At each of our events, the Vancouver Island Baby Fair partners with a local charity to benefit from fundraising through donations at the stroller parking, face painting, and the photo contest. For the upcoming Victoria fair on September 25 & 26, 2010, we have chosen the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society. The following post was contributed by the GVDSS.

By Carol N.

The Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society is thrilled to be this year’s charity of choice for the Baby Fair!  We are very excited to be able to advocate for our wonderful members, raise awareness about Down syndrome, and share in the joy and excitement of the Baby Fair with all of you!

This year we will have some art cards for sale at the booth.  The purpose of the art cards is to raise awareness about the GVDSS, while at the same time raise money to help support one of our very special programs:  Music Therapy, which is run in collaboration with Dr. Johanne Brodeur at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

On a Personal Note:  Our Story

When our son Aidan came into our lives, many people said, “God gives these kids to special families.”  I didn’t contradict them, but I did think they had it backwards.  I felt very certain that Aidan would make us live a better life.  Now, four years later, I stand by that notion.

Aidan reminds us not to take life for granted.  He reminds us to celebrate life, give thanks for all that we’ve got, and not to sweat the small stuff.   Our family and friends rally around Aidan.

We celebrate each of his accomplishments – like walking at three years of age; trying to go potty; using sign language to communicate with us; putting words together; learning to drink from a straw; doing fingerplays and action songs; kicking a soccer ball;  cheering for his preschool teacher at circle time; and blowing a kiss to the check-out lady.

Since Aidan’s birth, I’ve had an opportunity to meet a lot of people who have a person with Down syndrome in their life.  I’m reminded that our children are all unique, and all special.  They are not cookie-cut outs of each other – they are as individual as you and me.  In each of those conversations, one thing has been consistent: not one of us would trade our children for anything; we love them just the way they are.

Advance tickets to the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair on Sept. 25 & 26 in Victoria are now on sale at several locations! There are a limited number of advance tickets available for just $5 for a weekend pass (at the door, it’s $7/day or $8/weekend).

Get these discounted tickets while they last at:

• Bellies In Bloom Maternity – 104-4489 Viewmont Ave., Victoria
• Cat and Fiddle Kids Store – 735 Cloverdale Ave., Victoria
• Hip Baby – 560 Johnson St., Victoria
• JamTots Baby and More Store – 748 Goldstream Ave., Langford
• Mothering Touch Centre – 975 Fort St., Victoria
• ROCKBEBE – Mayfair Shopping Centre – 3147 Douglas St., Victoria
• Tall Tales Books – 795 Fort St., Victoria

One of the coolest things we’ve discovered lately as parents of a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old is a magazine made just for them – Chirp! Chirp is a magazine especially for 3-6 year-olds.

Our 6-year-old just loves reading and devours his copy of Chirp every month when it arrives in the mail. Our family likes it so much, we wanted to share!

In our August e-Newsletter (coming to an inbox near you on Friday!) we’re giving away 5 Owlkids prize packages – each one includes a 6-issue subscription to Chirp, sample magazines, activity pages, a poster map of Canada, stickers, bookmarks, and a t-shirt (approx $35 value)!

If you don’t already subscribe to our e-Newsletter, sign up now to get in on the action! Only current subscribers of the Inside the Pea Pod e-Newsletter will be eligible to win. You can fill out the form in the right-hand column here on the blog, or follow this link.

More about Chirp

Chirp is a unique magazine for children ages 3 to 6. Designed for preschoolers and beginner readers, each issue is bursting with puzzles, crafts, games, rhymes and read-out-loud stories. Chirp is a perfect way to introduce your children to the joy of reading and learning!

Readers will enjoy every issue jam-packed with:

• Well-loved Robbie & Emily stories and Chirp comic strip
• Age-appropriate puzzles, connect-the-dots, mazes and simple board games in Puzzles and Fun
• Special Chirp cut-out for readers to make and play with
• Chirp Crafts, even the littlest hands can master
• Fascinating facts about animals in Amazing Animal
• Original fiction and artwork by well-loved children’s authors and illustrators in Rhyme Time and Let’s Read
• Hilariously funny jokes in Laugh with Chirp

The Vancouver Island Baby Fair is proud to sponsor an upcoming screening of the movie “Babies” this Monday, July 26th at Cinecenta!

