The Arts Connection

New mom? Expecting? Mom of an active toodler and preschooler?

Whether you're looking for superior arts related activities or scrambling for daycare, The Arts Connection can solve many of your program needs.

Recipient of the City of Richmond Award of Excellence. The Arts Connection is a privately operated fine arts facility celebrating its 19th season in Steveston. In addition to infant and toddler programs, they offer a wide variety of programs for ages 4 to adult: private music instruction program in most instruments and voice, a dance program including ballet, hip hop, jazz tap and musical theatre and classes in visual and theatre arts.

In their specialized preschool and daycare facilities called Paddington Station, children have the opportunity to experience a class each day in music, drama or dance taught by a teacher specializing in that discipline. They also provide part and full time daycare.

Make sure you use the links above to check out the fine programs that are offered by The Arts Connection.

Supporting the Ban on Cosmetic Pesticides in Richmond

Stroller Strides Richmond and Lulu Ladies & Babies proudly supports a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides and working towards a Pesticide Free Richmond. Join us in lending your support to The Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition.

The Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition along with support from The Canadian Cancer Society, invites all concerned parents to attend a free educational forum called Pesticides & Our Children - What are the risks and what can you do? Come out to this forum and learn why The Canadian Cancer Society is concerned about the non-essential use of pesticides so you can make informed choices about the health of your children and the environmental carcinogens they are exposed to. Guest speakers will include Dr. Warren Bell, doctor and founding president of The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Arzeena Hamir, organic gardener.

The forum will take place on Saturday January 24th, 2009 from 10:30 am -12:00 noon at The Richmond Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited.

Stroller Strides Richmond Class Photos

We are thrilled with our new Stroller Strides Richmond class photos taken by Leighton Matthews of The Lighthouse Photographic Studios in Steveston.

To join the fun at Stroller Strides Richmond, you can find our class schedule & locations at www.strollerstrides.net/richmondbc.

If you are interested in having photos done by Leighton, you can contact him at contact@lighthousestudio.ca

ParticipACTION

Research shows that "among children and adolescents age two to seventeen, 26% are overweight and another 8% are obese." The New England Journal of Medicine reported that "our children's lifespan could be 2-5 years less than our own." Furthermore, the economic burden of physical inactivity is estimated at $5.3 billion and the burden to the health care system is estimated at $2.1 billion. Canada is facing an inactivity and obesity crisis whose impact on the cost of future chronic disease management is almost unimaginable.

A potential solution is regular physical activity, which is associated with as much as a 30% reduction in all causes of mortality rates. With its partners, ParticipACTION wants to be part of the solution.

Stroller Strides Richmond has submitted a story to ParticipACTION telling at bit about who we are and what we do and the benefits of exercise for new moms and the positive model we are setting for our children. Please take a moment to check out our story submission, positive comments are welcomed and encouraged.