The Elizabeth Fry Society wants to help kids enjoy their summer vacation.
As part of the society's JustKids initiative, it is offering free summer camps for children aged six to nine who have had a family member involved in the justice system. The camps are also open to kids who may be at-risk.
Karen McCluskey, the society's media spokesperson, said EFry is able to reach out to its own clients, but wants to ensure other families know about the camps.
"There are a lot of other folks in the community who would qualify but they don't now about it," she said. "They live in poverty, so they get to do it for free."
The camps run through the end of July. In addition to New Westminster, the society is now offering camps in Surrey and Vancouver.
"It started in 2010. It is expanding this year," McCluskey said of the JustKids camps. "There is going to be 100 spaces."
The camps, which run Monday to Friday, allow kids to enjoy a variety of activities and enjoy fieldtrips to places like the Vancouver Aquarium.
"They go and do all kids of fun things," McCluskey said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."
Parents or guardians interested in getting more information or registering their kids for the summer camps can call the society at 604-520-1166.
Pacific Breeze celebrates
Pacific Breeze Winery is celebrating its fifth anniversary of being in business in New Westminster.
With July marking the winery's fifth anniversary, it decided to have an open house to celebrate.
The event is being held on Saturday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 320 Stewardson Way.
Everyone's invited to attend, but you have to RSVP on Facebook to let them know you'll be joining the party.
"We made it," said a press release from Pacific Breeze Winery. "More than 50 per cent of businesses fail in the first five years - and we are still standing. We know we are still in business because of you, our customers, and we wish a heartfelt thank you to everyone."
The winery is using the open house as an opportunity to showcase the first of its value-priced wines, and to give guests a chance to be among the first to taste its new and exciting summer release wine.
CF fundraiser
The Vancouver Leisure Society's Lawn Summer Nights are expanding across the country.
For the past three summers, the society has thrown a lawn bowling tournament every Thursday in July to raise money for cystic fibrosis research in honour of Eva Markvoort, the New Westminster resident featured in the awardwinning documentary 65_RedRoses and a cystic fibrosis-sufferer.
Markvoort lost her battle with CF in 2010, but her legacy lives on in many ways, including in this event.
"We knew the success of the Vancouver event could be replicated in other cities and branching out to Toronto was a natural next step," said Duncan Gillespie, founding partner of the Vancouver Leisure Society and a member of the board of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Vancouver chapter.
"Cities across the globe including Melbourne, Perth, Boston, Calgary and New York City have reached out to us about holding their own event, and we realized we needed to create a brand that encompassed more than just Vancouver. Eva's reach was and continues to be global, so this growth is simply another way her legacy is continuing to touch people."
Lawn Summer Nights kicked off its 2012 season in Vancouver on July 5 at the Granville Park Lawn Bowling Club. All of this year's 2012 Lawn Summer Nights events are sold out.
All funds raised go towards finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, which is the number one fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. To date, the Vancouver events have raised more than $105,000.
For more information about Lawn Summer Nights, visit www.lawn summernights.com.
Video game history exhibit
Want to play some video games, kids?
The New Westminster Museum's newest exhibit traces the history of video games in B.C. from Pong to recent games made for devices like the iPhone.
The exhibit runs Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (until Oct. 14) at the museum.
Admission is by donation.
As part of the exhibit, guest curator Ryan Cousineau will present a Video Game Play Day on Aug. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.
"It's a chance for kids to see the video games their parents used to play, with some of the greatest (and worst!) console games, on the original equipment," he said in a press release.
Oana Capota, museum curator, notes that space is still available for the video play day. If you're interested, register at 604-527-4640.The museum is located at 302 Royal Ave.
West side stories
The New Westminster child development public partners committee is seeking input from folks on the west side of the city.
The committee is looking for input from families or caregivers who have children in their care at least two days a week and live in the Connaught Heights and West End neighbourhoods. It is assessing the needs for programs and services on the west side to determine if a child development hub is needed.
Input will help shape the possible development of a hub and will provide critical information about families' want and needs. The survey is open until Aug. 6 and is available online at www.kidsnewwest.ca/west sidesurvey.
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