Miss Universe® Canada 2008 - The Magic Continues

AGE: 26 | HEIGHT: 5'5" | HOMETOWN: SASKATOON, SK

Shannon Smadella is a confident, compassionate and open-minded individual with an exuberant personality and superior work ethic.

Shannon was raised in the small town of Cranberry Portage in Northern Manitoba and moved to Saskatoon after high school to pursue a degree in Science at the University of Saskatchewan. At the age of 19 she started managing her own business while studying at the University full time.

Sponsored by: Celestial Photography, Frakas, Saskatoon Web Design, AnglesSalon Spa, New Wave Body Contouring, Saskatoon Smiles, Rhinos Fitness - Ryan Godfrey,, Masala Model & Talent Inc., Residents of Cranberry Portage and Flin Flon Manitoba, Victoria Inn - Flin Flon Manitoba, Family and Friends.

Biography (click to open) ±

Throughout the years she has developed and acquired valuable business, communication, and interpersonal skills that she uses to benefit the people around her. Program development, sales management, and business organization are just a few of the many assets that line Shannon's extensive resume. With her passion for business and interest in media, Shannon currently works in the radio business as an Advertising Consultant for Saskatoon's #1 hit music station.

Shannon believes that a balance in physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are important to a healthy lifestyle. "In today's busy world, it is easy to get caught up in the many things that are going on around us. Reading and practicing Yoga are two of the things that keep me balanced and grounded. I try to stay true to myself in every moment and live every day to the fullest."

Being significant in other peoples' lives is one of the ways that Shannon measures her daily success. She believes that one little unique and precious snowflake can start an avalanche, therefore she uses her limited free time efficiently by volunteering for various local, national and international organizations and charities. While working on developing her own non-profit organization for under-privileged graduating youth and starting to write her first book, she also teaches children yoga. In addition, she manages to squeeze in time to see to some of the other things that she loves: staying fit, continuously educating herself, and enjoying the company of her close friends and family.

Shannon aspires to be a role model for women all over the world and wants to promote inner beauty and confidence. "Every single person on this planet is different, and that is what makes every single person beautiful." Though Shannon has to undertake extensive training to make sure that she is in tip top shape for the pageant (as any athlete would preparing for a national competition), she takes priority in staying true to herself and focusing on her goal: helping and serving others.

Shannon believes that the opportunity of becoming Miss Universe Canada will provide a platform for her to influence others positively and to transmit consciousness to people concerning our social, political, and economic world. "Through educating people on global issues, we can help eliminate ignorance and bring about a synergistic movement towards making our world a better place for generations to come." She would be honored to represent her country in the Miss Universe Pageant. "There is no greater honor than standing up for what one believes in."

"You make a living by what you earn; you make a life by what you give." Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student?
I am a student of life! We are always learning and growing.

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
Yes.I am an advertising consultant with C95 FM; Saskatoon's #1 hit music station where I help businesses develop an integrated marketing plan to increase their customer base. I help my clients develop strategies to make their businesses more successful and productive.

Previous to my career at the radio station, I managed my own business for seven years (while attending university full time) where I recruited, trained and managed a sales force to represent our product. Part of my responsibility as District Manager was working with the company's regional and national management team to help develop new programs and share ideas to grow the corporation. I also teach yoga to adults and children.

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Yes. Hapnot Collegiate Institute in Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Have you completed university/college?
I have completed 5 years of University (3 years in science, 2 years in business) at the University of Saskatchewan.

Have you completed any technical/professional school?
Sales training: Canadian Professional Sales Association
Yoga Teacher Training: Sacred Ground Yoga

Languages spoken:
English, University level French (spoken & written) - not yet fluent

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Musical: 2 years training in accordion, 15 years training in keyboard, organ and piano, 3 years theory.
Art: Portraits (self taught)
Acting: Acting level 1 (Masala Model & Talent Inc.), Summer Acting Camp (University of Winnipeg).
Dance: Def Sol Productions (hip hop) - for fun!
Modeling: Training & Experience (Pizzaz, MG Management, Masala Model & Talent Inc.) 9 years.
Sailing Instruction: Canadian Yachting Association
Yoga Teacher Training: Philosophy (Scriptures & Sanskrit), Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Anatomy, Chanting & Ahimsa

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Competitive: Wrestling (10 years), Sailing (3 years), Riflery (2 years), Fastball (6 years), Gymnastics (6 years), Figure Skating (10 years), Volleyball & Basketball (4 years).
Recreational: Running, Swimming, Weight lifting, Dance, Yoga.

Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of study, graduation date and any degree or certification you received.
Frontier Collegiate Institute: Cranberry Portage, MB (High School)
Hapnot Collegiate Institute: Flin Flon, MB (High School)
University of Saskatchewan: Saskatoon, SK (Science & Business)

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
World Vision: I have sponsored a child since 2002.
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Saskatoon: Big Sister and Sponsor
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency: Donations
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (Breast Cancer): The radio station I work for does a fundraiser every year and has raised over 1.3 million dollars for breast cancer so far
Canadian Red Cross: Blood donor, cash donations
Saskatoon Food Bank: Volunteer
Dream Grad: My own non-profit organization that I am in the process of starting up with local award winning author Amanda Dietz
St. Paul's Hospital Saskatoon: A portion of my donations will go towards the Palliative Care Unit in name of late friend Gerry Eckert.

What would be your "dream job" in life?
I have many aspirations! When I was a little girl I wanted to be an actress and a model! When I was in high school I wanted to be a doctor, hence my 3 years of science at the University! My dream job in life is being a spokesperson/role model for young women, while acting as CEO/President of my own company. I have extensive experience in public speaking and enjoy captivating and motivating an audience; I would love to be a keynote speaker for various events. I want to help young women gain confidence and skills so that they may become successful ambassadors themselves one day!

I want to make a difference in the world. Oprah (who has been successful in competing in two beauty pageants on her road to success) is a great role model for people all over the world and I would love to help people in her capacity some day. I plan to further my education in corporate business coaching while working full time at my current career.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
I have had the opportunity to be blessed with the presence of so many wonderful people in my life therefore it is very difficult to pick just one. Besides my parents and my wonderful sister, I would have to pick two people: the first being my dear late friend Gerry Eckert and secondly my late Great Grandmother Anne Petryk. Gerry Eckert was a great friend to me for the five years that I was blessed to be in his presence. He was one of the nicest gentlemen that I have had the chance to meet. Gerry would do anything for anyone and not think twice about it. He was the most selfless person that I have ever known.

The year before his passing, Gerry struggled with cancer. Although it was such a great struggle, he remained positive and selfless and continued to do everything he could for people while confined to his hospital bed. He was a great influence in my life, teaching me compassion, patience, forgiveness and that the gift of giving far outweighs anything.

My great grandmother passed when I was 15. She was a very loving and kind woman. From her I've taken strength. She always stood up for what she believed in and has taught the women in our family (my Grandmother, Mother, and I among many others) to be strong and always stand up for what is right and what we believe in and to do it for others who cannot.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)?
Managing my own business for 7 years is my proudest accomplishment. Anyone who has ever been in business knows that there are ups and downs and it can be an emotional rollercoaster. The experience of managing my own business has made me a stronger person and I know that I can overcome any obstacle, as long as I keep my eyes on the goal.

I have been a role model for many young people by being responsible for their training and introduction into the wonderful world of business. I have developed many entry-level sales professionals into successful business people and some even into management positions. I love seeing other people succeed and I enjoy giving my time to ensure the success of others.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to be in a position where I am able to help the greatest number of people. I wish to develop my own non-profit/organization/charity while still contributing to other charities that I feel strongly about (Big Brothers/Sisters, World Vision, Canadian Cancer Society and many others). I enjoy getting involved in charities and fundraisers and learning how to develop my own non-profit organization. I work my hardest every day and I am constantly learning ways to enhance my career. I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was raised in the small town of Cranberry Portage, Manitoba. (Approximately 600 people and just north of the 54th parallel). This beautiful little town is situated on the Canadian Shield between two large lakes. A lot of time was spent camping, fishing, and on adventures in the woods. Between building forts, running my "kids for saving the earth" group, church activities, and sports teams, I was always busy! I attended church every Sunday with my dad and enjoyed playing outside with my friends. My father grew up on the farm, just like his mother, so we had a huge garden and greenhouse outside where I could always go and sneak some peas and baby cucumbers when my dad was not looking, yum!

