Chelsea Cameron-Horner (left) and Viveka Jensen, both from Osoyoos, are among the nine candidates from across the province seeking to be chosen as B.C. Ambassadors. They are encouraging people to vote for them online. (Richard McGuire photo)
Two young Osoyoos women are vying for spots as B.C. Ambassadors, which would allow them to travel the province, promoting education, motivation and self-esteem, while also allowing them to promote their hometown.
Chelsea Cameron-Horner, 23, and Viveka Jensen, 18, are both former Osoyoos Royalty princesses. A condition of entering the competition to be a B.C. Ambassador is a previous Royalty title.
The two are competing against seven other contestants from across the province for three available ambassador positions, but Cameron-Horner downplays the competitive aspect of the Ambassador Program, which culminates in a pageant Aug. 15 in Merritt.
“I don’t believe this is the time to compete with other people,” said Cameron-Horner. “I actually believe that as a group of candidates if we all empower each other that works a lot better.”
The two have joined forces in their efforts to reach out to the Osoyoos community and gain support.
“We’re in competition, but we’re also working together at the same time,” said Jensen.
Both women hope that people will go onto the B.C. Ambassador Program’s website to vote for them for the People’s Choice Award at: “www.bcambassador.com/2015-candidates”. Cameron-Horner points out that people can cast a daily vote.
While the People’s Choice Award doesn’t have any impact on the judged categories, and, therefore, won’t influence who is chosen as an ambassador, it does come with a monetary award, she said.
In Merritt, the contestants will go through several judged events that will help to determine who is chosen. There’s a knowledge exam, they must give a speech and do an interview.
The two have already received points for filing their paperwork on time and selling T-shirts and ticket packages.
Jensen said she initially wasn’t planning to run as an ambassador this year, but she learned there might not be enough contestants for the program to go ahead.
“I can try this year and see, because you can always run more than once,” she said. “I’m still young and can make mistakes. So I just thought it would be a good chance and I could help the program run. It’s something I wanted to do because it’s a great opportunity to learn many things about the province. And it looks great on a resume too and it helps you with people skills in general.”
Cameron-Horner said she values the self-growth that comes with the program and the skills gained from working independently.
“You become really proud of how much work you do and the more you put into the program, the more you get out of it,” she said. “It’s a chance to really hone your skills.”
Cameron-Horner served two terms as a princess between 2008 and 2010. At 23, this is her last chance to run as an ambassador.
She’s been actively campaigning with business cards, a table at Market on Main, through social media and attendance at community events.
“I think I’ve attended about 87 town events since March,” she said.
Jensen admits she hasn’t spent nearly as much time campaigning and at events, but she is working at two jobs to raise money to attend University of Northern B.C. in Prince George in the fall. She is a server at Troy’s Grill and she also handles equipment rentals at ATV Watersports.
She says her long-range plan is to become a forensic anthropologist and eventually a professor.
Cameron-Horner, who currently promotes her campaign with two blogs and a YouTube channel, said she wants to pursue a career in social media analysis.
Both women say they gained excellent skills and experience with the Osoyoos Royalty Program.
“You see so many different faces,” said Jensen, adding that people she doesn’t always remember tell her they remember her from her time as a princess in 2013-14.
Cameron-Horner said she gained public speaking skills that helped her to become involved in Toastmasters and the South Okanagan Amateur Players (SOAP) theatrical group.
“It also gives you a chance to network and really learn how to network,” she said.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
