For immediate release.
New Westminster, BC, May 3rd, 2022. Nikki Binns, President of the New Westminster May Day Community Association (the “Association” or the “May Day Association”) is pleased to report that at 3:00PM on Sunday, May 1st, 2022, the Association conducted a random draw on the steps of City Hall to determine the City’s 151st May Queen Suite. With Association President Nikki Binns as master of ceremonies, acting Mayor Jaimie McEvoy and 1975 May Queen Kathy (Gifford) Glassie randomly drew out the names of the children who had entered the draw, which was open to New Westminster students in grades 5 and 6. May Day will take place on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 at 3:30PM sharp in Queens Park Stadium.
The final name drawn was Manha Rishard of Queensborough, New Westminster’s 151st May Queen. Manha’s family was on hand for the proceedings including her older brother Nadir Rishard, Royal Knight for Queensborough Middle School in the 149th May Queen Suite in 2019. Royal Consort for 2022 is Kai Harrison, who’s family reported that they had a long-time involvement in May Day over the years.
There are 12 members of the 2022 New Westminster May Day May Queen Suite:
May Queen: Manha Rishard
Royal Consort: Kai Harrison
1st Maid of Honour: Sofia La Roy
2nd Maid of Honour: Ava Wiegand
Medal Bearer: Catalina Pagnotta
Register Bearer: Sophia Donschenko
1st Flower Girl: Georgia Orchard
2nd Flower Girl: Sevilla Lenahan
3rd Flower Girl: Adelle Cupit
4th Flower Girl: Ella Suffron
5th Flower Girl: Cordelia Hardwick
6th Flower Girl: Reaghan Bruce
“We are very excited about all the amazing children who are part of New Westminster’s 151st Royal Suite,” said May Day Association President Nikki Binns. “We are happy to have the Covid19 May Day hiatus behind us, which resulted in skipping one year in the longstanding process.”
The selection of the Royal Suite in 2022 differed from past May Days. For over 100 years, selection of the Royal Suite followed a two-step process. The first step involved peer voting in schools. The second step involved a random draw at City Hall. Each school representatives name was placed in a special container and the roles were drawn in reverse order such that the names of the May Queen and her Royal Consort were selected last.
With the elementary school election process ending in 2020, the 2022 representatives were determined entirely by a random draw.
Free May Pole and Folk-dance instruction are currently taking place across the City. Space is still available for interested children. The May Pole dances are open to children in grades 4, 5 and 6 and the Folk Dances are open to children in grades 2 and 3. Full details including times, locations and registration instructions are available via the Association’s website here.
On behalf of the New Westminster May Day Community Association
Per/
Nikki L. Binns
President
Email: brunella@nwmayday.com
Phone: