It's bee season in Prince George and Vanier Hall will be fairly buzzing Feb. 26 when 39 students arrive from throughout the North to face off in the fifth annual Prince George Citizen Regional Spelling Bee.
The student that has the last word goes home with a cheque for $5,000 from the Egg Farmers of Canada to pursue an education and the honour of representing northern B.C. at the national level.
"The best speller in the North will win a trip to Toronto in March to compete in the Postmedia Canspell National Spelling Bee against 20 other winners from participating Canadian cities," said Alan Ramsay, co-ordinator of the Citizen bee.
The national winner will receive $15,000 and will be invited to compete internationally at the Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in June.
"The competition will be fierce with seven spellers returning from last year including Cynthia Dykhuizen, 13, of Quesnel junior secondary, last year's winner who will compete for her fourth and final time," said Ramsay.
Also returning for her second bee is Kailee Duncan, who's about to turn 13, from Fraser Lake elementary.
She and sister Carissa have made the regional bee a family affair since it was launched in 2007.
Carissa was the representative for three years followed by Kailee for the next two.
Kailee, who's been studying hard with Carissa, said she's looking forward to representing her school and family at the bee.
"I find I'm more nervous at our school bee than I am in Prince George," said Kailee, who had the pressure of being the defending champion along with family hopes to keep the Duncans in the competition.
She said Carissa is giving up a zone basketball game to be here to support her during the competition.
Other spellers returning this year are Abeni Forsythe, 12, of the Aboriginal Choice School, Mitchell Schmidt, 11,of Heather Park, Nova Lefresene, 11 of Ecole Frank Ross, Tyler Dozzi, 12, of Veritas Catholic School and Reed Scales-Ford, 10 of McBride elementary, said Ramsay, who noted the youngest speller is nine-year-old Sasha Gajic of Westwood elementary.
"We're expecting another real good bee this year with 39 contestants from Fort St. John to Quesnel and from Prince Rupert to McBride all vying to be the smartest egg on stage."
The public is welcome to attend the bee beginning at 1 p.m.
Ramsay said each candidate will have an opportunity to be on stage, learn the format, use the microphone in a practice run and enjoy snacks offered.
Prior to Cynthia's 2010 win, the northern winner in 2009 was Tiffany Plug from Ebenezer Canadian reform school in Smithers.
In 2008, Breanna Siemens from John McInnis junior secondary school captured the prize, and our first winner in 2007 was Athena Nghi Huynh from Heritage elementary.
