part time basis. And when I say to "weight out the costs", I mean the REAL COSTS in all areas (not just money).  Things like quality of life, health, exercise, eating out, commute times, etc. should ALL be considered as “costs” when making this decision.

For me, the decision was an easy one as going back to work full-time in agencies as an event planner meant a +3 hour commute each day from Newmarket to Toronto and back, long days, evenings, weekends, travelling, putting 2 kids in daycare full time (both of whom are special needs), likely having to hire a housekeeper, eating out more, quality of life differences that I wasn't going to sacrifice and all for only MAYBE $300 a week extra after factoring that all that all in!  I’m hearing about more and more moms in a similar situation as mine.

The trick, however, is finding those tried and true income potentials that *actually* earn money (a-hem MLM's :) and provide flexibility for parents.  Well my friends, I think I FOUND IT!    School bus driving part time with a local transportation company like Landmark is your local income supplementation option.   I'm happy to share with you the inside scoop on how it all works so that you can feel comfortable in the decision-making process on if this opportunity could work for your family. 

Training & Requirements

If you carry a driver’s license, enjoy children and have a decent driving record; getting your license to be able to drive a school bus is no problem at all.  Landmark does the required training for you, right at their offices!  The training consists of 5-10 business days of onsite training.  You will also need :

• Your Driver Abstract ( 3 years un-certified).  Can be ordered online for only $12
• Ministry of Transportation Medical for professional driver license - not covered by OHIP.  Most doctors charge from $50 to $125 for this document
• Vulnerable Sector Screening (Police check) as you will be working with kids.  Cost is about $65 and the company will reimburse you once hired.    Some moms may have one of these already if they volunteer at school, etc. already!

Once complete, you are all set.  Note that the initial training does require that you find childcare as children are not permitted at the training sessions themselves.

Hours

If you are a stay at home mom with an infant/ toddler / preschooler OR even a parent with kids in school full time, this is the opportunity for you!  Hours for school bus drivers are extremely family friendly!  Depending on the route that you are assigned, typical start times range from 6:30-9am.  You then get the day to yourself to tend to your home, get dinner sorted, run personal errands etc.  You are required back for your after school run at around 2:00-4pm.  You get to be home for your family obligations and dinner with a breeze by 4:30 usually! 

Flexibility 

Working as a School Bus Driver for Landmark is as family-friendly as you can get!  Here's why!

·         you only work 3-5 hours per day

·         you get to bring your kids to work with you

·         you get assigned routes as close as possible to your home

·         the route pick up / drop off times work perfectly around kids' sleep schedules and family routines

·         a back up system is in place in case of unforeseen emergencies, sickness, vacation time, etc. 

·         you can keep the bus at home with your or at another designated, local, parking location.  For our York North Chapter members, Landmark is conveniently located right here in Newmarket area!

·         You will have all the school holidays, summer, winter holidays off

Pay

Of course it all boils down to the moola :)   I am happy to report that School Bus Drivers with Landmark are paid a very fair $18.50/hour.  A typical shift earns you about $80 a day, which is approx. $400 per week or $1600 per month!  That is a mortgage & car payment for many of us!  Where else are you going to earn that kind of money with your kids in toe and while still tending to your families needs??? 

How To Get Involved?

Want more info?   You can feel free to contact Landmark directly at:

Cassie

Recruitment Office

C: 289-221-0822

O: 905-888-7290 ext. 147

24 Cardico Drive (Woodbine Ave & Stouffville Rd)

L4A 2G5

www.landmarkbuslines.com

Landmark is also showcasing these opportunities at some upcoming local events as follows:

Paws in the SARC Aurora Event on Wellington St.  

Saturday May 11,  10am-6pm  

Sunday May 12 10am-4pm   

Come by and say hello~   Free event

Sunday June 2^nd. Aurora Chamber Street Festival 

Free event  11am-5pm

This opportunity is closed.

Study title:Scaling up psychological treatments for perinatal depression and anxiety: Examining the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of non-specialist providers from a multi-stakeholder perspective.

What is this study about:This study will look at your opinions and perspectives about non-specialist provider (delivered psychological treatment for maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. Non-specialists are individuals without formal training in mental health care (e.g., nurses or peers).  The purpose of this study is to examine patients’ and health care professionals’ perspectives of the relevant challenges and enablers of non-specialist delivered psychological treatments for maternal mental health.

What will you have to do: You will participate in one individual interview (approx. 30 minutes, and no more than 45 minutes).

Where will the study take place:  Telephone and in person options available 

You can participate if you are:

• Age 18 years or older
• Have had at least one experience (session) of a ‘talk therapy’ or psychological treatment when pregnant or up to 12 months post-childbirth  
• Have a healthy fetus or a healthy baby discharged with you at home
• Must live in Canada

As a thank you: You will receive a $20 gift card to Shoppers Drug Mart after your completed interview.

