by Karina Hunter

Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle distributes ice cubentaining tiny pink babies.

Wednesday evening, the Ontario Early Years Center (OEYC) Best Start Hub had a full house welcoming Mom’s and Mom’s-to-be accompanied by family and friends for their annual Community Baby Shower. Prenatal Programmer Reene Warren introduced herself, giving a brief explanation of Baby’s Beginnings the center’s weekly drop-in for expecting parents and parents and caregivers of babies (up to 36 months) before moving on to some fun.   

This great gift basket was won by a lucky Mom to be.

Warren and Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle led the group of nearly 30 participants in some baby themed games including a group favourite in which the programmers gave attendees ice cubes which held tiny plastic babies waiting to melt free; the first person to discover their plastic baby floating freely in their drink had to shout “My water broke!” this game was definitely an ‘ice breaker’ the entire group was chuckling and having been put at ease.  

Also introduced during the evening was Public Health Nurse Shirley Saasto-Stopyra who works in partnership with the centre attending Baby’s Beginnings once a month to answer questions, discuss health and safety issues and more.   

Snacks and refreshments were enjoyed as well as a beautiful cake while the guests looked over the wealth of information available to them at the OEYC before Sagle and Warren wrapped up the party drawing several attendance prizes and handing out large gift bags to each of the Moms.  The gift bags were stuffed full with gifts for Mom and baby including books; a onesie, receiving blanket, or photo pillow; an organizer for pertinent info immunization records, photos and more; a cassette with fun baby music; and many more new parent “must have’s”.

Thursday Sagle partnered with a certified “Car Seat Safety Team” from Marathon offering free care seat inspections at the Manitouwadge Fire Hall. This is always a very popular program and once again the day appointments were fully booked.  The team adjusted seats and taught people how to properly install their infant and child car seats themselves as well as offering safety tips about the seats.  Later in the evening Sagle returned to the Fire Hall for the Manitouwadge Volunteer Firefighters Open House where, representing the Ontario Early Years Best Start Hub, she had a craft table set
up at which children enjoyed a variety of crafts some doing so while parents
looked over information offered by different organizations at the open house; others enjoying the crafts with their caregivers.

In addition to the special programs and events such as these offered to families with children of all ages by the OEYC Best Start Hub, or The Family Place as it is more commonly known, children and caregivers are welcomed 5 days a week at their morning drop-ins. Regular drop-ins are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10-12; Wednesdays from 10-12 French speaking children and caregivers are invited to Cercle des Amis and as mentioned above, Fridays from 10-12 are Baby’s Beginnings.   

Submitted to The Echo 08.10.09

Below is the version sent to the Chronicle Journal.

Gift bags given to each of the Moms.

by Karina Hunter

Wednesday, October 7^th Manitouwadge mothers and mothers-to-be were welcomed by staff of the Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) Best Start Hub to their Annual Community Baby Shower.  Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle and Prenatal Programmer Reene Warren welcomed those in attendance, speaking in length about the programs the centre offers and about their partnerships with District Health Nurse Shirley Saasto-Sapyro who visits the centre every third Friday to speak on special topics, answer questions regarding pregnancy and parenting baby’s 36 months and under and also to weigh those babies whose parents so request.

 Games were played putting the mom’s and their guests at ease with such baby shower favourites as “My water broke!” where ice cubes containing tiny pink babies were handed out by Sagle and Warren for the attendees drinks, while other games were played they were too keep a watchful eye on the ice cubes yelling “My water broke!” when the frozen babies melted free to win.  The gift bags were stuffed full with gifts for Mom and baby including books; a onesie, receiving blanket, or photo pillow; an organizer for pertinent info, immunization records, photos and more; a cassette with musical selections for baby; and many more new parent “must have’s”. The evening was wrapped up with snacks, refreshments and a cake enjoyed by the moms and the family and friends who had accompanied them.  

Plenty of healthy snacks to enjoy.