Summer Reading with Canadian Authors

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books. This month’s post was submitted by Elizabeth Fosbery Richardson, Children’s Programming and Public Services Assistant at the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch.

With summer fast approaching, why not take some time to indulge in some great new titles by Canadian authors available from the Ottawa Public Library?

One Giant Leap by Thao Lam

This wordless picture book is a great choice for adventure lovers and those with big imaginations. It perfectly captures every child who dreams of becoming an astronaut or an explorer every time they put on their snowsuit. Perfect for “reading” together.

Cranky Chicken series by Katherine Battersby

These early chapter books are a perfect choice for emerging readers. Watch adventures unfold between two unlikely friends – a cranky chicken and a cheerful worm. Each book features three hilarious stories as these friends learn to conquer their fears and expand their comfort zones. Grades 1-3.

Nguyen Kids series By Linda Trinh

The Nguyen siblings have just lost their beloved grandmother, but she’s left each of them something special, maybe even magical. The three siblings aren’t sure how to feel about things - they’re not like their cousins who have strong ties to their Vietnamese culture, but at the same time they feel different than their white friends at school. This new early chapter book series tells the story of each of the siblings and how they overcome difficulties using the gifts that their grandma has left them.  Grades 2-4.

Lost & Found by Mei Yu

When Mei learns she’s moving to Canada, she’s super excited. But that excitement turns to anxiety and fear when she arrives – new language, new kids and new foods. She turns to her art to help her communicate her feelings and solve problems. This graphic novel is a great choice for kids who love inspiring stories. Grades 1-4.

The Racc Pack by Stephanie Cooke

Meet the Bins – a family of racoons (and maybe an opossum), who live in the city of Toronto, scavenging neighbourhoods, never meeting a dumpster they couldn’t dive. When they come across a new store throwing away perfectly edible food, they hatch a plan so that no food is ever wasted again. This first book in a new series is ideal for grades 2-5 who love funny graphic novels.

Alterations by Ray Xu

Kevin is having a terrible week. He brought a century egg to school for lunch and now everyone is calling him Egg Boy. People notice him, and not always in a good way. Can Kevin learn to live up his own expectations for himself as the perfect Asian son and grandson while being true to himself? This graphic novel is perfect for fans of authors Jerry Craft or Kelly Yang. Grades 4 and up.

Mortified by Kristy Jackson

When Belinda, the shyest, most awkward girl in the school has dreams of starring in the school play, she turns to her best friend to put a confidence spell on her. Unfortunately, it seems the spell is more of a curse. Can Belinda overcome one disaster after another to be able to audition? This hilarious new novel is recommended for grades 4 and up.

Teen birthday party idea: Room Escape

My twins turned sixteen this year, and for the first time in a few years, they wanted something a little more than pizza and cake at our house. My whole family is a big fan of escape rooms, and since we’d had a great time at Room Escape in the past, we headed back!

How does it work?

Room Escape is in a shared building with Archery Games, so you can try either adventure while you’re there.

They have seven physical escape rooms (of varying levels of difficulty), and what we like about these specific ones is that they are more permanent and well-built than many of the other ones.

You have an hour to escape and figure out all the different puzzles in the room

When you arrive, you are first asked to wait in a holding area until your room is ready (it’s also a great photo op!). You are then brought into a small room where the rules of the escape room are explained to you. Then you’re introduced to the story you are going to be solving.

Once you are in, you have one hour to solve the room - there is a TV screen in the room that keeps time for you. You have a walkie-talkie to ask for unlimited clues, and you are also given the option of a clue hint sheet

My kids chose Outbreak, which had a 4/5 difficulty level. I was a bit nervous that without any adults in the room they would struggle, but they got out with time to spare (something I often haven’t been able to do!)

I’m also told this is one of the scarier rooms, but the teens said it wasn’t really that scary at all :) ( They also really appreciated the technology components to this room.)

The cost is $31/player and you don’t share the room with anyone other than the group you came with. If your kids are under 10 they will require an adult in the room with them, but there is no charge for that person.

You can easily book your session online through their website.

The staff

I even got to see them escaping the room through the front desk’s monitoring system! :)

The staff were amazing. They were friendly and engaging with the teens, and I particularly enjoyed that they gave me little updates on how they were doing while I was waiting in the front lounge area (they have lots of picnic tables to sit at and there is also a bar to go to - as long as there isn’t a private event happening).

From the mouth of the teens

« I had the wonderful chance to do this escape room with my friends for my birthday party. I love a challenge, and this escape room was excellent! The details were intricate, and the puzzles were original but not too hard. I loved the various details and types of puzzles, including many interactive puzzles. The instructions on how to complete the puzzles were clear, and the many moving elements made it feel like you were truly immersed in the story. Whether it was someone talking to you or something moving, it was extremely fun! »

« The escape room was a very fun group experience that I would love to do again. It was interactive and immersive. The sound effects of Bryan, our computer companion, were super cool, and we always had something to do. The puzzles were challenging but not impossible, and I really liked that the room had two levels because it made the experience more realistic. »

« I thought it was very immersive and had very cool set design.  »

Check Room Escape out!

