Everything Family
Happy 2025 everyone. This year started with a bang for us at Okanagan Family Magazine. Our Summer Camps section exploded. There’s tons of camps to check out in our Summer Camps at a Glance section on pages 22-23. If you’re looking for something fun for your kids to do, check it out. From archery to … Read More “Notes from the Editor” »
By Jody Schmuland • AltaVie Health Becoming a parent is one of life’s most transformative experiences. From the moment you know you are expecting, your world begins to shift. Your body changes, your priorities change, and you start making choices not just for yourself, but for your growing family. Amid the excitement (and exhaustion), one … Read More “Why Perinatal and Pediatric Care Matters: What Every Young Parent Should Know” »
By Rodney Goodchild • Vernon Community Arts Centre Creativity lives in all of us. Whether you’re a finger-painting toddler, a busy parent, or a grandparent with stories to tell, making art isn’t about being ‘good’ at it–it’s about what happens when we give ourselves permission to explore, express, and connect. Visual art provides an outlet … Read More “The Joy of Making: How Visual Art Benefits the Whole Family” »
By Ashley Hyndman, M.C. • Mamahood Counselling Motherhood is beautiful, fulfilling, and life-changing. But it can also be exhausting, relentless, and overwhelming. Some days, it feels like you’re running on fumes–pulled in a hundred directions with nothing left to give. If you’ve ever found yourself snapping at your kids because they spilled a cup of … Read More “When Motherhood Feels Like Too Much: Signs of Burnout and How to Break Free” »
By Mercedes Korngut • Small Bits of Happiness Teenagers. A word that might bring forth feelings and thoughts of stress, growing pains, and mood swings. As a teen myself I know firsthand thatas much as we need to find ourselves, you as parents are so important in guiding us, as well as showing us your … Read More “Parenting Teens and Building Bonds” »
By Audree McIvor, RCC/CCC • Momentous Counselling Do words like picky eater, diet, weight gain, body image, or self-esteem bring up memories of your own childhood or your relationship with your parents? For many of us, these words carry emotional weight–feelings we may not even realize we’re holding onto. And without meaning to, those lingering … Read More “How Body Image Baggage and Shame Affects the Way We Feed Our Kids” »
By Sydney MacKay, BSN • Kids Physio Group – Kelowna As parents and caregivers, we celebrate every little milestone–the first roll, the first steps, the first jump off the couch. But when movement doesn’t come easily, pediatric physiotherapy steps in to help. It’s more than just therapy–it’s a partnership between families and skilled professionals who … Read More “Make Movement Fun, Empowering, and Meaningful” »
BGC Okanagan • Summer excitement starts here! From STEM and creative crafts to outdoor adventures, make this summer unforgettable for your child with BGC Okanagan programs. Visit www.bgco.ca. Bridlewood Riding Centre • Bridlewood Riding Centre’s Summer Camps for Kids provide riding lessons, horse care, and horsemanship skills in a safe, fun environment. Suitable for beginner … Read More “SUMMER CAMPS AT A GLANCE” »
By Risti Lesperance • Regional Parks Services We acknowledge our presence on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx/ Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial. The Regional Parks system encompasses the area from Peachland to West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country and no matter where you live within the … Read More “Species of sntsk‘il’ntn Black Mountain Regional Park” »
By Ashley Machum • Okanagan Regional Library School is almost out! Students have worked all school year to learn and master new skills. The summer break can lead to learning loss also known as the summer slide. This summer slide is not to be confused with a fun ride. This is what happens when learning … Read More “Great Summer Reads” »
By Kristi Patton • BGC Okanagan When 8-year-old Oaklen comes home from his BGC Okanagan Recreation Program, he doesn’t just say it was “good” or “fine”. According to his mom Sara, he bursts through the door and declares: “it’s awesome and we did a lot of stuff that I really like and had never done!”. … Read More “Adventure, Confidence and Connection: Enrich Your Family Life” »
By Louise Abbott • The Kelowna and District Society for People In Motion Since its inception in 1987, People In Motion (PIM) Kelowna has been a beacon of inclusivity, providing adaptive recreational opportunities for individuals with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. Through a diverse array of programs and services, PIM fosters independence, community engagement, and … Read More “Empowering Lives Through Inclusive Recreation and Adventure” »
By Angela Roy, Educational Program Coordinator • Rotary Centre for the Arts Did you know there’s a place in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District where creativity, family connection, and community come alive every single day? It’s the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA), and whether you’re 5 or 75, you can find activities for … Read More “Creative Connections With Art” »
By Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. • Psych Central www.psychcentral.com If you are emerging from a period of mental distress, the most important thing to remember is that you are the key person on the treatment team.Although other people can give you advice, encouragement, recommendations and even love, the ultimate person in charge of helping you get … Read More “6 Ways to Recover Your Mental Health” »