Nova Scotia rolls out red carpet for prom celebrating people with disabilities
CBC
After two years of waiting to wear her prom dress, Jada Keddy is finally getting to show it off on the red carpet — but not at an average dance.
Keddy is headed to the first Illuminate event in Shelburne, N.S., where the guest list is exclusively people with disabilities.
"It feels amazing. I always wanted to see something like that," Keddy, 19, said recently from her home in Liverpool.
"It doesn't matter if you have a disability … it's all about that each one of us has a heart inside that we know that we're unique."
The Shelburne Fire Hall is being transformed into a fairytale castle for the event on April 9, complete with a red carpet, catered dinner, dance, and professional photography.
At the end of Illuminate, every attendee will be crowned king or queen.
Keddy said that crown represents strength and how she is "unique" in her own way.
"One way that I say about being unique, is saying that you can do anything."
Formal dresses and suits will be provided for anyone who wants one, while hairdressers and makeup artists will help guests get ready. Transportation has been set up for those in Shelburne and Queens counties, but those from further away who want to come are welcome.
But people can also wear whatever they like, whether that's a costume or something they have on hand — like Keddy's black dress with "sunset colours" cascading along the bottom.
Since Keddy graduated in the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into her original prom plans.
While this is the first event of its kind for the province, Keddy attended a similar Night to Shine in Moncton, N.B., a few years ago.
Keddy said although she was a bit worried at first, it was "so much fun," and offered something she'd never seen.
"It's so much different because there's so many other people just like me who just want to have fun, and some of them can't go to school dances," Keddy said.