When it comes to city honours for a young person, there’s nothing better than being named to the royal party.
That’s what happened to Ava Dickson and Daniel Harvey last week when the pair was selected as Port Coquitlam’s May Queen and Ambassador for the year.
The pair was randomly chosen at an April 10 tea — along with first princess Katrina Herrera and record bearer Jayden Jin — to take part in a range of municipal functions including representing the city on its float during the May Day parade on May 13 and presiding over a luncheon.
Dickson, a Grade 5 student at Castle Park elementary, told The Tri-City News she applied to be a princess after her older sister, Emily, was named the flower girl for their school when she was in Grade 2.
Dickson said she also wanted to make the most of her last year at elementary school and has registered to be in a number of extracurricular activities as well.
Being chosen to be the May Day queen “was exciting but scary and I was really surprised that I was selected,” she said, adding, “To me, it seems like I never win anything so, to win this title it means a lot to me.
“When I was younger, I would always watch the parade with my family and wonder what it would be like if I were the queen,” she said.
As for Harvey — a Grade 4 student at École des Pionniers-de-Maillardville — he signed up after his sister took part in the 2016 royal party as a flower girl. “I really enjoy the MayDay events,” he told The Tri-City News, “so it’s super cool that I got picked to do extra stuff. I’m really happy that I got picked this year — during Canada’s 150th birthday — since there will probably be some extra celebrations.”
Both students said they are especially pleased to be accompanying Mayor Greg Moore at the May Day festival and to help lay a wreath at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day, on Nov. 11.
The May Day tradition dates back to 1923. Over the years, the fest has included a May Pole dance, a parade and other arts-related events.
The 2017 fest runs May 5 to 14, with the opening ceremonies on May 5 at the PoCo recreation complex. Visit portcoquitlam.ca for details.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
