Upper Canada Village invites schools to take part in an immersive learning experience that brings stories of resilience, heritage, and achievements of Black Canadians to life.
For over 400 years, Black people have shaped Canadian history. By the 1860s, nearly 200 Black and bi-racial residents lived along the St. Lawrence River, each with unique stories, including farmers, soldiers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and inventors. Some arrived via the Underground Railroad; others were descendants of early settlers. Their contributions helped define the region we know today.
The Black History Education Program, offered weekdays February 3 to 27, 2026 engages students in through interactive activities, primary source research, and games. Participants uncover untold stories of 19th-century Black community members and explore their legacies during a guided tour of the new Black History Exhibit. The program is adaptable based on participant ages but is particularly Ontario curriculum-aligned for Grades 7, 8, and 10.
This 3-hour program is available for groups of 20 to 60 students. Families can’t attend individually, but if you’re an educator or part of a parent council, consider championing this opportunity for your school!
Keep your eyes peeled! 👀 Starting tomorrow, we’re sending Daily Event Drops & Giveaways straight to you — plus festive extras like coloring pages and life hacks to keep the magic alive. @ottawaparents
Monday, December 1 - First Day of our Annual Holiday Countdown!
Family Storytime (Series) at 9:30am 📍OPL Rockcliffe
Les lundis des tout-petits - French story time with Luana (Series) at 10 am 📍1 Elgin Street Ottawa
Toi, Moi et la Mère l'Oie - Weekly Series at 10 am 📍30 Rosemount Avenue
Toddlertime (Series) 19-35 months at 10:00am 📍OPL Cumberland
Family Storytime (Series) at 10:15am 📍OPL Sunnyside
Family Storytime (Series) Multiple times 📍Multiple OPL Locations - OPL St-Laurent, OPL Greenboro, OPL Gower
Toddlertime (Series) 19-35 months at 10:30am 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Babytime | Bébés à la biblio (Series) 0-18months at 10:30am 📍OPL Main
Babytime (Series) newborn to 18months at 11:30am 📍OPL Greenboro
World AIDS Day 2025 at 12pm 📍1 Elgin Street Ottawa
EarlyON Baby Playgroup (Series) 0-12 months at 1:30pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Teen Study Group | Groupe d'étude pour ados (Series) at 3:00pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Cercle de Lecture (en français seulement) (Series) at 4:00pm 📍OPL Alta Vista
Chess Club / Club d'échecs (Series) at 6:00pm 📍OPL Greenboro
Starry Night Storytime (Series) at 6:30pm 📍Multiple OPL Locations - OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Collage Club (Teens & Adults Series) at 6:00pm 📍OPL Rideau
Homework Help / Club de devoirs (Series) at 6:30pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Tuesday, December 2
Toddler Tuesdays at 10am 📍1 Elgin Street Ottawa
Tout-petits à la biblio (Series) 19 à 36 mois at 10am 📍OPL Cumberland
Homeschool Hangout at 10am 📍OPL Greely
Family Storytime (Series) at 10:30am 📍Multiple OPL Locations
Tuesday Morning Toddlertime & Stay and Play (Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Parenting in Ottawa Drop-in (Series) at 1:00pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Video Game Drop-In for Teens at 3:00pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Teen Tuesdays | Les mardis ados (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL St-Laurent
Chess Club D'échecs (Family (7+) - Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL BlackBurn Hamlet
Reading Circle - Ages 7-12 - English Only (Series) at 4:00pm 📍OPL Alta Vista
Afternoon Storytime (Series) at 4:00pm 📍OPL Cumberland
Homework Help | Aide aux devoirs (Child - Series) Multiple Times 📍Multiple OPL Locations - OPL Elmvale Acres, OPL Orléans, OPL BlackBurn Hamlet
Reading Buddies (5-10yo - Series) at 5pm and at 5:30pm📍OPL Rosemount
Board Games & Brain Teasers (Family - Series) at 5:30pm📍OPL Centennial
Wednesday, December 3
Parent and Tot Drop In at 9:30am 📍2 Stonehaven Drive
Family Storytime (Series) at 10:15am & at 10:30am 📍Multiple OPL Locations
Parenting in Ottawa Drop-in (Series) at 1:00pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook
Sensory Storytime (Series) at 1:30pm 📍OPL Richmond
Preschool Show & Tell (Series) at 2:00pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
Crafternoon / Brin d’brico (Series) at 4:00pm 📍OPL Sunnyside
Homework Help / Club de devoirs (6-12yo) at 5:00pm 📍OPL St-Laurent, OPL Carlingwood at 5:30pm
Join the club and get cool merch
Become a supporter and receive an exclusive Ottawa Parents T-Shirt, early access to giveaways, and special perks made just for our community.
