Hi friends!
April is arriving with that very specific kind of parent energy: three tabs open, one deadline already too close, and a vague feeling that summer planning should have happened yesterday.
You're not behind. But you will want to read the first item below before April 8.
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
🏕️ Summer camp registration just changed — one date, every centre, April 8
🚇 TransLink fares are going up July 1 (including a 30% YVR AddFare jump)
💎 A toy lending library for the "40 toys, playing with a spoon" problem
Let's get into it. 👇🏼
🏕️ Summer Day Camp Registration: One Date. Every Centre. Mark It Now.
Big change this year. Vancouver Parks is ditching the centre-by-centre registration chaos. For the first time, every community centre in the city shares one single registration date for summer day camps.
Who: All Vancouver Community Centres
Where: Online (ActiveNet) or in-person.
When: Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 PM. (Phone registration opens Thursday, April 9 at 10:00 AM).
Cost: Varies by camp.
The Move
Log into your ActiveNet account today to make sure you remember your password and your credit card isn't expired. Do not wait until 6:58 PM on April 8 to figure out you're locked out.
Why It Matters
One alarm instead of a spreadsheet tracking 15 different centre dates. That's less mental load, not more. And missing this window usually means scrambling for much pricier private camps later.
🎬 Free Kids Movie Morning at The Park Theatre This Saturday
An Oscar-winning animated film. On a big screen. For free. Yeah, you should probably grab this one.
The Park Theatre is screening Flow this Saturday morning, sponsored by the Cambie Village Business Association. It's a beautifully animated adventure about a cat navigating a flooded world and learning to survive by teaming up with other animals. It won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and here's the part that matters most: there's no dialogue. The whole film is told through visuals and sound. So your 3-year-old and your 10-year-old can both sit through it. Peacefully. At the same time.
What: Free community screening of Flow (85 min, rated G)
Where: The Park Theatre, 3440 Cambie St
When: Saturday, April 4. Doors at 9:30 AM, film at 10:15 AM
Cost: Free. RSVP here (limit 4 per transaction). You don't technically need a ticket to get in, but if you RSVP and aren't scanned by 10:00 AM, your seat goes to someone else.
The Move
RSVP now, arrive by 9:45. It's a single-screen theatre so seating is first come, first served. Saturday morning + free + Cambie Street = it will fill up.
🎨 Indigo Kids: Create & Paint (Ages 4+)
Indigo Granville is doing a spring-themed storytime and craft session this Saturday. Kids decorate a seasonal keepsake. It's small, it's quick, and it pairs nicely with the movie if you want to make a morning of it.
When: Saturday, April 4. Sessions at 11 AM and 1 PM.
Where: Indigo Granville (also available at Indigo Robson)
Cost: $4.99 + fees. Reserve a spot here.
Ages: 4+. No reservation needed for accompanying adults.
📌 The Notice Board
🚇 TransLink Fares Going Up July 1
On Family Day, the city rolled out paid parking at Hillcrest, Kerrisdale, and Trout Lake. This Canada Day, it's transit's turn. TransLink's board approved a five per cent fare increase starting July 1, plus the YVR AddFare is jumping 30%. Are we getting fined for having a day off?
Compass stored value (1 zone): $2.70 → $2.85
Monthly pass (1 zone): $111.60 → $117.20
Day pass: $11.95 → $12.55
YVR AddFare: $5.00 → $6.50
The YVR AddFare only applies to single-trip fares. Monthly passes, day passes, U-Pass, and BC Bus Pass holders are exempt. Smaller increases (around two per cent) are expected to return in 2027.
🏃 Vancouver Sun Run: Sign Up for the Kids 2.5K
It's almost time for that massive Vancouver rite of passage: the Sun Run. But before you panic about running 10km on a Sunday morning, remember there is a dedicated 2.5km version that is totally achievable for the kids (and for tired parents).
What: EVA AIR 2.5K Mini Sun Run, part of the Vancouver Sun Run
When: Sunday, April 19. Race starts at 8:00 AM outside BC Place.
Cost: $35 for youth (18 & under), $50 for adults, $35 for seniors. One parent can escort a child 8 & under for free (no shirt included).
Registration deadline: Noon, April 16.
The Move
Register at vancouversunrun.com right now. Do not wait until race week. The Mini Sun Run has limited spots. Register the kids first, then add yourself as a free escort if they're 8 or under.
Why It Matters
You get all the festive, 40,000-runner energy. Plus, the route finishes right inside BC Place, which is guaranteed to blow a 7-year-old's mind.
🔬 Science World: Future Science Leaders — Applications Close April 30
If you've got a Grade 9 or 10 student who is genuinely into science but school labs aren't quite cutting it, this is worth knowing about. Future Science Leaders is a 26-week after-school program at Science World where students work alongside real researchers, explore STEM careers, and build skills you can't get from a textbook.
The Facts:
Who it's for: Students entering Grade 10 or 11 in September 2026, and born in 2011 or earlier
What it is: A 26+ week after-school STEAM program with workshops, mentorship, field trips, and industry exposure
When it runs: September to May, with Tuesday or Thursday evening cohorts at Science World in Vancouver
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Cost: $1,549.99 + GST — not free — but bursaries are available for up to 90% of fees
The Move
The application is simple: basic info and one short answer (100 words). Help your teen not overthink it. Miss this window and it's a full year before the next intake.
Why It Matters
It's a high-caliber program that builds their resume, gets them out of the house, and might just spark a career. Science World says alumni have landed major scholarships and research opportunities. Plus, having a teenager happily occupied and off their screens is basically priceless.
Know a family with a science-minded teen? Forward this their way. These programs don't get enough airtime.
💎 Hidden Gem: Toy Lending Library
The living room has 40 toys in it. Your kid is playing with a wooden spoon and a cardboard box. You are not alone. West Side Family Place runs a toy lending library where you can borrow one or two toys at a time for up to two weeks.
The collection is curated by age and developmental stage for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. New-to-them toys, zero clutter.
Browse what's available online and reserve before you go. Free with a WSFP membership.
The centre is at 2819 W 11th Ave.
P.S. Know a parent who's still tracking camp registration dates centre by centre? Forward this their way. One date. Every centre. They'll thank you on April 8.
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
