February 17, 2023

February 17th is the 48th day of the year. There are 317 days remaining until the end of the year.

Monday is Family Day.

Beer and liquor stores in the province will be closed Monday. Garbage and recycling will be pushed back one day next week.

Canada Post delivers on Family Day. It is not observed as a holiday according to the Canada Post holiday list.

Family Day is not a national statutory holiday, it’s observed in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and in British Columbia.

Family Day was originally created to give people time to spend with their families but it also provides a day off between New Years Day and Good Friday as they are approximately three months apart. It was added to the calendar after the 2007 Provincial Election. Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty promised to add it if he was named Premier.

More free public skating this weekend, including Family Day Monday:

Friday, February 17th
Tilbury Arena, 12:30-2pm – Sponsored by Tilbury Action Team
Chatham Erickson Arena, 4-5:30pm – Sponsored by Chatham La Sertoma

Saturday, February 18th
Bothwell Arena, 12-1:30pm – Sponsored by Salus Mutual Insurance
Blenheim Arena, 7:30-9pm – Sponsored by Rotary Club of Chatham

Sunday, February 19th
Chatham Thames Campus Arena, 1-2:30pm – Sponsored by St. Clair College Alumni Association
Dresden Arena, 1-2:30pm – Sponsored by CK Promoting Healthy Living
Tilbury Arena, 1-2:30pm – Sponsored by Tek Savvy
Ridgetown Arena, 2:30-4pm – Sponsored by Chris & Winnie Deprez in memory of JoLynn Deprez in support of The JoLynn Deprez Athletic Fund

FAMILY DAY – Monday, February 20th
Tilbury Arena, 12-1:30pm – Sponsored by CK Promoting Healthy Living
Chatham Thames Campus Arena, 1-3:00pm – Sponsored by Exit Reality
Dresden Arena, 1:30-3pm – Sponsored by CK Promoting Healthy Living
Chatham Erickson Arena, 3-4:30pm – Sponsored by CK Promoting Healthy Living

Click here for more information on the ice skating programs.

This is the first (of four) free fishing weekends in Ontario this year.

This means you do not need to buy a fishing license if you want to fish during:

• Family Fishing Weekend in February (February 18-20, 2023)
• Mother’s Day Weekend in May (May 13-14, 2023)
• Father’s Day Weekend in June (June 17-18, 2023)
• Family Fishing Week in July (July 1-9, 2023)

During all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase a valid fishing license to legally fish in Ontario.

Go here for more information or here.

NASCAR’s Daytona 500, also known as the Great American Race, will roll off on Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

It’s a 200-lap race where 40 drivers will compete for bragging rights and more than $1.5 million in prize money.

The race is Sunday at 2:30 on TSN and Fox.

After a two year pandemic hiatus, The Rio Carnival, the world’s biggest Carnival held annually in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, returns.

About 80,000 tourists are expected to join in the festivities.

The Rio Carnival starts today until Tuesday or just a day shy of Ash Wednesday, a significant Catholic tradition which signal the start of Lent.

Categorised in: 5 Things You Need To Know

This post was written by Chris McLeod