Press Kit

 
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PODCAST APPEARANCES & INTERVIEWS

BROADCAST APPEARANCES

PRESS ARTICLES & NEWS STORIES

SHANNON’S PUBLISHED ARTICLES

COTTAGE NORTH MAGAZINE

Charity affiliations & links

One of Shannon’s large passions in life is helping others, here are a few of the organizations that she has helped and/or is involved with.  Shannon has donated over 3000 hours to these organizations and over $100,000.  Her efforts have helped raise over 3 million for charity.

Organizations/Charities that Shannon works with/has worked with & supports:

  • MAPS: Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (2017+)

  • Canadian Red Cross/ American Red Cross – Disaster relief/Shelter management/CPR certified/Celebrity Ambassador (2009-2012)

  • Ride for Red (Shannon cycled over 4000 km in 40 days to raise funds for the Red Cross Oranization, through her Celebrity cycling tour): Official Website: http://www.therideforred.com (2010-2011)

  • World Vision – Child Sponsor/On Team Ecuador – 2 weeks over seas – found sponsors for 15 other children, attends fundraising events (2009)

  • Big Sisters (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) – Youth in Care Big Sister – Saskatoon (2009)

  • The first woman to wear a Burlap Dress on the Red Carpet at the Grammy Awards, now deemed “The Burlap Beauty Queen”, in support of Inner Beauty and Confidence for young women and women across the world.

  • Team Diabetes Saskatchewan (2009)

  • Jarret Stoll Celebrity Golf Tournament (2009-2010)

  • Curtis Glencross Charity Golf Tournament (2009)

  • Canadian Cancer Society (2009)

  • Bryan Mudryk Charity Golf Tournament (2009-2010)

  • Calgary Crime Stoppers (2009)

  • Hockey for the Homeless – Calgary (2009)

  • Eco Ark Saskatchewan (2009)

  • YMCA – Strong Kids Program (2009)

  • YMCA – (Calgary & Saskatoon) – Volunteer Yoga Instructor – Over 200 hrs (2007-2010)

  • YMCA – Yoga for Peace Volunteer Instructor (2009)

  • YWCA – Woman of Distinction Nominee (2008)

  • Cross Canada Tour – Volunteer – Speaking to Youth about Inner Beauty and Confidence (2009-2010)

  • The Princess Shop Saskatoon – Volunteer & Key Note Speaker (2009)

  • Saskatoon Food Bank (2004-2010)

  • Children’s Wish Foundation (2009)

  • United Way (2009)

  • Make a Wish Foundation (2009)

  • Sunshine Foundation (2009)

… Among others.

Press Shannon has appeared on/in...

Press Shannon has appeared on/in...

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Calgary Herald

Press clippings

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS TODAY Canada’s Prairie Stars by Christine Dubyts

“We asked her what traits a leader needs to lead successfully and the answer came easily to Shannon: "The number one trait a person must possess is integrity. Integrity is a key value, which encompasses ethics, honesty, trustworthiness, which are all needed in being a great leader. Next to integrity is a good sense of humor, great communication skills, confidence, a positive attitude, commitment, creativity, intuition, and then also the ability to delegate and the ability to inspire! The preceding would be my top ten behavioral/ character traits that I would recommend engaging in or developing for great leadership."

24HR NEWS VANCOUVER   Emotional Journey for Sledder  by Dharm Makwana – QMI Agency

“Smith was joined by former Miss Canada Shannon Lynn who was surprised at how quickly she adapted to cycling through mountainous terrain across the Rockies.  “When you say you’re going to bike from Calgary to LA, and you’ve never biked more than 10 kilometers in your life, it’s a big thing”, she said.  “I would go back to the start and do it again.” ”

 CALGARY HERALD  Beauty Queen, Sledders Ride for Red Cross  by Lea Storry

“A bracelet and a cause has linked two Calgarians in an ambitious quest to bike 4,000 km’s while raising money and awareness for the Red Cross…. “We’re going from the heart and this will push us up those hills.”  The tour was Lynn’s vision.”

CURRY COASTAL PILOT   Canadians pedal 2,500 miles for Red Cross  by Bill Schlichting

“”I decided to do this because it’s different,” Lynn said.  “It’s not something others have done.”  This is their first long distance bike ride….”People are excited about what we are doing,” Lynn said.  Along the way, people have given them places to stay and food to eat, and helped in any way that they could….. During the final stretch of their journey from Malibu to Santa Monica, Lynn and Smith will be joined by several celebrities in their ride.”

THE OKANOGAN SUNDAY  Cyclists Ride for Red Cross  by Okanogan Sunday Staff

“A Beauty Queen and some Olympic athletes are putting in long days on their bicycles to help raise money for the Canadian and American Red Cross organizations….”.

IMPACT MAGAZINE  Athletes With Impact  by Jennifer Bridgen

The pair and their support team cycled from Calgary to Santa Monica via Vancouver in only 40 days. At 4,000 kilometres, that’s around 100 kilometres a day. They barely stopped; biking through bad weather, unforgiving winds and aching pains.  “We rode for people who can’t,” says Lynn. “It was a great accomplishment and just a start for what we’re looking to build.”  On the way they spoke at schools and city halls, stopping at Red Cross locations along their route to meet with staff members and volunteers.

