A former globetrotter who is now happy to call Cochrane home was recently crowned as Mrs. Calgary 2023.
West Terrace resident Heather Hill was all smiles when she learned she'd received the honour on June 10 at the Strathcona Community Centre in southwest Calgary.
At the same time Hill received the 'Mrs. Calgary 2023' crown, her fellow pageant colleague Ingrid Martinez was named Ms. Calgary 2023.
“It was quite exciting for us both that night,” Hill said, adding she felt like she was representing Cochrane in Calgary's annual pageantry competition.
“I was the only one from outside the city limits,” she said. “The rules stat we can be within a 50-mile radius, so Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane and all these surrounding communities are included for submissions. I was the only one from Cochrane [in the Mrs. category] and I wanted to make sure Cochrane residents know that this is around.”
As the daughter of a U.S. military colonel, Hill has a fascinating back story. Though she was born in California, she said she actually grew up in different countries all over the world before eventually settling in Canada.
She lived in Japan for nine years, Thailand for three, and in China for a year. Hill also lived in different parts of the U.S. during her upbringing, including California, where she was born, Hawaii, and Florida, where she attended high school and university.
“It was never something I protested – I was always excited about moving to new places,” she said.
Though she said she wouldn't change her upbringing for anything, Hill added she's developed an immense appreciation for her new home of Canada – particularly Calgary and Cochrane – in the last decade.
“I’ve lived in tons of cities, but I truly believe this area, this part of the world, is one of the best places to live, she said, mentioning she's also lived in Kingston, Ont., Victoria, and Coquitlam B.C.
“Calgary – and especially Cochrane – is right up there as one of the best places to live,” she said. “I feel safe here, our kids can ride their bikes on the streets and have lemonade stands. It’s one of the reasons we came back, because it’s truly a great place to live.”
Hill said her association with Canada started in 2009, when she met her now-husband during her sister's bachelorette party in Las Vegas. According to Hill, her future spouse was in Vegas for a similar reason (a bachelor party), and after swapping stories, the two immediately hit it off.
“I moved up to Canada a couple years after that as a permanent resident in 2012,” she said. “I just got my citizenship last January.”
Hill's introduction to the pageant world came in 1992, when she was 11 years old. Her family was living in Thailand, and she happened to share a conversation with Miss USA when the Miss Universe Pageant was hosted in Bangkok.
“My mom was able to get tickets to the show, but she decided to bring her girlfriends,” Hill recalled. “Little 11-year-old Heather couldn’t go, but we found out all the delegates were staying at the Hilton. I have no idea how they let me call them, but I called the front desk and was able to get Miss USA’s room.”
Recalling her phone chat with Miss USA, Hill said she was impressed by the pageant winner's courtesy and poise.
“She just talked to me for five to 10 minutes about everything,” she said. “She just took the time to talk to this little girl. She let me ask questions and I was so intrigued.”
A few years after that phone call, Hill said she did some high-school pageants when she was living in Florida, where pageants are quite big.
However, she said in the years after, her career as an event planner took off, she got married, moved to Canada, and had two children (now five and seven years old) which meant participation in pageants took a back seat for several years.
But last Labour Day, Hill was at the Cochrane parade when she saw the Calgary Pageants' float and got the itch to try pageantry again.
“I was just really inspired by them,” she said. “They had a great cohesion and they were so happy. That was a little under a year ago and I decided to sign up. I don’t even know what happened, but I was able to win the title.”
As a result of being named Mrs. Calgary 2023, Hill will have an ambassador-esque role for the next year, making appearances at community events around the city.
“That could be anything from speaking to a girl guides group or going to a local school and being associated with Calgary Reads and doing story times,” she said. “A lot of these will seek out, but a lot of them, the Calgary Pageant team will find these events and make sure we’re represented there as well.”
She also touted some of the organizations she will champion during her reign, including the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association and the Calgary Newcomers Centre.
Adding she'd also like to be involved with groups close to home, Hill suggested any Cochrane-based organizations that are hoping to collaborate with her this year are encouraged to reach out to the Calgary Pageants team.
“We’re happy to help,” she said. “There’s the 2023 queens and all the alumni from 2022 and beyond. We’re happy to help local organizations if there’s any need for us. We’re happy to come do a presentation or volunteer or speak to the public. That’s part of our role.”
