Select Page
Mother’s Day Canada |Creating Special Memories

Mother’s Day Canada |Creating Special Memories

Two young daughters giving their mom a card and gift for Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day in Canada is a beautiful way to celebrate and appreciate mothers in your life (mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, and family friends). And it’s a great time to create special memories with children. 

It is a very important and special day for Canadians to show their gratitude and honour mothers in their lives.


Advertisement:


The History

Over thousands of years, many traditional celebrations of mothers and motherhood have existed throughout the world. Canada’s Mother’s Day goes back to 1907 when American school teacher Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day in honour of her own late mother. 


Advertisement:


In 1915, this day also became an official holiday in Canada and Canadians have since then celebrated this special day. Mother’s Day is not a public holiday where people get time off work, but it always falls on the second Sunday of May. This year, it’s on Sunday, May 14th, 2023!

Small children create handmade gifts & cards, present their mothers with flowers, and cook special breakfasts on that day. They start learning about this day in kindergarten when teachers help them make gifts and discuss Mother Day’s ideas. 

In Canada, kids usually call their mothers: Mom or Mum, and both spellings are correct. The American version of “Mom” is predominant, but the British version “Mum” is common as well. And of course, there are Mama, Maman, Mommy, and Mumzee, all the variations reflecting Canadian diversity. 

Grown-up children spend some quality time together with their mothers to make this day special. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe, everything depends on family traditions.

Mother's Day in Canada

My Experience

Immigrant parents do not have it easy, especially once their children start school in Canada. Trying to figure out the school system and learning school rules both spoken and unspoken, helping their children with homework, and trying to make their friends welcome at home. All this adds to the challenges of the first few years of getting settled in Canada.


Advertisement:


When I immigrated 15 years ago my children started their first school year. I was totally overwhelmed with school & social requirements, parent responsibilities, helping kids to get through each day, and trying to make their transition to the new country as smooth as possible.

Not all countries celebrate Mother’s Day, or they celebrate it differently.

I came from Europe where the closest holiday was International Women’s Day on the 8th of March when all women get flowers and children present their mothers with flowers and cards as well.

My First Mother’s Day

How wonderful and sweet was my first Mother’s Day. My children made beautiful cards for me and attempted to make a special breakfast too. I was very touched as any mom would be. 

There have been many Mother’s Day celebrations since then. My children have grown up, so these days we spend Mother’s Day doing something special together. We’ll go on a hike, visit the Art gallery, or have a picnic on one of Vancouver’s beaches, weather permitting. They still make beautiful cards for me which I treasure. 

Also being a daughter, I adopted this tradition myself and every year I spend some special time with my mother who lives in Europe on Skype on that day. And my mother thinks this is the kindest tradition reflecting Canadian culture and the importance of family ties.

For immigrant mothers, this celebration has one more meaning.  Being a part of Canada’s life and integrating successfully into society, their hard job as a parent is appreciated as much as any mother’s job in Canada. That is certainly a great feeling. 

Wishing all mothers out there a happy Mother’s Day! Be part of this beautiful tradition and create special memories with your children and with the mothers in your life.

Mother hugging her daughter and holding a bouquet of pink roses for Mother's Day.

For information, tools, and free webinars about living in Canada, visit our Settling in Canada resource page. We’ll help you to settle in Canada with confidence and ease!

How to Work as an Extra in Canada

How to Work as an Extra in Canada

How to Work as an Extra in Canada
Film Set in Toronto


Advertisement:



Advertisement:


Wondering how to work as an extra in Canada?  Well, Canada’s film industry is booming! Many famous movies and TV shows have been filmed in Canada. And, when you work as an extra, it’s a great way to earn extra money. 


Advertisement:


Toronto is one of the largest film production centres in North America. And, Vancouver has been dubbed Hollywood North. In both cities, there are many film projects taking place for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros, ABC, and others in the industry. And you can be part of a famous (or not so famous) production when you work as an extra on a set.

What is an “Extra” in the Film Industry?

“Extra” is another name for a background performer. These are usually non-speaking roles. So typically you would be part of a crowd or background for scenes.

Who Can Work as an Extra?

Anyone! No matter how old you are, what skills you have, or how you look. No training is needed.

You must be able to legally work in Canada. And, the agents or agencies can provide you with the list of documents that you will require to work as an extra.

Children up to 15 years old have to be accompanied on a set by an adult.

What Does a Day on a Production Set Look Like?

The working day can be anything from 2-3 hours to 12 hours in a row, any time during day or night. You may not get the exact schedule in advance.

You will have to arrange your own transportation to the location (usually it is a parking lot where you can leave your car if needed). And, you’ll be transported from the parking lot by bus to the actual film location.

It can be an outside or inside location so dress accordingly. The agency will let you know in advance if you can wear your own clothes, or if they will provide you with special clothes. 

Also, you can spend most of the time waiting for the filming set to be ready for action or maybe for the rain to stop. So, you can bring a book or a tablet to help you to pass the time. You may not be able to meet leading actors, but there is plenty of time to talk to fellow “extras” and make new friends too.

How to Work as an Extra in Canada
Wonder filming location in Belcarra, British Columbia

How Much Will I Earn When I Work as an Extra?

You will be paid for all the hours you spend on the set. The rate per hour differs based on the production.

There are food and drinks offered at no cost.

The agency will let you know these details in advance and they will mail you a cheque.

Thinking of updating your resume? Use our free templates:

Click Here to Download Resume Templates

     

    How Can I Apply to Work as an Extra?

    The easiest way is to apply is to create an online profile in a Background performers database.

    Check out these databases for more details: 

    BCF casting in Vancouver

    Astra online Background performers in Toronto

    Usually, there is no registration fee and you can update your information on a regular basis.  You will be asked to provide your:

       

        • photos

        • weight

        • height, and

        • other descriptions.

      In addition, you can list any specific skills you and have, and most importantly, provide your availability.

      Once there is an opportunity the agency may contact you with more information and specific details about the production.  

      Alternatively, you may choose to work with an agent who represents background actors. In this case, there may be additional fees or commissions involved.

      Working on a movie set can be an exciting experience. You get to see the insides of the film production process, earning extra money, and meeting new people! These are among some of the biggest perks.  And, there’s a chance to see yourself on the big screen too!