Shortly after her 18th birthday, Sheena Small made her dream of owning a candy store come true.

Business was good with customers flocking from all across the Foothills to get their fix of candy from Sheena's Sweets & Such.

But like many businesses in High River, the flood of 2013 took a toll on her business and lead to the store re-locating four times over the next two years.

With a lack of insurance money coming in and the future of the business looking dire, Sheena was committed to keep on. She took the money she had been saving over the last eight years to buy a scooter for personal transportation and put it right back into her business.

The doors are still open today and on Thur. Sept. 17, Sheena's Sweets & Such will finally reach that big milestone of being open for 10 years.

"It is a milestone... and it's the most important one because it was my dream to own a candy store," Sheena says.

Her mother, Orvella, has been by her side since her daughter came to her with her dream in the sixth grade.

"To go through all of those things, moving locations, the flood, losing everything and coming back...it's pretty exciting that she has stuck to her goal," she says.

Reflecting on the past two years, Sheena says it was a struggle to have to start over and over again.

"Having my mom's store beside me was awesome," she says. "It gave me strength and allowed me to have a more independent life."

The 10 year anniversary event takes place at Sheena's Sweets & Such at 1204 16 St. SE in High River from noon to 8 p.m. along with a customer appreciation sale of 10 per cent off all candy and purses.

With all the barriers Sheena has faced over the last ten years in business, none of them have been too big for the Small family.

~Dan Bascombe