Kids Celebrate! An activity-centred exhibition at the Canadian Children’s Museum
Gatineau, Quebec, October 2, 2007 — Kids Celebrate! is a new exhibition at the Canadian Children’s Museum opening on Saturday, October 6, 2007. This activity-filled exhibition is all about celebrations and how kids and their families observe special festivities in various world cultures and religions.
Everyone loves a special occasion — be it India’s Diwali, Brazil’s Carnival or New Year in China or Japan. Religious festivals such as Hanukkah, Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and Hina-Matsuri are joyous and important occasions that are celebrated by many people in Canada. Though these celebrations are unique to a particular country, culture or religion, the excitement they bring knows no boundaries.
Kids Celebrate! invites children of ages five to 12 to explore the wonderful diversity of different celebrations with hands-on activities, interactive workshops and through special artifacts. Young visitors will not only broaden their experience of different cultures by participating in these fun activities, but they will more fully appreciate their own cultural heritage. The exhibition will help children discover both commonalities and differences among various celebrations and realize that the tradition of celebrating is something everyone shares. The exhibition Kids Celebrate! shows them how celebrations are more than just fun and games — they are community and family rituals derived from ancient traditions.
The exhibition is organized into six sections, each one exploring celebration through a key theme: food, music, decoration, games and sharing, festive clothing and ceremony. The sections engage young visitors in a hands-on activity such as making a mask for Carnival, a twelve-month calendar or a rakhi (a bracelet made by a girl for her brother during Raksha Bandhan in India). Children can get to know a variety of festive music or try playing traditional festive games such as La Righea, “Ching, Chang, Pok” or “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.” These are only a few examples of an activity-filled exhibition. Special programming activities will include food and craft workshops, storytelling, musical events and several special festive events during the three months the exhibition is presented.
The exhibition also presents children’s own experiences of celebrating via original and specially selected video presentations. Special artifacts from the Museum’s collection help illustrate the fascinating rituals and traditions that are part of various celebrations.
Kids Celebrate! is on at the Canadian Children’s Museum from October 6, 2007 until January 6, 2008.
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7169
Fax: 819 776-7187
Celebrating the Diversity of Families in Canada during National Family Week!
(Ottawa, ON, October 1, 2007) – From October 1 to 7, 2007 , Canadians in communities across the country will come together for local celebrations during National Family Week. The week provides an opportunity to celebrate families and reflect on their importance in our lives.
Celebrating the Diversity of Families in Canada is the theme for this year’s National Family Week.
Through National Family Week activities, family members will have the opportunity to explore their own family form, background and culture as they recognize the strengths that the wide diversity in Canadian families bring to the country.
National Family Week is a partnership initiative of The Canadian Association of Family
Resource Programs (FRP Canada), a bilingual, not-for-profit association with members located in all provinces and territories. FRP Canada promotes the well-being of families by providing national leadership, consultation and resources to those who care for children and support families.
For over twenty years, Family Service Canada and a team of national partners marked a week to celebrate families. This year FRP Canada has assumed the coordination role and together with the national partners has produced resources with helpful tips and suggestions for fun activities that families can do together. These resources are available electronically at www.frp.ca/nfw
National Family Week partners include: BC Council for Families, Canadian 4-H Council, Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Canadian Child Care Federation, Canadian Institute of Child Health, Canadian Paediatric Society, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada, Go for Green (Active and Safe Routes to School), National Film Board of Canada, Schizophrenia Society of Canada, THRIVE! The Canadian Centre for Positive Youth Development, and YWCA Canada.
Please join FRP Canada and its national partners in celebrating families in all our communities during National Family Week, October 1-7, 2007!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
David Young
Tel: 613- 237-7667 x223
1-866-6-FRPCan (1-866-637-7226)
dwyoung@frp.ca
www.frp.ca
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