Program

Description & History:

White Rock Youth Ambassadors (WRYA) comes from a tradition that is 50 years old, that being the Miss White Rock Pageant. What began as a summer beauty pageant in Surrey and White Rock has now morphed into a contemporary, volunteer and self-development program for teens who are chaperoned and mentored by members of the community in a safe, positive and nurturing environment.

Ambassadors programs exist across the province from New West to New Denver, Powell River to Peachland, Cranbrook to Lake Cowichan. There is even a BC Ambassador Program for graduates of the regional programs where the scholarships become really interesting.

The candidate’s year begins in March and ends in August the following year. Participants are much changed, more skilled, more confident, having shared experiences of working, traveling and living together.

The program is community based with funding from the City of White Rock, local service organizations, White Rock/South Surrey Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and fundraising. and is run by volunteers.

To participate, candidates must attend school, live or work in the White Rock area.


Apprenticeship:

Candidates are matched to sponsors –either a local business or a service group. Candidates buy coordinated business suits and khaki casuals for uniformity when volunteering. They compete in 6 judged events:

  • a fashion show,
  • talent and creativity,
  • public speaking,
  • community knowledge,
  • an essay, and
  • an interview.

It all culminates in the Awards Gala on July long weekend, kicking off the Spirit of the Sea Festival weekend.

The judged events allow candidates to learn or demonstrate flexibility, taking instruction, poise, a sense of humour, reliability, commitment, leadership and helpfulness. Ultimately these qualities are rewarded with position and scholarship.

Toastmasters give one on one instruction on speech craft and table talk and answering impromptu questions. We do segments on etiquette, deportment, hygiene, and healthy lifestyle.

Throughout the apprenticeship, candidates are supported, guided and encouraged to strive for excellence.


Volunteering:© WRYA - Volunteer

We volunteer a lot.

  • Spirit of the Sea Festival,
  • Remembrance Day,
  • Christmas Day,
  • Canada Day,
  • Semiahmoo Regatta,
  • Father’s Day,
  • Mother’s Day,
  • Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence,
  • WR/SS Foundation Vintage Affair,
  • Peace Arch Community Services Fundraising Gala,
  • Breast Cancer Research Nite of Hope,
  • Semiahmoo House Fundraisers,
  • Peace Arch Hospital Gala,
  • etc.

It isn’t easy being a volunteer, knowing what is needed, knowing how to help. Experience is a good teacher. Observing organizers shows the teens what is involved in planning and executing events when it comes their turn.


Traveling:

Traveling the province is one of the perks of this program. Our travel schedule depends on availability of chaperones, drivers and funding. Communities we have visited include: Vernon, New Westminster, Victoria, Nanaimo, Merritt, Oliver, Peachland, Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops and Lytton.

The benefits of traveling are:

  • the opportunity to represent White Rock,
  • to speak in front of an audience,
  • to meet teens from other communities and form friendships.

Traveling, in general, is enlightening. Seeing similarities and differences in people in other geographical locations leads one to consider their own circumstance and think about possibilities and how you want to live your own life.


Community Projects:

In the past our community projects have been:

  1. Mosaicing the Ash Street Steps on east beach. This project lasted all summer and involved interviewing artist’s, securing funding, advertising, buying material, learning the technique, recruiting members of the community to participate and mosaicing.
  2. High School 101, a peer mentoring 6 week after school workshop for elementary kids about to enter high school. This included components of self-esteem, health life style choices, study habits, peer pressure, respect and communication. Ambassadors worked with a PhD Candidate who taught them tried and true techniques for keeping the attention of grade 6 and 7 students. Information was delivered to the students in an informal, non-judgmental style.
  3. This year’s project will have the Ambassadors take Brownies on an historic walk of White Rock down by the train station. As 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the City of White Rock, and the Museum + Archives are fundraising for a major renovation, we thought it would be appropriate to learn more about the history of White Rock, the pier, the rock and the promenade. Since the best way to learn yourself is, to teach, sharing this information with the Brownies will help both groups because the Brownies can use their newly found knowledge to earn a community badge.
  4. A member of WRYA has been chosen to sit on a task force reviewing the Official Community Plan (OCP) representing youth of White Rock to determine the needs and visions of the youth in the area for the next 20 years and what part youth can play in helping this to come about.
  5. An ambassador is representing youth interests on the Spirit Square Stakeholder Group. They are working with a team of urban planners and landscape architect to redesign a very important part of the White Rock waterfront park. The new park will be built in the area between the pier washrooms and the museum. The challenge is to create a space that is more comfortable and interesting for people of all ages. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of this year.
  6. Called the REPUBLIC, ambassadors are organizing a search for the area’s most talented musicians. Run for 2 consecutive years, it was held in May, at the curling arena in Centennial Park.  Facilitators exposed the ambassadors to a unique learning experience in event planning.


Expectations & Benefits:

Upon becoming an ambassador, a contract is signed that outlines our expectations regarding attendance, fundraising, decorum, dos and don’ts. If you show up, participate, organize your time, communicate, and do what you say you will, we will all get along great.

The benefits are relative to the amount you participate. The WRYA program is an amazing addition to your resume or portfolio.

  • You will have letters of recommendation from the Mayor, MLA and MP as well as a letter of reference from the coordinators outlining the events in which you participated.
  • There are job opportunities that Ambassadors have found through the community network.
  • You will meet a lot of community leaders and have opportunities to distinguish yourself.
  • You will improve your public speaking and you will be at ease when making conversation with strangers or your elders.
  • You will acquire sound community knowledge and civic understanding that will serve you well into your adult life.
  • You may travel and meet members from other towns.
  • You will gain self-confidence.
  • You will learn how to dance.
  • And most importantly, you will have fun!
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