4 Friday, October 26, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com Welcome to the tween years! Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown It just dawned on me: I have a tween living in my house. Gone are the days of the little kid who wants to be in whatever room I'm in. Now she likes her own space. Her room, once overrun with stuffies, is undergoing a transformation. While the favourite stuffies are still there, many have been banished to the playroom or storage. The dresser that used to hold Dr. Seuss books now features chapter books, photos with friends, sports medals and lip gloss. Emoji and sequin-flip pillows cover the bed. And I'm loving this new chapter in our lives. The tween years are defined as ages 9 through 12. It's that in-between period when little kids transform into young adolescents. It comes with crazy growth spurts, new skills, unfamiliar feelings and the navigation of challenging social situations. But it's also a wonderful period in our children's lives that we need to treasure. It's a magical time. New independence While the days of princesses and superhero capes wane, they're turning into amazing young people full of hope and adventure. They're stretching the boundaries of independence, discovering who they are, making their own choices. My daughter, who has always loves sports, has gravitated away from many of her babyhood friends and discovered new ones on the teams she's joined. Babyhood pals will always be there, but her new friendships are based on common interests and goals. This phase keeps us on our toes. It has her wanting to understand more complicated concepts like politics and ethics. She voices her opinion on everything from what's for dinner to which drills her beloved Leafs need to work on to the way she sees people treated at school or around the world. She questions why our political leaders do things and why Mom and Dad won't let her have a phone until she's 12. Yes, sometimes those questions require tough answers. She questions what she sees in the media and expects answers. Helping friends But even though she's growing up (way too fast for my taste), I'm proud of who she's becoming. She and her friends are doing good things. They stand up for and help each other when needed and push each other to try new things. And they do it all while still being just kids. Sleepover parties, movie nights, and making music videos on their tablets are all part of big kid fun. I've even appeared in the background a few times - usually not on purpose. But they still love when I join in, at least for now. The best part of having a tween, the funny, sassy little girl who challenges everything I say, is that she also still needs me. In those tough social situations when she's mad or has hurt feelings, Mom and Dad remain her go-to people. A heartfelt chat, fresh baked cookies and lots of hugs still work. I'm savouring as many of those as I can because I know these tween years will go by fast. Community Calendar Fri., Oct. 26: 4:00 - 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library Whitby Library's Brooklin Branch seeks Teen Leadership Council members to share ideas & assist with special events and programs. Grade 9-12 students earn community service hours. Snacks provided. No registration required. For information, email teenservices@whitbylibrary.ca. Wed., Nov. 7: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm: Connective Caregiver Conference at The Royal Ashburn Golf Club. Lunch included. This conference will feature sessions from professional experts in the many fields of Dementia and those with lived experience. Goal is to connect caregivers with each other who share the journey of caring for someone with dementia. Free admission for family/friend caregivers and $10 at the door for health care professionals. To register: https://connective- caregiver-conference.eventbrite.ca/ For more information call: 905-655-5503. French Family Storytime: Children and their caregivers can join Madame Sue for weekly French Family Storytime! A half hour of French stories and songs, with a dash of English! Drop in at Central Library's Children's Program Room Tuesdays: 7:25 pm: Brooklin Toastmasters Club Practice public speaking at Brooklin Community Centre & Library. Contact John Johnstone at jajhj@sympatico.ca or phone 905-683-4439 or Patricia Romano at promano257@outlook.com or phone 905-626-7055. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Community Care Durham (CCD) Basic Foot Care at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. 905-668-6779 Mon.-Fri. CCD delivers hot or frozen meals. To order: Karen Andrews 905-668-6779 If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar." Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Whitby: Update on Cannabis Legalization In April 2017, the federal government introduced Bill C-45 (the Cannabis Act) to legalize recreational cannabis. In September 2018, the provincial government introduced Bill 36 (the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act) which included several changes to the use and sale of cannabis in Ontario. With the federal legalization of cannabis, the Town of Whitby is providing the following local update on cannabis. Consumption Cannabis in any form - smoking, vaping or edibles - may be consumed on private property, subject to the provisions of any lease agreements or condominium by-laws. Un- der Bill 36, however, the smoking of cannabis is prohibited everywhere the smoking of tobacco is prohibited. In Whitby, the smoking of cannabis and tobacco are prohibited in all public parks and public squares, and within 20 metres of public entrances and exits for all facilities operated by the Town including Town Hall, libraries and recreational facilities. Enforcement Various legislation - including the Cannabis Act (federal), Cannabis Control Act (provincial) and Town By-Laws (municipal) - will govern the use of cannabis in Whitby. The Town will continue to work with the Durham Regional Police Service to enforce current regulation related to the use of cannabis within the community. Retail Stores No government-operated retail stores will be set up in Ontario. Instead, the provincial government has announced its' intention to allow private retailers to sell cannabis as of April 1, 2019. The Province has given municipalities the option to opt-out of permitting physical cannabis retail stores within their boundaries by January 22, 2019. As a next step, Town staff will deliver a report to the newly elected Town Council with information on cannabis related impacts and considerations, including local jurisdiction to further manage and regulate the use of cannabis in Whitby, prior to the opt-out date. Additional Information The Town looks forward to continuing to work with the Regional Municipality of Durham, Durham Regional Police Service and other area municipalities to address local impacts of the legalization of cannabis. For more information, visit whitby.ca/cannabis. Residents are also encouraged to visit ocscannabisupdates.com or canada.ca/cannabis for updates.