It has been just two months since I was crowned Miss Canada International. I have visited three provinces and attended more than 70 events, from festivals and parades to meetings and media interviews.
After an incredible few weeks in the Greater Toronto Area for the Miss Canada International competition, I returned home to B.C. upon receiving the honour of this national title.
I was welcomed by so many friends and familiar faces at a number of homecoming events.
It was a joy to share, in person, the story of my success with the community and the province and thank everyone who encouraged me in this endeavour.
Within days of my return, I visited our neighbouring city of Quesnel for its Billy Barker Days festivities.
The following weekend, I headed south to the village of Lytton, where I attended many events revolving around the Lytton Ambassador Coronation.
To celebrate the B.C. Day long-weekend, I had the pleasure of sharing a journey to the coast with the Williams Lake Stampede Royalty as we visited the Abbotsford Agri-Fair and Mighty Fraser Rodeo.
During my final few days in B.C., I received an invitation to tour our city streets while enjoying the local talent as part of the official opening of the 2011 Williams Lake Art Walk and Sale.
After visiting different parts of my home province and spreading the message of the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign, I enjoyed a beautiful flight across the country to the MCI office in Ontario.
Upon my arrival, I attended the Power of Women Conference with 10,000 women, including guest speakers such as Suzanne Somers and Ellen Degeneres.
Following a busy schedule, I enjoyed the Fergus Scottish Festival and Parade where I was honoured to be involved with the opening ceremonies and shared the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign with the many visitors including the lieutenant-governor of Ontario.
That evening, I shared an ice cream with the elders at the Highland Manor Retirement Lodge.
While promoting the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign, I was interviewed by CP24 Breakfast Television in Toronto and CHEX Television in Peterborough.
I attended the Havelock Country Jamboree where I spent the weekend fundraising with Teddy Bears and meeting with many country music superstars, including Pam Tillis, Billy Currington, Hey Romeo, and Johnny Reid.
The very next day, it was off to Montreal to meet with many Canadian charities and sponsors which I will be working with for the upcoming year, as well as touring the Shriners Hospital and the Montreal Children’s Hospital to visit so many sweet children there.
Back in the greater Toronto area, I visited the Rogers Centre Sky Dome.
While acting as an honorary cheerleader for the Toronto Argonauts, I helped to host a CFL football game.
The following week, I returned to enjoy a Toronto Blue Jays MLB game where I excitedly received the honour of throwing the first pitch to kick-off the baseball game.
A visit to Ottawa included meetings with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to discuss my national health platform and the ambassador for Zimbabwe, Africa, to work on sending 90,000 Teddy Bears of Hope to the children there.
Thank you to everyone who has embraced me as the national titleholder for 2011/2012 and shared these special moments with me. I am so thankful to the Miss Canada International Organization for all of these unique events and opportunities. It has been an incredible year already, and the fun has only just begun! Thank you again!