Painting Calligraphy with Light

Light Calligraphy by French Artist Julien Breton

Check out the amazing work of this artist at Emel Magazine

Host a workshop!

Hands On Heritage is now in its second year of activities. We have fun exploring our local heritage from Multicultural perspectives.

Here are some of the workshops conducted so far:

Ibn al Haytham, Medieval Egypt & the Science of Light

Abbas Ibn Firnas: Aviation pioneer in Medieval Spain

American Sign Language for kids

Introduction to Chinese & Muslims in China


Special Charity Entrepeneurs Day Camp:

Campers had great fun creating social awareness by producing a radio show, making gifts for their neighbours, scrapbooking, and inventing products for charity fundraisers.

If your school or community group is interested in hosting any of our elementary level heritage programs, from a faith-based or non-denominational approach, give us a shout at HandsOnHeritage@Gmail.com

Historic Quebec teaches us so much about Ontario!

.....The geography, the history, the language.

As we careered down steep, narrow, icy roads in a minivan, strolled through colourful 17th century streets named after saints and kings and ordered double doubles in French, our trip to Quebec city taught us so much about a much flatter, newer, more Anglophone- no- more Allophone Toronto.



We were buzzing on a Francophone high. Even our little one worked up the courage to speak French. After one restaurant meal, she returned triumphantly to the family, waving a styrofoam container. 'Je voudrais des boites' had been her brave request to the lady at the counter for a couple of takeout boxes for leftovers. Now how was I to know that a disposable cup was un verre jetable not une coupe a papier much to the bewilderment of the waitress at the breakfast place?



It takes time to get used to the idea of winter here. The constant windchill which I guess blows in from the St Lawrence river gives a new meaning to 'it's cold out.' I now understand why the most successful settlers of New France were those who could learn from their aboriginal hosts and survive the winter. They even have an ice hotel here: for fun!



We snow scared Torontonians simply do not have the same winter smarts. Take the sidewalks for example. Only out-of-province tourists use the sidewalks here during the spring thaw. Locals walk merrily by on the asphalt and you watch helplessly from behind the snow dunes as you sink into ankle deep puddles and rivulets. Hey even their driveways are snowproofed. White tarp like tents offer protection against the laughable idea of actually having to shovel out front. Back sore Torontonians: watch and learn.



But do you know what really sealed our newfound identity as - not Torontonians but- Ontarians? The squeejee kid in Montreal who, after briskly cleaning our van windscreen at the traffic lights while we sat there avoiding eye contact, calls out to my husband "Go back to Ontaareeo man!"

Host a Workshop!

We have wrapped up our Armadale workshops for the Spring 2010 season.

If your group is interested in hosting any of our Science or Language Heritage workshops at your location or if you would like to order an educational kit for your child, feel free to contact us:

handsonheritage@gmail.com

Sign language workshop testimonial
"Thank you so much for organising this...the girls came home telling their siblings all about it, teaching them the alphabet and having short conversations in sign language! As a parent I really enjoyed myself, the story was entertaining and the presentations were informative. The workshop was an overall eye opener for me..."

L.Jose, mother attending sign language workshop.

June 12th: Sign Language for Kids!

Sign Language for kids

Saturday June 12th 2010 12:45-2:15 pm (new extended time!)

Armadale Community Centre, Denison St, Markham, On

For ages 7 and up

Non denominational

Join us for a fun filled session introducing ASL (American Sign Language) to kids.

We'll act out scenarios and play games that will allow kids to appreciate this awesome language.

Learning to communicate in a new language opens up a child's eyes and ears to thinking about the world in a new way.

Kids had a great time at our Introduction to Chinese workshop, now we hope to give your child a hands down, hands on experience with ASL!

Fee: $15 per child.

Payment Deadline: Sunday May 30th 2010

We need to confirm your child's enrollment by receiving payment by this date: insufficient enrollment means the workshop will have to be cancelled.

Refund Policy: If we cancel, you receive a full refund. If you cancel after May 30th, sorry we cannot provide a refund, due to cost issues.

Contact HandsOnHeritage@Gmail.com to receive further workshop and payment info.

May 8th: Chinese for kids!

Chinese with a Muslim accent

Get introduced to the cool languages of Mandarin and Cantonese through games and art. Learn about Muslims in China. Speak to your Chinese neighbours. Impress your friends!
Saturday May 8th 1-2 pm, 2010
Armadale Community Centre, Markham, Ontario

For boys and girls ages 7 and up
Cost: $15 First come , first served.

Want to try your hand at reading Chinese?

Try this Chinese Pictogram Game

and this one that has you match the word with the picture it originally represented.

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