Fort St. John’s second Daddy Daughter Princess Ball a success

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The second Daddy Daughter Princess Ball on October 14th was a success, with over 150 people in attendance.

The Oil Wives Club of Fort St. John and Alcan #91 Order of The Easter Star put on the Under the Sea-themed Daddy Daughter Princess Ball at the Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre.

Tennille Penner, vice president of the Oil Wives Club of Fort St. John, said the event was for girls aged three to 12 and their dad or a significant male role model.

“Everybody’s family looks different, obviously, but the intent of the event was to have a positive male role model come and dance with whoever their little girl may be and show them a nice night out,” Penner said.

She said the organizers were laughing because it’s not very often they see a dance floor completely packed at 5 p.m.

“But the music hit, and immediately all the little girls were all on the dance floor, and they were all lined up in rows,” Penner said.

The event also included many games, henna tattoos, photo booths, a candy table, a colouring table, prizes and a silent auction.

“[The silent auction] was mostly for the dads, but it was the little girls telling their dads what they wanted them to bid on, which was really funny,” Penner said.

Penner said the proceeds from the ball will cover event costs and then be put back into a community organization.

Linda Stirling, secretary of the Alcan #91 Order of The Easter Star, said she picked up the idea at an event in another city and, when she looked into the origins, found the idea started in the United States.

She said the lady who started it lived in a town with high spousal abuse rates.

“She wanted girls to have the opportunity to know what it was like to go out and be treated properly by a gentleman,” Stirling said.

Stirling said the support and sponsorships from business in the community was amazing.

Penner said they will take a bit of a break before beginning to talk about 2024’s event, but they are looking forward to the energy of a room full of little girls having the time of their lives again.