Top 7 things to do with kids in Montreal this summer
Top 7 things to do with kids in Montreal this summer Have kids and want to travel to Montreal? From toddlers to teens, Montreal is filled with activities that are actually fun for the whole family. Photo Credit: Claude Robidoux/VIA 1. Take the train. There’s nothing easier than rolling into the VIA station, grabbing your bags and walking to one of the many fantastic hotels in the downtown core. The kids will love the train experience and you’ll love the me-time to read, listen to music or catch up on some much-needed sleep. 2. Old Port. Tuck into shops, have a drink on a patio, rent a bike, quadricycle or pedal boat, learn to Segway or Hoverboard or zip line across the water. 3. La Grande Roue de Montreal. This highlight of the city gives you a panoramic, breathtaking view from 60 metres high in the air. Day or night, this is a magical experience. 4. SOS Labyrinthe. This unique indoor treasure hunt located in the Old Port is fun for all ages — and great on a rainy afternoon. Find your way through a 2-km maze to the four longshoremen’s treasures, get your card stamped and get out as fast as you can. 5. Biosphere. You can’t miss the white dome that is Biosphere, located on Ile Sainte-Helene. Built for Expo 67, it now hosts exhibitions and scientific events that highlight the ways we live as eco-citizens. Kids will love the interactive displays, games, videos, nature tours and more. 6. Botanical Gardens. With more than 22,000 plant species, 10 greenhouses, and 30 thematic gardens, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to far-off lands while getting that much-needed break from the bustle of the city. 7. Voiles en Voiles. This outdoor park, situated steps from the zip line and Ferris wheel, features aerial courses all aboard two massive ships — and a whole host of bouncy castles that’ll have the kids amused for hours. The ships are fun for adults too — or the perfect excuse for you to sit and read a book for a bit. By Chantel Guertin
4 Reasons To Take Your Teen To Clear Lake, Manitoba
4 Reasons To Take Your Teen To Clear Lake, Manitoba Families looking to experience a quintessential Canadian beach town need look no further than Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba. As soon as you enter the log cabin-looking gates of the provincial park, you will be transported to a place that’s packed with adventure, wildlife, amazing food and scenery that will leave an imprint on your memory for years to come. Surrounded by lush forest, Wasagaming, otherwise known as Clear Lake, is located about three hours northwest of Winnipeg. During the summer, the hotspot is bustling with vacationers — young and old. If you’re looking to impress your tween and teen with a family getaway they won’t soon forget, don’t miss out on these four things to do and see in Clear Lake. The Lakehouse Before you begin exploring the area, stake your basecamp at The Lakehouse. Located in the heart of the main stretch of Wasagaming, just steps away from the beach, this boutique hotel is not only the perfect place to stay, but it also serves as a hotbed for entertainment. Whether they are staying there or not, the main lobby is bustling with vacationers lined up at the ice cream, coffee and smoothie bar. The adjoining lounge, fitted with sink-into chocolate leather lounge chairs, a cozy fireplace and reclaimed wood bar and tables, is the ideal setting for the lodge’s trivia, boozy bingo and live music nights. In the back of the resort, where you access the hotel rooms, is two hot tubs, barbecue stations, and sitting/lounging areas, all underneath a canopy of twinkle lights, that look nothing less than magical on a warm summer’s night. The rooms are comfortable and contemporary with reclaimed wood headboards, brightly coloured furniture and convenient amenities every family needs, such as a microwave and fridge. Don’t leave without picking up a Lakehouse souvenir — the stylish logo is printed on everything from candles and coffee cups to T-shirts and sweaters. Clear Lake Marina You can’t help but be drawn to the crystal clear waters of Clear Lake. It’s the perfect place to swim, water ski, wake-board, canoe, and paddleboard. To soak in the scenery from a whole new perspective, head to the Clear Lake Marina where you can rent everything from a motorboat to a paddle boat or take the family on a dinner or sunset cruise on the Martese. Not only will your teen capture some
5 Reasons Why You Should Watch 13 Reasons Why With Your Teen
