by Raymond Qiu (Age 10)

About HarbourKids 

HarbourKids was started in 2007, and it celebrates three holidays which are specifically: Victoria Day, Family day, and Thanksgiving.

 “HarbourKids is a program for children under 12.  Instead of doing Shakespeare, or something, we do contemporary art. It is a place that children have fun and gather,” introduced by Katherine Sanders, the Artistic Associate of HarbourKids program.  Katherine has worked with Harbourfront for 7 years and done the HarbourKids festival for 5 years.

There are similar events in different cities around Canada.  A lot of different art centers also have activities for kids, but what makes HarbourKids unique? “It is free and we do so many different kinds of art.  We don’t do just theatre, or music, or crafts.  We do everything,” Katherine told us proudly. 

While you see all the interesting things in HarbourKids, have you ever wondered about the background effort?  Katherine had to face many difficulties while setting up HarbourKids events, such as filing up the massive building with as much cool stuff as she could.  Katherine told us, “My favorite part of this event is seeing kids like you have a good time.  That’s the payoff.  I spend all year working on programming to make this festival awesome.  When I see kids actually show up and enjoy, it is the best part for sure.”    

This fall, there were more than 15 activities being setup inside and outside of the Harbourfront Center.  The festival was fun for everyone and it wouldn’t be hard to keep you busy for the day.                                                                                                               

 Arts and Crafts           

The Arts and Crafts are certainly one thing many children love. The place looked crowded with youngsters even with its size. The activities attracted kids from all ages. Kids were eager to check out the “Lego Construction Zone”, “Cool Crafts with Mary Breen & Friends”, “Let’s Talk Science”, and “Stroller Salon.”  

When I stepped into the LEGO room, the display table was filled with creations by other children.  Very quickly, I built a temple and a face of an alien, and squeezed them on the table. 

The idea of Stroller Salon was really cool too.  You can design a stroller for the Natrel Stroller Parade.  I made a car in blue, black and yellow color, with a pair of plastic sticks attached to the top as the windshield.  During the parade, my stroller box was selected by a family to decorate their double stroller to be a wedding carriage.  I felt happy to see my stroller box get marched down the fields. 

Among all these activities, I have to say my favorite one is “Cool Crafts with Mary Breen & Friends”.  It was amusing to make paper pumpkins and design them, and create pins with your own drawings.  I created a pin whose face shows ‘Voice K’, and a pumpkin with a red eye.

At the corner of the same tent, a nice lady wearing a wool jacket was showing kids how to make yarn with spindle tools used in the old times.  It’s pretty impressive to see the raw wool be spun into yarn string.  Of course people nowadays don’t use this inefficient tool anymore, but it reminded me about pioneers. These activities definitely inspired children to think and design creatively.

No matter what type of the festival it is, music is always welcomed to cheer up people, and yes there is music here at HarbourKids. On the Lakeside Terrace, people were lying on the lawn around the stage, listening to the booming tempo ejected from the drums, and watching performers on stage barefoot flipping here and there, doing something called an “African Dance.”  The clothes they wore were floppy as if it were made of animal’s skin. The rhythm gave me the sensation that a lion was hunting for food and chasing after an impala. 

You must admire how these great performers can translate the music into such a breathtaking piece. Would you also like to try? It’s possible here. HarbourKids has brought you a chance to try out different instruments, demonstrated by Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” with Sistema Toronto. I bet your fist experience of playing an instrument is surly memorable.

It may sound boring to those who are not bookworms. Don’t worry; it’s not really like what you thought of. HarbourKids brought us more than books.

In the theater of the West Arcade, I watched a series of 17 films named “Handmade Puppet Dreams”, presented by Heather Henson.  I actually loved them more than cartoons.  Although the word ‘puppets’ might sound immature, when it is funny, you won’t describe it that way. Every few seconds, the entire stage would burst into a cry of laughter.  Also, the music was nicely attached to the film.  Nearby, there was also a storytelling session called “Imagination on the Loose”.  It was presented in 2 different languages by Nathalie Vachon.  


Do you like comics as much as I do? Little Island Comics store is a good place for you to explore. You can also create hilarious comics in a neighboring room. I had a chance to interview a lady named Betina Krebs, who was a library service coordinator in Little Island Comics.  She was enthusiastic about the interview and told me, “We get a lot of books from different categories, and schools also order from us.”  Although it’s much smaller comparing with Chapter and Scholastic, so far Little Island Comics is the only store that carries the most kid comic books in Canada. 

Now, it’s time to just have fun and relax. Smaller kids definitely loved the tour on the HarbourKids express.  Girls and boys can dress up silly or cool as knights, princess, and zombies at “Cool Costume Collection“. We can also get tattoo at “Tattoo Parlour”. Look what I’ve got! A knight with helmet, vest, and a play horse.  I’m ready for the Halloween!

