One of the fun parts of coming to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair is the chance to win some pretty amazing prizes. Many exhibitors will have great prize draws in their booths, plus we’ve lined up some huge prize packages for the photo contest, baby races, and grand prizes at the door.

New Parent Grand Prize – Value: $1835

• April Showers Cakes – Neutral design diaper cake ($60)
• Awesome Mommies – One year Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($60)
• Baby Oopies – Newborn size bamboo nighttime cloth diaper & matching wool diaper cover ($75)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – BCAA Gift Card ($50)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Posh Plus nursing pillow ($70)
• Blue Sky Photography – Two hour maternity photo session plus five 5×7 prints ($225)
• Camosun College Prenatal Program – 12 hour prenatal class series or weekend ($165)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Hip Baby Victoria – Gift Card ($50)
• Hudson & Saige – Gift Certificate ($50)
• JamTots Baby & More Store – Baby Kangas one-size diaper with hemp stuffer, one change pad and one wet bag ($56)
• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Newborn package: newborn session, 25 custom-designed birth announcements, two 5×7 portraits ($350)
• Momma Goose Baby Care – New Mom package: Belly Butter Bar, Herbal Sitz Bath, Recovery Care, All Better Balm ($56)
• Mothering Touch Centre – $30 Gift Card & $50 punch card for classes ($80)
• Norwex Enviro Products – Antibacterial baby hooded towel set & antibacterial body pack ($50)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• Snugglings – Organic cotton/bamboo blankets & bib ($52)
• Tokyo Baby – Two pairs Monkey pants & leg warmers ($58)
• Wee Woolies – 100% pure NZ merino swaddle wrap ($50)
• Wobabybasics – Cosy Me Gift Set: Sleeping Cocoon & Hold Me bodysuit wrapped in Eco box ($72)

Parent & Tot Grand Prize – Value: $1652

• Abby Sprouts – Gift Certificate ($50)
• Awesome Mommies – One year Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($60)
• Baby Jones – Boots & Bracelets ($50)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – BCAA Gift Card ($50)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – See Kai Run shoes ($36)
• Creative Exposure Photography – Maternity/family session plus proof album ($225)
• Elements of Health Centre – 60 min. acupuncture treatment with Jonna Eggerer ($100)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Fill Your Own – Eco-friendly lunchkit: stainless steel drink bottle, 2 stainless steel airtight food containers, reuseable lunch bag made from recycled water bottles ($50)
• Hip Baby Victoria – Gift Card ($50)
• Hudson & Saige – Gift Certificate ($50)
• Huckleberry Baby Shop – Echoes in the Attic tote bag & $10 Gift Certificate ($55)
• JamTots Baby & More Store – KangaSac Litterless Lunch System: lunch bag, 2 sandwich bags, 2 snack bags & 2 ice packs ($53)
• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family package: family session plus 3 high resolution digital negatives ($350)
• Momma Goose Baby Care – New Baby Package: All Better Balm, Bottom Balm, Massage Oil & Sun Defence ($56)
• Norwex Enviro Products – Cleaning pack: antibacterial enviro cloth, dusting mitt, antibacterial window cloth ($50)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• ROCKBEBE – Gift Certificate ($50)
• School House – Gift Certificate ($50)
• St. Margaret’s School – Back to School gift basket: SMS lunch bag, pencil case, markers, coloured pencils ($60)
• Tutu Faboo – Custom tutu, fairy wing set & fairy wand ($65)

Every visitor to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair will receive one ballot at the door, and may enter it for either one of the two Grand Prizes. Deadline for entry is Sept. 26 at 4pm (at the close of the fair). Winners will be drawn after closing and notified, plus will be announced in our e-Newsletter, blog and/or website.

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday) – Value: $452

• Abby Sprouts – Two onesies & $15 Gift Certificate ($45)
• Awesome Mommies – 6 month Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($45)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – Graco booster seat ($40)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Leather See Kai Run booties ($36)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Gift Card ($30)
• ROCKBEBE – Crib Shoe- baby’s first running shoe ($30)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• Tutu Faboo – Matching fairy wings and fairy wand ($35)
• Wobabybasics – Take Me Out Gift Set: Hold Me bodysuit, leggings & bandana scarf wrapped in eco box ($51)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday) – Value: $493

• Abby Sprouts – Two onesies & $15 Gift Certificate ($45)
• April Showers Cakes – Neutral design diaper cake ($40)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Leather See Kai Run booties ($36)
• Bo Dene’s Art – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Gift Card ($30)
• ROCKBEBE – Crib Shoe- baby’s first running shoe ($30)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• School House – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Wobabybasics – Ready for the World gift set: Tickle Me all-in-one, Messy Me burp bib wrapped in eco box ($45)

Babies aged 5-11 months race in heats of 4-5 babies. Winner of each heat will receive a Savvy Squirrel Coupon Book ($10 value) and will move on to the final race. Final race winner’s family will receive the grand prize.

Photo Contest Grand Prizes

A $10 donation to the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society will get your chid an on-site portrait shoot with Jennifer Jonker Photography, a 5×7 print from your session after the fair, and enter you in the contest. One winner will be chosen in each of two categories: Baby (0-24 months) and Child (2-6 years)

Winner of Baby (0-24 months) category:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – $100 “Room Makeover” Gift Certificate from Cloverdale Paints
• Become the poster child for our next Baby Fair in Victoria
• Appear on the cover of Island Parent Magazine

Winner of Child (2-6 years) category:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• ROCKBEBE – Gift Certificate ($100)

If you missed Shirley Broback on CFAX 1070 this morning on Real Parenting, you can listen back to the interview here:

Real Parenting – Sept. 18, 2010

Tune in to Real Parenting on CFAX 1070 this morning between 10am-11am. Shirley Broback, producer of the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, will be on to talk about the upcoming fair next weekend – Sept. 25 & 26.

Plus, host Amy Bronee will speak with Stephanie Curran of Elements of Health Centre about using acupressure for labour – a preview of her talk on the main stage next weekend.

Listen live at CFAX website or tune in at 1070AM in Victoria.

It’s back! Our most popular e-Newsletter giveaway ever is back this week… the Strider running bike from West Coast Strider Sales!

As always, this giveaway is exclusive to people who receive our e-Newsletter – a monthly inside scoop on the Vancouver Island Baby Fair –  you can be the first to know about Baby Fair announcements and we always have a giveaway to offer to subscribers only.

In recent issues, we’ve given away subscriptions to Chirp magazine and a $50 gift certificate to Abby Sprouts…

In our next e-Newsletter going out the morning of Friday, Sept. 10, we’re giving away one of these cool West Coast Strider Bikes! To sign up, fill out the form over in the right-hand column of the blog, or visit our e-Newsletter sign-up page.

Strider Running Bike

Skip the tricycle and the training wheels!
Strider running bikes are two wheeled bikes designed to allow your child to teach themselves to balance on two wheels, without the interference of pedals or chains. Weighing only 6.9 lbs and with a seat that lowers to just 11″ from the ground, children as young as 12 months up to 5 years (50 lbs) can easily handle the Strider running bike and gain the confidence they need to balance on two wheels. Stand back and watch as they teach themselves to balance. You will be amazed!  Strider running bikes come in six vibrant colors: Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange and Yellow.

Your preschooler can come try out a West Coast Strider bike in the Kids Corner at the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair, September 25 & 26, 2010 at Pearkes Rec Centre in Victoria, but in the meantime, check out their website for full details on these great bikes!

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.