Our storytime welcomes and respects the needs of children aged 0-6 years living with developmental disabilities and/or Autism, who may face barriers related to sensory experiences, show signs of, or are at risk for a developmental delay.

A family member must be present for the entirety of the event.

Offered in partnership with Mothercraft Ottawa.

Stop by our Social Services table and chat with staff from the South Nepean Satellite Community Health Centre (May 21st) and Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre (June 18th). Learn about the various services offered by the health/resource centres and ask your questions about resources for free community programs, mental and physical health, parenting, housing, employment and more!

Join us for a delightful concert featuring an eclectic mix of music including well-known opera arias, songs from the 1930s through 1970s, and Disney songs for the young ones, sung by soprano Ania Hejnar and accompanied by pianist Judith Ginsburg.  Background provided about the songs will create a mini-theatrical experience.

About Ania

Local soprano Ania Hejnar has been performing internationally since graduating with her Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Ottawa, including Carnegie Hall, Notre-Dame Cathedral (Ottawa), Notre-Dame Basilica (Montreal), Maison Symphonique, the NAC, and Varnus Hall. She has performed for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon. Ania is a versatile performer as a classical singer, crossover musician, actor, voiceover artist and can be heard singing national anthems for many sports teams including the Ottawa Senators.  Some notable performances include Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte as the Queen of the Night.  Most recently, she performed for the Order of Canada with distinguished guest, Hollywood director James Cameron.  Ania is the music and drama teacher at Glebe Montessori School and maintains a private studio where she teaches voice and violin.

About Judith

“Pianist Judith Ginsburg, possibly the best of Ottawa’s regular accompanists, had a fine rapport with the soloist and was deft and musical, as always.” (Ottawa Citizen)  Judith was the longtime Principal Repetiteur, Opera Studio Manager and Music Director of the Opera for Young Audiences program with Opera Lyra Ottawa.  She has been a frequent  performer in the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Music and Beyond Festival, and has been heard in the National Arts Centre’s Music for a Sunday Afternoon, Almonte in Concert Series and on CBC Radio.  Judith has collaborated with many of Canada’s leading artists and has performed extensively in Canada, the United States, and Europe.  Judith is in great demand as a collaborative pianist.  For several years, she was a faculty member of the National Arts Centre’s Young Artists Program as Collaborative Pianist.  Judith is Pianist and Managing Director with the Ottawa Suzuki Strings music school, Vocal Coach/Music Director with the University of Ottawa Opera Program, Founder and Artistic Director of Chamber Opera Company Ottawa (COCO) and a MASC Artist.

Participants of all ages will learn the story behind one of history's oldest toys, the corn husk doll. They will learn the importance of community through these dolls. After talking about the traditional story students will be able to make their own corn husk doll.