Halloween party for special needs kids brought back from the dead

It appeared a four-year tradition of a Halloween street party for disabled kids in the Kensington area had fallen victim to the grim reaper.

But after its original organizer stepped back and the event seemed dead, residents of 10a Street. N.W. banded together to bring the inclusive trick-or-treat event back from the grave.

“It wouldn’t have happened this year if the community hadn’t come together,” said Ellen Parker, an organizer of the annual Halloween Village.

They raised, with the help of corporate sponsors like the Kozak Financial Group, Cenovus and CIBC, $20,000 to cover the costs of things like purchasing 47,000 pieces of candy, insurance and paramedic services.

On Saturday afternoon, the results of those efforts were plain to see as hundreds of disabled, costumed kids who can’t trick-or-treat door-to-door scared up as much candy as they wanted from dozens of curbside tables offering them along 10a Street.

“Many of them have never trick-or-treated because it’s dark and scary on Halloween night and these kids have a chance to have Halloween,” said Parker, dressed as a ‘busy bee.’

For children with mobility problems, accessing doorsteps and navigating snow drifts is an impossibility, she added.

And because some of the children can’t eat candy, they’re offered toys and books at Halloween Village instead, she noted.

A notably non-costumed Mayor Jeromy Farkas surveyed the hijinks complete with a Darth Vader and Star Wars stormtroopers, a giant transformer and a skeletal hockey player riding the bench, or in this case, the curb.

“This to me is Calgary — if you have a problem, you don’t wait for someone else to fix it, you do it,” said Farkas of the event’s reprieve.

Shelly Bhayana’s daughter Sophia — whose brain tumour robbed her of the ability to walk — was one of about 1,200 kids registered to attend the party in shifts.

“This is the best,” said the mom, who’s become a regular at the party.

“They get to know the kids in the community and get a chance to see each other today.”

Now, her daughter can trick-or-treat along a smaller route and hand out candy on Oct. 31, said Bhayana.

“We look forward to this and contribute to it — she certainly looks forward to it,” she said.

Wearing a fake nose and moustache and donning train engineer garb, 10a Street resident Marilyn McPhail was busy handing out treats to grateful ghouls and goblins.

“This street is the perfect place — everyone knows each other and there’s so much enthusiasm and it’s the first year the street has done it on its own,” said McPhail.

“It’s such a great cause for the kids who get to celebrate.”

Organizer Parker said they hope to be an example for other streets to hold similar parties.

“The key message is neighbourhoods can do this … it’s not an activity, it’s a movement,” she said.

Individual households can ensure Oct. 31 is more inclusive by moving treat stations to the bottom of steps, ensure streets and steps are cleared of obstacles, offer items like crayons or stickers for children with allergies and never require children to speak.

Those seeking more inclusive ideas can go to treataccessibly.com

X: @BillKaufmannjrn