DEER LAKE — Council could dip into its advertising budget in considering a request for a donation to a beauty pageant contestant.
Nineteen-year-old Meghan House of Deer Lake has been raising money for her run at the Miss Canada Globe pageant next year. Council received a request for a donation to help her in her bid, but the rules for charitable donations state council can only donate a maximum of $25. As House is the only contestant from the province, council thinks it may be prudent from a marketing and advertising perspective to donate more.
Coun. Elmo Bingle said he understood the logic of supporting House in her endeavour.
“There is a place where we could advertise the Town of Deer Lake out of the advertising budget and not out of the sponsor budget,” he said. “We could certainly revisit this from an advertising point of view.”
Coun. Jean Young said there are those who look at pageants as sexist. However, she sees the value.
“If they can make millions to throw a ball, why not get it (for beauty)?” she said. “It’s something we could look at.”
Council will request a meeting with House in the next few days to discuss her request.
The Miss Canada Globe pageant’s purpose is to allow Canadian women to represent the country at various international pageants.
