Women helping Yukon students experience prom of their dreams

A group of women in the Yukon are helping high school students find their perfect prom outfit no matter the barriers they might face.

Three women from the Yukon Ladies Ask group on Facebook are organizing an initiative called Once Upon A Prom. 

They are accepting donations of formal dresses, suits, lightly worn shoes and other accessories for deserving students nominated by teachers and counselors. Once selected, students will be able participate in a boutique day where they can choose their outfit for prom.

"We wanted to provide a space that no matter what their resources, circumstances or barriers to be able to attend that they get to go and celebrate with their peers across the communities," said one of the organizers, Riley Denneny.

Kaley-Lynn Hewitt-MacDougall, another one of the women involved, said accessing prom attire can be challenging for many families, especially in smaller places like the Yukon.

"It's not easy for anyone in the Yukon to go and get a grad dress because we don't have a grad store. You can't walk in and pick out a prom dress right downtown on Main Street," Hewitt-MacDougall said. 

"The process is ordering online, which is always risky, or you get on a plane and you're travelling to the city and then you need a hotel and expenses while you're there. It's challenging for all families. So this is just such a special way to bring these items to the Yukon."

One round of donations is complete with the second round set to begin on Monday. The organizers are still in need of donations, but Denneny said the support they've already received from the community has been "overwhelming."

Hewitt-MacDougall said one of the dresses collected so far had a special note attached. 

"Just saying, 'hello, beautiful, I hope you feel amazing in this dress. I hope you have an amazing time. I hope your prom is everything you imagined.' It was just so heartfelt," Hewitt-MacDougall said. 

Though she did not have the prom she imagined growing up, Hewitt-MacDougall said it means a lot to her to help graduates have a positive experience during such an important milestone.

"My prom experience wasn't quite as welcoming or as magical as I wanted it to be. So it is very special for me on a personal level that I get to be a part of this project and make these dreams come true. I get to almost relive my prom fantasies through all of these students."

An earlier version of this initiative, known as the Cinderella Project, helped provide prom dresses to students in Whitehorse. This year, the organizers are hoping to extend the initiative to other communities as well. 

"There's lots of grads who do come to Whitehorse for graduation," said Kristie Sereda, who is also part of the group. "But there are some other grads that stay behind in their communities and so we are also going to be reaching out to them and including them in our project." 

The next round of donations are being accepted in Whitehorse next week from Monday to Friday. Items can be dropped off at Porter Creek Secondary and F.H. Collins Secondary from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the 98 Hotel on evenings and weekends.