My name is Quinn Wells. I have been honored to represent the Great Northern Exhibition as the 2022-2023 Junior Ambassador. I have really enjoyed working with my Senior Ambassador Diane Van Staveren throughout this year. Diane has been such an amazing role model and has taught me so much throughout this experience.
Diane and I certainly jumped into our ambassador responsibilities minutes after being crowned at the GNE fair. What a busy, fun filled weekend. Friday night, we walked through the record-breaking crowds to get a ride on the Ferris wheel and mingle with families at the Midway. Saturday and Sunday, we were so busy trying to get to all the events and activities that the GNE offers. We handed out ribbons to the different livestock events, started the very loud and muddy demolition derby and watched the truck and tractor pulls. We also participated in the antique tractor parade and rode on the beautiful horse drawn carriage wagons. The GNE wouldn’t be complete without picking a winner at the cutest baby contest, drawing a name for the quilt raffle and watching the winning ticket being drawn for the Lions Club Mustang Convertible. I very much enjoyed the whole GNE weekend.
A few short weeks after the Fair, we attended the Fair Board’s President’s Reception where I officially spoke for the first time as the Junior Ambassador. We also attended the Autumn Leaves Fashion Show. I sold raffle tickets and Diane was lucky enough to walk the runway in style. What a great event.
In late November and early December, Diane and I represented the GNE at the Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Stayner and Creemore Santa Claus parades and can I tell you we experienced every type of weather imaginable. Bitter cold and snowy in Collingwood, mild temperatures in Wasaga Beach, rain in Stayner and actual wind warnings in Creemore. They were all so memorable. A special thanks to our wonderful drivers and of course, Judy Ferguson for decorating our award-winning float.
Lastly, I would like to extend a special thank you to our wonderful volunteer Ambassador Committee: Maureen McLeod, Grace Millsap, Karen Van Staveren, and Lori Walker. Diane and I are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people. As I mentioned in one of my speeches, volunteers are the glue that holds the community together and these volunteers are the glue that makes the GNE Ambassador program so special.
Thank you for allowing me to represent this wonderful community as your Junior Ambassador.
Quinn







