Supporting seniors in style: Spring Fling Fashion Show a sold-out success

Event held at Royal Ambassador Event Centre benefited Caledon Seniors' Centre expansion

By Zachary Roman

A dance floor at a Caledon event centre was transformed into a catwalk last week.

On May 26, the Spring Fling Fashion Show was held at the Royal Ambassador Event Centre in Caledon East.

The event was run in support of an expansion project for the Caledon Seniors' Centre and all 400 tickets for the event, which were $85 each, sold out.

The event began at 6 p.m., and dinner was served to guests around 7. Around 7:45 p.m., Jessica Sole, a country artist from Shelburne, entertained the crowd with songs and brought the energy of the room up for the fashion show. At 8 p.m. models started hitting the runway, flanked by members of the Caledon Fire Department who had volunteered to strut their stuff as well. 

Roxanne Deabreu-Mountain styled the first part of the fashion show, announcing what each model was wearing as they circled the dance floor, stopping to wave at the cheering crowd and posing for pictures.

Deabreu-Mountain is the owner of the clothing store It's Roxies in Caledon East. Lisa Embrett is the owner of Gals n Britches in Bolton, and she styled the second half of the show, taking the microphone to describe what models were wearing as they continued to wow those in attendance.

A DJ controlled the music while models showed off the fashions, switching up the tunes each time a new model hit the runway. The fashion show was even live-streamed for those who were unable to make it in person or not able to buy one of the tickets before they sold out.

In a previous interview with the Citizen, fundraising coordinator for the Caledon Seniors' Centre, Anna Altobelli-Murray, said the centre was built in 1995 and hasn't grown in size to keep up with Caledon's tremendous population growth.

“People are moving here from the city and we're getting a lot of 55-plus,” she said. “To sustain that in the future, we need to expand and that's why we're expanding.”

Deabreu-Mountain was all smiles at the event, which she helped organize with Embrett and Altobelli-Murray.

“It's a fantastic turnout, we are so proud and it's just amazing… it's phenomenal,” said Deabreu-Mountain.

A silent auction was held on-site while the show went on, with prizes generously donated in support of the Seniors' Centre.

Guests were also able to shop for clothes from the stores that styled the show at the back of the event centre.