Royalty at North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo since 1950
The North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association Ambassador Program is valley wide. The current reigning Ambassadors for 2013/2014 are all from Clearwater. Pictured: (l-r) Vice-Ambassador Cherie Witts, Ambassador Jenna Zietsov, and Vice-Ambassador Kendall MacKay. All three girls reside in Clearwater. Star/Journal File Photo.
The North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo Association’s Ambassador Program has a rich history that dates back to 1950, this program has the honour of being the third oldest Royalty Pageant in the Province of British Columbia!
Originally called ‘The Queen Pageant’, the Association changed the name in 2012 to the ‘NTFFRA Ambassador Program’ in an effort to better reflect the purposes of the program now being offered. At that time, the Program Committee made a number of improvements to the curriculum, bringing it up to modern day standards without losing its valued traditions.
The NTFFRA Ambassador Program is geared towards building self-confidence, personal awareness and self-motivation, all the while having “a whole lot of fun”. The committee stresses that this is not a “beauty contest”, or a “most popular girl contest”, rather a search for the newest Youth Ambassadors to proudly represent the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association and the entire North Thompson Valley.
The NTFFRA Ambassador Program is open to any young lady enrolled in grades 9 through 11, who is a resident of the North Thompson Valley. Home schooled young ladies are welcome to participate.
Each year the new candidates are provided with training in the areas of public speaking, self-defence, equine awareness, hair and skin care, modelling, dancing, resume writing, proper etiquette, North Thompson Valley information and history, and the history of the NTFFRA. In some years other training is provided when available.
Candidates also have an opportunity to travel as a group to other communities as they help to promote their area and participate in the candidate training process.
A number of bursaries are available to the candidates who take part in the program, and these are awarded at the annual NTFFRA Ambassador Coronation held in late August.
The committee is sensitive to the financial burdens that for some may be a reality; therefore, the cost to both the candidates and their families is kept minimal. Fund raising, community service, and the many wonderful candidate sponsors who step forward each year are the biggest part of the program’s success.
This program starts at the beginning of each year with a call for candidates, being presented in the schools by a recruitment committee during a lunch hour for any young ladies who may be interested. The candidate search is also advertised through valley media outlets. Registration forms are completed by candidates and signed by a parent or guardian, and a ‘meet and greet’ is then held for candidates and their parents/guardians to meet with the current royalty and the Ambassador Program Committee. Once all the candidates have been signed up the program is underway for the calendar year, which annually includes these events:
- NTFFRA Ambassador Apron Auction & Banner Night – Feb/March
- NTFFRA Ambassador Program Speech & Talent Show – May/June
- NTFFRA Ambassador Program Coronation Ceremony – Late August
The North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association appreciates and thanks all of the committee members and candidates who have participated in this program since the first crowning was held in 1950, and to all of the young ladies who have worn the North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo royalty crowns since that time, and say, “Thank you for being such sparkling ambassadors of our Association and of the North Thompson Valley, we have greatly enjoyed working with each and every one of you, and we remember you fondly each year.”
If you would like more information on the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association’s Ambassador Program please email: ntfallfair@gmail.com
Annie Butcher
Annie Butcher
Annie Butcher has recently become a citizen of Canada and is very proud of her new status – she moved here in grade 3 and loves Canada. Annie is now 15 and lives in Clearwater. Her hobbies include horse riding, soccer, volley ball and hanging out with friends. She has three brothers who are a big part of her life. Annie is going into grade 10 at Clearwater Secondary School and her favorite subjects are PE and science. After high school Annie plans on attending university to study for a degree in science and would like to become a physiotherapist, specializing in sporting injuries. After university Annie plans on traveling around the world for a year before settling down. She finds learning about new cultures very interesting and would really like to spend a period of months living in a French speaking city. Annie is grateful to her sponsor Lana Laskovic and Armour Mountain Office Services for her support, and is happy to have met all her new friends through the Ambassador program.
Lee Dionne
Lee Dionne
Lee Dionne is 15 years old and will be going into grade 10 at Barriere Secondary School. She has lived in Barriere for five years. Lee says she likes to volunteer her time to the community by attending the Remembrance Day Parade with her Cadet Group, do roadside cleanup, help with the Barriere Food Bank and help at the No Host Bazaar for the Catholic Women’s League. She is active in athletics, and plays baseball, soccer and basketball. Lee loves horses and riding whenever she can. She also has a passion for cooking and is looking forward to going into a culinary arts program. Lee has been in Cadets for four years and holds the rank of Master Corporal. Lee says she has enjoyed her time with the Ambassador program and looks forward to lots more experiences. Lee appreciates her sponsor, the Catholic Women’s League.
Jillian McInnes
Jillian McInnes
Jillian McInnes is 16 years old and is going into grade 11 at Barriere Secondary School. Jillian enjoys reading, dancing, hiking, kayaking and anything to do with music. In her spare time Jillian is often found taking dance classes such as ballet, hip hop and jazz at the Academy of Dance, reading a good book, or outside enjoying nature. After high school Jillian would like to get a post secondary education at Thompson Rivers University by entering the nursing program. Jillian is most grateful to her sponsor Stamer Logging.
65 Years of Royalty at North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo
The Queens/Ambassadors of the North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo
1950 – Sylvia (Sheaves) Winter
1951 – Toki Miyashita
1952 – Connie (Gillette) Reichelt
1953 – Rose (Fornelle) Dalla Loma
1954 – Shirley (Johnson) Kettleson
1955 – Carroll (Bigham) Scott
1956 – Karen (McKenzie) Watson
1957 – No Queen Crowned
1958 – Rozanne (Genier) Shannon
1959 – Betty (Johnson) Hystad
1960 – Lynn (Gaudreau) Lazzara
1961 – Laura Evans
1962 – Audrey (Williamson) Rilcoe
1963 – Alice (Leavitt) Scott
1964 – Barbara (Salle) Gair
1965 – Anne de Mambro
1966 – Bev (Fennell) Fraser
1967 – Anne (Stewart) Carmichael
1968 – Mary (Chamberlain) Honda
1969 – Linda (Johnson) McLure
1970 – Martha Matthew
1971 – Sue (Johnson) Carpenter
1972 – Connie (Irving) Falk
1973 – Angela (Proulx) Trenholm
1974 – Shyanne (Doyle) Johnson
1975 – Kathy (Goodanetz) Parker
1976 – Sharon Price
1977 – Brenda Edwards
1978 – Christine Livingstone
1979 – Kathy (Paige) Fenrick
1980 – Launa (Lindoff) Bray
1981 – Nola (Desmond) Rasmussen
1982 – Diane (Bedard) Loychuk
1983 – Barb (Haines) Spooner
1984 – Christie (Paula) Provenzano
1985 – Tannis (Baines) Wills
1986 – Tricia Stamer
1987 – Shana DeNeef
1988 – Heather (Bowden) Lewis
1989 – Corry (Webber) Fay
1990 – Corry (Webber) Fay
1991 – Elizabeth (Schilling) Ekin
1992 – Karen (Kempter) Cleland
1993 – No Queen Crowned
1994 – Cynthia (Beddington) Phiefer
1995 – Laura Chrystall & Josea Hartfield
1996 – Nicole Paquin
1997 – Allison Kirkwood
1998 – Elizabeth Andrews
1999 – Joan Wichmann
2000 – Veronica Wilks
2001 – Rachelle Mutch
2002 – Rozalind Ewashina
2003 – Sarah Bazinet
2004 – Ashlynn Harris
2005 – Dani Noble
2006 – Cailynn Fraser
2007 – Farran Lyons
2008 – Amanda Coder
2009 – Kayla Holowaychuk
2010 – Alexandra Brown
2011 – Hannah Allen
2012 – Aliya Bieber
2013 – Jenna Zietsov
