PROVIDENCE BAY—This Friday, August 15, six young ladies will compete to be named Providence Bay Fair Ambassador to see who will be crowned and move on to represent Manitoulin at the at the Canadian National Exhibition’s Ambassador of the Fairs next summer.
The contestants are evaluated through interviews with the judges prior to the pageant, their confidence on stage during the pageant Friday evening and the speeches they deliver.
During the meetings with the judges prior to the pageant the contestants are evaluated on their personality, poise and how they respond to the judges’ questions.
At the pageant on Friday evening, the contestants begin by introducing themselves and deliver 3-4 minute speeches on the topic of their choice.
Following the speeches, the judges will tabulate the contestants’ scores and a first runner up and Providence Bay Fair Ambassador will be named. The girls will also select one contestant among themselves to be named Miss Congeniality.
This year’s contestants include 17-year-old Sarah Orford, 17-year-old Abigail Taibossigai, 18-year-old Faith Beaudin, 18-year-old Kayla McFarlane, 17-year-old Bridgette McDonald and 17-year-old Trisha McCauley.
Sarah Orford
Seventeen-year-old Sarah Orford of Spring Bay has brown hair and blue eyes. She will be attending Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) in the fall and will be going into Grade 12. In her spare time she likes to read, listen to music, cook and spend time with her friends and family. Her role model is her older brother Rodney because he has taught Sarah “so many things and life lessons and he is also my role model because he has always been there for me.” Sarah’s favourite thing about Manitoulin is living on a farm and the natural beauty of the Island. Winning the pageant would mean a lot to her because, “I have always been involved in the Providence Bay Fair through volunteering and entering exhibits. Also, it is something that pushes me out of my comfort zone.” Sarah is sponsored by Mindemoya Home Hardware.
Bridgette McDonald
Gore Bay’s Bridgette McDonald is 17-years-old and has blonde hair and green eyes. She is going into Grade 12 at MSS in the fall and likes to run, explore nature and partake in sports in her spare time. Her mother has been a major influence/role model in her life because, “she always pushes me to be the best I can be and launches me into the stratosphere of success.” Bridgette’s favourite thing about Manitoulin Island is the unique alvar ecosystem it has to offer and the crystal clear waters. Winning Ambassador of the Providence Bay Fair would mean a lot to Bridgette. She explains, “It would boost my confidence and open me up to new opportunities like helping others and being a role model for someone else.” Bridgette is sponsored by O. Bond and Sons Plumbing.
Kayla McFarlane
Eighteen-year-old Kayla McFarlane of Providence Bay has brown hair and brown eyes. She will be doing a ‘victory lap’ at MSS this fall (she has graduated but will be doing another year at the school). In her spare time she enjoys fishing, hanging out with friends and swimming. Kayla’s major influence was Mary Lambert, who taught her about body love, and her grandmother. Her favourite thing about Manitoulin is the scenic views, close knit community and the schools. She would like to win the Ambassador pageant to gain a chance to show pride of her home town at the fair. Kayla is sponsored Island Foodland.
Faith Beaudin
Faith Beaudin of M’Chigeeng First Nation is 18-years-old and has brown hair and brown eyes. She is going into Grade 12 at MSS in the fall. In her spare time she likes swimming, ATVing, snowmobiling, boating and being outside. Her family, her grandpa and uncle who taught her about music and her dad who taught her about fixing things, are her major influences and rolemodels in her life. Her favourite thing about Manitoulin is “that there are lots of places to explore, four wheeler trails, snowmobile trails and hiking.” Winning the Ambassador of the Providence Bay Fair would mean a lot to Faith because, “I am a leader in my community, mentor with a program in North Bay and I’m also a positive influence with anything I do.” Faith is sponsored by Castle Building Centre.
Trisha McCauley
Trisha McCauley is 17-years-old and from M’Chigeeng First Nation. She has brown hair and green eyes. She will be going into her first year at Georgian College this fall. In Trisha’s spare time she likes reading, hanging out with friends and trying new things. When asked who has been a major influence/role model in her life and why she said, “Everyone that gave me a little shove in life, believed in me, supported me and gave me needed advice. The contributors in my life are my greatest influences. Whether they were positive or negative—It’s what made me the person I am and allowed me to achieve the things I have.” Her favourite thing about Manitoulin is the festivities and scenery. “Winning this pageant would mean I’ve conquered another milestone in life, that I’ve just completed another step of creating me and who I want to see myself as,” said Trisha of winning the pageant. “I want to be a role model and help others. I want to be able to tell people ‘you can do anything you set your mind to,’ despite what others say or what society states.” Trisha is sponsored by Manitoulin Chrysler.
Abigail Taibossigai
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Taibossigai is from Little Current and has dark brown hair and green eyes. She will be going into Grade 12 at MSS in the fall. In her down time Abigail likes to paint, read, sing, draw, go out for walks and hang out with friends. “My mom Tammy Bryan-Walsh raised me and two (twin) boys on her own,” said Abigail of who has been a major influence or role model in her life. “She is strong and positive.” Her favourite thing about Manitoulin is the wide variety of activities to do and the beauty. Abigail said it would mean a lot to her to win the pageant because she would like to represent Manitoulin at the Canadian National Exhibition’s Ambassador of the Fairs next summer. She is sponsored by Orr’s Valu-Mart.
The pageant gets underway this Friday, August 15 at 8 pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 12-years-old and free for kids 5-years-old and under. Weekend passes are also available for $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12-years-old.
Visit www.providencebayfair.com for more information or a complete schedule or see pages 16-17 of this week’s Expositor.
