Hundreds of area families took advantage of Family Day on Monday by going to the movies, partaking in outdoor activities like Winterlude, or attending events closer to home like Orléans Ward Coun.Matt Luloff's Laser Tag event or the free bowling event hosted by Orléans MPP Marie-France Lalonde and MP Andrew Leslie at the Orléans Bowling Centre.

Elizabeth Raven, 4, and her mother Janette are the picture of concentration as they prepare to roll a bowling ball down their lane at the Orléans Bowling Centre during the Family Day event on Monday. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Meanwhile, Liberal incumbent Andrew Leslie is sitting in the catbird seat ready to take on all comers including former Liberal rival David Bertshci should the Orléans lawyer win the Conservative nomination.

Janette Raven was at the bowling event with her brother, their four children and their mother. Both of their spouses work for the federal government.

"I think it's wonderful. It's a wonderful event to be a part of,� said "We saw it on Facebook and thought it was a great oppor- tunity to take the kids bowling.�

This is the third year that Lalonde and Leslie have co-hosted the event, which gets more popular year after year. Within the first two hours more than 200 people had checked in with 50 more on a waiting list.

"It's just so nice to see families getting together and not only families, you see friends, grandparents and neighbours. We even have a family here with eight children, who would not normally afford to go bowling together. So this is why we do these things to bring everyone together and spend the day with each other,� said Lalonde.

Leslie echoed his provincial colleague's sentiments. "This is the third year doing it as a combined team and it just keeps getting bigger and better. And what it does is gets families out having fun and that's what Family Day is all about,� said Leslie.

Many families were also having fun at Laserforce on Trim Road, where Matt Luloff was holding his laser tag event.

"We've had over 40 families come out today for two hours of free play. It's been amazing,� said Luloff. "We even had Andrew Leslie come out to play the first. I won't tell you where he placed, but it was a lot of fun.�

Innes Ward Coun. Laura Dudas also hosted an event. "The Joy of Winter Under the Stars� was held in Barrington Park on Sunday night. The event included snowshoeing, ice skating, hot chocolate and more.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)