Hi friends!
This week is Peak Parent Admin: winter rec sign-ups, holiday events, and kids who somehow still need to be fed three times a day.
If you only do one grown-up thing, make it: nail the rec registration dates below. The fun stuff comes after.
Winter Rec Registration: It’s Go Time
Winter registration for community centres kicks off this week. We all know the drill: three browsers open and credit card on the desk. The good stuff goes fast.
Key dates for winter programs (Chronological):
Tue, Dec 2 @ 7pm: Douglas Park & Creekside (That’s today!)
Thu, Dec 4 @ 7pm: Hillcrest
Sat, Dec 6 @ 9am: Kerrisdale
Mon, Dec 8 @ 7pm: Marpole–Oakridge
Sat, Dec 13 @ 9am: False Creek
The "Big Ticket" Items (Citywide):
🏊 Swimming: Tue, Dec 16 @ 7pm. (This is the main event. Be ready!)
⛸️ Skating: Thu, Dec 18 @ 7pm. (Set 1)
The Move: Log in 10 minutes early. Check your account password now, not at 6:59 PM. Have the open tabs ready for the activities that you want to register.
Why it matters: Any class I have been after disappeared in under five minutes. If you miss these windows, you’re into waitlists and scramble mode.
Happy registration week; may the odds be forever in your favour. 🏹
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK
🦌 Get Your Holiday Photo on W 17th
Christmas in Cambie Village is taking over the W.17th Plaza (right off Cambie) for the next two weekends.
The main draw? Odin the Reindeer and Nisse the Elf are back. If you want a festive family photo without the mall lineup trauma, this is your spot. Plus, live music to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
The Lineup:
Weekend 1 – Sat & Sun, Dec 6–7
📅 Saturday, December 6
11am – Photos with Odin the Reindeer & Nisse the Elf
11am – Live music by Scrooge Horns
12:30pm – Cambie Village Crooner
📅 Sunday, December 7
11am – The Sleighriders
12:30pm – Cambie Village Crooner
Weekend 2 – Saturday, Dec 13
📅 Saturday, December 13
11am – Photos with Odin & Nisse
11am – Scrooge Horns
12:30pm – Sons of Granville
The Move: Go for the 11am photo op, stay for a coffee while the kids run around the plaza. It’s free, local, and very cute. 📸
Why it matters: Easy, low-planning Christmas outing right on Cambie. Fresh air, live music, and a cute photo op you can actually send to grandparents.
🔨 Free DIY: Home Depot Kids Workshop
If your kid likes to build, bang on things, or just wear a tiny orange apron, this is for you.
The Home Depot runs a free workshop on the second Saturday of every month. They provide the wood, the tools, and the pins; your kid provides the manual labour. They get to keep their project.
The Details:
When: Saturday, Dec 13 (That’s next weekend!)
Where: Nearest spots are Cambie St, Terminal Ave or Marine Drive.
Cost: $0. (Our favourite price).
The Move: Pick your nearest store. Registration is mandatory, and spots vanish fast. [Link to Register]. Registration opens one month ahead.
Why it matters: It’s free, structured, and genuinely hands-on. Your kid learns how to hammer something that isn’t your furniture, and you walk away with a project and 30 minutes of focused, real work.
🥦 Downtown Farmers Market (The "Holiday Shift" Edition)
If you work downtown or just need an excuse to leave the office early on a Wednesday, this is it.
The Downtown Farmers Market is running every Wednesday afternoon until mid-December. It’s perfect for real veggies that didn’t fly in from five time zones away.
⚠️ The Important Part: The market has moved for the rest of the season. It is NOT on the Georgia St. side (North Plaza) anymore. It is now on the Robson St. side (South Plaza). Don't be the person wandering around the fountain looking for kale.
The Details:
When: Every Wednesday, now through Dec 17, 2–6pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery – Downtown Farmers Market (Hornby & Georgia / Robson Square)
What: Produce, baked goods, prepared foods, artisan products, plus food + coffee trucks
The Move: Treat it as a "snack and shop." Grab a pastry or some skewers first (hangry shopping is dangerous), then pick up your staples for the week.
Why it matters: It’s the easiest way to support local without waking up early on a weekend. Plus, the Robson side feels cozier with the holiday vibes starting to kick in.
You’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo