Against a backdrop of ocean, mountains, and the quintessential cloudy Vancouver sky, parents and schools gathered at the 2010 Vancouver Private School Expo at the Westin Bayshore Hotel on Sunday, November 28th. In it’s third year, the annual event reached new achievements in attendance, feedback, and overall buzz.
Parents gather at the 2010 Vancouver Private School Expo, held at the Westin Bayshore Hotel. Image courtesy of Global BC.
Continuing in the trend of this year’s previous expos – Montreal, Halton-Peel, and Toronto – Vancouver’s event saw a 30% increase in parents and families arriving to connect with private and independent school representatives and students. This year, about 22 schools from the Vancouver and Vancouver Island area exhibited, as well as schools from across Canada and even in the United States.
“It’s a must-do.” Leann Hill, parent.
And as schools travel longer distances to reach the expo, so do families. This year, families made the journey from Seattle, Washington and even Mexico specifically to attend the Our Kids Vancouver Expo.
“It was excellent. We learned so much at once, it’s a one-stop shop,” said Leann Hill, who attended the even to explore her private school options for her four-year-old daughter Natalie, and later for her three-month-old son Chandler. Leann and her husband Kelly are planning their upcoming move from Seattle to Vancouver, and have been struggling with getting all the information they need from across the border. But they found their time at the expo was well-spent.
“I found out about schools I didn’t even know existed. It’s a must-do for parents, for sure,” Leann said.
Besides getting one-on-one discussions with potential schools, parents also got the advice from Robin Hinnell, the Executive Director of the Independent Schools Association of B.C., who gave a presentation about how to find the right school for each child, as well as Tim Davies, a consultant for Investors Group Financial Services Inc., who provided parents with some helpful tips on how to afford a private education for their kids.
“Robin was bang-on.” – Kelly Hill, parent.
This year’s expo came at a particularly interesting time, when the public school system in British Columbia faces problems with low-enrolment, funding cuts, and possible school closures. The debate between public vs. private schools has been re-ignited, so says Global BC’s Eric Szeto who filed this report from the expo.
With the Vancouver Private School Expo completed, the Our Kids Expo season comes to a close. We’re proud to report record-breaking numbers and unprecedented satisfaction from both parents and schools. We, and hopefully others, are already looking forward to 2011′s events!
Supporters and Sponsors
- A parental control that works. For parents. With children.
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| Tim Davies | Matthew Bowyer |
- Everything a parent needs to know about private and independent schools. www.ourkids.net
The Westin Bayshore Hotel Vancouver is a fantastic venue for medium to big size conventions. They have amply space and their ballroom is on the ground floor with many doors for easy access. The services in the hotel are fantastic and the location beside Stanley Park is definately great!!