Public misconceptions hinder winter carnival queen candidates

VERNON – The Queen Silver Star Excellence program is struggling so hard to recruit applicants that it's unlikely the city will have a winter carnival queen to crown next year.

Vernon Winter Carnival chair Deb White said the program currently has five candidates but requires between eight to 10 for it to run successfully. The program, a Vernon tradition for more than half a century, is available for women between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. Candidates take weekly classes for five months to develop skills in everything from how to change a tire and self-defence, to interview skills and etiquette. At the end of the program, the star student is crowned Vernon Winter Carnival Queen and represents the city as an ambassador for the year.

One of the issues, White said, is that many people have the wrong impression of what the Queen Silver Star Excellence program is.

"It's not a [beauty] pageant," she said. "We've done away with that."

When the program started the girls did have to wear a swimsuit, but White stresses those days are long gone.

"The world has changed since 1961, long gone are the bouffant hairdos and having to wear a bikini," she said.

White reiterated the candidates learn a multitude of life skills during the program and encouraged willing applicants to apply.

"They're being taught financial awareness, they're not being taught how to take care of your man at home," she added.

White said since 1961, 275 women have taken part in the program.

For more information go to: vernonwintercarnival.com

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