The next Vancouver Island Baby Fair will take place Sept 24 & 25 in Victoria BC and we will be celebrating our 5th anniversary and our seventh fair on the island! (Including our two shows that have taken place in Nanaimo)

At each fair we love to support a local charity that focuses on pregnancy through preschool, just like we do at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair. We fund raise through our very popular photo contest, facepainting and stroller parking. Plus, the charity we work with is provided with loads of exposure prior to, during the weekend of the fair, and after.

So far we have raised more than $11,000 and worked with these amazing charities.

Child Find BC

Success by 6

Nanaimo Child Development Centre

Foster Parent Support Society

Haven Society

Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

We are now planning for our Fall fair, Sept 24 & 25 in Victoria at Pearkes Arena and would love to hear your suggestions for a local non-profit charity that is geared to young families. Deadline for suggestions is Friday, February 11, 2011.

Feel free to send me an email, or leave a comment here.

We are so excited to tell you that Toopy and Binoo are bringing their first live tour to Vancouver Island with shows in Victoria, Nanaimo and Duncan in January! Pre-sale tickets will be available for a very limited time, starting Tuesday, Nov. 2nd:

VICTORIA – Jan. 9 at 1pm, MacPherson Playhouse: Buy online.

NANAIMO – Jan. 10 at 6:30pm, Port Theatre:
Buy online.

DUNCAN – Jan. 11 at 6:30pm, Cowichan Theatre: Buy online.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
In a brand new live production, Koba Entertainment brings you the theatrical debut of Canada’s big sensation Toopy and Binoo!

Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon brings to life these two fun-loving and adorable characters, whose antics are driven by their out-of-the-world imagination. Their unpredictable adventures inspire children to push their own limits!

You only get to make a first impression once! Preparing for his stage debut, Toopy has to not only find the perfect song to sing, but he also has to find the perfect place to perform it!

As Toopy and his best friend Binoo embark on their most important musical quest ever, they encounter a Blue Cat Blues Band, a Loud Mouth Crooner Fish, some Rock n’ Roll Sheep, a pair of Love Struck Dragons and many other zany characters along the way.

Entertaining and whimsical, Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon is a fairy-tale for our times; it incorporates music, theatre, dance, puppetry and innovative multimedia technology to weave a story that will tickle the imagination of the entire family!

About Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon
Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon is a 90-minute theatrical production by Koba Entertainment. Led by award-winning choreographer, Patti Caplette as writer and director, our creative team includes JUNO Award winner Norman Foote as co-writer and music director; Andrew Beck as scenic designer; Luc Lavergne as video designer; and costume designs from Maydwell Mascotts, Sue Dicks Design, and Anne Armit and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet wardrobe department.

Toopy and Binoo is based on the best-selling children’s books by Dominique Jolin. The characters made their television debut in 2005 and quickly climbed into the hearts of children in hundreds of countries including Treehouse TV (Canada), Tiji (France), Rai Sat (Italy) and Sun TV (India).

Toopy & Binoo is the top-rated program for kids from 2 to 6 years old. Visit the official tour website: www.ToopyandBinooOnTour.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.

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)