Showing posts with label friendly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friendly. Show all posts

Sunday, March 20, 2016

March 22 Is UN #WorldWaterDay - See How REALice Canada Can Help Conserve Water

This post is part of the REALice Canada blog team working with Thrifty Mom Media to tell this story and as such I have been compensated. As always we only post our opinions.

If you are wondering what #WorldWaterDay is. The best definition is on the UN Water ABOUT Page. Here is an excerpt from it

Why a World Water Day?

World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day

Over the years the topics have been about clean drinking water, preservation of the world's water supply and this year's theme is water and jobs.  We think that REALice takes all of these ideas and combines them when it comes to their product.

What Is REALice?

REALice® is a technology helping ice arenas around the world save money, emissions and the environment. With this technology, less energy is needed, the return on investment is real, the savings are substantial and REALice creates hard and resilient ice. 

This means a lot to a community like Kitchener-Waterloo because we have so many ice surfaces in the area.  We have indoor rinks in arenas and both the City of Kitchener City Hall and the City of Waterloo's Public Square have arena grade ice.  For a list of ice rinks in the area visit our PUBLIC SKATING NEAR KITCHENER WATERLOO post.


Did you know that rinks has been created and maintained using extremely hot water - 70°C and even more? That's because hot water reduces the air bubbles in water, and fewer air bubbles gives you a smoother surface.
In fact, ice made with air bubbles in it is fragile, brittle, cracks easily - and quickly becomes uneven.  Avid hockey and skating sport fans know that this spells trouble for the athletes.
 
Plus  Heating all of that water, as you can imagine, takes a lot of energy. From boilers working overtime to produce hot water, to compressors needed for cooling, an ice rink requires major energy resources.
 
This is where REALice comes in.

Key benefits REALice are

Less use of compressors and boilers
Less use of dehumidifiers
Less rust on structural beams
Less water used and wasted
Verified natural gas consumption reduction of 79%
Average reduction in electricity of 12%
Average savings of about $1,000 to $1,200 per month
In addition to these savings, REALice is maintenance free and no extra energy, sources, or systems are needed. It's an immediate improvement in ice quality and costs. It’s greener and better for the environment.
REALice is world recognized technology that allows rinks to make their ice more efficiently.
 
For more information about REALice we suggest visiting their website and social channels listed below
 

Also be sure to check out the article in Macleans Magazine. See their tweet below for the full article link.

What Are You Doing For #WorldWaterDay?

We want to know what you are doing for World Water Day? Leave a comment below to let us know what you and your family are doing to mark World Water Day 2016.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Indoor Trick Or Treating Halloween Events, Parties And Activities For Kids In The Kitchener Waterloo Area 2013

Where Do You Go For Indoor Halloween Fun?




Wondering where to head for some family friendly indoor Halloween? Looking to Trick Or Treat inside? Here's our list so far

Kids Hop At Kitchener Market Halloween Edition
FREE EVENT
Thursday Oct 31st
10:30am till 12:30pm
Cookie decorating
Concert with Erick Traplin at 11am
Kids art
Wear your costume
http://www.kitchenermarket.ca/en/events/Kids_Hop.asp

Halloween Oct 31
Halloween @ 91.5 The Beat
10am-Noon
RSVP Required -see link below
http://www.icontact-archive.com/Sl59-ZYTxF4oXiutp-Z2XyZxN5Nynw6e?w=4

Monster Mischief
A cauldron of fun for the whole family. FREE
Register online at kpl.org or call the host library.
Thurs. Oct. 31 at 2:00 pm, Kitchener Market, 300 King St East, Kitchener
Kuchen Pops Halloween Party
Decorate A Cupcake for FREE when you arrive in costume
5:30pm-8:30pm
153 Country Hill Dr. Kitchener
 
For additional events happening this October head over to our October 2013 Event post http://stufftodowithyourkidsinkw.blogspot.ca/2013/10/october-fall-events-autumn-activities.html
 
Let us know where you plan to spend Halloween in the comments below!
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Adventures In Accessibiltiy - Accessible Pumpkin Patch Assessment

We are thrilled to have partnered with Margaret and Dan Lajoie for our Adventures In Accessibility around the Kitchener Waterloo Area.  You may recognize their names from their Van For Dan campaign. These posts are their take about family friendly venues that are accessibile for wheelchairs. Do you have questions about accessibility in the Kitchener Waterloo Area? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post and we will do our best to answer it for you.
 