The presentation is brought to you by Play Victoria, with support from the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, Tall Tales Books and Mothering Touch Centre.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmes, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world. Joyfully capturing on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all – from birth to first steps.

Doors open at 6:30pm. The film begins at 7pm – tickets at the door.

There will be a panel discussion after the show and prize giveaways too!

The new CIBC Westshore Banking Centre is returning as an exhibitor to the upcoming Baby Fair. They joined us last year right after they opened their doors to the public, and now they’re celebrating their first birthday.

And this branch knows how to throw a party!!

Come out and celebrate CIBC Westshore Banking Centre’s 1st year anniversary!

Bring the family down to enjoy a BBQ, bouncy castles, face painting, ice cream and cake, loot bags, massages for the parents, live music by Chikoro Marimba, and other family fun activities. The fun goes from 10am to 2pm this Saturday, July 24 at 550-2945 Jacklin Road (by Superstore).

Contact Craig for more details - craig.pratt@cibc.com

The big moment so many wait for after every Baby Fair is finally here!
Here are the winners of the 2010 Nanaimo Photo Contest…

0-24 month old category: Aislynn.  2-6 year old category: Solace

Both Aislynn and Solace’s families win a $300 prize package including a portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital negatives from SeaSide Studios.

We are often asked how we pick the winners, and we always try to emphasize that it is not a “cutest baby” contest. We look for interesting photographs where the photographer has captured a special look or expression of the child. Check out some of the past faces of the Vancouver Island Baby Fair.

Thank you to all the families who entered their little ones into the photo contest! All families who entered receive a free 5×7 print which is available for pickup now at Huckleberry Baby Shop in Nanaimo.

Through the Photo Contest, face painting and stroller parking we have raised more than $1350 for Haven Society. Thank You also to London Drugs at Nanaimo North Town Centre for providing the 5×7 prints. We are donating that cost savings back to Haven Society.

We would love to send out a BIG thank you to all the exhibitors, presenters, children’s performers-Will Stroet and Music With Marnie & the families who participated in the Vancouver Island Baby Fair this past weekend in Nanaimo, BC!

A huge congratulations go to Tara Smith from Campbell River BC, winner of the Expecting Parent Grand Prize and also Congrats to Maureen Luney, a soon to be grandma from Victoria, BC who won the New Parent Grand Prize! Each prize was valued over $1300 with contributions from several of our exhibitors.

Check back for info on the Photo Contest! Winners will be announced in early July!

If you missed the fair please take a look at our exhibitor list or mark the date in your calendar of our next Vancouver Island Baby Fair which takes place September 25 & 26 at Pearkes Arena in Victoria BC.

We are very excited to tell you about a great new book called “Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods.

Expectant mothers are virtual magnets for unsolicited advice. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, sisters-in-law, new mothers, friends, and even strangers offer what seems to be an endless supply of supposedly authoritative opinions on every aspect of pregnancy: A craving for spicy food denotes a boy. Carrying the baby low denotes a girl. And, of course, everyone wants to touch her belly.

In this engaging, humorous, and very informative book, Drs. Shawn A. Tassone and Kathryn Landherr – experienced gynecologists, a husband-and-wife team of physicians, and parents of four children – explore the most common superstitions and myths surrounding pregnancy. With a scientific perspective, the authors not only entertain but provide a great deal of practical information, which will ease the fears and anxieties of expectant parents as well as clear up many confusing notions.

We will be giving away a copy of this book ‘Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods’ to the first 50 people that come through the doors at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair on both Saturday and Sunday! 100 books in all! Doors open at 10am so be sure to join us at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair this weekend, June 5 & 6 at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo!

