Tricks aren't just for kids
Despite the cool, fall drizzle, energy and excitement overflowed under the big, white top at Concordia’s sixth annual Family Fair Day organized by Concordia's Advancement and Alumni Relations as part of Homecoming 2012.
Nearly 800 people visited Concordia’s Loyola Campus on September 30 for a day of fun emceed by Mark Bergman of Virgin Radio 96.
The aerial acrobatics of BMX bikers wowed children of all ages. Funky Feet performers got the kids dancing and burning their energy. Other activities included magic tricks, a puppet show, T-shirt decorating and mask making.
The Fun with Science booth — staffed by student volunteers from Concordia’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemisty — featured ice cream confection using liquid nitrogen and a popular coloured-slime-making station.
“My favourite thing is the face painting!” exclaimed four-year-old Donya, her face covered in green paint with a perfectly witchy expression.
“The kids are really looking forward to the cupcake decorating,” said her mother Shahrzad Behrooz, a local community member, as they headed off to the barbecue tent.
Outside, kids received guided tours of an Urgences Santé ambulance. That was the highlight for Daniil Kholostenko, 6, disguised with Batman-themed face paint. “He loves all the buttons and enjoys seeing how everything works,” said his father Dmitri, who lives in the neighbourhood and appreciates how Concordia also welcomes the community.
The Concordia University Alumni Association held a draw for graduates who updated their contact information or had alumni ID cards created onsite. Lucky winner Barry Dobbs, BSc 00, won an Apple iPad.
Many fairgoers also paid a visit to big-eyed Jweep, the horned owl, on hand under a smaller tent with a handful of other birds of prey and reptiles, courtesy of the Ecomuseum Zoo.
Concordia’s PERFORM Centre, which opened in fall 2011, took part in Family Fair Day for the first time. PERFORM — whose acronym stands for Prevention, Evaluation, Rehabilitation, FORMation — brings together research, teaching and community activities to promote better health through prevention. Visitors were given tours of the state-of-the-art facility located next to the Loyola Athletics Complex.
“Community involvement is at the core of PERFORM’s mission,” explained Kevin Little, PERFORM’s chief administrative officer. “Family Fair Day allows us to make personal connections with the public while promoting our research activities and community programming.”
Concordia’s director of Alumni Relations, Events and Sponsorships, Sharon J. Fraenkel, said: “I encourage more departments and student associations to join us at Homecoming to showcase their activities and services at Family Fair Day next year.”
“Family Fair Day is a great opportunity for our alumni and the public to come out to Loyola Campus, have fun and learn what’s happening at Concordia,” he said.
The Concordia Student Parents’ Association provided volunteers for the event, while Family Fair Day was sponsored by the Concordia University alumni Association, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, BMO Bank of Montreal, Manulife Financial, Groupe Gabriel, Reebok, Double Pizza, Bravo Rentals, Virgin Radio 96, Fiesta Tents, Kloda Focus Group, Voyages Groupe Ideal, CAT Centre de location d’équipements, Labrador, Old Dutch, Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan, Lainey Cakes, Funky Feet and Hospitality Concordia.
Related links:
• Homecoming at Concordia
• PERFORM Centre
• Concordia University Alumni Association
• There’s no place like Homecoming