But what about the children? It’s a question posed by Anna Boltenko, North Vancouver resident and co-founder of the Wonder Wonders Foundation, as she prepares to launch a new North Shore festival aimed at the younger generation.
Penned for Sunday, Sept. 15, at The Shipyards, the inaugural North Shore Kids Fest is a day-long event featuring and catered to those aged 12 and under.
The community-focused festival, set to feature live entertainment alongside food offerings, workshops and stalls, was an idea borne by Boltenko and fellow co-founder Anna Sharonova after noticing a gap in the current events scene.
North Vancouver has the CityFest aimed at teenagers, and children's activities at other community events, but the support and entertainment for the youngest generation was lacking, she said.
The driving force of the event is to connect children and parents with opportunities that may be otherwise unavailable to them, or they may not yet be aware of, said Boltenko. What’s on offer spans anything from hobbies and after-school activities, like sports clubs, dance schools or arts classes, to programs that aid underprivileged children or daycare offerings for younger children.
“Essentially the event is an opportunity for children to try and experience things for the first time, different opportunities that local programs can offer, and then choose from there what they want to do,” she said.
“Maybe a kid has his heart set on hockey, but he comes along to the festival and winds up being interested in pottery classes.”
For those who want to come along to simply while away a September afternoon, there is much going on in the way of entertainment. Things will kick off at noon with a 10-year-old DJ, who will prep the stage for the ballet dancers, singers, performance masterclasses and fashion shows penned for the stage until the festival’s end at 5 p.m.
There will be a parade for “princes and princesses,” an educational showcase from local firefighters, and even yoga classes for kids, said Boltenko.
“The festival is a great way to showcase the work of our local youth, to present the talented kids on the stage and their achievements, and to connect them with the public.”
Being the inaugural event, there are elements to the festival that may be reshaped to suit the community better over time, said Boltenko. Next year, for example, she plans to host the festival at the beginning of the summer, rather than at its close, so organizations can showcase their upcoming seasonal programs and events.
Alongside providing entertainment and inspiration for both parents and their children, Boltenko said she hopes the festival will offer a sense of hope for those who may feel lost or who are struggling.
“There is a lot of research showing that, in Canada, kids are suffering. The rates of mental health issues, and even the suicide rates, are worryingly high between the ages of eight to 10,” she said.
Addressing the challenges young children face requires the involvement of everyone in the community, she added.
“The festival is an opportunity for us to come together, not just as neighbours but as a collective determined to create a safer, more supportive environment for our kids,” she said.
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
