With only four candidates coming forward this year, the annual Lady of the Lake competition has been cancelled for 2019.
The event, which is extremely popular with the general public, has been running since just after Lake Cowichan became a municipality 75 years ago.
However, all is not lost for the future because supporters of the event are looking at other options, including opening up the contest to both younger and older girls. It is currently open to Grade 11s only. With many girls looking at trying to find ways to get the courses they want for graduation, some potential candidates would simply not be available to fulfill Lady of the Lake duties next year.
A change in the rules would be needed but there might be more candidates if entry was open to Grade 10s and Grade 12s as well.
However, there is also the possibility of changing the event completely, making it into an “ambassador” contest, and opening it to boys as well.
When the subject was discussed at the Cowichan Lake Chamber of Commerce AGM March 7, there appeared to be quite a bit of interest in finding some way to keep the idea of a Cowichan Lake ambassador program going.