After a busy day exploring all the activities, you must feel hungry and thirsty. Soymilk, ice cream, burgers …feel free to enjoy the yummy refreshments with your parents and friends.

 
by Wendy Wang (Age 14)
On the sunny morning of Saturday May 24th, Voice K attended Exposure, Canada's largest photo and video consumer show. For those who think this event was only for photography experts and nerds—you're wrong. Held at the International Centre in Mississauga, it was an incredible gathering of photographers, beginners and professionals alike. The event presented keynote speakers such as Chris Hadfield, shopping opportunities, hands-on labs, free seminars, contests, and even exotic animals!

Humans have remembered pictures before they could think in words, thus it is no surprise photography holds an important role in today's society.  At Exposure, guests were invited to learn from experts, try out new cameras and browse the wide selection of innovative technology. Weaving through the maze of booths, we soon found ourselves standing under the bright logo of Nikon. Jeff Kirkpatrick, who works in Nikon's sales and marketing department, came over to show me a glimpse of the world's emerging camera technology.

When asked about his experience with photography, Kirkpatrick chuckled and replied that he doesn't consider himself as a great photographer, but a very good appreciator of photography, and a good critic. He explained that photo and video are completely different mediums, but each has its perks. He finds photography more artistic, since video doesn't provide as much control. Instead, it flows, constantly moving and changing.     

"Photography preserves memories, records activities and shrinks the world to the point where people can see what's going on without necessarily having to go there," he said.

Thinking of getting a new camera? Heads up! Kirkpatrick gave us some valuable information regarding the type of camera to buy. First of all, think about: is photography going to be a hobby, or just a means to record events in your life? Next, consider size: if you're traveling, it's probably a good idea to have a compact and portable camera. Then again, some people do lug around tripods wherever they go. The idea is to find the camera best suited to your purpose, and to maximize the use of your camera. 

We learned that the proper term for a camera that saves photos on a memory card is a DSLR: Digital single-lens reflex camera. SLR stands for Single-lens reflex, a type of camera that saves its photos on film. Nikon introduced a mirror-less camera as well, which is actually a new category of cameras. It is no doubt climbing the ladder of popularity, thanks to its unique features.  

"It is very, very fast. It can take up to 20 frames per second, making it the world's fastest camera, which is great for sports photography!" Kirkpatrick stated as he showed us the device.

Without a doubt, photography is truly a hobby that grows with you. Think about it: what moments have you captured?

by Leo Yin (Age 10)
The renowned Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station, Colonel Chris Hadfield, gave a hilarious and interesting keynote presentation on the topic of “Reflections from Space” on Saturday, May 24, at 11 a.m. In his presentation, he shared some images from the 45,000 photos taken from the International Space Station.       


Hadfield was introduced to the presentation by his music partner Ed Robertson, the lead singer in a band called “Barenaked Ladies.” Last year, they collaborated on a song called I.S.S (Is Somebody Singing).  Hadfield made two music videos in space with his guitar, and is the first astronaut to make a music video by himself in space. No wonder Hadfield is a famous musician as well! 

Hadfield said lots of funny things in his presentation. About every 3-4 minutes, the audience would laugh. Hadfield also included some photos and videos to show the audience what he saw in space and how the rocket launched. Some of the pictures were really surprising, like how in part of Rome, the water body looked like a heart. He also included some interesting facts about before the launch of his rocket. He showed us  things from his childhood and what the first rocket he built looked like. It was made of cardboard and taped to hold it together. 
In space, did you know that the sunny side goes up to +150°c? The dark side goes down to be -140°c! When the rocket is preparing for launch, it makes steam from the bottom. Then the thing the rocket is attached to is filled with nukes and stuff. When just one nuke explodes, the whole thing starts to fly. When the launch is occurring, it is very loud and creates a whole area of smoke.

Hadfield explained why the cameras in space die in 4 months. The lenses on the cameras can zoom in up to 400 miles. At night on earth, some cities look like a neon sign some stores or restaurants hang up on the front entrance saying something like “open.” Also, in space it is always night. 

When the landing arrives, Hadfield would come in a little room that detaches from the rocket.  The room is  fire proof because when they are coming down, fire occurs at the bottom of the room when the speed is fast. Near the landing, a giant parachute pops out of the falling room to slow it down. When it lands, the door is opened by some people that help the landed astronauts. The astronauts would lay down onto a bed chair on wheels and are given an apple. Then later, the astronauts need to do their business to throw up. Also, the astronauts aren’t really able to keep easy balance on earth after being in space for a few months because their body got used to being in no gravity and floating. So there are some advantages and disadvantages of being an astronaut.

Do you want to become an astronaut?

