It was a busy week, full of Rodeo and friendly competition; but on Saturday, November 9th, Miss Rodeo Canada 2013, Gillian Shields, tearfully relinquished her crown and announced a new Miss Rodeo Canada.
Congratulations to Nicole Briggs, Miss Rodeo Canada 2014! Nicole is a 21-year-old Gibbons, AB native who grew up in 4-H, roping, barrel racing and horse shows. In 2012, she was crowned Miss Rodeo Airdrie, which then led her to compete in the Miss Rodeo Canada 2014 Pageant. Nicole is the president of the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and received the prestigious Cowgirl of the Year Award in 2013. She remains a leader in the 4-H Light Horse Club, works as a riding instructor in her spare time, and is pursuing a BSc in Animal Health, with a major in Food Animals at the University of Alberta, with hopes of obtaining a degree in Veterinary Medicine and eventually a career in Equine Health. Nicole hopes her reign as the new Miss Rodeo Canada will help keep the western heritage alive in the sport of rodeo and to instill the love and passion of the sport into the hearts of others.
Nicole and her competitor, Miss Rodeo Sundre 2011, Bronwen Bowhay, spent all week competing in various categories such as Horsemanship, Public Speaking, Personal Interviews, Rodeo Knowledge, Overall Personality, Poise and Maturity. It was a very tight race, but, in the end, Nicole won the Horsemanship, Public Speaking and Rodeo Knowledge portions of the Pageant and ultimately the crown as well. The pageant coincided with the Canadian Finals Rodeo, where the crowning took place in the dirt.
We look forward to another great year with the new Miss Rodeo Canada and be sure to look for Nicole in her new role at a number of events throughout the year, starting with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, from December 5th – 14th.
About Miss Rodeo Canada:
Miss Rodeo Canada is a non-profit organization that has been supporting the personal development of young women for more than 50 years. Each November, the Miss Rodeo Canada Pageant produces an ambassador who wears a crown of pride and carries our Canadian western heritage to the rodeo community and beyond.
Visit www.missrodeocanada.ca