Disclaimer: We were gifted passes to Room Escape, but all viewpoints are our own.

Learning to Rollerskate at Skate and Play

I can’t tell who is about to have more fun: myself, bathed in the nostalgia of quad roller skates and disco ball lighting, or my kids, age 12 and 7, about to start lessons for the first time.

We are at Skate and Play - formerly 4Wheelies, an indoor rollerskating rink, arcade, and (newly) restaurant/lounge in west Ottawa. The location is a good one (1101 Baxter Road), with lots of free parking; it’s right off the highway at Pinecrest.

If that wasn’t cool enough, The Exit Lounge, a sleek retro space splashed with teals and golds, sits adjacent to the rink, providing patrons with après-skate meals or just drinks at the bar. The day menu is family-friendly and has decent pricing; the night menu steps things up a bit from pizza and burgers and includes elevated dishes like salmon, lamb chops, and tomahawk steak. Good for a date night too, it seems!

During the shutdown of 2020, I was lucky enough to come by some quad roller skates for my family. We moved the furniture in our tiny living room and spent hours going back and forth between rooms. We also found underground parking garages with smooth concrete floors to frequent. 

I’ll say definitively: Skate & Play’s space is way better.

With lots of space to observe (either standing or seated on benches), parents can spread out and watch their kids at either end of the rink. Notably absent during lessons is the rocking music and flashing lights of their open skate times, which is probably for the best. The kids work hard in their hour, taking breaks when needed and being gently encouraged by the instructors. There is lots of one-on-one time for each kid. And the last ten minutes of class are dubbed ‘recess,’ where the kids can free-skate to music and practice the skills they learned in class.

If you’re not sure you want to commit to buying roller skates ahead of time (which run anywhere from $80-$300+), that’s ok - Skate & Play houses hundreds of pairs of skates of all sizes. Even my giant footed husband (size 13) fits into rental skates. Everyone under 12 must have a helmet at least, and most people bring elbow, knee, and wrist pads, too. During lessons there were a few minor falls; which are unavoidable when you’re learning new skills. I was glad I had purchased a set of pads on Amazon for each kid.

Overall, the six weeks of classes was a big win. My kids learned and practiced new skills and left the rink feeling empowered and excited for more. Both kids had an equally good time, despite the big difference in their ages. Activities like roller skating seem to even the playing field on age. We struggle to find activities that suit both a pre-teen and a kid, and this one hits it out of the park.

TL/DR:

Skate & Play, with its gorgeous hardwood rink, kind instructors, and varied amenities, is a great option for an afternoon of fun or a pack of lessons. If you’ve never skated before or you’re wobbly, lessons are the place to start.

Age range: all ages, including adults

Experience level: None needed, all experience levels welcome

Cost: $150 for 6 weeks - next round starts in September

Location: West Ottawa (address) - in the old Ottawa Citizen building behind Ikea. 

Class types: Beginner or Intermediate level for kids and adults

For parents: Free parking, lots of seats to hang out and watch your kid. No water fountain - bring a big water bottle.

High points: Free parking, lots of seating, multiple things to do if you or your kids get bored/tired easily.

Low points: no water fountains, no helmet or other equipment rental, no rollerblades allowed. Definite potential for injury but with the right equipment the risk decreases.

Contacts:

Skate & Play https://skate-play.com/

Exit Lounge  https://ottawaexitlounge.com/

Jen is a Mum of 4 and an Ottawa business owner living in the National Capital. She received a complimentary 6 week class pass, but all views are her own.

Chutes Coulonge Aerial Adventure Park

One aspect of the modern world that fascinates me is to see the laborious parts of our past become leisure in the present. For thousands of years, most people farmed to survive, and now, agro tourism has arisen. Chutes Coulonge is another example of this trend. Having supported the region with its waterfalls that transported the fruits of a booming logging industry, it is now the beautiful site of an aerial adventure park. I recently visited Chutes Coulonge to experience this scenic part of history. 

I got strapped in, and began heading to the river. We climbed down the ladder on the edge of the cliff, where I first saw the beautiful view of the rapids below and the mountains around. I would be seeing this canyon from all angles throughout the morning. My guide gave instructions on how to grab the zipline, and then use my glove to slow myself down near the end following a signal. Once I understood, it was time to go.

On my first run, I was able to feel the mist from the waterfall as I flew across the canyon, spending a few seconds appreciating my surroundings before looking ahead for my sign to stop. I put my glove down and smoothly arrived at the opposite mountain, where I was unhooked. The first of three zipline runs went smoothly. 

