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New Youth Ambassadors named for Cranbrook
Cranbrookâs newest Youth Ambassador team was officially crowned Oct. 23 during an Awards Ceremony for this yearâs six youth ambassador candidates.
Sweetheart of Sam Steele Mia Miles and Princess of Sam Steele Madeline Gauthier will lead the ambassador team for 2020/2021; and in a unique twist this year, all candidates will be given the opportunity to participate as part of a wider ambassador team.
âWe had such an outstanding group of young women in the program this year, and their experience was profoundly impacted by the pandemic. We felt it was important to create a more formal opportunity for them to continue to be involved and gain new experience through the program in these unique times,â explained Sweetheart Program Coordinator Karin Penner.
The Awards Night celebrated all six of this yearâs Youth Ambassador Candidates:
Ruby Garrett â sponsored Ladies Auxiliary to the Fraternal Order of Eagles;
Ashlyn Patterson â sponsored by the Colombo Lodge;
Mia Miles â sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary Club;
Makayla Gallina â sponsored by 2 Day FM;
Naomi Hall â sponsored by Sugar Town Quilt Shoppe;
Madeline Gauthier â sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cranbrook.
In addition to the awards presentations, the evening featured a video showcase of the candidatesâ speeches and talents, formal introductions of each candidate and a farewell speech by the outgoing ambassadors Faith McWhirter and Sheila Martine.
Naomi Hall took home the Public Speaking Award, Mia Miles won the Talent Award and a $250 scholarship, Madeline Gauthier received the $500 Community Awareness Scholarship and the Support a Sweetheart gift. Jason Tischauer won the Support a Sweetheart prize.
The candidates started the program in January, well before the pandemic hit. For the first time in the 55-year history of the program, the self-development and leadership side of the training had to shift to a digital platform and the pageant, normally held in June during Sam Steele Days had to be postponed.
While the Awards Night looked different, the Sweetheart Committee took a creative approach to not only complete the program with the candidates, but showcase their outstanding achievements. A video was shot over several days, with the generous support of the Cranbrook History Centre, the Dwelling Place and videographer Ronnie Robinson.
The Sweetheart Youth Ambassador Production and Awards Night video will be provided in the coming days to the candidatesâ friends and families and linked off the Sweetheartâs website for the community to view.
âWe would like to thank everyone who stepped up to support our candidates and the program this year as we navigated through uncharted territory. It was wonderful to be able to honour each of our candidates last night and we are excited for the year ahead as Cranbrook will be so well represented by these outstanding young women,â added Penner.
Photo credit: Stephanie Moore
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