Every person who attends this weekend’s Vancouver Island Baby Fair at Beban Park in Nanaimo will have a chance to enter for free into one of two grand prize draws, plus there are great prizes to be won for participating in the Photo Contest and Baby Races!

Grand Prize #1: Expecting Parent Package – Value $1323

• Abby Sprouts – $50 Gift Certificate
• Arbonne International- $50 Gift Certificate
• Creative Memories - $100 Gift Certificate
• Etheridge Photographic - Photo Session- includes $50 print credit (Value $200)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Hard Candy Baby Boutique - $100 Gift Certificate
• Huckleberry Baby Shop - $50 Gift Certificate
• Hudson & Saige - $50 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - “1-2-3” Photography Package: Maternity, newborn & 6-12 month portrait sitting plus 8×10 enlargement & online album (Value $199)
• Organic Family Natural Home – “I am Organic” Onezie, All Natural Baby Bliss Salve, Monster Away Spray & Sun Bliss Sunscreen  (Value $57)
• Sacred Baby - Sacred Baby Pouch Sling (Value $65)
• SeaSide Studios - Portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital prints (Value $300)
• Tokyo Baby - Leg warmers & 2 Kids Monkey Pants (Value $58)

Grand Prize #2: New Parent Package – Value $1396

• Abby Sprouts - $50 Gift Certificate
• Apples to Oranges Consulting - Selection of gluten-free, dairy-free snacks & goodies (Value $50)
• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Bellies In Bloom Maternity - See Kai Run Adelaide Boots (Value $54)
• Core Essentials Personal Training & Rehabilitation – One month (8 sessions) Baby Stroller Bootcamp Classes (Value $95)
• Hard Candy Baby Boutique - $50 Gift Certificate
• Mabel’s Labels - Big Combo label package (Value $55)
• Hudson & Saige - $50 Gift Certificate
• Maman Bidule - $65 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - Family portrait sitting, 12×18, 2 8×10 & 4 5×7 prints (Value $395)
• Oma Gosh! Designs - $50 Gift Certificate
• SeaSide Studios - Portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital prints (Value $300)
• U-Weight Loss Clinic - U Weight Loss protein powder: Whey Vanilla Flavour (Value $60)
• West Coast Strider Sales – 1x 750ml stainless steel water bottle, 1x 250ml stainless steel water bottle and a childs size WestCoast Strider T-shirt plus $20 gift certificate (Value $50)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday, June 5) – Value $285

• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Bellies In Bloom Maternity - See Kai Run booties- Ainsley Sandal size- 12-18 months (Value $39)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Mabel’s Labels – Camp/School label package (Value $34)
• Peekinz Baby - Footed playsuit with Peekinz pocket (Value $30)
• Tupperware - Divided feeding dish, sippy cup, Ideal bowl and snack cup (Value $30)
• Water’s Edge Organics - Natural wood teether & organic cotton onesie 6-12 months (Value $50)
• West Coast Strider Sales – Gift bag with Strider t-shirt, kids water bottle, adult water bottle & frisbee (Value $30)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday, June 6) – Value $344

• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Discovery Toys - “My blankie” book & yellow fleece blanket & $10 Gift Certificate (Value $45)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Kit n’ Caboodle Quality Children’s Consignment - $30 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - Portrait sitting & 8×10 enlargement (Value $105)
• Playpants - Playpants Original Bloomers in “Sail” & “Cocoon” (Value $32)
• Tupperware - Divided feeding dish, sippy cup, Ideal bowl and snack cup (Value $30)
• West Coast Strider Sales – Gift bag with Strider t-shirt, kids water bottle, adult water bottle & frisbee (Value $30)

Plus the winner of each Baby Race heat will get a $10 Gift Certificate to Hard Candy Baby Boutique!

Photo Contest prizes

A winner will be chosen in each of two categories: 0-24 months and 2-6 years old. Winner in each category receives a $300 Portrait Package including a portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital negatives from SeaSide Studios – our official Photo Contest photographer!

Footage shot at the 2009 Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria, BC.

Many thanks to Gerry Reimer Productions for shooting and editing the video!