We then took a quick hike up and down the rugged terrain to get to the next zipline. After a few minutes, we arrived and I attached my harness. On my guide’s signal, I was released over the river, and again looked at the scenery around as I hurtled to the platform. After a few seconds, I landed where my first guide met me. 

It was now time for the via ferrata, but in order to get to the cliff face, we had to traverse the first zipline once more. At this point, I was getting comfortable with the hooking and unhooking, so this third run was the easiest yet. Now that we were done with ziplines, it was to maneuver the exposed Canadian shield above the river.

The way the via ferrata worked was simple. One of my two clips had to be attached to a hook at all times, slowly moving along the path by switching hooks. We slowly made our way along the side of the cliff, pausing at times to see the scenery around us. The via ferrata lasted around 20 minutes, offering a unique view not comparable to anything else.

After finishing the via ferrata and being back on land, I decided to check out the physical features that give the park its name- the waterfalls. On a wooden platform, I observed the magnificent waterfalls which fueled the rapids I had been seeing all day. Having been formed in the ice age, these waterfalls were the driving force of the local economy in the 19th century with log drives. 

Once I was out of my harness, we learned that people can also stay overnight at Chutes Coulonge. Although we would be heading back that same day, we decided to check out one of the yurts that can accommodate up to 6 visitors at a time. Inside, there were bunk beds, a fireplace, and other amenities. It has the perfect balance between modern comfort and access to nature for an overnight stay, particularly for large groups.

Finally, we checked out the logging museum which covered the history of how this site was used. From transporting wood, to attracting tourists, the Coulonge waterfalls have played a critical role in the region's history.. 

If you too want to see some great views, have an adrenaline rush, learn some history, and maybe even stay overnight, check out Chutes Coulonge park in Pontiac, Quebec. Via Ferrata Packages including zip lines are between $94-$134, while the kids adventure park is $44-$69. The yurts cost $160 per night, with up to 6 people staying and splitting the bill. For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free tickets to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own.

Teen Fun at an Ottawa Blackjacks Game

I am a fan of all sorts of sports. I always keep up with the NHL drafts and watched the Copa America earlier this summer. Because of this interest, I love watching games in person. 

When it comes to basketball, though, the nearest NBA games are in Toronto. Fortunately, there exists a Canadian league, the CEBL. Thanks to this, I recently got to see some more local talent at a game between the Ottawa Blackjacks and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Ottawa.

We arrived at Lansdowne Park in the evening, with restaurants booming with business and a vibrant atmosphere. After we passed through security and to our seats, we watched the Blackjacks warm up while music was playing. After a bit, the national anthem played, and the game began.

Like all basketball, it was fast-paced back and forth on the court, with the enthusiastic Ottawa crowd cheering whenever we got a point and jeering during penalties against us. You could especially feel the admiration of the crowd whenever an impressive play was made. The second period ended on a nailbiter, with Ottawa and Scarborough neck and neck in score. 

At halftime, I went to get some popcorn and soda before heading back to my seat. The game went on, and while the Blackjacks gradually lost the advantage, the crowd remained supportive and energetic. It was nice seeing all the capital spirit. 

While Ottawa unfortunately lost in a final score of 92-79, I still had a great time supporting a team from close to home. All in all, it was a great evening and a perfect experience for teens interested in sports from the Capital region. 

There will also be many more home games in the 2025 season starting in May of next year, with early bird season tickets available until August 16. For more information, click here. 

When it comes to basketball, though, the nearest NBA games are in Toronto. Fortunately, there exists a Canadian league, the CEBL. Thanks to this, I recently got to see some more local talent at a game between the Ottawa Blackjacks and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Ottawa.

We arrived at Lansdowne Park in the evening, with restaurants booming with business and a vibrant atmosphere. After we passed through security and to our seats, we watched the Blackjacks warm up while music was playing. After a bit, the national anthem played, and the game began.

Like all basketball, it was fast-paced back and forth on the court, with the enthusiastic Ottawa crowd cheering whenever we got a point and jeering during penalties against us. You could especially feel the admiration of the crowd whenever an impressive play was made. The second period ended on a nailbiter, with Ottawa and Scarborough neck and neck in score. 

At halftime, I went to get some popcorn and soda before heading back to my seat. The game went on, and while the Blackjacks gradually lost the advantage, the crowd remained supportive and energetic. It was nice seeing all the capital spirit. 

While Ottawa unfortunately lost in a final score of 92-79, I still had a great time supporting a team from close to home. All in all, it was a great evening and a perfect experience for teens interested in sports from the Capital region. 

There will also be many more home games in the 2025 season starting in May of next year, with early bird season tickets available until August 16. For more information, click here. 

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free toclets to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own.