5 Reasons Why You Should Watch "13 Reasons Why" With Your Teen Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why has gained an incredible amount of popularity and criticism ever since its debut in 2017. The show tackles difficult issues like sexual assault, suicide, gun violence and bullying. Because of the explicit content of the show, parents have remained wary about their children watching it. However, Gary Direnfeld, counselor for over 35 years, says parents should not only let their teens watch the show but they should watch it with them. Here’s why. YOU CAN DECODE WHAT’S HAPPENING: The first reason to watch it together would be to help your teen decode some of what is happening on screen. “Sometimes watching intense, graphic scenes can be traumatic for people and it can overwhelm them,” says Direnfeld. “Having a parent there to help interpret what is going on, to provide support and emotional safety, can help the child integrate the experience without it being traumatic.” YOU CAN ASK HOW IT AFFECTS THEM: Talking to your child about how the show makes them feel is another good reason to watch it together. “Asking about the kind of impact that it has on your child is important because they could be going through something similar and it would be unhealthy for them to go through it alone,” says Direnfeld. “The thing that 13 Reasons Why teaches us is that children are exposed to explicit and extreme material on the Internet and we want to help them cope with that stream of material before they are actually exposed to it.” YOU CAN ASK WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH: Watching the show together can be a catalyst to discovering what your teen is going through. Some teens suffer from anxiety or depression or have gone through traumatic experiences and may feel shame and embarrassment, but having a parent to talk to offers them a way to figure those experiences out. They can learn how to manage and respond. YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AT SCHOOL: Watching the show together gives parents a chance to ask their teen about their experiences at school, while also being able to instill their own morals and values, says Direnfeld. “Regardless of how a drama is critiqued, the explicit content is still there, and it exposes our children to behaviour that can be frightening and overwhelming,” he says. “From my perspective, it is what
6 Ways to Protect Your Teen Against Fortnite I.D. Theft Scams
6 Ways to Protect Your Teen Against Fortnite I.D. Theft Scams Have you played Fortnite yet? If you haven’t, you probably know someone who has as the game’s popularity has exploded in recent months, attracting celebrities, professional athletes, and gamers of all ages. Unfortunately, Fortnite’s mass appeal is attracting hackers and scammers too. Players and parents need to pay attention in order to reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud. Part of the game’s attraction is that it’s free and available to players across multiple video game consoles, PCs, and mobile phones. The Hunger Games-like world of Fortnite allows players to showcase their creativity while playing. However, scammers are also getting creative. Fortnite creator Epic Games recently warned about the most common Fornite scam on its Twitter account for players: “Say NO to scams! Beware of scam sites offering free or discounted V-Bucks.” How Big Is Fortnite? Fortnite: Battle Royale has more than 45 million players worldwide as of January, according to Epic Games. Those numbers are sure to have grown since the game’s popularity has jumped: A recent live-streamed game set a new Twitch record for individual online streams, with over 600,000 people watching. The game featured rappers Drake and Travis Scott, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, and one of the game’s popular players, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. Professional athletes are using the popular Fortnite dances in their own game celebrations and Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price missed a start because he had carpal tunnel syndrome from playing too much Fortnite. SuperData, a research firm that specializes in video games, estimates Fortnite generated nearly $296 million in April and has the possibility of generating $3.5 billion in annual revenue. A Common Fortnite Scam: YouTube Free V-Bucks That kind of money and the addictive nature of the game has drawn criminal elements to the Fortnite universe. New players mean new opportunities for fraudsters who promise something free to help elevate your game. In Fortnite there are V-bucks, the virtual money that players can use to buy new gear. While recently playing the game with my son and wanting to help advance “our Battle Pass” standing, I did a search for “free V-bucks.” I found results promising we would win huge amounts of Fornite V-bucks. My son suggested I check out those third-party videos on YouTube and what came back were more than 4.6 million various videos promising players to get free V-bucks by following their instructions or tips. Most send you to a website where you share an obscure code from your
