9 years ago, Caroline MacGillivray held the first Beauty Night at WISH Drop in Centre in Vancouver, BC. 14 volunteers took care of 73 women who attended the event. Many of the attendees live in poverty and experience violence. The opportunity to be in a safe space is something that is valued. The opportunity to be treated with dignity and respect made them feel good.

What started off as a special Christmas make over party, became a way to reintroduce touch to victims of violence. When attendees saw the physical change, they started to believe other types of change were possible. They attended literacy classes to show off their freshly painted nails, visited the health clinics to talk about how good they felt and walked out with an extra bounce in their step.

Working directly with the attendees, helped change the perception of many of our volunteers. One of our volunteers told us, “I go past these women every day on the bus but I don’t see them. Tonight I laughed and hugged so many of them. I can’t go back to not being able to see them.”

Last night we celebrated Beauty Night Society’s 9th birthday in Vancouver & Prince George. In Vancouver, the festivities started off with Christmas caroling. Volunteers, participants & their children sang Christmas tunes while creating Christmas cards. Thanks to accessing karaoke via youtube.com, we were able to get everyone singing and dancing.

Women and children gathered around the table with their children cutting and pasting ribbon to card stock. Womyn’s Gym coordinator, Tyla Flexman helped the women find stickers & pens as they sifted through the mountain of art supplies. Through words and art they found different ways to say thank you on paper. These cards were given to many of our volunteers.

Thanks to sponsorship through Liberty Wines & the the creative genius of Stacey Dallyn, the Beauty Night room was transformed into a winter wonderland. Wood land creatures sat under a White Christmas tree. Decorated in silver and gold, the words Beauty Night leapt out the fluffy snow that coated the walls.

Founding vice president of Beauty Night Society, Carly Teng was on hand as a roaming photographer. Carly captured pictures of the festivities of the evening. When our photography team was stuck in traffic, Carly stepped in and began to snap pictures of the women & Santa Claus.

Beauty Night board member, Dave Dickson’s eyes twinkled like St. Nick as women & children posed with him. Ten year old, Santa Helper, Katie Dalinghaus smiled pretty for the camera as she handed out the Nancy Black designed Xmas stockings to the women and children.

Stuffed to the brim with warm gloves, tooth brushes, dental care products, skin care, hair care, and body care products, the brightly coloured stockings Katie handed to the women. Like the first Beauty Night makeover event, the stockings contents came from stocking drive from individuals, churches, and businesses that wanted to contribute to Beauty Night’s 7th annual Xmas stocking drive. Led by Stocking Coordinator, Blair Lockhart, BC Hydro, TD Canada Trust, Ch2M Hill and Carrie Wheeler Talent Management and many more collected monies and products for us to fill those stockings.

Hundreds of high school students from York House, Little Flower Academy, Prince of Wales Mini School, Van Tech Secondary, Churchill Secondary School, Kwantlan College and many members of our community stitched the stockings. 5 – 7 year olds in sparks & brownie troupes decorated the stockings with their own personal flair.

Photographers Bruce & Sarah Culver set up the shots. Beauty Night volunteers & participants mugged for the camera. In the Beauty Night room, Tiffany Telford led the make over program. Carol Hogan, Ella Bak, Olivia Cammie, Meagan Stowe, Denise Van Gorkom, Margo Dalinghaus, and Amanda offered make up lessons, hair styling, manicures, mini massages and reiki.

Under the guidance of Kids Club coordinators, Alexa Fox and Sophia Hughes, women and children continued to create cards and occasionally break into a game of “jingle” tag.

While all the laughter- filled activity filled the room, Wendy Shuen and her volunteers bustled from room to room offering delectable goodies to the Beauty Night participants & volunteers. Almond cookies, fruit cake and mouth watering capicino chocolate biscuits satisfied our taste buds and our stomachs.

Throughout it all, DJ Joe, Tyla Flexman, Stacey Dallyn, Margo Dalinghaus, and Tiffany Telford bustled around making the event run smoothly.

Before the women headed out the door, Katie Dalinghaus gave them scarves created by Knit Fit Volunteers. Over 300 scarves were created by students from Elementary schools and High School students around the lower mainland. Spearheaded by Knit Fit founder & program coordinator, Laura Mah, hundreds of youth, seniors and children developed leadership skills and created scarves to keep people warm as they headed out into the snow.

In Prince George, our Beauty Night makeover event took place at Elizabeth Fry Society. Belly dance and self defense classes were held while women were offered make up application, hair styling, mini facials, manicures and much more.

