Ice Fishing Village

The old port of montreal has a fun, different family activity this year: ice fishing!
Weather permitting they are open from Jan. 3, 2014 to March 31, 2014.  Everything that you need can be rented on site..  You can even purchase your fishing license there (which is mandatory).  They are open everyday.

Where: Situated at the marina of the Montreal Yacht Club, Clock Tower Quay

Hours:

•  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday : 10am to 6pm
• Thursday : 10am to 8pm
• Friday : 10 am to 9pm
• Saturday: 7am to 9pm
• Sunday : 7am to 8pm

Price:

• Adult Access: $12
• Child Access (under 16): $6
• Tip-up rental (2): $7
• Temporary shelter rental (1 to 4 people): $35
• Permanent shelter rental (5 to 12 people): $75
• Jigging rod rental: 7$ (lure not included)
• Sale of minnows: $6/dozen
• Sale of lures: retail price
• Sale of fishing licence: according to Ministère des Ressources Naturelles (fishing licence is mandatory)

website: http://www.villagepecheblanche.com/?lang=en

Family Skate Day Pointe-Claire

Now that the weather has given us a bit of a break it's time to head out and actually enjoy the winter season! The city of Pointe-Claire has organized a family skating day at Hermitage Park.  The event takes place from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm and should be a fun, free activity for the whole family.  Two rinks will be open  with animated games as well as inflatable games and best of all hot chocolate!

• Date: Saturday, February 1st
• Time: 12pm - 4pm
• Cost: free!
• Where: Hermitage Park, 400 Hermitage, Pointe-Claire

more info: http://www.ville.pointe-claire.qc.ca/en/calendar-of-events-sports-and-leisure/family-skate-day.html

La Fete des Neiges

It is now mid-January and if you aren't already enjoying winter activities with your kids now is the perfect time to start.  La fete des Neiges is starting tomorrow at Parc Jean Drapeau and will run for 4 weekends. This is a fun festival that kids (and adults) of all ages will enjoy.  There are activities such as sledding and skating that are free and other activites such as tubing and dog sledding which do have a fee.  More information is available on the site as prices do vary.  Lots of fun can be had even without paying anything though as entrance to the park is free.  Make sure to bring your skates or sleds (or rent them there) A new thing this year is that it has extended into the evening with outdoor concerts and nightime skating among other activities.  Take advantage of the season!

 http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/events/fete-des-neiges-de-montreal/

Free Swim

Swimming is a great, cheap activity to do with kids.  I often bring my children to the community pool and one of the best things is that it's free!  Most communities have a pool you can use that is either free or very affordable!  In the summer it's easy to spot them but in winter there are many indoor pools that are equally as accessible!  They often provide life jackets for the new swimmers and sometimes even some pool toys.  To find the pools in your area simply log onto your city's website and look under sports and recreation.
The Montreal on the Cheap blog has also made a nice list of many pools in montreal: http://www.montrealonthecheap.com/2013/08/montreal-public-swimming-2013-season/

Make sure to call ahead to know when the family free swim hours are and if there are any specific rules like required bathing caps.  And also, the bonus of bringing your kids swimming is that usually bedtime that evening is very easy as it knocks them out! :)

Fireworks in December!

Telus is sponsoring Fire on Ice : Free fireworks at the Old Port every Saturday between December 4 and January 8.  The great thing about these fireworks is the time:  the show is on at 8.  This means that I can actually bring my small kids without worrying that they will be cranky from missing their bedtime.  The fireworks at 10 in the summer was a little too late for them.

Where:  Old Port of Montreal

When: Saturdays:
                 December 4, 11,  18, 25 at 8 pm
                 December 31 at midnight
                 January 8 at 8 pm

Website: http://www.quaysoftheoldport.com/telus-fire-on-ice.html