Queen Silver Star will not walk the plank in 2019.
The Vernon Winter Carnival and Queen Silver Star Excellence Program have announced that the 2018-19 program will go ahead.
The program was in jeopardy of folding due to a lack of candidates.
Two weeks ago, the Carnival and QSSEP committee announced they had only four candidates and needed at least 10 to make the program viable.
Following a public appeal, four more candidates came forward.
“The Queen Silver Star Excellence Program has been transforming the lives of young women in the Vernon area for over 58 years,” said Carnival chairperson Deb White. “The program provides opportunity and experience to ladies in our community and allows them to give back to our wonderful city.!
“We are overwhelmed by the amount of support that the North Okanagan showed when we announced that the program was in jeopardy. The amount of emails, phone calls, Facebook shares, comments and support was absolutely amazing.”
Queen Silver Star Excellence Program chairperson Coleen Noel said there are eight confirmed candidates and the committee is waiting on the paperwork fora ninth candidate.
“The girls are very excited that the program will continue for the 59th annual Vernon Winter Carnival,” said Noel. “The Queens committee is very excited to work with the candidates. The committee is made up of six volunteers, including past candidates.”
The program is for young ladies aged 15 - 18. They learn many life skills including interview skills, automotive, financial planning and etiquette, to name just a few. There is also the possibility of earning scholarships.
If you would like more information on the Queen Silver Star Excellence program, please feel free to call or email 250-545-2236 or info@vernonwintercarnival.com.
The 59th annual Vernon Winter Carnival, with its theme of A Pirate’s Carnival, will run Feb. 1-10.