Hello people of the world!

Note to everyone who is finally graduating high school: WE DID IT!

Such an unforgettable and incredible journey these last 3 years have been for me. Although struggles had occurred and at times I felt like I couldn’t take it any more, looking back on all the memories, it was all worth it.

Graduation was a time for me to look back on my life and acknowledge all of my accomplishments and come to accept all my mistakes. This was just a wake up call for how quickly time passes and how we should always make the most of every second we are blessed to be on this earth.  I am so grateful that I was able to spend this very special time to celebrate with my closest friends and family.

A look back on to my high school years. I definitely made more mistakes in theses three years and even in my whole life than I have achievements. But being able to make mistakes and learn from them is something that I hope to keep being able to do in my life. School in general is supposed to be about learning, and learning from life is just as important if not more for our potential as good human beings.

I want to thank everyone who has gotten me to this point in my life. Everyone who has ever crossed my path has made a difference in my life. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I am so excited for the next chapter in my life, whatever it may be.

Good luck on exams my fellow high school people!

The future awaits us!

xoxo

Suzannah Fialkow

Miss Teen Alberta-World 2013

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. I remember learning about this wonderful innovation in elementary while drinking my glorious chocolate milk in the cafeteria at lunch, while really learning where our milk cartons go if not recycled. These three simple words mean so much more when placed together than on their own. Our global community has come so far since I had just begun to learn about trying to save our environment. My very own beautiful city of Edmonton has made plans to become more eco-friendly in hopes for a better future for its citizens. Whether it be having active solar panels on our downtown buildings, or passive trees creating shade for our homes; Edmonton is trying to do it’s part to lower it’s ecological footprint.

In November of 2012, Edmonton launched it’s first energy efficient residential community. Every dream home in this community is helping to reduce their ecological footprint and their harmful impact on the environment. The new Oxford community is an energy efficient neighbourhood, meeting guidelines for conservations on this precious Earth we call home.

“This new subdivision in Oxford is a tangible step toward making Edmonton greener while helping achieve the goals in our strategic plans: The Way We Grow and The Way We Green,” says Edmonton City Councillor Dave Loken.

Together, the City of Edmonton and the citizens are demonstrating an entire community that can make a difference by building more efficient, greener homes.

Video all about the beauty of being Eco Friendly in a new Oxford home:

Legacy Park in Oxford is an innovative housing project. All homes will be constructed to a BuiltGreen energy efficient standard and many will include a fully developed, rentable secondary suite. The City is offering a grant for home owners who want to construct their home to a standard higher than EnerGuide 80. All homes built in Oxford must achieve a minimum EnerGuide rating of 78 or be certified to Built Green standards. Currently, new homes built to Alberta Building Code standards usually meet an EnerGuide rating of between 65 and 72.A home built in the program should save a minimum of 10 per cent in annual utility bills compared to a code-built home.

So, let’s recap:

There are beautiful new homes, in a beautiful historic city, and you’re able to save the planet while creating a new family! This really does sound like a dream come true for the inner eco-freak in all of us, Plus, you get to save money on your energy bills as well! This incredible community could pave the way for future neighbourhoods in the city.

We all benefit when even just one community goes green!

Thanks to Tiocoat and their flat roof for their sponsorship to the Miss Teen Canada-World blog.

xoxo

Suzannah Fialkow

Miss Teen Alberta-World 2013 (who loves going green!)

Hello lovely people of the world!

Here’s hoping that everyone had a wonderful long weekend!

I for one, had a weekend full of inspiration and love with my brother Alephs and my sister B’nai Brith Girls at my last B’nai Brith Youth Organization convention. This very special organization is all about youth leadership in the Jewish communities all around the world. Being a B’nai Brith Girl or BBG, means that you are a positive Jewish young woman role model in your community.Our region (Northwest Canada) stretches over from Edmonton to Calgary to Saskatoon. We have conventions every few months and programs every week. This organization is such an incredible opportunity for Jewish youth all around the world, and I am so lucky to be a part of  it.

Some of the other 4th year BBGs and I!

