Making family time a priority

This week thousands of Canadians are coming together to celebrate the importance and sanctity of the family during the National Family Week campaign, co-ordinated by the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP).

“For close to 40 years, FRP Canada has promoted the well-being of families by providing national leadership, consultation and resources to community-based organizations and the families they serve,” said Kelly Stone Executive Director of FRP.  Since it was proclaimed in 1985 by the government, National Family Week has been celebrated annually in the fall. This year the campaign is being celebrated from Oct. 5 to the 11. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Families: the natural place for children to grow and reach their potential.”

“Families are the place where children learn important life skills, self-esteem, a sense of belonging and a greater understanding of the world around them. And when families are healthy and strong, communities are healthy and strong, too. FRP Canada and our community-based partners provide families with the resources they need to help their children grow and reach their potential together,” noted Stone.

FRP members are celebrating this week across Canada through various fun events centered around the family.

“The Better Together Resource Centre in Lunenburg County is celebrating with a Cooking with Kids day while the Leduc County FCSS Home Visitation is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for families in its program. The Caledon Parent-Child Centre/ Ontario Early Years Centre orchestrated the proclamation of October 5 till 9, 2015 as National Family Week in the Town of Caledon. Many Rivers in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories has had events every day of NFW including colouring contests, family bus tours and a wind up family celebration dinner. In Strathcona County Alberta, an event packed NFW started with a pancake breakfast and ends Friday with a family games night,” explained Stone.

FRP is a charitable organization founded in 1975 that supports 500 member organizations in providing resources, training and tools. FRP Canada has an infrastructure of independent members that annually support half a million Canadian families in close to 2300 communities. FRP member sites offer hubs of services that meet the unique needs of each community.

The FRP Twitter @FRPCanada is updating its feed to promote NFW events in the community.