FCC Play groups are a great way to meet other families who have adopted from China and the kids, of course, have a wonderful time. If you have already started a play group and wish it to be listed here, please contact us.

In the future, we'd like to offer information about China-related activities that could be used in play groups or at home -- games, crafts, stories, etc. So, if you know of any resources or web sites that could help, feel free to contact us!

The Ottawa-Carleton Area Family Playgroup is held on a quarterly basis from 10:00 am to noon at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church, 225 McClelland Avenue, Nepean. Pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact Cathy Murphy or Susan Christie.

The Peterborough Area Playgroup: Interested families meet at KIDSPOT (1650 Chemong Rd.) on the third Saturday of the even numbered months, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For further information, please contact Catherine Byrne.

In the Beamsville area, families meet bi-monthly with periodic special events. Call Theresa Doucette for more information at (905) 563-8764.

The Windsor/Essex Family Crossings play group is held on the last Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to noon at the Parkwood Temple, EC Row and Central, Windsor. For more information, please contact Janet Wright.

Barrie Playgroup: Families meet monthly on the first Sunday of the Month at 1:30 to 4:00 at Zehr's Meeting Room on Bayfield Street. Chinese crafts and cultural information is shared. Location and dates may change in warmer months to incorporate summer picnics and pool parties. Call Sharon at 705-726-3989 or Janet at 705-728-7698 or e-mail us for more information. Please call or email to confirm attendance.

PLAYING IN THE GTA

The following sets out some of the regular playgroups that are available in the GTA. If you have a playgroup that you would like to advertise here, please send the details to Cindy Boates.

West End
A number of moms and dads from Toronto and the west end (Mississauga/Oakville/Burlington) have been meeting on a weekly basis at the Bounce "N" Play Indoor Playground in Mississauga on Wednesday mornings. The facility opens at 9:30 am and is open until 3:30 pm. Families tend to arrive after 10:00 am. The cost is $5.00 per child.
Location: 3250 Ridgeway Drive, Unit #2, 905-820-2171 (Dundas and Winston Churchill area), www.bouncenplay.ca.
There is a giant bounce castle, a large slide, smaller slides, play kitchens, ball pits, riding cars/motorcycles, toddler toys and small trampolines. The facility is great for babies/toddlers and for older children as well (caters to children ages 1-10). There is also a large kitchen area so you can bring your own snacks and refreshments. High chairs are also available.
E-mail Elaine Bellevue for additional information.

Red Thread Playgroup - West Burlington
The Red Thread Playgroup meets the third Saturday of each month from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Aldershot Early Years Centre (formerly Kids Count) in West Burlington near Ikea on Plains Road. The address is 645 Plains Rd. East. The Red Thread Playgroup is a playgroup for all families within the community who have adopted children from Asian countries. Contact person is Lynn Mighton and she can be reached at 905-634-0488 or by e-mail.

West End - Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville
Our families come from Toronto, Mississauga, and Oakville and there is no particular agency affiliation to our group. The children's ages range from about 1 to 5. We meet every second Friday. For more information and to be added to our e-mail reminder, please e-mail Becky Jenkins.

York Region Playgroup
The York Region Playgroup meets the first (or second) Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. until noon at Crescentbrook Farms Child Care Centre at 95 Allaura Blvd. in Aurora. Crescentbrook Farms is an old farmhouse situated on the corner of Allaura Blvd. and Edward Street.
There is a full kitchen at the centre and coffee and tea are available and included in your fee. There are also two bathrooms, a craft room and several play areas. The cost is $2.00 per family. Please remember to sign in when you arrive.
Families at every stage of the adoption process are welcome. Play dates for 2004/2005 are as follows: November 6, December 4, *January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7 and June 4. (*Note: This day is the SECOND Saturday of the month.) Occasionally these dates change.
If you have any other questions or need to confirm the dates, please check with Darlene Catton at (905) 836-6776 or by e-mail.

Barrie - Panda Bear Club
Barrie's Panda Bear Club playgroup meets on the first Sunday of each month from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. upstairs in the Community Room at Zehrs on Bayfield Street. Cost is $3.00/child to cover craft supplies and light refreshments. Families in all stages of the adoption process are welcome! Please bring a toy or two for your child to play with and share with others.
For further details or to be added to the e-mail reminder list, contact Janet Marvin.

Panda Circle - Northern York Region
This new playgroup meets monthly (except in December. For details on upcoming events and dates, please contact Lori Fitzgerald or Caren Norman.

Toronto East / Durham West Playgroup
Come out to the MegaFun 4 Kids Indoor Playground, from 9:45 until 11:15 a.m., on the following Saturday mornings: Nov. 6, Dec. 4, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, Mar. 5, Apr. 2, May 7 (2004/2005). Check out website for playground info and map:
MegaFun 4 Kids Indoor Playground
(near 401 & Port Union Road)
91 Rylander Blvd., Unit 1000 A,
Scarborough, ON M1B 5M5
Please contact FCC parent Catherine Byrne if further information is needed. (P.S. be sure to wear socks)

West End Toronto/Mississauga Area Playgroup for Families with Children from China. Every third and fourth Sunday afternoon of the month. Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Location: Family Resource Centre attached to L.A.M.P. (Lakeshore Area Multi Service Project), 185 Fifth St, Toronto. Directions to L.A.M.P. are Gardiner Expressway to Islington South Exit. Take Islington south to Lakeshore Boulevard. Turn left at Lakeshore Blvd. Go 2 blocks east to 5th street. Turn left (north) onto 5th street one block to Birmingham and 5th, which is where you will find L.A.M.P. The Family Resource Centre is north of the main L.A.M.P. entrance on the 5th street side of the building (in the newly renovated part), buzz to get in. For more information and to let us know if you are coming, call Kris (416) 251-1591 or May (416) 252-0842.

The Mississauga - Oakville - West Toronto drop-in playgroup meets meets alternate Fridays in Mississauga at the Small Kingdom indoor playplace. Cost is $6 per child. Peak attendance is 11-2 pm. Location: 2642 Liruma Rd, south of Dundas, between Winston Churchill and Erin Mills Pkway. Climbers, slides, toy cars, play toys, etc. For more info, please contact Laurie Takayesu.