Charissa Vanags

Charissa is the daughter of Tony and Gayle Vanags and younger sister to Lauren, Miss New Westminster 2017. She is a Grade 11 student at New West Secondary where, in the past, she has participated in dance and cheerleading. She enjoys photography and horseback riding in her spare time.  Charissa volunteers at Camp Keats during the summer months and also with her church service programs by helping communities around Canada.

 

Charissa has recently been inspired by a relative who has “combined her passions of adventure and photography and created a career out of them and now is an influencer on Instagram.”

 

Charissa’s most treasured keepsakes are the jewelry her Grandparents have given her, especially her Grandpa’s watch, that she wears almost every day.  “It makes me feel connected to them.”

 

Charissa’s favourite thing to do in the Royal City, besides the Hyack Festival, is to take photographs in places such as Queen’s Park, the Quay, Friendship Gardens and Hume Park.

 

Charissa is proud of the little moments when “I can make a difference in someone’s life for the better, the moment that I can make someone smile.”

 

If she could trade places with anyone it would be Neil Armstrong because Charissa would love to see the world from a different angle and to be able to experience extraordinary things. 
 

Charissa believes she would make a good Hyack Ambassador because, “I am proud to be part of the City of New Westminster and want to tell others about our amazing traditions and community spirit.”