TA013001 Tammy
Early Bird & NIGHT OWL
20 OFF
SASKATOONEXPRESS - January 30 - February 5, 2017 - Page 1
8-10 am
SPECIAL!
7-9 PM
VALID ONLY AT THESE LOCATIONS 1702 8th St. • 705 22nd St. • 3330 8th St.
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
$
ANY OIL CHANGE WITH COUPON HOURS OF OPERATION 8 am - 9 pm Monday - Friday 8 am – 6 pm Saturday • 9 am – 5 pm Sunday COUPON EXPIRES FEBRUARY 14, 2017
Volume 15, Issue 4, Week of January 30, 2017
skills as singers, dancers, storytellers and crafters. One of Enchanted Garden’s princesses is Ashley Booth. Like Kobiela, Disney princesses were her heroes as a child. She had particular affinities for Ariel and Belle. Five years ago, Booth was hired to work at Disney World for a year. “They really know their stuff,” Booth said. “Their customer service is next to none. It’s really top-notch and it’s strict. It is very much about putting on a show and keeping the integrity of the characters and keeping the integrity of the company intact.” Booth wasn’t a princess at Disney World. Quite the opposite, actually. She worked in the Canadian park in the world showcase as a lumberjack, red and black flannel and all. “It was long days and you have to be 100 per cent on. There is never a moment when you can’t be on because you’ll crush the integrity of the company with one grimace. There is no leaning, there is no drinking out of water bottles and no eating. You have to be in character all the time and represent the company at all times. “If somebody says something mean to you or upsetting, you still smile and answer their questions. You can’t react in the human way,” she said with a laugh. “Everything you do is a show. That’s the way Disney runs things. When you work at a fast food restaurant, you are still part of the show. You still have a costume, so it’s one big production.” She said it was great representing Canada. Her one complaint was the lumberjack outfit was a tad warm in the Florida heat and humidity. Booth said she sees some of the Disney way of doing business in Kobiela’s company. “Enchanted Garden does a lot of what Disney does, so it is very much about keeping the integrity and keeping that really strict customer service and that magical experience. You are doing a big thing for people. You are being a character, you are being their princess heroes. It’s more than just wearing the costume. You have a lot on your shoulders and it’s a Kayla Kobiela, owner lot of responsibility.” of The Enchanted Garden The two agree the joy of being a princess is bringing Character Co., always wanted smiles to the faces of children and their parents. to be a princess, and now “They treat you like you are their best friend and have she is. In this photo she is known you all their life,” Booth said. “There is a lot of dressed like Cinderella. responsibility to meet those expectations and fulfil those (Photo by Jenn Diehl of expectations – be gracious, be kind, sing like an angel, move Scarlet Rain Photography) like an angel. “They will ask you questions sometimes, real-world day going to Disneyland to perform as one. questions so you have to meet the real-life princess expectaIn 2014, she was hired to work for a Saskatoon company tions. They will ask if you were scared when you saw that named Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, which big scary snow monster. You have to say, ‘I was but I was has since closed, was in the business of making dreams brave at the same time.’ Be that idol for them and bring that come true for children, through its cast of Disney princesses. fairytale world mixed in with their own world. So it is a lot Last year, Kobiela decided she wanted to perform as a of expectation.” princess full time. In October, her company, The Enchanted Booth, who is a librarian, said parents are grateful for the Garden Character Co., took its first booking. work the princesses do. She and her other princesses do birthday parties, meet “Sometimes the parents will say, ‘thank you so much, and greet events, galas and balls. They will be at the little Angela is so shy and we have never seen her so excited Crossmount Princess Ball on Feb. 11, exhibiting their (Continued on page 8)
Princesses make little girls’ dreams come true Cam Hutchinson Saskatoon Express here came a time when Kayla Kobiela didn’t find university fulfilling. She needed a creative outlet to complement those long hours of cracking the books in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. So she did what just about any student looking for an artistic hobby would do – she became a princess. It wasn’t a decision that came totally out of the blue. Kobiela grew James up with movie princesses, dreaming of one JW013003
T
Dress Up in Princess Best Storytelling with Belle, Singing with Anna and Elsa, Crafts with Aurora, Ariel, Rapunzel and Cinderella. Dinner and Dance with all the Princesses and Prince Charming. Draw Prizes, take home bins for all children and Photobooth with favorite princess. $100 Ticket includes child admission and one adult
4-8 pm Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at THE GLEN AT CROSSMOUNT
For more information or tickets go to www.theglenatcrossmount.ca/program/princessball
Proceeds go to The Children’s Hospital Foundation - N.I.C.U. Ward