If you are eligible and wish to participate or learn more: please send your preferred contact information (e.g., phone or email) to:

Sasha Lemberg-Pelly (Sasha.Lemberg-Pelly@sinaihealthsystem.ca)
or Dr. Daisy R. Singla (daisy.singla@utoronto.ca).

Many thanks!

ISSUE : Maternal depression is a significant risk factor affecting the healthy development of babies, children and youth.

The relationship between maternal mental health and child health outcomes is well documented and research is continually demonstrating the importance of early detection and treatment of maternal mental illness in early childhood developments^1,2,3. Maternal depression can impair the maternal/child bond and result in delayed physical, social and cognitive development with long term implications for physical and mental wellbeing and related health outcomes^2,3,4. Mothers who are struggling with their own mental health concerns may find interaction with their child in this capacity more difficult and thus delay or impair this vital component of early brain development.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal mental health as “a state of well-being in which a mother realizes her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her community”². When confronted with mental illness, many women are unable to function in a way that allows them to contribute at a level that is consistent with WHO definitions. Maternal depression is the second leading cause of disability among women globally² and estimates suggest that up to one in five women will struggle with a mental health complication during the perinatal period.

It may surprise you to learn that:

● It is estimated that up to one in five perinatal women will suffer from a maternal mental illness. This prevalence makes mental illness the most common complication of the perinatal period, and a significant public health concern.

● Not only are women affected by poor mental health but impacts are felt directly by their partners, family, friends and community. When left untreated, mental illness can have a direct impact on early childhood development outcomes.

● Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), of which parental depression is one, can result in high levels of toxic stress on a child’s developing brain that can result in a greater likelihood of poor mental and physical health outcomes later in life⁵.

BACKGROUND

Many mothers experience a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. In 2017, a study in the Canadian Medical association journal looked at suicide among new mothers and found that 1 in 19 maternal deaths in Ontario is attributed to suicide^6,7. Making suicide the fourth leading cause of death for perinatal women in Canada⁷. 1 in 19!!!

Because of stigma and leaving the onus on the mothers to reach out for help, only 15% of mothers who experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD) receive professional treatment ⁸. Some countries, such as the UK, Australia, USA, all have a Maternal Mental Health Strategy & screening program in place. Canada instead leaves the responsibility on new mothers to reach out for help. They may not know to reach out for help if they do not know they are experiencing a PMAD, or they may be afraid of the stigma associated with a PMAD.

If we want to support children and youth, we must start with mothers and ensure that they are healthy. When moms thrive, babies thrive. If we want to turn the tide on some of our biggest challenges with children and youth we need to focus on preventing them by having a strategy for supporting Canadian mothers and increase maternal mental health.

CONSIDERATIONS

Based on research, current trends, and new knowledge, we need to act now and put a plan in place to screen mothers for PMADs to prevent the loss of life, lessen the effect on children and youth, and decrease the high economical costs for something that can be prevented by early detection, and simple interventions. We need a plan in place to identify the mothers who are at risk and get them into treatment whether that is peer based support groups, medication, counselling, or hospitalization.

Consider this:

• Maternal depression and anxiety is a stronger risk factor for child behavioral problems than smoking, binge drinking, and emotional or physical domestic abuse⁹.
  
  
• More women will suffer PMAD than there are new cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually ¹⁰.
  
  
• More women will suffer from Postpartum Anxiety and Depression in a year than the combined number of new cases for men and women of Tuberculosis, Leukemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Lupus, and Epilepsy.
  
  
• Depression during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period is the most concerning time and has the biggest effect on the developing brain⁵.
  
  
•  It has been estimated that the cost for untreated mother/child unit is up to $150,000 with 72% of the cost allocated to the child¹¹. 
  
  
• It is estimated 85% of mothers do not receive treatment, so the economic cost to Canada is approximately $11 billion dollars. This can be reduced to approximately $5,000 if we screen and treat.
  
  

This is an excerpt from the brief presented at the Great Canadian Health Care Debate at the National Health Leaders Conference, June 2018. See the full brief here.  

REFERENCES

1. Evans, J., Melotti, R., Heron, J., Ramchandani, P., Wiles, N., Murray, L. and Stein, A. (2011). The timing of maternal depressive symptoms and child cognitive development: a longitudinal study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(6), pp.632-640.

2. Rahman, A., Surkan, P., Cayetano, C., Rwagatare, P. and Dickson, K. (2013). Grand Challenges: Integrating Maternal Mental Health into Maternal and Child Health Programmes. PLoS Medicine, 10(5), p. e1001442.

3. Sohr-Preston, S.and Scaramella, L. (2006). Implications of Timing of Maternal Depressive Symptoms for Early Cognitive and Language Development. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 9(1), pp.65-83.

