It is not too often in the City of Cranbrook you will see members of fairy tale royalty hosting a tea party. Yesterday afternoon that is exactly what lay in waiting for over 70 young beautiful little princesses and many Prince Charmings.

With the offer of providing a banquet room and refreshments from Ric?s Grill at the Prestige Inn, Candice Fiorentino and the cast from the upcoming play ?Happily Ever After? were able to put on the unique and special event.

?When Candice called me and said that they would love to have Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel and Belle host a tea party I was very interested,? said Jackie Gavin, Ric?s Grill Marketing Manager. ?It was when she said the tea party is to also honour Rod Osiowy by encouraging donations to East Kootenay Foundation for Health?s Cranes of Hope project that I was sold. Like Candice, Rod was inspiring in my life. I was part of the MBSS team who did the stage crafts and promotions; so for me the Tea Party was a way to also give back.?

Short of thinking there was a little girls? and boy?s pageant taking place, mothers, fathers and grandparents arrived to the party with their little ones dressed to the hilt in their favourite princess and prince outfits. The Princess cast offered ear to ear smiles and photo opportunities for over two hours with a few songs, dances and hugs shared along the way. It truly was a fairy tale day for all those who came and enjoyed the scrumptious cupcakes, smiling cookies, princess movies and most of all friendship.

Thanks to the generosity of those in attendance and the inspiration of Candice Fiorentino, Jackie Gavin and the Princesses, the Happily Ever After Tea Party symbolically purchased seven cranes from the $737.50 of donations in memory and honour of Rod O.

The East Kootenay Foundation for Health sincerely thanks all those parents and grandparents who supported this amazing creative event, Ric?s Grill for providing the venue, Deb Fiorentino for the scrumptious cupcakes, Candice, Brianne, Sarah, Melissa and Jackie for bringing Candice?s wish forward.

To date the Cranes of Hope a Legacy of Rod Osiowy project has received $7,500 in to support the oncology unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. For more information, contact EKFH at 1-877-489-6481 or 250-489-6481 or to make a donation visit www.ekfh.ca.