This organization is run by youth for youth. We have a regional board for the boys and girls to run for positions that they are interested in to help the whole region out any way they can. There are also Chapter boards for the cities to get more members involved and help out the region from their own home. I was very lucky enough to be on Regional Board this year with some of my best friends. This was such a great experience to have especially in my last year. I would recommend this organization to any young Jewish person who wants to know more about their history, and culture and help around the community while making some everlasting friends.

This past convention was my last (Sad!) and it was such an emotional weekend for all of the fourth years. Every year all the fourth years write a “life speech” about their experience in BBYO and how they have changed throughout their journey. We also give away our BBG/AZA pins and other belongings to the younger members in hopes of inspiring someone to try to make a difference in our world wherever they end up.

Being able to say what you want to and have nobody able to stop or interrupt you is truly an incredible experience especially for the people who are only usually listening.

I became me in BBG!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FEj4rXkDc8

xoxo

Suzannah Fialkow

Miss Teen Alberta-World 2013

Happy Mothers Day Everybody!

I hope that everyone had a great Sunday celebrating your mothers and all the incredible things that they do for us everyday without us even realizing. I feel that today we are able to realize how truly lucky and blessed we are for our family and our life. We should think of those who are not as fortunate to have wonderful families, and helping those with love, affection and empathy.

My mother is one of the most incredible people and  I am blessed to be a part of her life. She works as a family lawyer all day, seeing families splitting a part and trying to help them through what ever they are going through. She comes home and still has the energy to play her harp or piano, walk the dog, and possibly bake some delicious cookies. She is the definition of a super human mother.

I am now going to recite an acrostic poem to you all.

M is for Marvelous

O is for Optimistic                                              

T is for Thoughtful

H is for Happy

E is for Energetic

R is for Remarkable

S is for Strong

I wish every mother out there an incredible day, and another year full of joy and blessed thoughts among your families. I wish all the mothers around our earth to be able to love their children like children were meant to be loved.

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

-Tenneva Jordan

xoxo

Suzannah

On a usual Sunday morning, you will most likely find me sleeping in, working out, or eating waffles. But I decided that instead of doing something for myself, I would do something great for someone else. This past Sunday I had a fundraiser for my family and friends to raise funds and awareness about Free The Children and what an incredible organization it is.

Craig Kielburger  started this organization for education at the age of 12 not knowing what the future had in store for him at that point. He had  the notion that if nobody was ready for change in the world, he was. With the idea of youth helping youth to create change and make a difference, Craig and Free the Children are now a world renowned organization. I am so glad that the Miss Teen Canada-World Pageant’s charity is Free the Children; making a difference couldn’t be easier.

I was able to make a speech on behalf of Free The Children to educate my friends and family about the things that are happening in the world that we are unaware of. I showed videos about what Free The Children really does with youth in need all over the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RiUHRCK0yw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx88LEhNneM

With this fundraiser in our efforts, and the support of my sponsors, family, and friends, we were able to raise over $4000 for Free The Children! I am so incredibly honoured and overwhelmed with gratitude towards all my supporters. I want to thank everyone who came out to support me and made a donation to this incredible cause on my behalf. Such an incredible feeling to be able to be a part of something larger than yourself.

http://www.freethechildren.com/

xoxo

Suzannah Fialkow

Miss Teen Alberta-World 2013

Hello my loyal followers!

I have had a very fun packed week which included my 18th birthday which I was very lucky to have celebrated at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise with my fam-jam. Being able to see my half sister who just came back from Costa Rica for 4 months was a great. It was a blessing to have her back for my special day. Walking along the beautiful, yet very snowy, lake, having a fun loving dinner and presents, made for one awesome weekend.

I have been having such a wonderful and stressful time planning, and getting ready to start fundraising! I am so excited to raise money for our incredible national pageant charity Free The Children. In honour of my 18th birthday (which happened to be yesterday), I am hosting a large birthday brunch fundraiser for Free The Children for my family and friends in hopes of raising donations above and beyond what the pageant requirements are. I would like to thank all of the donors for the silent auction that will be happening this Sunday for brunch, including  businesses like Kudos for Wood Furniture, Celebrity Hair Salon, West Edmonton Mall, and the Fairmont Château Lake Louise, for their generous donations.

Thanks to everyone who was there with me celebrating my birthday milestone! Here’s to hoping this Sunday’ans fundraiser is a success for Free The Children and an education for the world.

xoxo

Suzannah