EDMONTON

Could you do it? Alberta municipalities challenge you to 'unplug' on Family Day

Linda Hoang CTV Edmonton
Published Thursday, February 14, 2013 4:18PM MST

22 municipalities in Alberta - including Edmonton - are challenging families to 'unplug,' step away from technology and spend time, face-to-face, with family and friends on Family day.

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In an age when everyone seems to be ‘logged on,’ and attached to their smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs, cities across Alberta are challenging families to do what may seem unthinkable: unplug.

Twenty-two municipalities in Alberta – including Edmonton – are challenging families to ‘unplug’ from their electronics this Family Day.

“It is a challenge. We want people to disconnect from their devices and try to reconnect with themselves, their friends, and their families,” said Rejoice Apedoe, community outreach co-ordinator with the City of Edmonton.

The theme is ‘Disconnect to Connect,’ and municipalities like Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Stony Plain and Sturgeon County, are encouraging families to step away from technology on Monday, and spend time – face-to-face – with the people around them.

“We do sometimes spend too much time on our devices and it is a great opportunity for people to remember family is important and home is important and so is family values,” Apedoe said.

Statistics to inspire you to 'unplug'

Barb Bigelow, with the City of Fort Saskatchewan, says not spending quality, personal time with family and friends, can have negative effects.

“By the time our children graduate from Grade 12, they will have spent more time in front of a screen than they would talking to their parents,” Bigelow said.

Other statistics suggest teenagers who have more than three sit-down family dinners per week are more likely to get better grades, and 73 per cent of kids would rather play with their parents than play a video game.

Bigelow and Apedoe hope these statistics will help inspire families to take part in the challenge.

“Cooking family meals together, having fires at the fireplace, playing a round of monopoly or checkers or whatever game,” Bigelow suggests.

It doesn't have to be the whole day, they say - even if someone unplugs for a few hours, that would be considered successful.

Apedoe hopes this year, Edmontonians rise to the challenge – because there is a competitive aspect to ‘Disconnect to Connect.’

Those who do unplug are asked to log onto the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta website on Feb. 19.

The municipality that logs the most ‘unplugged’ hours will win the challenge and bragging rights.

Apedoe says Edmonton, which began participating in the Family Day challenge three years ago, has never won the challenge before.

“This is the year,” Apedoe said.

“We’ve got to do something.”

The municipalities taking part in the challenge are: