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:

Car Seat Installations/Presentations

Since injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death for Canadian children, an important part of injury prevention work is to facilitate child restraint systems presentations and installations. The majority of these injuries are predictable and preventable. Technicians trained by the Child Passenger Association of Canada work to increase community awareness…

Play with a Purpose

This early literacy program is six weeks in length. Children need a whole foundation of knowledge before they are ready to read. Parents, teachers, or caregivers and their children (0-6) have an opportunity to focus on boosting their child’s language development and literacy skills. Children and adults will listen to a story, practice the concepts…

Babysitting Certification

Provides information on what every babysitter should know. Babysitting is one of the few jobs a person can get at a young age and, like any other job, a person needs to learn how to do it well. After taking this course, young people feel confident that they can keep kids safe, secure and happy…

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.

Learning Language and Loving It

This program is designed to help facilitators understand a child’s language development and communication skills through interaction and information. Facilitators learn how to encourage children’s language development and communication skills in a fun and interactive atmosphere. Training involves up to eight group sessions plus video taped practice sessions using the techniques discussed.

First Steps Parenting

A ten week parenting program for parents and their newborns. First Steps is designed to help new parents with the basic parenting skills so necessary in that first year. Mom, dad and baby are encouraged to attend. Topics covered include developmental milestones, feeding, bathing and changing, illness, play, safety, infant stimulation, and stress. It’s a…

Play Your Part Parenting

The program builds its foundation on the premise that what happens to a child within their first years of life will play a large role in influencing the path that they will follow as adults. There are a wide variety of hands-on activities, social support, coping skills evaluation, and on-site structured childcare. The program is…

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.  

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…

Early Childhood Systemic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)

Early Childhood STEP is offered in a group setting over the course of seven sessions. In a group, parents and caregivers provide encouragement to each other. They share concerns and learn that their problems are often not unique. Through discussion, they become more aware that their own reactions and attitudes may have unintentionally influenced their…