Gowns of generosity: Over 100 prom dresses donated at N.B. high school
Gowns of generosity: Over 100 prom dresses donated at N.B. high school
The generosity of several New Brunwickers will help ease the financial pressure of attending prom next month.
Lori Pellerin made a post on social media asking for donations of prom dresses. Pellerin, a teacher at Fundy High School in St. George, N.B., is well aware how the high cost of a prom gown is an annual barrier.
"There are definitely some students whose families are going to find it more of a financial struggle than others," says Pellerin, adding the burden has likely never been greater.
Cheryl DesRoches of Shediac, N.B., saw Pellerin’s post and immediately joined the effort to collect gowns in her area. DesRoches says she understands the feeling of growing up and going without.
"A lot of people helped me," says DesRoches. "So that’s the one thing I’ll never forget, the people who helped me when I was going through hard times."
DesRoches hand delivered a majority of the dresses from her area to Fundy High on Monday morning, while others were donated in the Charlotte County area.
The initial goal of collecting a few dresses was eclipsed when about 120 were put on display in the school’s theatre.
"I didn’t think it was going to be that much," says DesRoches. "But I think a lot of people know how times are hard now and how everything is expensive."
Some of the dresses still have a store tag attached.
"I’m guessing some of them are still brand new because of cancelled proms in 2020," says Pellerin.
The variety and sheer number of gowns collected will allow students from other area schools to benefit as well. The dress campaign is also becoming an unexpected part of the curriculum at Fundy High.
"Some of our students, as a special interest project or credit, are going to put together a webpage," says Pellerin. "They’re going to categorize everything, take pictures, sizes, and we’ll have a web page we’ll be able to share with all the schools in the district."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | 6 dead, 24 wounded in shooting at Chicago-area July 4 parade
At least six people died and 24 were wounded in a shooting at a July Fourth parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, and officers are searching for a suspect who likely fired on the festivities from a rooftop, police said Monday.

Former Sask. premier Brad Wall gave strategic advice to key convoy organizer
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was in contact with a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy anti-mandate protest, providing strategic advice before and after the Ottawa occupation began, according to court records obtained by CTV News.
Daughter of Toronto Blue Jays coach killed in 'terrible accident' while tubing in U.S.
The 17-year-old daughter of the Toronto Blue Jays' first base coach died in a 'terrible accident' while tubing in the U.S. this weekend.
U.S. man to be charged with kidnapping, rape after Edmonton teen found: Oregon police
A 41-year-old man will be charged with kidnapping and rape after an Edmonton girl who was missing for more than a week was found, Oregon City Police said.
'It's the real deal': Doctors warn about future wave fuelled by Omicron variants
COVID-19 cases are rising again in Canada, with the two fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 to blame. CTVNews.ca has a guide to what you need to know about the new variants.
Canada signs $20B compensation agreement on First Nations child welfare
The federal government says it has signed a $20-billion final settlement agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare.
Canadian airlines, airports top global list of delays over the weekend
Canadian airlines and airports claimed top spots in flight delays over the July long weekend, notching more than nearly any other around the world.
U.S. Capitol riot: More people turn up with evidence against Donald Trump
More witnesses are coming forward with new details on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot following former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's devastating testimony last week against former U.S. President Donald Trump, says a member of a U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection.
'He was a hero': Family says Ottawa man killed in fatal collision sacrificed himself
The family of an Ottawa man killed in a Canada Day crash in the west end says Tom Bergeron died exactly as he lived: selflessly thinking of others before himself.