Hi friends!
This community is growing fast, and it’s happening the best way: friend-to-friend. When you forward an issue or refer another parent, you’re basically saying, “This saved me 10 minutes this week.” And I don’t take that trust lightly.
Thank you! ❤️
I also love your replies—whether it’s a hot tip about a new opening or just a quick “Thanks for the reminder,” I read every single one. Keep them coming.
Okay, sentimental moment over. We have work to do:
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
🎨 Free Maker Labs: Drop-in creativity at the library (no glitter on your floor).
🎒 The VSB Deadline: Kindergarten choice programs are due soon.
🚧 The Detours: Why you need to avoid Broadway & Oakridge next week.
🍵 The Reward: Paragon Tea Room is back (and so are the waffles).
Let’s sort it out.
🎒 Kindergarten Choice Programs: The Clock Is Ticking
If you've been meaning to look into French Immersion, Montessori, or one of VSB's other specialty programs for a kid starting kindergarten, this is your window. Applications are open now through February 3rd at 4 PM sharp.
What: Applications for District Choice Programs (Early French Immersion, Mandarin Bilingual, Montessori, Fine Arts, Indigenous Focus).
Deadline: Closes strictly on February 3, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
The Rule of 3: You can apply for up to three choice programs.
The Prerequisite: You MUST complete registration at your local English Catchment School by the end of January to be eligible.
The Move
If you haven't registered at your catchment school yet, stop reading this and do it now. The online application takes time, and "I forgot my password" at 3:45 PM on deadline day is not a vibe.
Why It Matters
This is your chance to tailor your kid's education to their personality. Whether they need the structure of Montessori or you want them yelling at you in fluent French by Grade 3, these programs are great. But they are a lottery. You have to be in it to win it.
📌 The Notice Board
🚗 Broadway Detour Alert: Main → Quebec closes starting Mon, Jan 26 (for ~4 months)
If you use Broadway through Mount Pleasant for school drop-offs, activities, or the “we’re already late” commute… plan a new path now. That one block is about to become a construction-only zone.
Where: East Broadway between Main St. and Quebec St.
When: Starts Mon, Jan 26 at 7:00 AM and runs 24/7 for ~4 months
The Situation: Full closure to vehicle traffic. They are removing the temporary road deck (finally!).
Detour: Buses + local traffic reroute via Quebec St + E 8th Ave
The Move
Avoid this block entirely if you can. If you usually zip along Broadway for school drop-off, switch to 12th / 16th / King Ed based on where you’re headed. Do not try to "sneak through" on 8th unless you enjoy gridlock.
Why It Matters
This is actually good news in disguise. Removing the temporary deck means the station construction is entering the home stretch. But for the next four months, it’s going to be a headache. I’d pad +10–20 minutes the first week while everyone re-learns their route.
Read More Here.
🚧 Heads Up: Oakridge SkyTrain vs. Strollers (starts Mon, Jan 26)
If Oakridge–41st is part of your evening routine (late shift, date night, teen pickup, airport run), heads up: next week gets annoying.
The Facts:
🚫 No elevator: Jan 26 – Apr 30 (yes… basically the whole winter)
🌙 Night owls: Station closes early at 11:00 PM (Sun–Thu nights) until late March
Good news: no early closures on Fridays, Saturdays, and Feb 16 (Family Day)
After 11 PM, trains will pass through without stopping
🚌 The workaround (if you need elevator access): Exit at King Edward or Langara–49th, then backtrack by bus
Bus 15 (Cambie/Olympic Village) to connect between King Ed / Langara
Bus 49 to Langara–49th
Plan for up to +20 minutes extra travel time
The Move
Do not “hope for the best” here. If you’re rolling heavy (stroller, wheelchair, giant wagon), avoid Oakridge–41st entirely until Apr 30. And if you’re traveling after 11 PM on weeknights, plan to use King Edward or Langara–49th instead.
Why It Matters
This is one of those “small detail, huge pain” disruptions—especially when you’re juggling a stroller or relying on elevator access. The upside is real: once the upgrades are done, Oakridge–41st should be way more family-friendly (escalators + weather protection + direct mall access).
🎨 Free Maker Space Pop-Ups at Your Local Branch
If your kitchen table is currently covered in dried glue and unidentified scrap paper, let the pros handle the creativity this week. VPL is running drop-in Maker Space sessions for kids in Grades K-7—and the activity changes every time, so it stays fresh.
📍 Oakridge Branch: Thursdays through March, 3:30–4:30 pm (check the listing for upcoming dates)
📍 Mount Pleasant Branch: Wednesdays through February, 3:30–4:30 pm (check the listing for upcoming dates)
💸 Cost: Free
👶 Ages: Grades K-7 (roughly ages 5-12)
♿ Note: Accessible crafting materials provided. Kids can sit, stand, or floor-sit—whatever works.
The Move
This is the perfect "bridge" activity to get you from school pickup to dinner time without turning on a screen. Since it's drop-in, just show up—but maybe get there a few minutes early to settle in.
Why It Matters
I actually took my 5-year-old to the Mount Pleasant one recently, and I have to give credit where it’s due: it was super organized. Not "chaotic free-for-all" organized, but actually engaging and fun. Plus, the glitter explosion happens on their floor, not yours.
🍵 Paragon Tea Room Is Back on Cambie (Finally!)
The matcha gods have smiled upon Cambie Village. The beloved tea café has reopened at 3432 Cambie St after a year away—soft launch on Jan 12, full opening on Jan 16.
Where: 3432 Cambie St (Near 18th).
The Vibe: "Tea House" mode. No laptops allowed, so leave the work stress at the door.
The Menu: Serious tea, tea mists, and those bubble waffles (matcha/mochi goodness).
The Move
Go when you can be a little flexible (it’s a soft opening, so things can be… slightly chaotic). If you’re bringing kids, think “quick cozy pit stop” more than “long sit with a laptop and a snack parade.”
Why It Matters
A not-too-sugary treat spot that's actually stroller-accessible and close to transit? That's a win. Plus, the "no laptop" rule makes it a great spot to actually talk to a friend. Welcome back. 🍵
Check It Out!
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
