Organizers of both the Montreal and Hudson Saint Patrick's Day Parades are encouraging young women of Irish descent to apply for the position of queen. The selection process is getting underway now, and organizers of both events emphasize that it's not a beauty contest.
"We don't want it to be anything close to being a beauty contest. That's gone a long time ago," says Elizabeth Quinn, application coodinator with the United Irish Societies of Montreal.
She says Montreal's parade is looking for young women with good public speaking ability, poise and personality.
Brenda O'Farrell, a volunteer with the parade organizing committee in Hudson, echos that view, emphasizing that the modern day Saint Patrick's parade queen is a young woman who is skilled at public speaking and can properly represent the community to the general public.
"Trying to sort of put forward the face of the Irish community," she says. "I think it has to do with a little bit of pride in your background, pride in your community."
O'Farrell adds that in Hudson, applicants' community involvement is also considered.
Montreal is looking for a queen and four members of the court aged 18 to 25. A first briefing is Wednesday night and the selection evening is February 3rd.. The process usually draws between 10 and 20 applicants.
Hudson needs a queen and three princesses aged 18 to 30, and is expecting about ten applicants at its selection dinner on February 24.
For both parades, applicants must be of Irish heritage.
Both parades shower the court with gifts. In addition, Montreal's queen receives a trip to Ireland and Hudson gives its queen $500 in cash.