4. Jones, C., Jomeen, J. and Hayter, M. (2014). The impact of peer support in the context of perinatal mental illness: A meta-ethnography. Midwifery, 30(5), pp.491-498.

5. Lebel, C., Walton, M., Letourneau, N., Giesbrecht, G., Kaplan, B. and Dewey, D. (2016). Prepartum and Postpartum Maternal Depressive Symptoms Are Related to Children’s Brain Structure in Preschool. Biological Psychiatry, 80(11), pp.859-868.

6. Nasser, S. (2017) 1 in 19: New study shines light on reality of suicide among new Ontario moms, moms-to-be. CBC news. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mothers-suicide-ontario-study-1.4267417

7. Grigoriadis, S., Wilton, A. S., Kurdyak, P. A., Rhodes, A. E., VonderPorten, E. H., Levitt, A., … Vigod, S. N. (2017). Perinatal suicide in Ontario, Canada: a 15-year population-based study. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal de l’Association Medicale

8.  Patterns of Depression and Treatment in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Angela Bowen, RN, PhD1 ; Rudy Bowen, MD, CM, FRCP2 ; Peter Butt, MD, CCFP3 ; Kazi Rahman, MBBS, MS (PhD Candidate)4 ; Nazeem Muhajarine, PhD5, 2012

9. Knitzer, J., Theberge, S., & Johnson, K. (2008). Reducing Maternal Depression and Its Impact on Young Children. Retrieved from http://www.nccp.org/publications/pdf/text_791.pdf

10. Stone, K. (2010). How Many Women Get Postpartum Depression? The Statistics on PPD | POSTPARTUM PROGRESS. Retrieved May 17, 2018, from http://www.postpartumprogress.com/how-many-women-get-postpartum-depression-the-statistics-on-ppd

11. Bauer, A., Parsonage, M., Knapp, M., Iemmi, V., Adelaja, B., & Hogg, S. (2014). The costs of perinatal mental health problems. Centre for Mental Health. /doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4731.61

Sometimes the best road trip adventures are those planned as an afterthought. Our family was en route to Lake Placid for a pre-thanksgiving adventure with another family. As any good road tripper knows a midway stop is a must. Not only to refuel, recharge and stretch but to also expand the adventure.  We decided to stop at the midway point and explore Brockville. Our plan was a quick bite to eat and a walk at the waterfront. What should have been an hour stop turned into three hours of exceptional tourist time!

A 3-hour drive from our home in Stouffville, Brockville is one of the oldest communities in Ontario and sits quaintly on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands Region of Eastern Ontario. The beautiful limestone buildings, waterfront vantage points, and immense charm encouraged us to stay longer and to regret not having more time to explore.

We started our adventure with a walk along the harbor and onto Blockhouse Island. The harbor had several yachts that looked like tall ships which pleased our kids, I mean what kid doesn't love a boat.  Jutting out onto the St. Lawrence River the island had walking/biking trails, a beautiful fenced in playground, a cafe, well-maintained restrooms and large Muskoka chairs which were an excellent backdrop for the perfect tourist photo.  Every angle was a gorgeous view of the St. Lawrence or upstate New York to the south. The sunny but cold weather certainly helped illuminate the beauty all around us.

From Blockhouse Island we walked over to Canada's first railway tunnel. Renovated and repurposed as a tourist destination and part of Brockville's trail system the tunnel incorporates a fully programmable LED system. The tunnel comes to life with music and lights creating an intoxicating visual history of the tunnel and its importance to Canadian History. Mineral deposits, ground waterfalls, and original hatches and construction details are present. The kids loved the colors, the music and of course the sound of a train whistle in the background. The tunnel was interesting for us adults as well. The height and expanse of it, the historical plaques that allow you to gain a deeper appreciation and of course the lights and music were pretty cool too! Who doesn't love a good tragically hip tune?

The tunnel pops you out uphill from the waterfront, and again the views of the waterway, city hall and the harbor are stunning. We walked downhill towards the main street. There was a great selection of shops and restaurants. Feeling hungry and ready for a rest we opted for The Union Jack Pub. The reviews stated it was kid friendly with home cooked food and a local watering hole. Check, Check and Check. The interior while modest and in keeping with its name was comfortable and had plenty of space for our group of 10, strollers included. The service was excellent and best of all KIDS ATE FREE! And it was a very generous meal with a drink included. Our meals were delicious and the price point perfect. It was nice to support a local business and for that business to accommodate a large group, including 6 kids which are never an easy task and with no reservation.

With full bellies and great memories, we loaded back into our vehicles to continue on our way. Of course with a mental note to return again and stay longer.

Brockville was a delightful surprise, and her shores sure were gorgeous.

It was suggested that when we return, we should experience the Aquatarium, cruise the 1000 islands by boat, explore Hardy park and return to the harbor area for some more delicious food and hopefully see a tall ship!