Registration for these activities will be held next Wednesday, Aug. 27, and Thursday, Aug. 28 between 6 and 8 p.m. — but instead of taking place at Victoria Hall as usual, the two-day registration will be held at the Westmount arena, 4675 Ste. Catherine St. W.

The first day of registration is strictly reserved for the hockey and skating programs, with the sign-up for all other activities taking place Thursday.

The Sports, Recreation and Community Events Department offers a wide selection of courses and workshops for residents of all ages. Youth activities range from ballet to breakdance classes, acting to arts and crafts. Adults and seniors can also choose from a varied list of fitness, indoor sports and dance classes.

For those interested in less physical pursuits, the Westmount Library provides a number of reading programs, book club and lecture series options.

Adding to the diversity of choice are several new activities introduced this year.

“We have a lot of neat programs for younger kids,” said Sports Coordinator Anitra Bostock. Among them is mom-and-tot dance class for mothers and their babies aged 2-12 months, and an Etiquette and Good Manners course aimed at children 8 and older.

Of notable interest for adults is the six-part gardening seminar How Does Your Garden Grow? scheduled for the winter session.

Eco-friendly activities guide

The complete list of programmes for this fall and winter can be found in the latest edition of the Culture, Sports and Recreation Activities Guide. As part of a growing effort to reduce the City’s ecological footprint, an online version of the guide will soon be available in lieu of the current booklet format. With this transition already underway, all course descriptions and additional registration information can now be found at the City’s website, www.westmount.org.

The City reminds residents planning to enroll next Wednesday or Thursday to anticipate some waiting time, as registration for all Sports and Recreation activities works on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to two proofs of residency (recent utility bill and driver’s license will do) required for all participants 18 and over, Bostock encourages people to come early, bringing “a chair, your patience, a cup of coffee and a book” to pass the time. Methods of payment are cash, Interac, credit card and cheque (made to the order of City of Westmount).