Overflowing gratitude was the order of the day at Saywell Park in Lake Cowichan on Saturday, June 8 at 2 p.m as the community gathered around the Lake Days stage to see the 2018/19 Lady of the Lake royalty finish their official year.
First Princess Olivia Skinner and Second Princess Amber Eddy received gifts, bouquets, and the adulation of the crowd for their excellent performance of their duties during a challenging year.
It began when Lady of the Lake, Keely McDonald, withdrew from the royalty program, and the difficulties continued when there were not enough potential candidates to run a competition this spring. A decision was made to put the Lady of the Lake on hiatus for a year, and return in 2020, which will be the 75th anniversary of the Lady of the Lake.
It will be a whole new world for the long-running contest next year as Jocelyn Lundberg has taken over the program from Denise Allan, who retired from that position this spring. Allan was called up to the stage at Saywell Park so that Skinner and Eddy could officially thank her both on their behalf and for all the former royalty and candidates she had supported with her warmth and knowledge.
In addition, everyone involved in Lady of the Lake joined the wider community in mourning the death, late last week, of Miriam Coghlan, a tremendous supporter and long-time volunteer for the royalty program.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Paul Jordan and the Lady of the Lake’s Desiree Karlsson led the applause for Skinner, Eddy, Allan, and Coghlan.