KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers: One day last week, I was driving home around 7 pm when I glanced out the passenger's window and saw a stunning rainbow stretched fully across the sky, glowing in front of dark gray storm clouds that were rushing away to the east. I was approaching a stop light. Left was the way home, where various chores awaited... but right was the way to the rainbow. My husband
was driving behind me, and I knew that if I turned right, he was going to think I had lost my mind. For a split second, practicality made its case: Don’t be silly; go home, you have stuff to do. But then another question darted into my mind: Am I a person who chases rainbows, or am I not? Once I framed it that way, the answer was easy. For kids and grownups alike, this can actually be a helpful way to make all kinds of decisions. When
the moment comes to act, it helps to ask not just What do I feel like doing? but Who am I? Am I a person who tells the truth? Am I a person who helps? Am I a person who persists when times are hard? Am I a person who stops to notice the beautiful things around me? We build identity one choice at a time for our entire lives. The clearer we are about who we want to be, the easier it becomes to know what to do in the moment, to give ourselves evidence that we are, in fact, that sort
of person. I hope the kids in your world grow up thinking of themselves as people who seek what is bright and good and full of wonder. It’s our job to show them that delight is often worth the detour.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary
Moments to Build Strong Communities
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Discover local Theatre Camps! GBTC offers weekly programs during July and August, featuring plays, mime, improvisation, theatre games, musical theatre, and work with simple sets and costumes! Each weekly program culminates in a public performance at week's end. Outdoor activities, games, and sports are also part of the fun. Campers hone their skills and build confidence through engaging, creative games that tap into their vocal, physical, and emotional potential. GBTC's dedicated and compassionate staff foster a nurturing environment where campers feel at ease. They are encouraged to forge new friendships and enhance skills and confidence that will benefit them in all aspects of life. With our low Camper to Staff ratios, every child gets the chance to shine with their age group and the broader camp community.
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Queer and trans youth (13-18) across the region are invited to the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery for a free, casual drop-in creative space on the fourth Friday of every month!
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Does high school feel like a minefield of unspoken rules? Follow Naz as she navigates the chaotic world of her suburban school where cultures clash, and fitting in can come at a serious price. From award-winning playwright and actor Anita Majumdar, this powerful coming-of-age piece fuses theatre and classical Indian dance as it takes you into the messy realities of privilege, power, and consent. Get ready for raw honesty and a mesmerizing performance – all set to a soundtrack that blends Bollywood bangers and classical Indian music with hip-hop beats. This fearless production will leave you thinking long after the lights go down.
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After touring over 100 cities in 24 countries and entering CNN's list of “Must-See” exhibitions, Art of the Brick is coming to Toronto. The exhibit immerses the visitor in a cheerful and colorful world. The artist used more than a million bricks, creating over 130+ works of art that can make adults and children smile and reflect.
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Come shop at the Great Kids Stuff Sale (GKSS) for high quality gently used items for newborns to age 10. Items range from clothing and shoes to toys, baby gear, strollers, books, costumes and more! There are thousands of items and prices are low (e.g. $3 for pants, $4 for sweaters etc!). GKSS also supports local charities as unsold merchandise is donated directly to charities and families in need across the city.
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Meet at Fort York's historic west gate to clean up part of the 43-acre historic site. Families and individuals are encouraged to join museum staff to help clean up litter – such as small plastics, cans, bottles and other waste in the public space around the museum and the Garrison Common. Litter bags will be provided. Please bring your own gloves.
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Spring Celebration Brings Free Family Fun to Queen’s Park on Saturday, April 25. Say goodbye to winter and hello to the new season at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s Spring Celebration – a free, fun-filled day out for the whole family. Step inside (and outside!) one of Ontario’s most iconic landmarks and discover a full day of spring-themed activities, live entertainment, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re 5 or 95, there’s something here to put a smile on your face.
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DanceWeekend 2026 brings together a vibrant mix of artists shaping and moving the dance landscape in Ontario. From January 24 to 25, the festival offers two days of bold performance, creative risk-taking, and community gathering at Harbourfront Centre Theatre in Toronto. Each program features short works that highlight the individuality of Ontario’s dance makers, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a wide range of voices and artistic visions in one place.
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Celebrate Earth Day at the Bata Shoe Museum with fun, eco-friendly activities for all ages. Discover how footwear impacts the environment in our engaging Footwear and the Environment presentations, exploring sustainable practices and innovative designs shaping the future of shoes. Then, get creative with special eco-friendly crafts including our shoelace coloring activity—a hands-on way to refresh your old shoes and give them a brand-new look while keeping them out of the landfill. Join us for a day of inspiration, creativity, and steps toward a greener future!
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Let’s celebrate our planet together at Downsview Park! We invite you to join us in celebrating our planet and the environment on April 26th, 2026, at the Play Zone at Downsview Park. This event is free to the public. This event will take place rain or shine! Bring your family and friends to enjoy some hands-on activities, opportunities to learn and connect with our education staff, vendors, and much more. This event is a great opportunity to learn about ways to reduce your environmental footprint, connect with like-minded individuals and organizations, and celebrate our planet.
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April is Earth Month—and at Evergreen Brick Works, we're celebrating all month long. Each Sunday and select Saturdays in April, join us for a full schedule of public programming that brings Toronto’s sustainability community together in one of the city’s most unique spaces. During our Earth Day festivities, visitors can expect to immerse themselves in the nature surrounding the Brick Works, take part in workshops, contribute to a circular economy through the Mini Drop, Swap and Shop, watch an educational film and so much more.
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Building on a multi-year research project, our newest exhibition will celebrate the lives of 52 women who have shaped Toronto as we know it. Spanning from the 1800s until today, this exhibition shines a spotlight on the change-makers, agitators, and revolutionaries within Toronto’s 52%. While some of these women’s stories are well known, others have gone relatively untold until today. See how many names you are familiar to you — step into their shoes, learn their stories and discover the ways they have transformed Toronto.
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Calling all Fred Heads! Join 4-time Juno Award winner Fred Penner for a special performance celebrating his iconic song, "The Cat Came Back," in a one-of-a-kind collaboration with Mississauga’s Canadian Arabic Orchestra.
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- The 52: An Exhibition - Museum of Toronto, 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8, Canada, Friday, April 24, 2026 to Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12 - 6 pm
- Queer Youth Art Club - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON, Canada, Friday, April 24, 2026, 3PM - 5PM
- Community Clean-Up at Fort York -
Fort York National Historic Site, Fort York Boulevard, Toronto, ON, Canada, Saturday, April 25, 2026, 10 - 11 am
- Spring Celebration at Ontario's Legislative Building, Queen's Park - Saturday, April 25, 2026 - Legislative Assembly of Ontario,
Wellesley Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada, Saturday, April 25, 2026, 10:00AM, 04:00PM
- Downsview parkrun - Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5, Canada, Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9 am
- Free Sunday at Bata Shoe Museum - KPMG - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada, Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12 - 5 pm
- Earth Day - Bata Shoe Museum - Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada, Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12 - 4 pm
- Earth Day at Downsview Park at Downsview Park - Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5, Canada, Sunday,
April 26, 2026, 12 - 5 pm
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the Toronto area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our
guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Toronto area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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