Staycation vacation

This summer, take a staycation. A staycation is a stay-at-home vacation. You can do fun things in your own town or city. You don’t have to spend money on travel, airfare or hotels. What to do: Go on walking tours. Learn about history, architecture and art from a local expert. Many guided tours are free…

Frances likes to walk

Frances likes to go on long walks. She walks an average of 12 kilometres per day. We asked Frances why she likes walking. When did you take up walking?  When I was young, I worked on a farm.  I walked between the dairy farm and the sheep farm. It was 10 kilometres a day. Sometimes, I did it twice in a day. Why do you…

Pita pizza

What you need: pita bread shredded cheese 2-3 tablespoons pasta sauce pepperoni red pepper onion mushrooms What you do: Submitted by Ho Mei Cha • Photos: Felisha Chuter

Haiku poems

The LINC 6 class from MOSAIC English Language Centre learned about the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. They celebrated what they learned by writing haiku poems. A haiku is a Japanese poem. It has a special number of syllables in each line. The first and last lines have five syllables. The middle line has seven syllables….

The Marine Detective

Jackie Hildering lives in Port McNeill on Northern Vancouver Island. She is the co-founder of the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS). She calls herself “The Marine Detective” because the ocean is full of mystery. Jackie taught biology in the Netherlands. Then, she did a whale watching trip at Telegraph Cove, BC. “It changed my…

Still time to complete Census 2021

It is census time in Canada. Statistics Canada collects data on Canada’s population.  The information helps make decisions about programs like employment, education and health care. The census happens every five years. Count every person. You must complete a census form.  It is the law. The deadline to complete the online census form was May…

Tick season

Spring is tick season. Ticks are small bugs that suck blood. They live in many places in BC. Ticks can spread disease to people and animals. Getting bitten by a tick can make you sick. WildSafe BC has tips on how to avoid ticks and tick bites: Avoid areas where there are ticks. Walk on…

Poems by students

Amanda Gorman is an African American poet. She wrote a poem called “The Hill We Climb.” The LINC 7/8 class at the Cowichan Intercultural Society in Duncan, BC wanted to celebrate Black History Month in February and National Poetry Month in April. Seven students wrote poems with the title “The Hill We Climb.” Here are…

Make a mason bee house

You can make a simple mason bee house. Use things you have around the house. What you need: Empty milk carton  Paper bags Tape measure or ruler Scissors Pencil What you do: Cut the top off the milk carton. Cut at an angle to make a roof for your house. Cut the paper bag into…

Maureen is a hero!

Maureen lives in Yale, BC. One day she looked out the window. She saw smoke. The smoke came from a window at the Gold Nugget Motel. Maureen called 911. She ran to the hotel. She knocked on doors. Two people came out. They didn’t know the hotel was on fire. Maureen said, “Move your cars!”…

Bobcat rescued

A bobcat was on a railway track near Trail, BC. It was eating a duck. It was cold out. The bobcat’s back paws stuck to the frozen rail. Train workers saw the bobcat. The workers came to help. They tried to cover the bobcat with a coat. But it hissed and growled. It tried to…

Nietzsche the cat

Nietzsche was a famous cat. He lived in a bookstore in Chilliwack, BC. He died on February 22. He was 18 years old. Nietzsche was a stray. He was brought to a shelter. The shelter named him Peppin. He was adopted three different times. But each time, he was brought back. In 2008, he was…

Worm-picking

A worm picker is a worker who gathers worms. The worms are sold as live fish bait.  Worm-pickers work at night. They travel by trucks to different fields. They wear headlamps.  Each worm picker has two coffee cans strapped to their ankles. One is for worms. The other is filled with sawdust to dry off…

Nutrition Month 2021

Nutrition Month 2021 March is Nutrition Month. Healthy eating is different for everyone. Everyone has their own culture and traditions. Everyone has their own preferences and nutritional needs. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for healthy eating. This year’s theme is “Good for you! Dieticians help you find your healthy.”   7 tips to plan meals on…

Neighbours decorate for Lunar New Year

Elaine Su was born in China. She lives in New Westminster. She celebrates the Lunar New Year. Elaine has a son named Ellis. He is two years old.  She wanted him to learn how Lunar New Year is celebrated in Chinese culture. But this year, there are no festivities planned due to the pandemic. Elaine…

Black Shirt Day

On January 15, students and teachers in BC wore black shirts to school. They wore black shirts to raise awareness about racism. Why January 15? January 15 was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Martin Luther King Junior fought for the rights of African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. He raised awareness about racism against…

Heart Month

Keep your heart healthy  February is Heart Month. You can learn tips on how to keep your heart healthy and prevent a heart attack. What is a heart attack? Your heart needs a constant supply of blood to keep beating. If the blood flow gets blocked, the result is a heart attack. Recognize the signs…

“Please take my tenant!!!”

