For many parents, the struggle to balance work, family, and social connection is all too familiar. Even with supportive relatives and friends, finding time to recharge and connect can feel impossible.

That’s the challenge four entrepreneurs set out to address, and in doing so, launched a business that’s as much about community as it is about fun.

The idea for Wild Child Events and Inflatable Rentals first began through co-founder Matt Murray’s work as a school counselor and providing couples counseling at Mind at Peace. With years of experience supporting families Matt knows first-hand how difficult it can be for parents to find time for themselves.

“Even with my wife and I working full-time and having grandparents and aunts and uncles who are super supportive, we still find it hard,” he shared. “If we wanted to get parents together, we had to give them childcare.”

That spark led to a simple but powerful concept: host events where parents could socialize and kids could have a blast. At first, the plan was to buy one inflatable, but the idea quickly grew.

Matt and Kaylie Murray partnered with family Katie and Jason LaPointe from Campbellton to ensure that much of Northern New Brunswick would be covered.

Today, the business has seven inflatables, with services that include full setup and takedown.

“We wanted it to be all-inclusive,” they explained. “We’ve all hosted birthday parties, and the last thing you want to do is spend the morning hauling and setting up equipment.”

What started as a side business to complement a full-time teaching career has taken off faster than expected. Launching earlier than planned in August, they were met with immediate community support.

While summer is the busiest season, there’s opportunity for winter events, too. Indoor birthday parties, school rentals, and community drop-off nights are all on the horizon. They were particularly inspired by a local school event where parents could drop off their kids to shop or get holiday errands done.

Beyond rentals, the business has a deeper mission: Helping parents, kids, and newcomers to build a social network. As parents and community members, the team behind Wild Child Events and Inflatable Rentals knows the value of these connections. 

They also take safety seriously. The business carries full liability insurance and is registered with the province as an amusement park to ensure it meets all certification requirements. This not only gives parents peace of mind, but also ensures every event is compliant with provincial safety standards.For now, bookings are managed through Facebook, but there are plans to develop a website in the future.

We want to thank Matt Murray for coming in and the whole team for bringing more excitement and socialization to our region.