Accessible Pumpkin Patch Assessment

Our Pumpkin Patches and Corn Maze post is always a popular one.  Margaret, Dan and the kids decided to visit a couple of pumpkin patches from the list and here are the results

SHANTZHOLM PUMPKINS http://www.shantzholmpumpkins.ca/ Free + cost of pumpkin

We went to Shantzholm and both kids loved it! My husband wasn't able to access the pumpkin field due to the terrain but could easily see the kids (even wagons/strollers wouldn't be able to get into the field very far) but there are some pumpkins right along the path he was on so kids in wheelchairs could still participate picking their own from the field. There are also tons pre-picked at the farm entrance that people can pick from. We did the corn maze, but there were a few areas that got a little bumpy but still manageable. We turned around and came back out the way we went in only because the maze is LONG! Not sure about accessing the animals since we didn't get to it but I noticed lots of strollers and wagons over there so guessing wheelchairs would have no troubles. For younger kids there's a hay bale maze with trikes and Step2 climbers and slides but wouldn't be enough room for a child in a wheelchair to pass through. Wagon ride is definitely inaccessible and pretty steep to lift an older child onto without a second person's help. Parking is NOT favourable for wheelchair users but they didn't mind us using their private driveway to load/unload. If we had asked they might have allowed us to park there due to the circumstances, but it wasn't a big deal for us that day. Highly recommend them and will be returning again closer to Halloween to get our official carving pumpkin! The entire day cost us $3 (1 medium sized pumpkin and 1 large gourde).

SNYDERS FAMILY FARM http://www.snydersfamilyfarm.com/pumpkin-patch (formerly known as Kim-Glo) see website for pricing

Okay, we also went to Snyder's (thanks to free tickets from my boss) so here are my thoughts for anyone with accessibility concerns. The kids had a ton of fun, and my son loved that there were more things for kids his age (9 yrs) including a haunted house and bouncy castles and hay mountains. The animals were literally right in your face at the petting area however..... The ground was extremely uneven for people in chairs and they seemed to be stopping people from bringing their own wagons in too! The farm is very large and spread out with lots to do, but not somewhere I would recommend for those in wheelchairs. We didn't make it to the corn maze so I can't comment on theirs compared to Shantzholm's. In a nut shell, if you're planning on making a FULL day of it and your kids are on the older side (and no wheelchairs) I would recommend paying the money and going to Snyders. If you have younger ones, wheelchairs/wagons, or want a fun free few hours out at a farm then I recommend Shantzholm!

Have you visited an accessible pumpkin patch lately? We would love to hear your thoughts! Leave your comment below or on this post on our facebook group.


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Waterloo Busker Carnival, Link Picnic Festival, Hespler's A Day And A Night Plus More Fun Things To Do

First off I want to say a BIG Thank-you to everyone that attended the Sign Depot Celebration BBQ! We had a great turn out and lots of FOOD BANK donations came in!
If you attended I'd appreciate your thoughts here at this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZMN8KLQ

Blast time!

There are still some TIM HORTON'S FREE SWIM TIMES. Find one close to you here http://stufftodowithyourkidsinkw.blogspot.ca/2012/07/free-tim-hortons-swim-in-kitchener.html

Tuesday Aug 21
Reptile Show at the Kitchener Market 11am-Noon
http://www.kitchenermarket.ca/events.aspx?cid=70220

Wednesday Aug 22
Bike Show and Shine Waterloo Public Square 6:45pm
http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/RL_ARTSCULTURE_PUBLICSQUARE_documents/Augusteventlisting.pdf

Thursday Aug 23
For Parents and Older Kids
6:30pm-8:30
Join Diane & I at the Free Canning Event at the Kitchener Market Limited spaces contact Michele to register michele.mcbrideroach@kitchener.ca

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151107318059656&set=a.10150708958164656.422725.61828104655&type=1&theater

Outdoor Movie in Cambridge
Captain America
8:30pm Cambridge City Hall
http://www.cambridge.ca/news.php?eid=1687&s=4&ms=2012-08-01



Aug 23-Aug 26
Waterloo Busker Carnival
Happening Uptown Waterloo
Times and places vary, info can be found here http://www.waterloo-buskers.com/

Aug 25
Hespler's A Day & A Night
11am-11pm
http://adayandanight.ca/
Info for children's activities at the event http://adayandanight.ca/about/children-family-activities/

Aug 26-26
Link Picnic Festival
Victoria Park Kitchener
Starts at Noon each day. More info here http://www.linkpicnicfestival.com/

Aug 25
Fill A Truck for Diabetes at Canadian Tire Fairway 10am-3pm http://ow.ly/d4Tf8

Aug 26
Van For Dan Zumbathon
3pm-5pm
1195 King St. E Cambridge
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/392363117484615/
$10 to participate or collect pledges http://www.vanfordan.com/ZumbathonPledge.pdf

Looking Ahead
Try KW Synchro for Free Sept 5,7,9 info here http://kwsynchro.on.ca/

For a fun night out get a babysitter and head to the Food & Drink Expo at the Kitchener Market
Happening Sept 6-8 contact Michele for tickets michele.mcbrideroach@kitchener.ca
http://www.kitchenermarket.ca/
or CATCH THE WAGJAG for it this week! 50% off Waterloo Region Food & Drink Expo http://www.wagjag.com/?w=88431&wid=2c7dcef4ea90b05c642db06b3c128dfc


We'll be preparing a Labour Day Weekend blast soon, so if you know of any great events taking place make sure to post it on our group page https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2369595749/

Keep Smiling!
Lisa