Oliver’s new ambassadors are, from left, Sumeet Sandhu, Gavin Buttar, and Ishika Gill. Photo by Trevor Nichols
It was an emotional night at Oliver’s Frank Venables Theatre August 22 as three legacies came to an end and three new ones began.
The 2015/2016 Oliver Ambassador coronation saw Oliver’s three 2014/2015 Ambassadors—Simi Mand, Kaylee Lesmeister and Anastasia Levant—hand over their titles.
Taking up the tiaras, medallion and proverbial torch were Oliver’s three newest Ambassadors: Sumeet Sandhu, Ishika Gill and Gavin Buttar.
And while it was an exciting night for Oliver’s newest royalty, for the departing ambassadors it was bittersweet.
In her farewell speech Lesmeister talked about the growth she has experienced over the past year. She admitted that when she first started she would hide backstage at dances and had trouble talking to her peers.
Now she has new poise and confidence, and even joked that she now knows how to curl her hair. “I feel as if I just started really getting into the swing of things, and then bam, the year’s over,” she said. “I wish that we could just have a couple more months. Can’t we just have a couple more months, Lori. Please?” she asked, finding program coordinator Lori Martine in the crowd.
In her farewell speech Simi Mand thanked her fellow “sparkle heads” for a wonderful year, and admitted that she was sad it was now over. “I have learned so much during my reign. I will remember this as being the best year of my life,” she said.
But along with a platform for fond farewells, the three-hour pageant Saturday night was also the final opportunity for the new crop of ambassadors to show off their talents to the panel of judges.
Sandhu’s Powerpoint presentation showed off her own artwork set against a collection of inspirational quotes. Gill performed a piano melody and spoke about capturing the beauty of the Okanagan with photography. Buttar gave an enthusiastic rendition of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from the stage show Dreamgirls.
The program accepts three ambassadors each year and with only three candidates judging was largely a formality, but each was also given several awards from the judges.
They awarded Buttar the personal presentation award, and he also collected the most donations from visitors, earning him the people’s choice award. Sandhu was given the gold star and public speaking awards, while Gill received the friendship award and knowledge award.
Now that they are official Oliver Ambassadors, Buttar, Sandhu and Gill will travel to events throughout the Okanagan volunteering their time and promoting the town. It’s a big responsibility, but the outgoing ambassadors all gave wise words of encouragement to their successors.
“Remember that you are the one that makes the crown or medallion shine. Go hard … and have a blast, because you only get to be ambassador once,” Levant told them.
Mand echoed Levant’s sentiment. “Embrace your title with confidence and pride. Don’t be afraid to talk to people and always remember to take pictures, lot’s of pictures, because the year goes by so quickly,” she said.
By Trevor Nichols