Jake Corr is a landlord. He rented a room in his house to Dustin. Jake and his wife are having twins. They need more space. They asked Dustin to move out so they could have extra space. Jake posted an ad Jake and Dustin live in Victoria. There are not many places to rent in…

Be prepared for winter storms

Are you ready for a winter storm? What will you do if you lose power to your home? There are dozens of winter storms in BC. Most families think they are prepared. They have extra food and toilet paper. But they do not have a plan or an emergency kit. What do you do if the power…

$1,000 for families

There is a new benefit for people living in BC. Some families, single parents and individuals are eligible to get money to help them through the pandemic. The Government of BC is making a one-time payment to help people in British Columbia “who have been hit the hardest” by the pandemic. Who is eligible? Families…

New Year’s Eve

Canadians celebrate New Year’s Eve in many ways. Here are some of the most popular traditions. Countdown People count down to midnight. They count from 10 to zero. At midnight they wish each other “Happy New Year!” Many cities set off fireworks at the end of the countdown. People go outside and bang pots and…

“Deck the Halls”

Have you heard this Christmas song before? The song is called “Deck the Halls.” It is more than 300 years old. People sing this song to wish their friends and family a happy holiday season. Where does “Deck the Halls” come from? “Deck the Halls” is based on a Welsh song called “Nos Galan.” “Nos…

How to make the perfect snowball

A friendly snowball fight is a great way to have fun with your family in the winter. You can learn how to make the perfect snowball. Make sure the snow is wet Good snowballs need to be made from clean snow that is a little wet. Test the snow before making a snowball. Give it…

Spending money on in-app purchases

A father and a mother are essential workers. They went to work this spring. Their daughter stayed home. The mother used her credit card in the summer. It would not work. The card machine said “declined.” She got a credit card bill in the mail. The bill was for over $12000. The mother asked her…

Parmesan orzo

Erika and Victor’s comfort food is parmesan orzo. It can be a side dish to meat dishes. It is delicious as leftovers. What you need:  3 tablespoons butter 1 ½ cups orzo 3 cups chicken broth ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 1/3 cup fresh chopped basil What you do:  Melt the butter in a pot….

Flu shots during COVID-19

Are you planning to get a flu shot at a pharmacy? Things will be different this year. “Pharmacists will be putting in more time and resources to keep patients and themselves safe during COVID-19,” said Geraldine Vance. Vance is the CEO of the BC Pharmacy Association.  You will need to make an appointment. Pharmacies will…

Halloween and COVID-19

This Halloween, there are new safety guidelines for trick-or-treating due to COVID-19. BC Centre for Disease Control says, “Celebrate less socially and trick-or-treat locally this Halloween.” Children need to wash their hands before going out, when they come home and before eating treats.  Carry hand sanitizer for eating treats on the go. Try to keep…

BC votes in October

British Columbia is having a general election this month. General Voting Day is October 24. Voting places will be open October 15 to October 21. They are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Voting places will be open on election day, October 24. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 8…

How to vote in BC

  Advance voting There are ways to vote before General Voting Day. One way is called advance voting. Advance voting is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time from October 15 to 21. All voters can vote at any advance voting place in BC. Your Where to Vote card shows the advance voting…

Anna is a first-time voter

May and Ham

May and Ham are cats. They live in a barn in Maple Ridge. May and Ham live with goats and chickens. May and Ham help The barn has rats. The rats eat the goat and chicken food. May and Ham hunt the rats. They keep the food safe. Their owners give them lots of love….

Concern over hand sanitizers

Not all hand sanitizers are safe to use. More than 50 brands of hand sanitizers have been recalled by Health Canada. Experts say good sanitizers are made with quality-grade ethanol. They are safe to use. If methanol or ethyl acetate are used it can be dangerous. “Methanol and ethanol will look similar and behave similarly….

Virtual Terry Fox run

Every September, Canadians go for a special run. The run is called the Marathon of Hope. 2020 is the 40th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. Why do Canadians run? Terry Fox was a young man from Port Moody, BC. He lost his left leg to cancer in 1977. He wanted to run across Canada…

Literacy Month calendar

Are you looking for ways to celebrate Literacy Month? Use some of the ideas from our Literacy Month calendar. You can post what you are doing to social media. Use the hashtags #LiteracyMatters and #PutOnYourPurple.  

