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 Program for Children and Canada's Prenatal Nutrition Program.

Extending our reach to even more communities is possible because of additional support we receive from the Department of Community Services, 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

Outside on a Tree Stump FHCC

Family Home Child Care in Action

Gondola Fun with Families North of Smokey

Quality Time for Bigs and Littles

Find a play group near you!

Chat with Other Parents and Caregivers

Outdoor Fun Year Round

Come Play with Me

Upcoming Events

Cape Breton Family Place Calendar

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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:

Building Connections

Connections is a group intervention for mothers and children.  The Connections program has two main objectives. To present a thorough background to the issue of family violence, parenting and substance use; and To present a six week group model for working with mothers experiencing or with a history of experiencing violence in relationships. The Connections group helps…

Handle with Care

Handle with Care is a simple interactive program to help parents and caregivers, including those who work in early childhood settings, to promote the mental health of young children from birth to 6 years.  Handle with Care is based on a number of important assumptions about mental health: Mental health, or social and emotional well-being,…

Volunteer Training Programs

In order to involve as much of the community as possible in the programs and services of Family Place, we have implemented structured training programs for volunteers. The six training sessions and the user manual provided will allow for greater participation of volunteers in the activities of the Centre. Both group and individual programs are…

Family Place Mother Goose Program

Group experiences for parents, child care providers, babies and young children focusing on the pleasure and power of sharing rhymes, songs, and stories together. So much learning takes place while focusing on fun for all – laughing, playing and listening to stories. The program offers an opportunity to further develop parent-child attachment and positive bonding.

Stay, Play & Learn

This ongoing program offers a variety of age appropriate toys and equipment that promote interactive learning, literacy, language, science discovery and concepts of math. A nutritious snack is offered. The program consists of activities, games and physical movement that are designed to promote positive, meaningful and fun experiences with your child to further develop early…

Streetproofing Your Child

A session for parents of children who are entering school, this program focuses on understanding stranger danger and helping parents and children increase their awareness and preparation for the naturally growing levels of independence as children grow older.

Play Groups

Informal opportunities for parents, grandparents, child care providers and children to come together and enjoy a safe, friendly, developmentally appropriate play environment where they can enjoy each other’s company. The program involves free play, craft time, circle time and snack time.

Parent Education Support Group

This supportive parent/caregiver group provides a relaxed, accepting environment where parents/caregivers share information, techniques and challenges, and learn new approaches to parenting. Weekly sessions provide information about specific topics concerning parenting or child development. Topic areas are determined by parent/caregiver interest.  

Read With Me/Lire Avec Moi

Family literacy programs for children ages 3 – 5 years and their parents/caregivers. The program consists of story time, songs, finger-plays, crafts as well as a book and activities to take home and enjoy throughout the week. The program is available in French in the Port Hawkesbury/Richmond County area.

Active Parenting for Stepfamilies

Finding a partner was the easy part! Now, as a parent in a stepfamily, a parent faces a whole new set of challenges as well as all of the old ones. This program offered guidance and support on topics such as Coping with Loss and Healing, Blending Two Family Histories, Merging Values and Traditions, Setting…