Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region

Want to get creative and have fun? Join us for an arts and crafts session to hang out and do creative stuff together.

The session will be full of fun and interactive activities, to learn how art can help us relax and deal with stress.

📅 Date: Friday, July 19
🕒 Time: 5:30-7:30 PM
📍 Location: 79 Joseph St. Kitchener
📧 Contact: [email protected]
🔗 Register: visit the link, https://bit.ly/3y1zv7t

Learn how art can improve your well-being while having a great time with friends.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Free Youth Dinner! This week, July 18th from 5-6 pm. Drop-in or contact Derek for more information.

The Healing of The Seven Generations The Healing of The Seven Generations assists First Peoples residing in the Region of Waterloo and sur

Thanks to St. Mary’s Hospital for hosting us at their PRIDE event today! It’s great to be here!

June 21st is a day to celebrate and honour the cultural traditions and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people of Turtle Island.
Get involved:
https://landbackcamp.com http://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/upcoming-events/
https://calendar.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/.../2024-06-21...

The KW Multicultural Centre is getting ready to host The 57th Annual Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival this June 22 and 23, 2024!!!

🎉Spread the word, and invite your friends and family for two incredible days filled with food, fun, music, and dance!

📲Stay tuned for more updates, surprises, and the full festival schedule at https://www.kwmf.ca/

📸 Photos courtesy of AI Doerksen.

🎉 Fun Things at the 57th Annual KW Multicultural Festival 🌍

Calling all little artists! On Saturday and Sunday, kids can participate in the KWMF Colouring Contest! There are two age groups, and each child can submit one entry. Submit your colouring contest entries by 6 PM on Sunday, June 23rd at the KWMC tent. The prizes are 4 gift cards of $25, two for each group!
✨ Age 9 and Under
✨ Age 10 to 16

You can find the colouring pages at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre tent, kids' area, library tent! But that's not all! We have more activities planned for the kids, including hula-hoops, bubbles, free play, DJ sessions, and more!

Don't miss out on the festival!
✨ Join us:

Saturday, June 22: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday, June 23: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

June 21st is a day to celebrate and honour the cultural traditions and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people of Turtle Island.
Get involved:
https://landbackcamp.com http://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/upcoming-events/
https://calendar.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/EventsList/Detail/2024-06-21-1100-Indigenous-Peoples-Day

Provincially we are in need of foster caregivers. Ongoing support and development are provided to caregivers to meet placement needs.
Learn more: https://facswaterloo.org/foster
and http://theretocare.ca

Foster caregivers are critical to the wellbeing of children and youth who are unable to stay with family. We are in need of homes that are inclusive and identity affirming. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KHFG3i

🌟 Exciting News!🌟
AFRO’s Soccer Program is kicking off on June 20th! ⚽️ Join us every Thursday from 6-8 PM at Forest Hill Public School. Girls ages 11-14, this is your chance to shine! Registration is now open!

Join Kelly Welch for a drumming and sharing circle at Kitchener Public Library. The circle will begin with a smudging ceremony that will highlight the importance of Indigenous medicines. Welch will create space for healing through songs and the hand drum. You’re invited to bring your own shakers or rattlers to join in.

Join us for one of the upcoming sessions of Indigenous Sharing Circle with Kelly Welch:

➡️ Central Library on Tuesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m.

➡️ Pioneer Park Library on Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m.

➡️ Grand River Stanley Park Library on Monday, July 22 at 7 p.m.

Register and learn more: https://kpl.events.mylibrary.digital/search?q=indigenous%20sharing%20circle

It’s time for a youth picnic! 🌼 We invite youth ages 14-18 to join us on Saturday, June 15, for a social and fun time at Victoria Park! Join us for a time filled with fun and connections. We’ll have lots of fun things to do, like interactive activities, scavenger hunt, snacks, refreshments and more!

For registration: https://tr.ee/1q8cxTwFxI

For more information and inquiries, contact Alaa Allouh- [email protected]��

This weekend we will be part of the Grand River Pride
downtown Pride Week Event! We would love to see you there.
https://grandriverpride.ca/events

Today we kicked off with our Family Drag Queen Story Time. This was an amazing event filled with music, dancing, snacks, stories and so much more! A huge thank you to all those involved in organizing this event, our community partners, who joined us and everyone who came out to celebrate with us!
Waterloo Regional Police Service, Kitchener Public Library, Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region

As we close out the month of May, we cannot let it go without introducing you to another one of our amazing volunteers!

