www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 19, 2016 | 20 John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville teen takes Miss Teen Halton Region crown by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" A n Oakville teen was recently crowned Miss Teenage Halton Region and will be heading off to a national competition later this summer. "I was very surprised, especially when they called my name," said Megan Brydon. "I kind of froze for a bit. My friends in the crowd said I sort of stood there and then realized, `Oh, that's me.'" The 16-year-old said she learned about the Miss Teenage Canada competition around October 2015 and decided to apply online for it. "I decided that this was something I really wanted to do, so I went for it," said Brydon. "I wanted to make myself more con dent and sometimes, you want to do more than what other people perceive you to be." Brydon attended the Ontario regionals for Miss Teenage Canada in Toronto on Jan. 24. In addition to a Miss Teenage Ontario being crowned that day, an additional 10 crowns were given to contestants that "stood out" and could represent municipalities from the province, said Brydon's mother, Dale Hunter. BiggEr and BEttEr! FEBruary 19, 20 & 21, 2016 Friday: 2pm - 10pm Saturday: 11am - 10pm Sunday: 11am - 6pm ESP PSychic Fair Polish Hall 2316 Fairview St., Burlington FREE PARKING & FREE LEctuRE ANd dEmoNstRAtIoN Room More to do! More to see! More to learn! Medium, Palmistry, tarot cards, crystal Ball, auras, crystals, tea Leaves reading, Lectures & More Top professional Psychic mediums. Find out what's coming up in your love life, work, health and your finances. Guest Speaker: David, from the Sinclair Family and written about in the Da Vinci Code, Oak Island and You Got The Whole World In Your Hands For booth information call 416-889-5358 Brydon will be among the 70-80 nalists from across the country who will be competing for the Miss Teenage Canada title on July 24 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. The Grade 11 Iroquois Ridge High School student said her win at regionals was a bit unexpected. "I was con dent I did my best, but I wasn't sure if it would be enough (to place), but I guess it was," she said, noting this was the rst time she's entered a competition like Miss Teenage Canada. "It was very relieving. I put a lot of effort into it prior to the event; I did a lot of charity work. It shows that hard work pays off. I was very excited and it made me feel more con dent in myself," Brydon explained after her name was called. This year's chosen charity for the Miss Teenage Canada pageant is Cardiac Kids, a volunteer group established in 2000 in support of the SickKids Foundation. It raises funds for children who are suffering from congenital heart disease. As part of the requirements of the national competition, contestants are asked to fundraise for its chosen charity. Brydon said she got Tim Hortons to sponsor her and donate doughnuts for her to sell for the cause. She ran a fundraiser selling the doughnuts outside of her school and in a single day she was able to raise approximately $250 to donate to Cardiac Kids on her behalf. Hunter said she couldn't believe the level of independence her daughter showed throughout the regional competition. "She entered the contest on her own and did her own bio, just the way she behaved -- so professionally and mature," noted the Oakville mom. "She's only 16 and when you see your child walk on stage and to the microphone and announce who they are and where they're from, it's kind of like, `Wow. They've stepped out.'" Oakville's Megan Brydon, 16, was recently crowned Miss Teenage Halton Region and will be heading to the Miss Teenage Canada competition in Toronto this summer. | photo by Jayson Mills special to the Beaver Hunter said her daughter is typically shy, but all that disappeared on stage. "She was radiant," she said. "I was so proud and pleased with her poise, candour and diplomacy in the pageant itself." Brydon admitted she never had much of a chance to get nervous in the days leading up to the regionals thanks to school. "I couldn't really worry too much about it while going through exams last month... I only prepared for it mentality a few days before the competition," she said. "I think it's the same situation now, with nationals being so far away. I'm not too anxious about it, but I am staying healthy and active. I'm also trying to reach out to fundraisers to get myself known more in the community." The winner of Miss Teenage Canada not only receives a crown and sash, but also the chance to go on a service trip with Free the Children and perform charity work internationally -- something Brydon said she would look forward to if she takes home the national title. Vivaldi for Freaky Instruments concert this weekend The Oakville Chamber Orchestra presents its concert Vivaldi for Freaky Instruments this weekend. The second last concert of its season will showcase three soloists: · Alison Melville, performing Vivaldi: Concerto for Sopranino Recorder in C major; · Jennifer Thiessen, Vivaldi: Concerto for Viola D'Amore in D minor; · Benjamin Stein, Vivaldi: Concerto for Lute in D. The concert program will also include, Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Suite No. 1 and Telemann: Suite "La Musette". The concert will be held at St. John's United Church, 262 Randall St., tomorrow (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m., and St. Simon's Anglican Church, 1450 Litch eld Rd., on Sunday (Feb. 21) at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for students, children's admission is free. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. oakvillechamber.org or call 905-483-OPUS (6787). FEED YOUR ADDICTION Offering CANADA CUT & STYLE FROM $50 COLOUR FROM $65 TREATmENTS KERATIN $300+ Book your appointment today! www.esppsychicfair.com FREE Gem stone with admission Admission $8: $5 with this ad Good for all 3 days 518 Postridge Drive 905-257-7427 colouraddiction.com