SATURDAY, JUNE 5 MAIN STAGE BIOS:

Will Stroet

12:00pm and 2:00pm
As a bilingual children's performer and educator from Vancouver, Will Stroet knows how to make kids laugh, dance and sing. From blues to rock to pop-inspired tunes about animals, the environment, active living and sportsmanship, Will's high-energy and interactive music in English and French appeals to girls and boys of all ages.

Since 2005, Will has released four CDs of original music: "Let's All Dance," "Will et sa maman: Chantons et damsons," "My Backyard," and "Dans mon jardin." Recently, "My Backyard" was nominated for "Best Children's Recording of the Year" at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards.

Cristi Lundman

1:00pm - Baby Wearing in an age of recalls: Using infant carriers & slings safely and confidently
Wearing an infant in a baby carrier or sling promotes attachment and bonding while giving busy moms free hands and the ability to carry on with other activities. Join Cristi to learn what to look for when purchasing a baby sling or carrier and how to keep your baby safe while using it. You will have an opportunity to discuss and see a variety soft structured carriers, mei tais, wraps, stretchy carriers, pouch slings and ring slings.

Cristi Lundman runs Huckleberry Baby Shop in Nanaimo, supporting families' cloth diapering, baby wearing and natural parenting needs. For years, she has helped educate Vancouver Island families about cloth diapers and baby carriers through workshops, as a guest speaker and face-to-face in her Nanaimo store. Cristi has extensive personal experience to share, thanks to practicing cloth diapering and baby wearing on three children of her own. Also a prenatal educator, Cristi has an educational and career background in public health, paediatric and maternity nursing where she has worked with families and babies for many years.

Carmen Markowski

1:30pm - The power of play: Stages of child development & what parents can do to positively influence at each level
How does playtime impact the baby, the toddler, and the school-aged child? What can parents do to help their children develop the skills they need? With the pendulum swinging from one decade to the next, it's hard to know exactly what is best for your child in terms of their playtime habits. Carmen will talk about what areas of development are important at the different ages and how parents can encourage their children to become confident, independent learners in this increasingly competitive world.

Carmen Markowski is a Discovery Toys team leader. Before joining Discovery Toys after her first son was born, she taught elementary school full-time for eight years. What Carmen loved best about teaching elementary-aged children was the ability to bring play and learning together. She found when the students became immersed in the fun of their playtime or game, they were more enthusiastic and open to learning new things and it seemed easy for them. Now she loves bringing learning and play together with families through her business.

Stephanie Baird

3:00pm - Modern cloth diapering: Benefits & myths plus simple guidelines to help you get started
Considering Cloth Diapers? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Stephanie will show you modern cloth diaper options (no pins!), how to use cloth, how to wash your diapers (it's easy!), and let you try cloth diapers out yourself. Learn answers to common questions, why more parents are choosing cloth, what you need to get started, and some helpful tips and tricks. Come and get the answers you need to make the right diaper choice for your family.

Stephanie Baird, the owner of Abby Sprouts - an earth-friendly shop for baby, child, family and planet - teaches parents about cloth diapers through free demonstrations and cloth diaper parties on Vancouver Island. Steph loves helping parents with cloth diapers, organic and natural toys, and baby needs too. Steph is a mom, former foster parent and childcare provider with a background in Early Childhood Care and Education. She has changed countless diapers - both disposable and cloth - and is constantly learning about the latest benefits to cloth diapering. Bring your questions!

Kelli Etheridge

3:30pm - Top 10 tips for taking your own memorable photos of your kids
Wouldn't it be great if we could have a professional photographer tag along to all of life's important events? Or to be there to capture those perfect moments you'll never get back? Of course that's just not possible - but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to have great photos to remember those moments! Kelli Etheridge of Etheridge Photographic will take you through the top 10 tips to take great photos at home.

Kelli has been inspired by photography for many years. It was the birth of her two children in 1999 and 2002 that changed the focus of her photographic eye forever. Capturing the anticipation of pregnancy, the freshness of newborns, and the silliness of childhood became her goal. Her studio, Etheridge Photographic, is in its 5th year. Kelli regularly leads workshops in ProShow (slideshow software) and studio photography. She has served as president of the Harbour City Photography Club five times and once as the president of the Nanaimo Parent Participation Preschool. Kelli is also a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, an infant remembrance photography charity.

SUNDAY, JUNE 6 MAIN STAGE BIOS:

Music With Marnie

12:00pm and 2:00pm
Described as one of the best performers of her generation by the Vancouver International Children's Festival, Vancouver, B.C.-based Marnie Grey delivers stimulating, high-energy performances that involves children mentally, physically and emotionally.

The lively and interactive performances promote audience participation through music and movement, imitation and sing-a-longs. Instantly, children will be dancing, singing and signing along. Music with Marnie is Music that makes you MOVE!

Gary Anaka

1:00pm - Help your child reach their fullest potential: Find out how to grow your child's brain!
Is it possible to grow a child's brain? Definitely YES. With the right conditions and appropriate support from parents, the brain can reach it's fullest potential. It takes years of well-chosen experiences interacting with parents, caregivers and teachers to wire the billions of complex neural circuits needed for life-long learning. If you want to support children today, then you need to start with their brain.

Gary Anaka is a brain-based learning facilitator and learning assistance teacher. He has presented professional development to thousands of teachers, caregivers, parents and children since 1997. His sessions offer meaningful and practical support helping children to learn. The scope of his work can be viewed at www.braincoach.ca

Dr. Glen Reed

1:30pm - Benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and making informed decisions for our children
Dr. Reed will speak on chiropractic care during pregnancy and its many benefits including increased likelihood of full-term delivery, reduction in the time of labor and delivery, relief of back, neck or joint pain, and prevention of a potential cesarean section or breech delivery. He will also turn his attention to children and talk about the potential trauma of the birth process, and the frequent falls toddlers have that can cause vertebrae to be misaligned. Misalignment can cause colicky babies, chronic ear infections, headaches, learning disabilities and more.

Dr. Reed and his wife Jessica formed Reed Family Wellness Centre in 2005. Born into a chiropractic family, Dr. Reed received his first adjustment as a child, and abides by the saying "Chiropractic first, drugs second, surgery last." In daily practice Dr. Reed treats patients with a wide range of conditions. He particularly enjoys treating children, and to that end is currently completing his International Chiropractic Pediatric Association certification.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

11:00 Baby Races

For crawlers aged 5-11 mo.

12:00 Will Stroet

Bilingual children's performer

1:00 Cristi Lundman

Baby Wearing in an age of recalls: Using infant carriers & slings safely and confidently

1:30 Carmen Markowski

The power of play: Stages of child development & what parents can do to positively influence at each level

2:00 Will Stroet

Bilingual children's performer

3:00 Stephanie Baird

Modern cloth diapering: Benefits & myths plus simple guidelines to help you get started

3:30 Kelli Etheridge

Top 10 tips for taking your own memorable photos of your kids

Sunday, June 6, 2010

11:00 Baby Races

For crawlers aged 5-11 mo.

12:00 Music With Marnie

Children's performer: Music that makes you Move!

1:00 Gary Anaka

Help your child reach their fullest potential: Find out how to grow your child's brain!

1:30 Dr. Glen Reed

Benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and making informed decisions for our children

2:00 Music With Marnie

Children's performer: Music that makes you Move!

Our Emcees:

Brent Shearer
from 'A' News

Jonathan Bartlett
from 'A' News

Stephen Andrew
from 'A' News