Tonight – in Vancouver, we continue our celebrations at BC Women’s Hospital. Tiffany Telford, Ella Bak, Tyla Flexman, Caitlin Naylor and Lindsay McMillian will be handing out Xmas stockings and offering our makeover programming to the women in Fir Square.

As we head towards the end of the year, we have a few more events this week. In Toronto, the Xmas stockings & makeover program runs of December 17th – while Vancouver volunteers and contributors celebrate Beauty Night Society’s 9th Birthday on a Boat.

Beauty on the Boat enbarks at 7pm on December 17th. An evening on the sea with the music of Greg Cockerill and evening jaunt along the Vancouver coast. Tickets are $50 – proceeds to Beauty Night Society. For more information, please call 778-885-4526 or events@beautynight.org.

* For those who still have contributions to give, we are still handing out Xmas stockings and scarves on Xmas eve. Please contact us at info@beautynight.org.

Beauty Night Board Member Dave Dickson’s article about Cut off Supply of Kids is in today’s Province Newspaper. For those of you who wonder what we can do to help in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, Dave shares his highly informed opinion.

What is Beauty Night?

Beauty Night Society is a volunteer based organization that offers marginalized women and youth makeovers and other wellness programs that will help them build their self-esteem and feelings of self worth.

Who are Beauty Night’s Clients?

Beauty Night Society serves hundreds of women and youth including those living on the streets, drug users, survival sex-trade workers and women with criminal records.  Many of our clients may have AIDS or Hep C. 

Most of Beauty Night’s clients have deal with physical or sexual abuse from an early age.  In fact 90% of women in the survival sex trade and/or in correctional facilities have experienced sexual abuse.

Many Beauty Night clients deal with homelessness, poverty, and isolation.  Other Beauty Night clients include young mothers, those living with mental illness, and the elderly.

What do you offer your clients?

We offer our clients support, friendship and programs to learn skills such as self-care and nutrition, fitness, goal setting, stress management, literacy, and interview preparation.  One of our most popular programs is Beauty Night where volunteer professionals offer women free hair cuts, manicures, massages and makeovers.  We also donate clothing and beauty products such as shampoo, skincare, and makeup.

Aren’t your clients more in need of essentials like health care, housing and jobs?

Beauty Night incorporates health care into our program. For example many of our volunteers who offer pedicures to our clients are nursing students who are checking for diabetes symptoms while applying nail polish.  Beauty Night partners with many agencies that offer more extensive health care, housing, job training, and shelter.

Of course makeup and clothes are not as important as necessities like a place to live or finding a job.  But they are still important contributors to helping women get off the street.

We at Beauty Night recognize that self-esteem is an important part of regaining control over one’s life.  A nice haircut and professional outfit can make a woman much more confident about applying for a job or starting a new class at school.  We also teach women how to look after their health through fitness and nutrition.

In addition, for many women on the street, human touch is associated with physical or sexual abuse.  Having their shoulders massaged or hair brushed by a caring volunteer are wonderful reminders of how healing touch can be.  Beauty Night strives to give its clients a rare moment of pleasure and pampering. 

Besides Makeovers, What else does Beauty Night Do?

Other Beauty Night programs include:

Literacy

Creative Endeavours

Fitness and Nutrition

Personal Development

Can I get a tax receipt?

Yes.  Beauty Night Society is a registered Canadian Charity.  We give tax receipts for  monietary donations over $10.

Where can I drop off donations of product?

Please contact info@beautynight.org.

What products does Beauty Night need?

• New make up
• Cotton pads
• New mascara wands
• Makeup applicators
• Nail files
• Yoga mats
• New Skin care products
• Small mirrors
• Brush cleaner
• Makeup remover
• Organic fruit and vegetables
• Herbal tea
• Nail polish remover

Where do Beauty Night events take place?

In Vancouver

Mon through Thursday we are at 412 E Cordova from 6:30 to 9pm. 

Toronto: Pending

Prince George: Pending

Victoria: Pending

 What does Beauty Night Need?

 $$$ for programming

New Product/ supplies

Volunteers

 Who is on Beauty Night’s Board?

 Caroline MacGillivray – Founder and President

Julia Saunders – Vice President

Rebecca Kerbel – Secretary

Bethany Tapp – Treasurer

Directors at Large:

Dave Dickson

Courtey Smith

 Gwen Webster

Bill Nevison