Hi friends!
Okay, results are in for the Great Christmas Tree Debate.
0% of us were “Ruthless” (gone Dec 26).
I love that for us. We all have a heart. 🫶
Half cleaned up New Year’s weekend like responsible adults… and over a third of you are still Team Tree — either for the cozy lights or because it’s a “Valentine’s Bush” now. I respect the commitment.
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
🍓 Make jam while someone else watches your kid: a free hands-on food preservation class with childminding.
🎬 A $0 Friday night plan: big-screen movie night at Mt Pleasant Library (rated 14A — not for toddlers).
📸 Photography Month at VPL Central: free workshops in January, including options for teens.
And a heads up: Summer Camp registration is changing this year. And you need to know about it. Check the Notice Board
Scan, grab one or two that fit your week, and ignore the rest. This is a menu, not homework.
🥒 The "I Made This" Flex: Free Food Preservation Class
If your current “food preservation” strategy is… closing the chip bag with a hair elastic: hi, welcome, you’re among friends.
This is a free, hands-on class where you actually make stuff — jam, herbal tea, DIY cleaning supplies — while your kid is happily occupied in free childminding. This is not a drill.
What: Family Food Preservation Class.
Who: Families / all ages (MPNH’s family programs are geared to families with kids 0–6)
When: Last Monday of every month
Next up: Mon, Jan 26, 2026
Time note: MPNH’s site lists 10:30–12:30 Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, but their January flyer shows 10:00–1:00 — confirm on registration.
Where: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House — 800 E Broadway
Cost: Free or by donation
Childminding: Free childminding available for 18+ months
Contact: Bilquis: [email protected]
The Move:
Treat this like a monthly “reset” you don’t have to plan. Register early (especially if you want childminding), show up 10 minutes before start time, and wear something you don’t mind getting sticky. Jam happens.
Why It Matters:
You get 2-3 hours of adult interaction, you learn how to dehydrate fruit (nature's candy!), and you walk away with sustainable household items you made yourself.
Forward this email to the friend who keeps pinning "canning recipes" but never actually makes them.
🎬 Free Friday Night Movies at Mt Pleasant Library
Mount Pleasant Library hosts free movie nights every other Friday. This week: The Long Walk. Warning: dystopian thriller + “walking contest” +… permanent elimination.
It’s rated 14A.
What: Free screening of The Long Walk (Based on the Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel).
Where: Mount Pleasant Library (Big Screen).
When: Friday, Jan 16 | 5:45 PM – 7:45 PM.
The Math: The runtime is listed at 148 minutes, but the event slot is 120 minutes. Expect to stay a bit late or miss the credits.
Who: Rated 14A (Great for your moody teens, bad for sensitive souls).
Capacity: Only 30 seats.
How to get in: Vouchers available at 4:45 pm at the circulation desk
The Move:
Bookmark the series! Check VPL's events page for upcoming titles — they sometimes screen family-friendly options too.
Why It Matters:
It’s a free night out in a heated room. Also, watching a movie about people being forced to walk until they collapse might weirdly make you feel better about that time you parked too far away from the community centre.
Watch Trailer Here.
📌 The Notice Board
🚨 Summer Camp Registration: One City-Wide Drop (New for 2026)
The City is retiring the old “each community centre has its own registration day” system. Starting this year, everyone goes in at once for Summer Day Camps. Yes, it’s going to be spicy.
The Change: No more separate registration dates for different community centres. It is now a free-for-all.
The Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
The Time: 7:00 PM (Sharp).
The Reality: Every parent in Vancouver will be hitting "refresh" at 6:59:59 PM.
The Move:
Put this in your calendar now. Test your vanrec / ActiveNet login, update your household info, and save your payment method.
I will remind you closer to the date, but consider yourself warned.
Why It Matters
Same Hunger Games, one arena. If you want a camp spot, treat this like concert tickets.
May the odds be ever in your favour!
📸 VPL's Photography Month: Free Classes All January
If you’ve got a photography-obsessed teen or if you want to actually understand what "ISO" means before your kids graduate, January is the month for you. VPL Central is running a whole series of free photography workshops.
The Series: Inspiration Lab's Photography Month at VPL Central Library (350 W Georgia)
Date | Class | What You'll Learn |
Wed, Jan 14 | Let's Talk Photography (2–3:30 PM) | Go beyond auto mode: shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, and finding good light |
Thu, Jan 15 | Photoshop Basics: Repair (2–3:30 PM) | Remove imperfections, fix old photos — hands-on |
Thu, Jan 22 | Photo Editing with Lightroom (2–3:30 PM) | Take your digital photos to the next level — hands-on |
Fri, Jan 30 | Photography Social (3–4:30 PM) | Meet other photographers, chat about your work, then head out to shoot together (Already full — join the waitlist) |
The Move:
The first class (Let's Talk Photography) is a great starting point — no experience needed. Check the VPL events page to register.
Why It Matters:
This is one of those rare free sessions that can upgrade your photos immediately — whether that’s your teen’s hobby… or your own camera roll dignity.
🎨 Artists & Makers: Free Booth at MOV's Family Day
Got a craft, skill, or hands-on activity you love sharing? The Museum of Vancouver wants you. They're looking for artists and facilitators to host booths at their Family Day event, and the table fee is free.
What: Family Day at the Museum of Vancouver, seeking artists/facilitators to run hands-on activity booths
When: Monday, February 16, 2026 | 11 AM – 4 PM (Family Day statutory holiday)
Where: Museum of Vancouver lobby (1100 Chestnut Street)
Table Fee: Free
The Catch: Each booth must include a free, participatory activity (you can sell items too, but the freebie is required)
Deadline to Apply: Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Fine Print: No electricity at booths. Photos/video may be taken for MOV promo use.
More Details Here.
The Move:
📝 Apply this week. A free vendor table on a holiday is basically free money and high exposure. If you have a craft and a simple activity idea, fill out this Google Form. Questions? Email [email protected].
Why It Matters:
Family Day is one of MOV's busiest days of the year — tons of foot traffic, zero table cost, and a chance to share your thing with families who are actually looking for hands-on fun. If you've been wanting to test-run a workshop idea or get your work in front of new people, this is a low-risk way to do it.
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
P.S. Know someone who's secretly an amazing potter, knitter, or jewellery maker? Forward this to them.
The Museum of Vancouver call-out (free table!) is a huge opportunity they shouldn't miss.