Welcome to Family Place

We are so pleased to be able to provide parents and caregivers with a wonderful array of family-centred programs and services throughout Cape Breton Island.

We are able to do so because of the great support we receive from the Public Health Agency of Canada through the Community Action for Prenatal and Child Health Program..

Extending our reach to even more communities is possible because of additional support we receive from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, Nova Scotia Health, and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Because Family Place continues to grow and develop, and because parents, grandparents, and other child care providers continue to let us know what kinds of supports, programs, and resources will best meet their needs, our programs are ever-changing.

We are now able to provide this information to you in an online format. Please check out our programming by visiting the county page that corresponds with where you live.  Our calendar can be found under the "events" section within each county.

All programs are not active at the same time, and all are not available in all areas.  Participants and other agency staff are encouraged to call their local office to discuss additional program needs and interests.

Please consider this your personal invitation to browse, call, and/or drop into one of our locations to meet us and share some of your family's time with Family Place.

JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon,

Executive Director

Upcoming Events

Cape Breton Family Place Calendar

Click on a date to display the event details for the day below the calendar.

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Check Out Family Resource Programs Across Nova Scotia

By JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon | November 21, 2022

Family Place is part of a large network of Family Resource programs operating across Canada.  We are excited to share with you a new website that showcases our wonderful companion programs across the province.  Take a few moments and check out our neighbours on mainland Nova Scotia.  See something you like?  See something that peeks…

Happy Diwali

By JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon | October 22, 2022

History and Significance of Diwali Although, there are no official records stating the origin of Diwali; among many legends about this festival, one thing is common — the triumph of good over evil. It would be apt to say that different parts of the nation celebrate this day for different reasons. The northern part of…

Seasonal Health and Safety Reminders

By JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon | October 22, 2022

Healthy Tips to Keep in Mind During the Upcoming Holiday Season Wear your mask if you are going to be indoors or around a crowd of people.  It will help keep the spread of COVID down. Be certain to stay up-to-date with recommended vaccinations. Wash your hands often to keep yourself from spreading germs and…

Celebrate National Child Day on November 20

By JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon | October 21, 2022

Did you know that National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada since 1993?  It is a special day that is set aside to commemorate the United Nations’ adoption of two documents centered on children’s rights: the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1959, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights…

Fall Programs are Buzzing with Activity

By JoAnna LaTulippe-Rochon | September 28, 2022

Our Fall Programming schedules are set and we have loads of exciting programs and services to offer you.  No matter where you are located around the Island, our staff are ready to engage with you and your family.  We are offering lots of programs and services to support you as parents and caregivers – and…

Coming Up - Across Cape Breton

Download all events as ICS file

We are pleased to provide a range of family and community programs:

STARSS – Start Thinking About Reducing Second-hand Smoke

An approach that is encouraged for staff to work with families heightening their awareness about children’s exposure to second hand smoke (SHS), this program supports parents and caregivers to reduce such exposure. The program can be offered informally, with minimal interventions, or more formally through either group or individual sessions. The ultimate goal of the…

Dads Support Group – Dads Are Parents Too!

A weekly fathering group geared towards dads and male caregivers. The dads choose topics related to parenting issues that are relevant to them. Topics may include but are not limited to discipline, nutrition, stress management and co-parenting.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Share and learn breastfeeding information along with other breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Our weekly gatherings include healthy snacks and social time too. Dads and/or other support persons welcomed.

Baby Talk Programs

Informal opportunities for parents, child care providers, and their littlest ones (infants 0-24 months) to come together and enjoy safe, friendly, developmentally appropriate play environments. The program involves playtime as well as opportunities for learning and sharing information among parents and staff.

Personal Stress Management

This is a four to six week program for parents offering easy to follow steps that will help participants identify stress and healthy ways of dealing with it. Topics include Introduction to Stress, Stress Hardiness, Insomnia, and Productive and Unproductive Responses to Stress.  

Growing A Garden – DeGannes Family Garden Program

Join with us for our weekly gardening program as the season allows. Come early spring and help us ready the garden beds. As the last of the frost leaves us, we will begin to plant the gardens. Throughout the fine weather months, we meet weekly to hoe and weed and play outside. Lots of fresh…

Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy delivers an innovative classroom-based parenting program that aims to reduce aggression through the fostering of empathy and emotional literacy to school children at the Grade Primary or Grade One level. It provides an opportunity for children to observe the growth and development of a newborn over a nine month period. Along with…

Emergency Preparedness For Families – A Common Sense Approach

A four week program that explores the reality of emergency situations arising in our communities and how families can become prepared by developing their own emergency plans. Over the course of the program participants are provided with a number of items to get their emergency kits started. Program also provides a handy listing of how…

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk

A six week parenting program that offers parents and caregivers effective and innovative suggestions on how best to communicate with children. Topics include Helping Children with Feelings, Engaging Cooperation, Alternatives to Discipline, Encouraging Autonomy, New Ways to Praise, and Freeing Children from Roles.

First Aid/CPR Training

A program offered to parents, child care providers and regulated child care staff that teaches Emergency First Aid and CPR training. Participants are fully certified and receive a certificate upon the successful completion of this program.