10 Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Love
Are you stuck on what to get Dad for Father’s Day? Picking that perfect gift for him can be tricky — especially if you really want to surprise him with something special. Whether he loves to grill or take on weekend projects, we put together a list of gift ideas every Dad will love, all available at RONA. FOR THE MASTER GRILLER He will love grilling his favourites on this Broil King Signet™ 320 Propane Gas BBQ. It fires up with a simple touch of the Sure-Lite™ quick start button and with its three Dual-Tube (TM) dual tube stainless steel burners, it delivers 40,000 BTU heat efficiently and evenly. While he’s out there grilling, let Dad keep quenched at arm’s reach with this Master Forge modular outdoor kitchen fridge. This gorgeous fridge, punctuated with stainless steel, comes with a granite top, which can be used as a counter surface or cutting board, as well as adding a touch of elegance to this modular unit. He can prepare the food and wash up with this unit comprised of a large-sized sink with premium faucet, two 12,000-BTU side element burners, and one 12,000-BTU cast iron burner with griddle. Enjoy the durability and elegance of the black granite countertop. It’s also equipped with a slide-out tank tray (tank not included) and two drawers for storage. Includes a cutting board and cover. For some extra work space, this corner unit is made of black steel. Its black granite top will add to your countertop space, while its lower allows you to store an extra propane tank (tank not included). To round out his outdoor kitchen, this Master Forge(TM) quarter-round corner table is an attractive and practical component of an exterior kitchen. The table adapts to each module to create a more flexible configuration. FOR THE DAD WHO MAKES THE CUT This Remington® gas lawn mower is a great combination of efficiency and power. The durable 159 cc PowerMore OHV engine delivers great performance, while the 21" cutting deck lets him cut more in a single pass, with an option of rear bag, mulch or side discharge clippings to suit his preference. The loop with indent handle offers comfort and control, making it easier to care for Dad to care for his lawn this season. FOR THE WEEKEND WARRIOR This lightweight Karcher "K2" Compact Electric Pressure Washer has the range to gently clean delicate paint jobs or blast away hardened dirt and grime. Its upright and compact body is
5 Things Parents Should Know About Teens
Teenagers are the most misunderstood age group. They are often perceived as lazy, unintelligent, disrespectful, and hard to understand. There are plenty of things that parents can take into account when speaking with their teen. Acting like the boss of every conversation can drive a teen away from being honest and open about their ideas. This can disable the parent’s goal of understanding. Maybe even learn about the adult they are blossoming into. It’s important to listen in order to understand what’s on your teen’s mind. You might be surprised what you will hear. 1. Teens want to strive for a better future The present is dealing with a lot more difficult issues around the world. Most teens want to get involved in creating change in the topics they are passionate about. But, keep in mind that every teen has a different way on how they will get their point across — whether it’s through protest, an art or a speech. There are many ways to create a powerful statement. Good change is incredibly important for the future ahead. Remember encouragement is a plus for your teen and they are more likely to try with the support of family and friends they can trust. 2. Some teens suffer from mental illness Back in the older generation, mental illnesses were seen as excuses or made-up nonsense. However, those are false statements. Mental illness affects everyone, especially teens. The struggles of dealing with mental illness can make everyday things difficult to get through; it can be something as simple as communicating with another person or finishing a small task in class. It’s difficult to breathe when your mind is constantly nagging at you and telling you things about yourself that cause you to feel terrible. It’s important to know that your teen is really trying but might be afraid to ask for help. Make sure if you notice anything wrong, you let them know you’re there to help. 3. Teens are sensitive for a reason Unfortunately, as much as we don’t want to admit, prejudice is still around. Anyone of colour, sexuality and mental or physical disability can relate. Verbal and physical attacks can hurt. Teens understand this well and want to speak out about it. Problem with that is they are labeled as oversensitive. The issues such as prejudice should not be taken lightly. These issues being fought for the way they are shows that teens care