OPASQUIA TIMES  Cranberry Portage resident reaches end of journey in California  by  Devon Parker

“”I don’t think people really understood what we did, or how difficult it was physically and psychologically.  A lot of people doubted us, most didn’t think we would make it, so the feeling was amazing when we crossed the finish line in Los Angeles,” said Smadella.  Smadella had never ridden more than 10 km before taking part in this epic journey, but now she has more than 4000 km under her belt.  The team rode an average of 100 km per day and the distance for her longest day reached 160 km.”

CHOICES MAGAZINE  Humanitarians with Heart by James Grouton

“Not too bad for a 28 year old one would think. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” says Lynn, “if we helped just one person to have a better life, or stand up and do something, our mission was successful. What we sacrificed was nothing in comparison to what families around the world have lost, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”  Arriving in Santa Monica forty days later on November 4th, Lynn and Smith shared a moment that most people will never experience in their lifetime. “We pedaled with purpose”, said Smith, “Some days we didn’t think we’d make it, a lot of people didn’t think we’d make it, but knowing what we were doing it for, people who have lost everything overnight, forty days of hard work wasn’t that bad”.

PEDAL MAGAZINE  Former Miss Canada Leads Ride4Red on 4000km Journey for Red Cross  by Pedal Magazine Staff

“As many cyclists know, a century ride – whether 100km or 100 miles – is nothing to scoff at.  The century ride from Golden to Revelstoke, over BC’s Rogers Pass is bucket-list material even for accomplished riders.  But that same ride over Rogers Pass as the third day of a 40-day, 4000km fundraising ride by four admitted non-cyclists is hard to even contemplate, and yet that’s exactly what former Miss Canada Shannon Lynn and her team of Ride4Red riders have done.”

 THE REMINDER  From a Beauty Queen to a Movie Star  by Jonathon Naylor

“Top beauty queen in the country?  Check.  Leading roles in movies?  Check.  Her own reality television series?  Check.  Shannon’s resume is so packed with distinguished achievements that it still has the 27-year-old Cranberry Portage native and Hapnot Collegiate graduate in awe…. She may possess the photogenic looks and infectious smile that broadcasters long for, but Shannon also has the gift of poise in front of the camera… Indeed acting, aside from beauty pageants and the humanitarian work that she accomplishes, is Shannon’s infatuation.”

THE STAR PHOENIX  Model uses pageants as platform  by Cassandra Kyle

“Shannon, who volunteers at The Princess Shop, a non-profit group that loans grad gowns and accessories to female grads who otherwise couldn’t afford their own, wants to see young women find the mentorship and resources they need to excel in their lives.”

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY  Private Member’s Statement – Shannon Smadella  by Gerard Jennissen, MLA Flin Flon

“Today, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Shannon Smadella, a young activist from Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, who follows in this tradition of philanthropy….. On top of her Miss Canada duties, Shannon is personally involved in several charities…… A former big sister with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Shannon believes strongly in the importance of connecting with children and is actively involved in the Sunshine Foundation for children with terminal illness….  While she devotes close to 40 hours a week working for these causes… Shannon has a strong belief in using the opportunity she’s been given to make a difference in the world.  Besides her commitment to children, Shannon works to promote the importance of inner beauty and confidence among young women in her role as Miss Canada.  I would ask this House to please join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Shannon Smadella and the other wonderful and dedicated young Manitobans.  Thank you.”

COTTAGE NORTH MAGAZINE  Beautiful Land, Beautiful People  by Jillian Betke Bessette

“With a passion for helping people, and the drive to make a difference in this world (by developing a non-profit organization for underprivileged graduating youth and teaching children yoga, among other things), Smadella is using her time, skills, and growing notoriety to forward worthy causes.  “Ultimately, I want to live a life of service, to be able to help people.  If you can make one person’s day better, that just makes me happy, and it’s something I think about more than anything else,” says Smadella.”

THE STAR PHOENIX  Women of Distinction  by The Star Phoenix Staff

“Shannon Smadella focuses on showing young women that true beauty and confidence exist on the inside.  She wore a dress made of burlap on the red carpet at this year’s Grammy Awards and has self-financed tours across Canada where she speaks to young women in schools….  Shannon ran a successful business in Saskatoon for six years in which she supplied more than 300 jobs to the community.  She has helped donate more than $10,000 to the U of S and had set up a scholarship for commerce students….”

THE STAR PHOENIX  Burlap Beauty Queen – Pageant Star makes statement with unconventional dress  by Stephanie Classen

“Move over Paperbag Princess – here comes the burlap beauty queen.  Shannon Smadella recently walked the Grammy Awards red carpet in a creation made from the coarse, brown fabric.  “It made a huge statement and I’ve never had more people in my life compliment me on a dress, ever,” she said.  “It was nice to walk in beside Paula Abdul and Lionel Richie and have people compliment me.”  Smadella, who focuses her time on promoting inner beauty, chose to forgo the satin and silk dresses she normally wears to don something made of less than glamorous burlap.  Her intention was to show girls beauty and confidence comes from the inside…”

 

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