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!

Advance tickets are now available for the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Nanaimo on June 5 & 6, 2010. Stop by any of the following locations to get a full weekend pass for just $5 (at the door entry is $7/day or $8/weekend).

• Bellies In Bloom Maternity (#104-4489 Viewmont Ave., Victoria)
• Dream With Me Custom Bedding (115 Chapel St., Nanaimo)
• Hard Candy Baby Boutique (#12-221 Second Ave., Qualicum Beach)
• Huckleberry Baby Shop (#12A-4376 Boban Dr., Nanaimo)
• Podlings (#104-2270 Cliffe Ave., Courtenay)

We are very excited to announce our upcoming giveaway in the next issue of our monthly e-newsletter going out May 5th!

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, June 5 & 6 in Nanaimo but in the meantime, check out their website for full details on these great bikes!

Just in time for summer, we will be giving away one West Coast Strider bike in the colour of the winner’s choice in the May issue of our e-newsletter, “Inside the Pea Pod” so subscribe today (right hand side of our blog) for your chance to win!

Bobs and Lolo perform at the 2009 Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria

I came across this article by Francois Marchand in the Vancouver Sun this week talking about how strongly British Columbia will be represented at the Juno Awards this year in the Children’s Album category. The Junos take place this weeekend – April 17-18 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Three of the five acts nominated in the category are from B.C. – but the part we’re super happy about is that two of those three performed at the last Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria! We featured both Bobs and Lolo and The Kerplunks at our 2009 event. Good luck to you both this weekend!

Here’s a quick snippet of the article:

There must be something in the water in British Columbia.

The Kerplunks perform at the 2009 Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria

How else can you explain three of the five acts nominated in the Children’s album of the year category hailing from this province?

We’re not talking small fries, either.

All three — Norman Foote, Bobs & Lolo and the Kerplunks — are award-winning, internationally acclaimed, parent-approved blockbuster acts that have charmed kids of all ages all over North America.

So who has the better angle to walk away with the trophy?

Is it Foote and his Love My New Shirt? Bobs & Lolo’s Action Packed? Or the Kerplunks and Walk On?

For the full article read: B.C. acts dominate children’s album category, but who’s the toughest kid on the block?

I’d like to let small business owners know about a teleclass I am guest speaking at Tuesday April 13th at 1pm PST.
It is about exhibiting at events- How to choose the right one so that you are making the most of your time & advertising dollars and how to have success at the event.

Participating in a well run event can provide unique and extensive exposure for your business with a vast array of benefits

Here are some of the reasons businesses exhibit:

• To sell product

• Promote your business to your target demographic

• Collect contacts of qualified potential customers to follow up with after the fair

• Network with other business owners & exhibitors

• Reach your potential customers face to face, in real life.

• Survey & get feedback from those you are trying to reach

• Participate in any variety of pre or post fair opportunities

• Participate in any non-booth fair related opportunities for exposure

• Keep up with your competition

• Recruit reps for your business

• Benefit from the extensive marketing campaign of the event producer

• And the list goes on…

It can be a very cost effective way to spend your advertising dollars!

Once you have chosen a show that is right for your business, well advertised, well attended & organized- what do YOU need to do to achieve success for your business?
Join the teleclass to find out!

Sign up now with host Kim Page Gluckie of Mindset Marketing & Money!

I look forward to chatting with some of you!

Warmly,

Shirley Broback, Producer
Vancouver Island Baby Fair

Franklin the Turtle is coming to Vancouver Island for a series of live shows, and we’re going to give you a chance to win tickets to the shows in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River!

The ticket giveaway will happen in our next e-Newsletter, going out on Wednesday, April 7 – if you don’t already receive the e-Newsletter, you can sign up using the form in the right-hand column of the blog.

Join Franklin on a quest to recover the lost “Golden Necklace” of Princess Harriet. Along the way, the gang must prove themselves worthy in an attempt to win the “Silver Shield” – the most treasured prize of knighthood.

On their crusade, they come upon all sorts of obstacles, including a fierce fire breathing dragon, 2 riddle loving Gargoyles, and a Wily Winged Beast!

Is Snail too small to be a hero? Will Beaver outwit the Gargoyles? Who will prove the mostworthy knight and win the treasured “Silver Shield”?

This musical adventure will have the whole family cheering and clapping to the original songs, music and dance as they join Franklin and his courageous friends and save the day!

Franklin The Turtle – The Adventures of the Noble Knights

Monday, April 19, 2010 – McPherson Theatre in Victoria
#3 Centennial Sq., Victoria, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: McPherson Box Office, by phone: 250-386-6121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - Port Theatre in Nanaimo
125 Front St., Nanaimo, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: Port Theatre Ticket Centre, by phone: 250-754-8550 or online at www.porttheatre.com

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River
1220 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: Tidemark Theatre Ticket Centre, by phone: 250-287-7465 or online at www.tidemark-theatre.com