ROCANVILLE — A ladies' night in Rocanville is marking 20 years of great food, fellowship, and giving back to the community. The idea is simple — a group of ladies getting together to share a meal and a few laughs.
“We do a Chinese supper, and then we have a gift exchange,” explained Joan Tse of the New Fortune Family Restaurant, who has hosted the event since 2016. “And then we have a candy bar and a hot chocolate coffee bar.”
There are also various raffle prizes, which in the past have included brand-name purses, watches and necklaces.
“The money that we make on our raffle, we donate it back into the community,” Tse explained. Last year, money raised from the raffle tickets helped a new family to town during their cancer journey. Over the years, the fundraiser has helped people who lost their home, were struggling with food security, or in need of a hotel stay.
“We do it to have fun at the restaurant, make a little bit of money for ourselves, but also to help the community,” Tse said.
It’s also not uncommon to see the event draw 65 participants, making for a warm evening as the winter weather looms. The annual ladies' night draws women from communities surrounding Rocanville as well, as women of all ages.
“We’ve had ones that are in their 70s and 80s come, and we’ve had the youngest ones that come in their 20s,” she said.
The event has even been known to form lasting friendships, as Tse recounted.
“I met a lady from Houston a couple years ago, her husband had worked at the mine,” she recalled. “I got to know her just ordering food, and I invited her for the evening and I got a friend from that.”
This year’s ladies' night happens at the New Fortune Family Restaurant on Nov. 29 and 30 with doors opening at 5 p.m., supper at 6:30 p.m., and a gift exchange item with a suggested value between $25- to $30. For more information, contact Joan at 306-435-7369.