Thursday, December 4
In-person Playgroup (0-6yo) at 9:30am 📍Centrepointe Child Care Services
Family Storytime / Contes en famille (kids - Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Rosemount
Youth Chess Club (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL Orléans
Teen Chess Club (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Cumberland
STEM Storytime (Series) at 4pm 📍OPL Greenboro
Reading Buddies (grades 1-4 - Series) at 4:15pm 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Reading Buddies (grades 1-4 - Series) at 5:15pm 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Homework Help/Aide aux devoirs (Series) at 6pm 📍OPL Cumberland
Free Thursday Nights 5-8pm📍the National Gallery of Canada
Friday, December 5
Play Days (Series) at 10:30am 📍OPL Nepean Centrepointe
Bilingual Babytime and Stay & Play (Series) at 11:15am 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson
LEGO Party - Fête en blocs at 3:45pm 📍OPL Vanier
Weekend Overview, December 5-7
Other helpful links
❄️Daily Winter Activities❄️
Rideau Hall Rink - Public Skating November 23, 2025 to March 29, 2026 (weather depending)
Weekdays: 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Weekends: 1:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Christmas on Taffy Lane 📍Taffy Lane
4-7pm📍Sparks Street
5-10pm📍Lansdowne Park
Santa in Carlingwood! until December 24th 10:30am 📍Carlingwood Shopping Centre
Daily Light Show at 5:30pm & 7:30pm📍George Street Plaza
Visit Canada’s Parliament
Parliament: The Immersive Experience
Explore the main Parliament Building, also called Centre Block, in this innovative experience that includes an exhibition and a 360° multimedia show. Tickets are free of charge. The experience lasts approximately 45mins
Guided Tours of the Senate
Visit the Senate of Canada Building – Ottawa’s former train station – to learn about the people, work and history of Parliament’s upper chamber.
Length of tour: 30 minutes
Location: 2 Rideau Street
Security notes: Please arrive 25 minutes before your tour time to allow for security screening
Guided Tours of the House of Commons
Discover the history, roles and architecture of the House of Commons on a tour of Parliament's historic West Block.
Length of tour: 40 minutes
Location: Western side of Parliament Hill (111 Wellington Street)
Security notes: When booking their tickets, visitors must provide their full names and dates of birth. All visitors aged 16 and over must also present a valid piece of government-issued photo ID upon arrival at West Block. View the Library of Parliament’s privacy policy. Please arrive 45 minutes before your tour time to allow for registration and screening.
To view the current schedule and filter events by age, date, or specific branch location, visit the official OPL Programs and Events page:
Mothercraft Ottawa frequently posts wonderful, useful free events.
Check them out here for ongoing opportunities: Mothercraft Ottawa Free Events Link
🎅 Ho Ho Hold Up!
Santa Needs Your Wish List!
Download FREE Letter Template below
Print our fun letter PDF and grab your crayons! Canada Post's postal elves are waiting for mail addressed to North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada. Don't forget: NO stamp is required for Canadian letters!
It's Easy: Download ➡️ Write ➡️ Send!
Spend some quality time with your kid(s)—write the letter together, make jokes, dream, and laugh! This tradition is a wonderful way to connect.
To make sure your child receives a personalized reply from Santa, here are the two most important details:
❄️ Santa's Address: Santa Claus North Pole H0H 0H0 Canada
❄️The Deadline: Please mail your letter no later than December 8 to guarantee that Santa's postal elves have enough time to write back before the holidays!
If you’d like to sponsor one of our upcoming emails or share your family-friendly event, feel free to reach out - we’d love to hear from you - [email protected]
🎁 Bonus Gift Just for You!
Between all the fun festivals, splash pad stops, and park playdates... why not wind down with something creative at home? 🖍️
We’re giving you FREE printable coloring pages - designed by local author Basilia - perfect for rainy days, road trips, or quiet time between summer adventures, all coloring levels.
👉 Click here to download and let the coloring fun begin!