There will be no banners or tiaras for contestants in the new New Westminster Youth Ambassador Program.
Lynn Radbourne, who formerly coordinated the Miss New Westminster Ambassador program for the Hyack Festival Association, has announced the creation of a new New Westminster Youth Ambassador Program that will focus on providing young men and women with an opportunity to grow through mentorship, teamwork and volunteerism – while representing New Westminster to other cities and municipalities in Metro Vancouver and B.C.
This is not a competition between us and them,” Radbourne told city council Monday “The kids all go to school here. They live and work and play together here. Some may be in the Hyack program; some may be in our program. We are not in competition. What we are offering is something different.
Radbourne believes there’s room for both ambassador programs in New Westminster.
“It’s more of a competition that culminates in the crowing of Miss New Westminster,” she said about Hyack’s program. “The difference between our program and theirs is that they focus on a pageant, and traveling in Washington and Oregon riding on the float. Our program is more of team building, and focusing on mentorship and volunteering for the city and promoting New Westminster, while they travel within the Lower Mainland and British Columbia.”
According to Radbourne, 24 communities in B.C. have an ambassador program. She noted that boys have gotten involved in programs in some Interior communities.
“They quite enjoy it. That is why we decided, why just be inclusive of girls?
For years and years and years, that’s what it’s been,” she said. “It will be kind of nice to have the young men. Hopefully we will get some young men to apply because I think they would be a super asset. It would be nice to have them along.”
Coun. Betty McIntosh said Radbourne has encouraged many young women to take part in the Miss New Westminster Ambassador program, including her two daughters.
“The reason it was girls, is you tried having boys. The boys just didn’t attend,” she noted.
McIntosh doesn’t see the program being all that much different than the Miss New Westminster Ambassador program offered by the Hyack Festival Association.
“It dismays me that you would actually say it is that much different because the young ladies, you encouraged them to be the best they could be,” she told Radbourne.
Radbourne said this initiative is more of a mentorship program for young men and women. While the Hyack program had attempted to get boys to participate in the past, she said that was challenging.
“I think what could be the problem with that is because there is a pageant, with crowns and banners. Our program will not have any of that. We are building a team. Each participant, boy or girl, will be part of a team,” she said. “They won’t be competing against each other to get the top honour as Miss New Westminster. There will be no Mr. New Westminster or Miss New Westminster.”
McIntosh said the city’s solicitor has indicted there may be “trademark” issues that need to be considered before the city supports a new ambassador program. The city has long supported the ambassador program operated by the Hyack Festival Association.
“We already had an ambassador program where we were in partnership with that program that’s been 40-plus years in place," she noted. “I think we as a city have to walk carefully with your request, and be aware there can be some legal ramifications.”
McIntosh expressed concern about the new group’s proposal to use the city’s crest and logo on clothing for the ambassadors.
“We as the city own it for city purposes,” she said. “There are a lot of questions I think are not yet answered.”
Once the group receives the city’s endorsement, Radbourne said the group would begin recruiting the young men and women who will be candidates for the official youth ambassador team.
“We already are in partnership previously with the Hyack Ambassador program,” McIntosh said. “Just because Hyack has had some difficulties in the last year doesn’t mean the city should abandon the program.”
As the city goes through its festivals grants program, Coun. Jonathan Cote said the city is dealing with “some of the fallout “ of what happened last year with the Hyack Festival Association. Coun. Bill Harper suggested the matter be referred to staff, noting the city continues to grapple with some issues related to the request.
While Coun. Chuck Puchmayr has no issue allowing the program to use the city’s crest, he said that’s a matter to be decided by council. Even without the city’s endorsement, he said the group is able to start recruiting and raising funds for the program.
“You can already do it. You don’t need us but I would certainly support you being able to use the crest,” he said. “Are you the official ambassadors, or not the official ambassadors? I think maybe there’s room for both. As its stands right now, we haven’t funded Hyack.”
Coun. Lorrie Williams likes the fact the new program isn’t a beauty pageant and is open to boys and girls.
“I think you will get more men doing it your way,” Puchmayr said. “They are not competing against a woman for a crown. I am excited about it.”
