Six young women are embarking a journey to become Miss New Westminster or Hyack Ambassadors.
The teenagers and their parents recently met to discuss the Miss New Westminster program, which involves weekly rehearsals in speech preparation, dance, deportment and etiquette.
Program coordinator Lynn Radbourne notes their efforts will culminate in the selection of Miss New Westminster 2013 at the Massey Theatre on March 9, 2013.
This year's Miss New Westminster candidates and their sponsors are: Fiona Senyk (New Westminster Salmonbellies); Tiana Bosnjak (De Dutch - New West); Devine Calanog (G & F Financial Group); Cynthia Tan (Kiwanis Club of New Westminster); Carli Henssler (New Westminster Police Officers' Association); and Amanda Zacharuk (Rotary Club of New Westminster.)
A win-win-win
The Queen's Park Volunteer Society Gift Shop hosted a Christmas Shopping Night on Nov. 15 but there's still time to check out its selection of jewelry and art local artisans.
The shop is located inside the main lobby of the hospital at 315 McBride Blvd.
Lorraine Brett, chair of the Queen's Park Healthcare Foundation, said it's a "win-win-win" to purchase items at the shop, as 100 per cent of the net proceeds support the needs of the folks who live at the care centre, artists get to market and sell their works and buyers can be assured their money is going to a great cause.
Colleen McDonald, a New Westminster retired teacher, instigated the rebranding effort at the gift shop. The shop cleared out dated merchandise earlier this year to make way for new offerings such as jewelry, silk scarves, home décor items and other items staff and visitors would want to buy for themselves or as gifts.
"The gift shop has real appeal. It's always buzzing with shoppers," Brett wrote in an email to The Record. "Colleen McDonald has an amazing knack for purchasing the most interesting gifts. Every time I go to the gift shop I walk out with a couple of really great things. It's so nice to find affordable gifts by local artists and artisans and all so close to home."
Brett said she loves the work of New Westminster resident Marney-Rose Edge and can pick up a beautiful card or coaster by her, or even a numbered print, at the gift shop.
"I haven't spent a fortune and it's a real treat to own some of her great work," she said about the artist, whose works are currently on display at the Arts Council of New Westminster gallery in Queen's Park. "Plus, I know that 100 per cent of net profits go to support the work of the centre. It's a win/win all round."
If you want to drop by, the Queen's Park Volunteer Society Gift Shop is open Mondays (1 to 4 p.m.), Tuesdays (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Wednesdays (1 to 4 p.m.), Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Fridays (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and Saturdays (1 to 4 p.m.) and Sundays (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Gogos get going
Royal City residents recently rallied behind the Royal City Gogos' efforts to help grandmothers in Africa.
Janine Reid, who founded the Royal City Gogos in 2009 and is a coordinator of the Greater Van Gogos, said the New Westminster group raised about $20,500 at its Artisan Crafts for Africa sale on Nov. 3.
The funds will go through the Stephen Lewis Foundation to community-based projects working with African grandmothers and the orphaned children in their care.
The foundation, which works with community-based organizations to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa, has funded more than 700 initiatives and partnered with more than 300 community-based organizations in 15 countries since 2003. Since its formation in April 2009, the Royal City Gogos have sent $175,000 to the Stephen Lewis Foundation in support of community-based projects that work with African grandmothers and the children in their care.
If you missed the Artisan Crafts for Africa sale but still want to support the Royal City Gogos fundraising efforts, the group is still collecting pennies and making jars available for a penny drive.
The local group's goal is to collect one million pennies, which is $10,000.
For more information on the Royal City Gogos or to donate pennies to the penny drive, email royalcitygogos@gmail. com.
Have an item for Around Town? Send it to reporter Theresa McManus at [email protected], fax it to 604-444-3460 or tweet her at www.twitter. com/TheresaMcManus.
