A Masquerade Ball was held at Dawson by third year CRLT students to raise money for Dans la Rue
By Gabe Gilker
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you!
This is what happened last Friday at Dawson as The Masquerade Ball was held as a fundraiser for Dans la Rue, organized by the Community Recreation and Leadership Training’s (CRLT) third year students.
At 7:00 p.m. 5B.16 was already starting to gather quite a number of girls wearing heels and prom-like gowns and men all donning suits. Only upon drawing nearer to the room did it become apparent that this was no ordinary fancy-dress fundraiser. The crowd inside all danced as they drank from martini glasses only their smiles being apparent as the upper half of their faces was hidden behind glitter, feathers and an old sense of romanticism that is related with masquerades.
“We’re raising funds for the foundation Dans la Rue, so it’s to help people on the street and get them clothing and other necessities. All the money that we make is going to go towards them.” Sandy Thibodeau, a fifth semester CRLT student and one of the organizers said.
There was a wide variety of entertainment value in the huge room. There was a live DJ playing the popular hits of today and classics like “YMCA” by The Village People, they also had great prizes to be won in a raffle from their many sponsors.
They even had a costumed stranger playing with Devil Sticks in one corner.
“This is a project for our fundraising class, we had a month and a half to put together a fundraiser for a foundation,” Melissa Hudson, a third year CRLT student and organizer said. After a lot of brainstorming and process of elimination they agreed that a masquerade would be ideal for the Dawson population.
“When people thought this wouldn’t work out all I can say is, in your face,” Thibodeau said after finding out that by 9:00 p.m. they had already raised $1,800 for the good cause.
Through ticket sales and donations the group ended up making $2,000 to be donated to the 20-year-old Montreal-based organization that is dedicated to helping youth who live on the streets get back on their feet again.
“Tonight was great. I feel good because I’m donating to a good cause while having fun with my friends. I also got to buy a new dress; the only downside is that my high heels are killing my feet.” A girl with a black glittery mask said, wishing to keep her identity anonymous in the true spirit of the masquerade.
The Dawson Newspaper 