National Truth and Reconciliation Day

In June 2021, the Government of Canada created a new statutory holiday.  The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on September 30.  Why is there a new holiday?  From 1880 to 1996, Canada sent Indigenous children to residential schools.  The children were taken away from their families. Many were treated badly. Many died.  The…

What is paddle boarding?

Paddle boarding is a popular water sport. You stand up on a board that is like a surfboard. The shape of the board helps you to keep your balance. You use a paddle to steer and move through the water. Paddle boarding is a good workout. It helps build muscles in your arms, shoulders, stomach…

New language added to B.C. Newcomers’ Guide

B.C. is welcoming people from Ukraine to communities across the province. The B.C. Newcomers’ Guide is now available in Ukrainian. The guide has information to help newcomers settle in B.C. They can learn about how to: find a place to live drive in B.C. find a doctor and other medical services get a B.C. Services…

Biking in B.C.

Biking is one of the best ways to see B.C. You can see mountains, rivers and wildlife. You can stop for a picnic in a park or go for a swim at a beach. Here are some places to see by bike. Stanley Park Seawall Stanley Park is in Vancouver. Ride along the seawall. You…

Plant a herb garden

Do you like to use fresh herbs in your cooking? Plant a herb garden in a container. You can put it in a sunny window. Or, you can put it on your deck or patio.  Enjoy fresh herbs all summer!  What you need:  pot with holes in the bottom  potting soil  herbs  trowel  water  What…

HealthLink BC 8-1-1

Do you need to talk to someone about a health problem? 8-1-1 is a phone line that is available 24 hours a day. Anyone in B.C. can get free health information and advice over the phone. It is operated by HealthLink BC, a part of the B.C. Ministry of Health. What do I do? Call…

How to use a nutrition facts table

Nutrition facts tables show the calories and important nutrients in foods. This information can help you compare foods.   Adapted from Canada.ca • Photo: Jade Chan

The little yellow house

This house is famous. It’s called Leslie House. It was built in 1888. The house is in downtown Vancouver. Mr. Leslie was the first owner. He was a carpenter. His family lived there for 60 years. Then, the house was used for business. It was a restaurant for many years. Leslie House is for sale….

Winter blues

Cold dark days can make you feel sad, sleep too much and overeat. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) says about 15 per cent of people in Canada get the “winter blues.” There are many ways to feel better in the winter: Get light Go outside during the day. Keep your curtains open and spend…

Build a snow person

Build a snow person this winter for outdoor family fun! What you need: mittens or gloves snow, not too wet or too dry outdoor space buttons or stones, sticks, a carrot What you do:     Make a large snowball. Roll it on the ground to pick up more snow. Pack snow around the bottom of…

The Westcoast Reader is 40 years old

Joan Acosta was the editor of The Westcoast Reader for 27 years. She was the only employee of the newspaper during that time. She wrote all the stories and did the layout. Joan retired in 2009. After she retired, she created a website called Best of The Reader. The website has 15 ebooks with stories…

Mulled cider

Many people like to drink mulled cider in the winter. What you need: pot stove 2 litres apple cider 1 orange, sliced 10 whole cloves 10 whole allspice berries 3 cinnamon sticks What you do: Add orange slices, cloves, allspice berries and cinnamon sticks to the pot. Pour the apple cider into the pot. Mix…

Park has a new name

Belcarra Regional Park is in Metro Vancouver. It has a new name. It is called təmtəm.xʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park. There was a ceremony on October 8. Members of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Metro Vancouver officials attended. Why was the name changed? The name was changed to recognize the park as part of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. It…

Summer sun safety

Summer sun safety Story adapted from HealthLink BC by Patti-Lea Ryan Edited by Nila Gopaul Level 2 It is fun to sit or play in the sun. But, too much sun can be harmful. We can get sunburned on cloudy days, too. Too much heat can lead to health problems. People can get stroke, heat exhaustion, skin…

“In Flanders Fields” poem is 100 years old

“In Flanders Fields” poem is 100 years old Adapted from Canadian War Museum and Wikipedia by Patti-Lea Ryan Level 3 This year is the 100th anniversary of the writing of the poem “In Flanders Fields”. The poem was written in 1915 by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Who was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae? Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae was a…

Harvest time is the right time for giving thanks

Harvest time is the right time for giving thanks Adapted from Canadian Living: “How to cook a turkey” and BC Turkey Growers by Patti-Lea Ryan Level 2 What better time to give thanks? Farmer’s markets and stores are filled with fresh vegetables. The vegetables are fresh and colourful. Carrots, brussels sprouts, broccoli, yams and corn, to…

Tips for a short camping trip

Campers roast marshmallows Photo by the Government of British Columbia/CC, Flickr Tips for a short camping trip Adapted from Wikipedia by Patti-Lea Ryan Edited by Nila Gopaul Level 3 NOTE for campers: Click here to find current fire bans in BC  Checklist of things to do before leaving home If you plan on taking a pet…

Community gardens

Community gardening Story adapted from Wikipedia by Patti-Lea Ryan and the writer’s experience Level 3 Community gardening is very popular in cities. Many people like to grow fresh vegetables and flowers. Some gardeners do not have space for a garden. So they can become a member of a community garden. These gardens are maintained by…

The tiny ferries in False Creek

The tiny ferries in False Creek Adapted from Wikipedia by Patti-Lea Ryan Level 3 Looking for something fun to do? Why not try one of the little ferries in False Creek. The Aquabus and False Creek Ferries offer short ferry rides. Both companies also offer mini cruises around False Creek. People take the ferries: To…

Summer hazard – dogs in hot cars

Summer hazard: dogs in hot cars Adapted from The Vancouver Sun and the BC SPCA by Patti-Lea Ryan Edited by Nila Gopaul Level 3 The BC SPCA* reminds us that summer is here. This means that the weather is getting hot. Vehicles such as cars and vans heat up very fast in the summer. Your pet can…

Karina LeBlanc, FIFA World Cup soccer player

Karina LeBlanc, FIFA World Cup soccer player Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Patti-Lea Ryan Edited by Nila Gopaul Level 3 Canada’s women’s soccer team is playing in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Karina LeBlanc is a goalkeeper for Canada’s team. Growing up Karina was born in Dominica. Her father is Dominican and her mother is…

The beautiful rings of Saturn

The beautiful rings of Saturn Adapted from NASA by Patti-Lea Ryan Level 3 Saturn is the second biggest planet in our solar system. Only Jupiter is bigger. Saturn is much larger than Earth. You could fit 700 Earths into Saturn. Being the sixth planet from the sun, Saturn is very, very far away. It is about…

This summer, enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables!

  Check the vocabulary: produce = in this text, it means “fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains” to spoil = to go bad pricey = expensive discount = sale, reduced price Tips for buying and keeping produce fresh: Pick your own Some farms sell cheaper produce, if you go and pick it yourself. There are…