By Cynthia Sa (Age 11)
Wow. That was all I could say. Wow.  A few minutes before, I was gazing past the all of the presentations and booths to a small white fenced enclosure, surrounded by a mob of people. I quickened my steps, wanting to understand what had drawn everyone’s attention. As I approached the fence, I slowed my steps, finally understanding what was so exciting that it drew everyone’s attention. I was at the booth of "Exotic Animals."


I peered into the enclosure and was immediately fascinated by its contents. Kangaroos. There were two of them, bouncing around, nibbling at their keeper’s hands, looking for some hidden treat. One of them was bigger than the other, but both fairly small.


I saw that they weren’t alone; two chickens, one black and one white were strolling through proudly, as if they were in a marching band. They were the same size as ordinary chickens, but what caught my attention were their feathers that framed their faces and gave them a distinguished look. After some questioning, I learned they were Silkie chickens from China. Then a rodent-like creature, about the size of a medium-sized dog, caught my eye. It was sitting on a big cushion, staring at the people gathering around. I could tell by its bored eyes that it was used to people. It was the fourth largest rodent, the Capybara! 


The keeper asked me if I wanted to go in and pet the animals. I said yes in a heartbeat. Pretty soon, I found myself scratching the kangaroos under their chins and tickling their ears. They loved trying to nip off my bracelets, which I found extremely amusing. I pet the Capybara and Silkie chickens a bit before I realized there was a sixth animal in the enclosure: a little rabbit with a small tuft of fur on its head. I gently reached forward with my hand and stroked it lightly—it was so soft! But it ended quickly when the kangaroo bounded over and scared the rabbit away. Meanwhile, my sister had also entered the enclosure and was stroking the kangaroos. 


I turned my head and saw some exotic birds. I trotted over there and peered at the birds behind the line. The owl looked at me in a bored expression. And the macaw always shrieked at the onlookers.
 
I loved seeing all those animals, and I knew that there was a small chance that I could see them again. 


In my opinion, ‘Exotic animals’ was a hit! I hope they come back next year!

Do you want to see a chicken cup that worth 36 million dollars? Come to ROM and take a closer look at the expensive porcelain cup that has a chicken on it and as well as some other artifacts that came from the original Forbidden City.

“The Forbidden City is the imperial palace in Beijing, China. For a long time, it was forbidden to everyone. So it is one of the most mysterious places in the world,” said Courtney Murfin, the interpretative planner for the exhibition. Murfin comes up the story line of the exhibition and translates the curators’ and researchers’ complicated language to something easily understandable.

The exhibition started March 8 and will end on September 1st, 2014. So this might be your last chance to experience the fascinating history of the Forbidden City at ROM.

Luckily, on August 20th, the Voice K summer camp had the chance to look around and experience how it feels to be in the Forbidden City.

“The original Forbidden City in China is really big, so it was hard for us to recreate how big it is in our small exhibit hall,” said Murfin.

Most of the items are shipped from the actual Forbidden City in Beijing, China, but some artifacts are owned by ROM.

As we entered the exhibition, we saw a big screen to our left and the entrance to more artifacts to our right. The first thing that caught our eyes was the palace room display, which includes the Imperial Throne set. It was made with wood and jade. The throne was a symbol of the ruler’s imperials power. The area where we first entered was the outer court. The colours were mostly yellow and red. The last artifacts in the outer court are the ceremonial bells.  Then we entered the inner court where the colours were mostly blue and our surroundings felt homey. The inner court was for the imperial family and their eunuchs to live in.

At the end of the journey, we hit gold – the gift shop! We discovered so many awesome toys and utensils related to Chinese history. There were stuff panda animals, Chinese flutes, porcelain chopsticks, Chinese ponytail hats, ancient Chinese books, and even a glow-in-the-dark Mahjong rubik’s cube. Some of us bought the flute and some of us bought the chopsticks set.

The journey might have been exhausting, but at the same time we gained a lot of knowledge. It was definitely worth the trip. 

Photo credit: ROM

ROM is an educational place for everyone, even if you can’t see. There is an area in the exhibition for people to touch the replica of the artifacts and read in Braille. 


The instructions and maps are in both English and French. They are also raised for for people to touch. 



The ROM tries to keep their hallways wide and easily accessible for people in wheelchairs too. 

Article is written by: 

Sunni Zhou
Hello, I am 12 years old and go to Tomken Road Middle School. I really like singing, dancing, cooking, travelling, and everything related to art. A very special thing about me is that I am a journalist and I do lots of thinking, writing, exploring new places, meeting new people, and learning new things. If you love having fun, exploring, writing, and learning, come to Voice K! I wish I could say more wonderful things about myself and Voice K but I really need to go. BYE! 

David Kang
Hello! I'm 12 years old. I will be going to grade 7 in the fall. I love playing chess and games that involves strategy. My dream is to become the CEO of the worlds' most influential corporation. I hope you enjoy this article. 