This is Peter.
He started volunteering with us in 2020 and loved his time as a volunteer driver but is very happy with all his new roles.
His new assignments support his love of music and his desire to make a difference with children & youth.
Whether it’s singing along, playing the guitar or just being there where they need to talk- he loves sharing those moments with the children he works with.

Thank you, Peter – for going above and beyond to provide support to the children and families in our community!!! We couldn’t do this work without your help!!

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Volunteer with us – please email us at [email protected] or phone us at 519-576-0540
To read the full story on Peter – you can find it on our webpage: Volunteer Profiles | Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region (facswaterloo.org)

Are you there for kids in care? Tell us how! Share how you support children and youth in the child welfare system. Learn more about the campaign at oacas.org/forgetmenot.

Today is the 10th anniversary of ! Let’s bring renewed attention to the accomplishments and challenges of children/youth in care. Learn more at
oacas.org/forgetmenot

#ForgetMeNot The campaign is about sharing the stories of young people with experience in the child welfare system in Ontario, and reminding community, gover...

was created 10 years ago because of the tireless efforts of young
people in/from care. They wanted a day to be recognized for their contributions, strength, and
resilience. On May 14 let’s make sure they feel supported and know they are not forgotten.

The campaign was brought to life through the contributions of those with lived experience in the Ontario child welfare system, including the writing and reading of the Forget Me Not poem. Watch it here:

#ForgetMeNot The campaign is about sharing the stories of young people with experience in the child welfare system in Ontario, and reminding community, gover...

Red Dress Day is on May 5th (Sunday). A day that reminds us of the continued shortcomings that Indigenous People face.
In Canada, Indigenous women, girls & members of the 2SLGBTQQIA community face disproportionate amounts of violence. While Indigenous women account for less than 5% of the Canadian population, they make up 24% of female homicide victims.
https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/

Meet our Volunteer, Peter. He has made an outstanding difference in the life of the child he volunteers with as a Homework Support Volunteer. The child says that it is his favourite time of the week! This homework help supports the child close some vital learning gaps. Peter is a an outstanding volunteer!

Thank you, Peter – for going above and beyond to provide support to children and families in our community!!! We couldn’t do this work without your help!! If you would like to learn more about becoming a Homework Support Volunteer with us – please email us at [email protected] or phone us at 519-576-0540

To read the full story on Peter – you can find it on our webpage: https://www.facswaterloo.org/volunteer

Local queen & activist Kasha Czech will be hosting a family-friendly drag queen story time. A time for those young & young at heart to share in stories about love, and learn that although we are different, we are all worthy of rights, dignity and humanity.

Family Drag Queen Story Time Join us at the Family Centre and bring the whole family on this PD day to celebrate the start of Pride Month in Waterloo Region.

There is still space in Youth Under The Rainbow: Building Bridges starting on Saturday January 13th in partnership with Artshine-Arts4all! This is a FREE arts program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth (and allies) aged 8-12. You can register for a single session or for all six sessions! Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/youth-under-the-rainbow-building-bridges-tickets-774369880157

Meet our Resiliency Project Group Volunteers.

Say hello to the dynamic team of volunteers shaping the magic of the Integrated Artistic Production every Monday and Tuesday—Taras, Grace, Peter, Brad, and Skye.
This dedicated group brings a mixture of talents and creativity to the program.
The Integrated Artistic Production team is the heartbeat of our creative space, working collaboratively to bring diverse artistic visions to life.
From script development to stage design, musical composition to costume creation, this ensemble of volunteers breathes life into every facet of the production.
Their artistic transformation takes place in the heart of our community, transforming ordinary spaces into canvases of imagination and creativity at the family centre.

Thank you for going above and beyond to provide support to the children and families in our community!!! We couldn’t do this without your help!!

If you would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer with us – please email us at [email protected] or phone us today 519-576-0540
To read the full story – you can find it on our webpage:
https://www.facswaterloo.org/volunteer/volunteer-events