Hive Vancouver

Walk Tall and With Confidence to Celebrate Dignity

December 12, 2012 by caroline

Last Wednesday night, My Sisters Closet, a gem of a store filled with wonderful finds (This social enterprise that supports Battered Women’s Support Services) was packed. Pedestrians glanced through the windows to see what was causing the laughter and fun. Our volunteer stylists teamed up with their volunteers to help find 6 of our ladies something special to wear walking down the Runway during Celebration of Dignity Gala Fundraiser at Hive Vancouver (128 West Hastings Suite 210).

“I can’t remember the last time I got to pick something out in a store,” said one participant. On Saturday, December 15th, 10 of our participants will walk down the runway for an eco fashion show. Laughter, hugs, and posing for photographer, Ken Villeneuve peppered the conversation and the act of trying on clothes.

Last night several of our participants gathered in the wellness room at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. While Beauty Night activities commenced upstairs, our volunteer stylists Angela, Christine and Emily worked on walking. Participants ranged from 19 to 87 years of age, body types, and ethnicities proving that all of us are beautiful.

“We are so grateful with the support of My Sister’s Closet,” explains Beauty Night Founder, Caroline MacGillivray. “For an eco fashion show, it felt like a natural alignment. The monies raised from their social enterprise support the wonderful work that Battered Women’s Support Services offers. We are thrilled that each lady got to pick out 2 outfits in. It’s been a beautiful opportunity to work with My Sister’s Closet, Hive Vancouver and all of our amazing supporters who are making this event possible. I can’t wait to see each woman walk tall and with confidence on Saturday!”

Top 5 Tips of Walking with Confidence

1) Own your space.

2) Take your time.

3) Face Book Photos - take time to pose.

4) Breathe

5) If you fall, get up and keep walking

If you would like to come to Celebration of Dignity, you can purchase tickets right here.

* If you enter promo code bnsbffs, you will get 50% off your ticket

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: beauty night society, Celebrate Dignity, community, DTES, eco fashion, eco fashion show, Hive Vancouver, Vancouver

Celebrate Dignity: 12 Years; 26, 000 makeovers Thanks to 500+ Volunteers

November 26, 2012 by caroline

On December 15th, 2000 (12 years ago), the first Beauty Night was held at WISH Drop in Centre in Vancouver’s DTES. A local actress and writer, Caroline MacGillivray started volunteering at WISH in the summer of 2000. She was researching a role for an upcoming film. One night, a woman came in who had had a bad day. She did not want to eat, speak or assistance with housing, bad date sheet or shelter for the night - she wanted to “feel clean.” After having a shower, the woman picked up a curling iron that had been donated to the centre. She was unable to bring her arms up to curl her hair. Caroline offered to do this for her. With simple kindness, friendship was born. The woman left walking taller and seemed to have an extra bounce in her step. After repeated requests for makeovers from other women, Caroline proposed a “beauty night”.

The organization has grown from it’s first Beauty Night (14 volunteers and served 73 women) to offer programs 4 nights a week (serving 200 each week). Thanks to 500+ volunteers, Beauty Night has given over 26, 000 makeovers in 12 years. The three streams of programming focus on wellness, life skills development and makeovers. The joy, friendship and laughter connects the community together.

When MacGillivray asked the women how they would like to celebrate Beauty Night’s 12th anniversary, many said they would like to support the organization that has had a positive impact on their lives. They wanted to have a fashion show. When the Hive Vancouver contacted MacGillivray to support this cause, she was delighted. “The Hive Vancouver wanted to bring the community together by holding an event to support our cause. When the possibility of a fashion show was mentioned, I was thrilled. It seemed like a great fit.”

On Saturday December 15th, Beauty Night celebrates it’s 12 year anniversary at the Celebrate Dignity Gala at the Hive Vancouver. Hosted by Jessica Holmes Canadian motivational speaker and comedian (Royal Canadian Air Farce) this eco fashion show will feature 10 of our Beauty Night ladies. We are excited to have 2013 Miss World Canada Finalist Kristiana Banden will be one of our speakers. Sponsored by Hive Vancouver, Lonsdale Event Rentals, MCNG Marketing, Pizzazz Modeling (Dale), Coleseum Medi Spa, and PiDGin Restaurant.

Tickets are $99. Event includes entertainment, fashion show, comedy, desert, raffle, silent auction and much more. To purchase tickets, please visit here. * For Beauty Night Supporters, you can get 50% off with this promo code bnsbffs

Filed Under: Events, Fund Raising Tagged With: beauty night society, caroline macgillivray, community, DTES, Hive Vancouver, Jessica Homes, xmas

12 Days of Xmas Campaign

November 19, 2012 by caroline

Collecting Self Care Products to Fill 1500 Xmas Stockings

Every year fashion designer, Nancy Perreault designs a stocking. Volunteers elves (huge thank you to Sharon, Stephanie, Jenny, Simone, Darnelle, Gillian, Lisa, Wendy, Angela, Mallora, York House School students, Krista, Jana, Gary, Trilby, Dominique, Tracy and more) made sure the stockings were sewn and dropped off in time for our decorating elves to decorate (thank you to Stephanie & her church, Mallora, Tamara,Sandy, Monica,Blair, Carson Graham Students, York House Students, Alexandra Elementary School Students, Gary’s students, and many many more).

We are collecting goodies to fill the stockings. In the next few weeks During the holiday season, Santa’s elves (Team Beauty Night members) sew stockings, decorate stockings, collect and fill stockings with self-care products, and deliver them to women in need throughout the shelters in the lower mainland. From the 12^th to the 24^th in addition to our regular programming we will be handing out stockings.

We are collecting new items including:

Socks

Dental floss & tooth paste

Gloves

Journals & pens

Samples sizes for body care, hair care, nail care, skin care products

Jewelry (new - or current - bought in past 2 years)

Huge thank you to:

London Drugs for donating makeup and 1500 tooth brushes

Eminence Skin Care - face mask

Our Drop Off Locations BEFORE Dec 1

Gastown Physio & Pilates

306 -560 Beatty Street

Vital Health

1855 West 4th Avenue

Prettier in Green

3633 Main Street

Hive Vancouver

128 West Hastings #210

We will be filling stockings on December 8th OR 9th at the HIVE Vancouver. Dates & Times to be confirmed. Carrie Wheeler from Carrie Wheeler Entertainment Group will be helping coordinating volunteers & site management on day of. Once date & time is confirmed, we will open up volunteer sign ups. It will be a pot luck too - great way to connect with everyone.

* We are also looking for volunteers for our joint event on Dec 15th - fashion show at The Hive Vancouver details below in regards to event. Hair, Make up Team, dressers, etc.