Ryan Zhou
Hi, I am 9 years old. I am going to grade 4 in September. I like to play video games, travel and eat. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.  

Jasmine Ding
Hi, I am 7 and half and I am going to grade 2. I am the smallest in the camp, so it is very difficult for me. But my good friend and amazing teacher is so good to me. My favourite animal is cheetah. My favourite food is pizza! That's all for now. 

By Voice K Summer Camp

Chinese culture arrived at Habourfront last weekend. The place was jam packed with Chinese art, craft, dance and outstanding food. 

“ It’s amazing to have 70 artists from China to perform at this festival”, said Rodrigo Fritz, Senior Artistic Associate and Project Coordinator at the Harbourfront Centre. The China Now event lasts three days starting with an opening showcase on Friday, July 11th, 2014. 


“The hardest part to organize was the opening showcase that involves 7 artist group. Coming up with the correct schedule and getting everybody together is the most challenging part," said Fritz. It took Habourfront over a year to organize the event. They started discussions with the Ministry of Culture in China and their major partner, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington about a year ago. Between different departments there were at least a hundred people involved.

“We are very fortunate to live in a multicultural society,” said Dr. Nelly Ng, the chair of Can 4 Culture, a not-for-profit organization that connects culture. "My goal is to by introducing this magnificent art, for people to understand one another better." 


China has a history of five thousand years. Some of the crafts, such as the clay figurine and kite making has a history of two thousand years. 


"Because we don't know much about China and its rich history, and we get fascinate about it, and we hope more people get to see it. I think through art, we are connected." said Dr. Ng. 


This is the first time Harbourfront Center hosting a festival solely focused on China.  be sure to check it out yourself!

Hello. My name is Michelle Zhou. I am currently in grade four. I go to Silver Stream Public School. I enjoy reading comics and writing short stories from the top of my brain. I have an identical twin sister named Amelie. I like doodling, skiing, making myself dizzy, and doing handstands under the water. I like experimenting with computers, but I get into trouble. The only successful pets I have now are two nine-year-old fish without names. If you were to put me into one of the categories, Girl or Tomboy, I have one half here, and one half there. I will do almost ANYTHING possible to continue sleep- ing in most cases. That is all you need to know about me.

Hi, my name is Amelie Zhou. I am nine years old and I am in grade four. I go to Silver Stream Public School (SSPS). My favorite color is purple and my favourite animal is the horse. My favorite series of books is “Redwall” by Brian Jacques. There is a lot of adven- ture inside. I also like the riddles in it. I like skiing and swimming. I have two pets. They are both fish. I might get two birds later. I have an identical twin named Michelle. She is one minute younger than me. Something special about me is that I treat some non-living things like they’re living, especially my toys. I still hang on to them, even if they’re very old.

By Amelie Zhou (Age 9) , Michelle Zhou (Age 9), Edward Wang (Age 9)

 
By Dea Yu  & Emma Zhang (Age 9)



On Sunday, June 22th, 2014, a group of Voice K journalists headed out to Central Island for the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival.  The drive was pretty long. When my family finally arrived at our destination, I wanted to jump out the car!


When my family got to the ferry dock, we had to wait in a long line for the ferry. My family rode on the top layer of the ferry. When I got there, I was amazed by the buzz if excitement in the crowd. There were so many people with paddles so I knew they must be paddlers competing in the race. There were lots of vendors with food and games, and the thumping of the dancers’ feet on the stage was amazingly loud.


I explored the island until I saw the Voice K group. We got split up in two teams. I interviewed a paddler named Tim Hudson who was competing for the P&G team. 


 “My dad and I used to always go rowing when I was your age and we did the same in Boy scouts too.” Hudson said. He told me that the important part about racing is that everyone has to be in sync. “You have to make sure you listen to the man in the back and everyone on the boat has to know his instructions.” 


I also learned that in a race like this, you want start paddling very hard at the start, slow down in the middle, and then pick up at the end. 


In order to prepare for a dragon boat race, you need a lot of different training. One of the most important ones is to train how to row. You can pull your paddle to your sides and work on your strokes. You also need lots of warm-ups and muscle trainings because paddling requires a lot of back exercises, shoulder exercises, and cardio exercises. 


“How do you feel when you finished the race?” I asked. 


”Relieved,” Tim said. “Because you get really exhausted in the race and it’s good to finish. And I feel even better when I win.” 


Then I asked to see his hand and there were so many calluses on them!


Then I interviewed one of the organizers of the even ─ Kevin Lo. His favorite part of the race is seeing all the teamwork effort. Lo told me that this was his fourth year being an organizer. “I first heard about this festival when I was a kid,” Lo told me when I asked him about his first experience.


After playing for several hours, it was time to head back home. I still remember the day I saw dragons on the river, and excited to see next year’s race.