ANNIE SILVESTER/Bullet News
Beamsville District Secondary School was packed with women from all over the region for the seventh annual Beamsville Strawberry Festival Association’s Fundraiser. Featured on the bill were over 100 booths that were displayed in various rooms and levels throughout the cavernous facility that offered something for everyone.
Whether it was browsing, retail therapy or just gleaning some information about local products and services… it was there.
“We don’t even let the men in and we just have fun,” said Jane Gadsby, one of the coordinators of the event.
Gadsby made note of the important timing of the day as well.
“Well, let’s face it, we’re burnt, baby. After all that Christmas stuff. All the holidays…putting things together for everyone else. Now it’s our time: Massages, pedicures, manicures, facials and of course there’s retail therapy going on here. We have clothing, we have makeup, aromatherapy. We’ve got food. Have you seen Blossom Bakery? Oh my God!”
She also makes no apologies for the strict no men policy.
“Well, you know how it is when you’re shopping with a guy and he’s tapping his fingers and he’s waiting for you. This way you don’t have to worry. You can take your time at any booth you feel like and he’s not going to be here to hold you back.”
Gadsby says the inception of the event seven years ago all started with a group sitting around and a desire to do something no one else was doing and “this idea just sprung out of the air” and she has been really pleased with the results.
“This is fabulous. Some people you haven’t seen all year even though you are in the same community and then there they are. So you talk, you communicate and of course you eat.”
Another highlight of the affair was the keynote speaker Adele Alfano, Canada’s Diamond Coach, nominated for “Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women. ” She talked about her main message to the ladies in her presentation.
“Today we’re talking about excavating and mining and exploring all those wonderful gems that we have inside of ourselves. So just making sure we communicate with ourselves a little bit better, making those commitments to ourselves and celebrating who we are, realizing that we do not necessarily have to be perfect just perfectly you.”
Alfano was highly supportive of the idea behind a day of pampering for the attendees.
“I love this day because it’s pampering. What a great way to have a day for yourself. And we tend to forget who we are and just one day set aside for ourselves is wonderful and I think that this message is so universal.”
Esenje Bonga-Hall from Kynk Naturals travelled all the way from the Cambridge area to showcase her products at one of the booths which she calls” organic, fair trade and completely safe and natural. Our philosophy is if you can’t eat it we don’t use it.”
She points out her signature product is “In the Raw” their fair trade Organic Shea Butter which as she says is “fantastic for anything to do with skin.”
Bonga-Hall also had some interesting insights on the day as a whole.
“This teaches us to take care of ourselves. Who mothers the mother? Well our mother does but if our mother is not here we get to mother each other.”
Kelly Frank from Tupperware was thrilled to have a platform to display her wares.
“Tupperware is so exciting we’ve got so many great products. We’ve gotten very innovative. It’s definitely not your mom’s Tupperware anymore.”
Adding it’s a great career opportunity for ladies who want to have a lot of flexibility in their schedule selling a well-known brand name.
She loves what the Pampering Fest is all about.
“You know that I think these events are fantastic because women need a place where they can just be girls for a day and this is what this event is all about. I notice that people come in twos and threes and that’s kind of what Tupperware’s like. Budding up with a girlfriend and having some fun.”
Michelle Fortuna from Melissa’s Aloe in the Crystal Beach area had an amazing display of skin products for women, Aloe Juice and the famous Melissa’s Aloe Pet Products that she and her daughter Melissa develop and sell. Both lines use the healing power of the Aloe Plant as their base and she talks about its properties.
“Aloe is one of those perfect foods. Not only when applied topically it provides immediate relief but when taken internally it has the ability to heal and nourish and it knows where you need the help.”
Fortuna as well has nothing but good things to say about the day.
“This is great for girls to get out and have a fun day, eat a lot of chocolate and laugh and try samples and meet other great women.”
For more information:
www.strawberryfest.ca
www.AdeleAlfano.com
www.kynk.ca
www.my.tupperware.ca/kellyfrank
www.melissasaloepet.com
Also check out IKFADTV.com for full video coverage of the event.
