Jasper鈥檚 ladies will get the star treatment, April 26, as they walk down the red carpet and pose for local paparazzi during the Hollywood-themed Spring Fever Ladies Gala.
The sixth annual event will bring together women of all ages鈥攆rom 18 to 80鈥攖o eat, drink, dance, laugh and raise money for HIV West Yellowhead and the Cancer Action and Support Group.
鈥淲e decided on the theme because everyone tends to dress up anyways. That鈥檚 one of the fun things about the event, because Jasper is more of a hiking boots and puffy jackets kind of place,鈥� said HIV West Yellowhead鈥檚 Karly Savoy.
Along with the red carpet, there will also be complimentary champagne and canapes, and an awards ceremony鈥攆or which the categories are a secret. Although she couldn鈥檛 divulge the specifics, Savoy said the awards will highlight 鈥減ositive or quirky things about women in town.鈥�
Included in that will be a Queen of the Gala award for someone who has attended for all six years. The lucky lady to receive that distinction will be the recipient of something special鈥攁gain a secret.
To make the awards extra fun and interactive, gala-goers will be asked to enter the names of the women they think are the most deserving of the numerous distinctions, and from those ballots one will be randomly selected from each box.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be so fun,鈥� said Andrea Quick, executive director of HIV West Yellowhead.
Since its inception in 2009, the ladies gala has been a huge hit, selling out every year. So, this year the organizers decided to expand and open the event up to more women.
To do that, the gala has been moved from Papa George鈥檚 to the Best Western Jasper Inn and Suites.
鈥淲e鈥檝e outgrown Papa George鈥檚,鈥� explained Quick, who had nothing but positive things to say about the location and its support for the event over the past five years.
With the move, the event is able to grow by about 25 tickets to a total of 120.
Included in the ticket is a buffet-style dinner and a dance party with DJ Katrina Hernandez.
鈥淭he menu is so awesome this year because it has vegan, gluten free and vegetarian options鈥攂ut don鈥檛 get us wrong, there鈥檚 still meat,鈥� said Quick with a laugh. 鈥淎nd, of course, the silent auction will be the best one in town, as per usual.鈥�
Between the ticket sales and auction, the event brings in around $6,000, which is split between the two non-profit organizations.
Each year, the Jasper Cancer Action and Support Group uses its portion to help Jasperites with cancer, said Laurie-Ann Reddick, a member of the group and one of the event organizers.
鈥淲e help out financially and we offer peer support and resources,鈥� she said, noting that Jasperites living with cancer face greater financial burdens than people in the city, because of extra travel costs.
The ladies gala is the cancer group鈥檚 largest fundraiser of the year, with all of the proceeds going toward people who have been recently diagnosed.
The other host of the party, HIV West Yellowhead, uses its share of the funds to support women and men in the region by educating them about positive sexual health choices. This includes hosting workshops, distributing condoms at bars and pubs, putting up posters with the phone number for a sexual health nurse and organizing awareness events.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e both good causes,鈥� said Reddick. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a great combo.
鈥淎nd this year is going to be really exciting.鈥�
To purchase tickets for the event, head to Bombshell or the HIV West Yellowhead office at 612 Connaught Drive.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