Literacy Month contest

September is Literacy Month. You and your class can enter a contest. Here is what to do: Tell us why literacy matters to you. Use one of the examples below or use your own idea. Literacy matters to me because it: helps me at school keeps me safe at work lets me enjoy reading helps me manage…

Study tips

Here are some ideas to help you study: Stay organized It can be hard to know where to begin. You may have many things to study at once. Make a list to help you stay organized. Write down what you need to study. Add important dates to your calendar. Break it up Learning information in…

Dogs in cars

Do you leave your dog in your car when you run errands? Summer weather can be dangerous for dogs. It can get hot inside a car very quickly, even when the windows are rolled down or the air conditioner is on. How hot can it get? Temperature rises quickly in cars, even when the car is in…

Simple tomato salad

What you need: 2 sliced ripe tomatoes mozzarella cheese slices olive oil and balsamic vinegar fresh basil What you do: Arrange the tomatoes and cheese on a plate. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with basil. Submitted by Margaret Sutherland • Photo: Unsplash/Marcus Spiske

Hayden goes camping

Hayden likes to spend time outdoors. This summer, he is going camping across BC. He is reserving campsites from the BC Parks website. Why does Hayden like camping? Hayden likes to explore nature. He feels relaxed when he is away from the city. “When you are camping, you get to see nature in a new way,” he says. “I…

Prevent drowning

Every year, more than 400 people drown in Canada. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children. National Drowning Prevention Week is from July 19 to July 25. The Lifesaving Society of Canada gives tips to promote safety in and around the water. How to prevent drowning: Take the Canadian Swim to Survive program. You can learn what to do if…

Start a petition

Is there something you would like to see changed?  Maybe it’s a law to protect wildlife. Or, you think dental care should be free in Canada.  You can start  or sign a petition.    What is a petition?    A petition is a document that people sign to change something. If lots of people sign, a petition can help change things. You can start or sign a petition online. It is free at change.org.  How to start a…

#DifferentTogether

People in BC are being asked to take a pledge against racism. A pledge is something you promise to do.    The pledge against racism was created by the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.    Why are people taking the pledge?   During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Asian Canadians have been hurt by violence and hateful words. People are taking the #DifferentTogether Pledge to stand…

Virtual Canada Day

Many regular Canada Day celebrations are cancelled. They are cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   This year, there are new ways to celebrate Canada Day.     In Victoria, the city will hold neighbourhood gatherings. The gatherings will be small so people can practise social distancing.     In Trail, the city will have red lights on the Victoria Street Bridge. The lights will be red to honour…

Protecting the eagles

A homeowner in French Creek wanted to cut down an old tree. Workers came to check the tree. They saw bald eagles making a nest. Don’t cut it down! People were worried about the birds. The eagles needed the tree for their nest. The Ministry of Forests and Lands put a sign around the tree….

Donny’s Wax

Erik Levings and Taro Milligan are Grade 8 students from Abbotsford, BC. They like to skateboard. Their friend Donnie saw them skateboarding. He wanted to try, too. Making wax Levings and Milligan decided to buy Donnie his own skateboard. They made and sold their own skateboard wax to make money. Levings and Milligan went to…

Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii is a group of islands. It is off the west coast of British Columbia. Haida Gwaii means “islands of the Haida people.” It used to be called the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida art is famous. Many people have seen Haida totem poles. Haida Gwaii is beautiful. It is a good place to travel….

Wanuskewin’s baby bison

A baby bison was born on Wanuskewin lands. She was born on Earth Day. She is the first baby bison to be born at Wanuskewin in over 150 years. Bison are special Bison are important to the local Indigenous peoples. The elders wanted to bring the bison back to their land. They wanted their children…

Making hearts

The Level 2 LINC class at Windsor Neighbourhood Learning Centre is learning online. The students are staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Hearts in the windows The students saw hearts in their neighbours’ windows. They wondered why. Their teachers gave them a story about the hearts. The class learned that the hearts were…

Hearts in windows

Some houses in BC have hearts in the windows. Why are the hearts in the windows? Many people are worried about COVID-19. Most people stay at home. They want to stop the virus. Some people still need to go to work. Doctors, nurses, policemen, and grocery store workers go to work every day. Thank you!…

Mental Health Week

Mental Health Week is from May 4 to May 10. Mental health is the way we think and feel about ourselves. It is the way we think and feel about the world around us. Good mental health makes it easier to handle stress and other problems. Here are some ways to practise good mental health:…