Olds College graduate Mick Plemel wants to give other people the royal treatment as the 2015 Calgary Stampede Queen.
“It's something that I've always wanted to do because you get to have such a positive impact on people,” Plemel said. “It means a lot. It's something that I definitely dreamt about doing since I was about 17, 18.”
As the Calgary Stampede Queen, Plemel and two princesses —Kimberly Stewart and Haley Peckham — act as ambassadors for the Stampede, showcasing western culture locally and internationally.
Originally from Calgary, Plemel said she knew the position would take a lot of commitment, so she held off participating in the competition while she was still in school.
During the 2013-14 school year, Plemel, 22, served on the Olds College Students' Association as the vice-president of communications while studying in the land and water resource management program.
Deb Wilson, the association's general manager, described her as a person of integrity with a strong sense of fair play.
“She just wanted to be able to participate and to contribute to the college experience overall,” Wilson said.
Since graduation, the two have kept in touch. Wilson said she believes Plemel was awarded the crown for her riding ability and willingness to give back to others.
“She embraces the western lifestyle. She lives the western lifestyle,” she said. “She wants to give back and contribute to society overall.”
After graduation, Plemel found the time to apply for royalty after taking a seasonal job this summer with the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, doing health assessments on riparian areas, focusing on grazing and pastureland.
Her first function came on Oct. 5 at the RE/MAX Family Fun Day in Calgary, a fundraising event for the Children's Miracle Network, with proceeds going to the Alberta Children's Hospital.
During her yearlong reign as Queen, Plemel can expect to attend more than 350 events.
“There's very few times you get to be an ambassador for such a prestigious organization as the Calgary Stampede,” she said.
“Being able to do that gives you an ability to not only work with the other members of the trio — the other three girls — and form lifelong friendships, but you really get to go around and have a positive impact on a lot of different people.”
So far, there aren't any events scheduled in Olds, though that may change, Plemel said.
At the end of October, she and the princesses will attend the Western Legacy Awards, spend an evening at a Calgary retirement home and participate in the Stampede's Happy Trails event — a night of singing and dancing with residents.
The campaign to become Stampede Royalty took one month and started in September.
There were 25 applicants, Plemel said. They were judged on their horseback riding, speech and ability to make a good impression with members of the Royalty Committee at dinners and “mixer” events.
After a speech competition, 10 were chosen to advance.
Following interviews and a dinner, they were whittled down to six.
After one more round of interviews and a riding evaluation, Plemel was crowned queen at the end of the month.
While her crown and belt buckle say “Queen” on them, Plemel doesn't want people to elevate her above the princesses.
“The roles are equal … I don't get any special treatment, I don't have any different roles,” she said.
“Those girls are very talented and amazing young ladies and do the exact thing that I would do.”
