Organizers of the Summerland Blossom Pageant are inviting candidates to register for the 2022 youth ambassador program.
Daphne Susheski, Miss Summerland 2020, said the program could not run for the 2020 to 2021 year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers are now preparing for the upcoming season.
A recruitment session will be held at the Summerland branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, 9533 Main St., on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting will be open to pageant candidates and those interested in the Blossom Bud program.
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While the pageant is normally open to Grade 11 students only, this year it will be open to Grade 12 students from Summerland as well. Susheski hopes to have at least a dozen candidates in the program. The pageant is open to male and female candidates.
The pageant program will begin in September, with candidates meeting for an hour and a half to two hours a week. In addition, candidates will have one or two weekend commitments a month, with more happening in the spring, Susheski said.
In November, the candidates will make their first public appearance at the Summerland Festival of Lights. They will also be present at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway’s Christmas Train in November and December.
The pageant weekend will be held in early May. At that time, Summerland’s Ambassador and two Vice-Ambassadors will be crowned.
Susheski said the program teaches useful skills that can help candidates throughout their lives. These include public speaking interview skills, resume writing and more.
“It’s definitely a really good confidence booster,” she said. “You learn so many really great skills.”
In addition to the pageant program, organizers are also continuing the Blossom Buds program, for those in Grade 4 and Grade 5. These students are paired with an older candidate and are able to experience part of the pageant preparation process, Susheski said.
Those interested in joining the program but unable to attend the Aug. 3 recruitment event are invited to contact Susheski at daphnesusheski@icloud.com.
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