A HUGE ANNUAL SUCCESS:
18 YEARS OF PUTTING FAMILY FIRST!

AND THE FAIR’S NEW SPOKESPERSON IS…
ITS FOUNDER LOUISE BENOIT,
MOM, GRANDMOTHER AND BUSINESSWOMAN!

 

 

 

Montréal, December 7, 2009. A record 325 exhibitors are expected at Canada’s biggest consumer fair for families, the 18th annual Parents and Kids Fair, April 8 to 11, 2010 at Place Bonaventure, in Montréal. This is nearly five times the number of exhibitors the event drew when it first started, and the energy and tenacity of the Fair’s founding president are among the reasons why it’s so popular. Which is why we are pleased that Louise Benoit has agreed to become the Fair’s new spokesperson. Just how popular is the Fair? Some 50,000 visitors are expected in 2010. The Parents and Kids Fair, the famfest for expectant mothers and parents of children ages 0 to 6, is being presented for a 10th straight year by the Jean Coutu Group, an exceptional sponsor whose belief in the event, continued loyalty and commitment are a source of inspiration. 

Canada’s biggest consumer fair for families

“Just like trees, kids need deep and strong roots to grow. I tip my hat to my parents, my grandparents, and the generations of men and women before me who gave of themselves for thousands of hours so their kids and grandkids could lead a better life. I am moved by their incredible courage, and this all reminds me of why I resolved to create, on that sunny spring day in 1991, a parenting fair for families with kids ages 0 to 6. This is how the Parents and Kids Fair was born. It has since grown into Canada’s biggest consumer fair for families,” states proudly Louise Benoit, the Fair’s founding president. 

We should mention that over time the Fair has become a family event that is as much fun for kids as it is informative for parents and expectant parents. It has become a must-do activity for parents and future parents, and now even grandparents, who pen it in their calendar each year. That’s because they know the Fair pools together every possible tool and resource needed to plan and make the most of family life. The Parents and Kids Fair is the biggest showcase for early chilldhood products, services and resources. Visitor satisfaction is 94%! People just love the family atmosphere, and it shows. As for Louise Benoit and her team, it continues to be a family tradition!

Louise Benoit has a gift and flair for surrounding herself with the right people -- talented, versatile and loyal collaborators. “I feel blessed to be able to organize such a beautiful event that celebrates the love we feel for the children who light up our lives,” says a buoyant Louise Benoit, who along with being a driven and generous businesswoman, is also the proud grandmother of Clara and Thomas. 

How it all began…

Louise Benoit, the founding president of the Parents and Kids Fair, is a born people person and communicator -- traits she inherited form her father, an insurance man for over 40 years. “I love people,” she openly admits. “I often find myself stopping parents on the street quite spontaneously to chat about some of the issues affecting them and their children or to learn about the types of services they could use. It’s a quick and pleasant way for me to keep my ear to the ground to ensure the quality and relevance of the three signature themes of the Fair – healthcare, social services and consumer products and services.” 

A born doer

Louise Benoit has been in the event planning business for years. She simply thrives on it. On the heels of having worked on some of Montreal’s major trade shows, she was sitting in an outdoor terrace one sunny day when suddenly she was struck by the number of mothers and strollers passing by, and realized there was no show for parents and expectant parents.

This coincided with the growing number of pregnant women she would meet everywhere she went, a product of the demographic trend labeled as the Baby Boom Echo, which was still alive and well in Québec in 1991. She recalled the lack of resources available to mothers back when she had her daughter, Marie-Soleil, at age 21. She resolved to remedy the situation by creating the Parents and Kids Fair. After two years of planning, the Fair launched in the spring of 1993. It was an instant success.  

When persistence has Louise Benoit written all over it…

The secret of her success: strong values inherited from her father such as always being actively involved, perseverance, kindness and commitment. There’s a reason why every company Louise Benoit started bears her name. “When I start something, I give it my all, and I’m not afraid to attach my name to the endeavours I’m involved with. Recognition and success in business are things you build on daily, year after year. We enjoy close ties with our partners, exhibitors and sponsors, ties based on values you can depend on: honesty, respect and trust,” says Benoit.

Meaningful success: Parenting… Love and learn !

In 1994, Louise Benoit asked the scouts from the Greater Montréal chapter of the organization to escort moms with strollers, grandparents needing assistance and even expectant moms up the stairs leading to the exhibition hall of Place Bonaventure. It was a simple idea, but one that amply reflected Benoit’s knack for business, people and kids. That same year, she was made an honourary member of the Scouts du Montréal Métropolitain. For Benoit, leading a successful, rewarding life is intrinsically tied with helping people, another quality she inherited from her father, who enjoyed the final years of his life as a monk at the Saint-Benoit abbey, after helping Cardinal Léger raise funds for Fame pereo, one of the Cardinal’s first charitable endeavours. The Parents and Kids Fair continues to be free for children ages 12 and under. That in itself speaks volumes! Always driven by the desire to see children grow in the best possible developmental conditions, Louise Benoit invites you to come enjoy the 18th Parents and Kids Fair, and see why parenting is a love and learn experience ! 

 

Birth-Health-Education-Leisure-Product-Services

Birth, health, breastfeeding, food, fertility, education, security/prevention, adoption, government services, hospitals, organizations, associations, child care products, organic products, clothing, furniture, decoration, vacations, leisure, toys, consumer trends, book shops, pool safety, entertainment, conferences, fashion, shows for kids, giant sandbox, face painting, clowns, mascots, children’s restaurant, daycare, changing and feeding area, and plenty of contests! 

Fair Essentials

When? April 8, 9, 10, 11, 2010   www.parentsandkidsfair.com
Times? Thursday – Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where? Place Bonaventure, Montréal.
Admission? $12 Adults, $10 Seniors/Students. Free for children 12 and under.

A Louise Benoit Communications Event.

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