TOYBOX at the FPFM Wellness Fair | Foire petite enfance en santé et bien-être

April 9 & 16, 2025

Recently, the TOYBOX team had the wonderful opportunity to be at the Foire petite enfance en santé et bien-être (Early Childhood Wellness Fair) organized by the Fédération des parents de la francophonie manitobaine (FPFM). The fair took place in St. Lazare and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Wynonna's Reflection

On April 9th, the TOYBOX Team and I went to École Saint-Lazare for the wellness fair. With Saint Lazare being very close to the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, the drive gave us plenty of time to bond and made me really appreciate the people who make the ToyBox project happen. And wow! The rolling hills gave way to a beautiful town!

Meet our friend, Fred!

Once inside the school, we were greeted very warmly and got to meet and connect with the many other organizations that had booths. The families that came by our table were also excited to try the activities that we brought with us and learn about ToyBox. There was even one family from Saskatchewan who drove over the border to come to the fair!

In addition to the wonderful conversations, lunch was delicious. Nothing beats baked goodies and homemade pizza!

With full bellies and smiles on our faces, the drive back completed this precious memory that I will have of this day.

Maggy's Reflection

The TOYBOX team is so excited to be expanding the reach of our materials into the French community in Manitoba! On Wednesday April 16th, the team visited École Roméo Dallaire for a French wellness fair. TOYBOX team members in attendance included collaborators from St. Boniface University who are helping to transform TOYBOX into a fully bilingual project.

At the fair, the team shared several strategies with parents and their children: a numeracy activity using dice, and three strategies about animals. All the materials brought to the fair were in french and families were excited to see and learn about TOYBOX for the first time. The team even witnessed one child who was so excited to try the dice activity that him and his father sat down at the fair and immediately gave it a try together. Other families were interested in learning about our three characters and our own specially designed deck of cards. Overall, it was a great success, and we hope to be invited back!

Un grand merci à Virginie et à la Fédération des parents de la francophonie manitobaine de nous avoir inivités.

Written by: Wynonna & Maggy