My sister and I spent many summer vacations out at Gyles Park camping with our parents. I will always remember our walks down the beach to the creek where we looked for suckerfish in the lake and ancient artefacts in the sand. In high school people say that I was pretty quiet. I had transferred high schools in grade eleven and had to adjust to a whole new group of friends. Growing up in a small community kept me grounded and close to nature. I love going back to visit my parents and friends and believe that it is very important to remember your roots and where you came from. I am proud to have grown up in the tight knit community of Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, where you can count on a neighbour for anything!

I am also very proud to reside in the city that has the fastest growing economy in Canada! Saskatoon is "The little city that could", and I am proud to call it home! Canada is a very multicultural country with so many different people from all different origins and roots. This is what makes us such a unique and beautiful country! It is an honour to have the privilege to live in such a great country with such great programs, leadership and history. I am proud to be Canadian!

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
In high school I was a service station attendant where I pumped gas and changed oil. I finished high school half a year early so that I could work and afford to go to University. I babysat in the morning, pumped gas during the day, and worked at an ice cream shop at night. My workday went from 7am - 12 am. I am proud of the hard work that I had to put in to get to where I am today.

A lot of people think that I am lucky to have accomplished so much at such a young age, but I do not credit it to luck. I did work very hard and never give up. Everything I have today I have worked hard for and that is a great feeling. Whenever there are certain expectations of me I always strive to exceed those expectations and have a work ethic that helps me accomplish anything that I put my mind to. Representing Canada in the Miss Universe Pageant would be a great honour and a journey where I would work my hardest to exceed all expectations and represent Canada with all of my heart!

List any volunteering you have done.
Big Brothers & Big Sisters: Big Sister and Fundraiser
Canadian Red Cross: Blood Donor and Fundraiser
Saskatoon Food Bank: Volunteer
Girl Guides of Canada, Sea cadets, Church Fundraisers, Terry Fox Run: Member and Fundraiser
Joints in Motion: Fundraising for a Marathon (Diabetes)
Canadian Cancer Society: Fundraising

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
It would have to be a tie between four places: 1) Out on the Pacific Ocean in the “Maple Leaf” tall-ship where we sailed for 1 week (a group of 14 year old girls!) 2) Way back in the forest being tracked by wolves. 3) The Parthenon in Greece. 4) On a motorcycle trip to Sturgis, South Dakota.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
I have not had the opportunity to get to know any of the contestants that well yet, therefore I cannot say what makes me different than them. What I do know from being a part of this competition is what we have in common. We all aspire to help people in a greater capacity and have a desire to be significant in other people's lives. I believe in staying true to who I am and make a habit of striving to be my best at everything I do. I am excited to have the opportunity to be among so many great women, many of which will have a large part in the process of making our world a better place. That is a great honour.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
I have many philosophies on life! I am in the process of starting to write a book for teens and young adults which will encompass a lot of my perception "on life", and how to deal with various situations. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a book for everything! I crave knowledge and personal growth. I desire to be the best that I can be so that I may be able to help people to the greatest capacity. I try to keep an open mind to anything and everything on this planet. I live life with an open heart and make sure that everything I do in some way or another benefits others.

There is so much hurt and pain in this world and if I can make one person's day brighter each day, then that is a great accomplishment. I believe that everything happens for a reason and some things happen to teach you a lesson so that you may become a stronger person. We all have obstacles and we all have dealt with or will have to deal with tough situations at one time or another. We should all know that we are strong enough to overcome anything that we put our mind to. If you really want something, go for it and never give up (and never let anyone tell you that you cannot!)

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
I hope to be helping others to my greatest capacity. I have faith and confidence in this universe that I will be doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I have been blessed with the opportunity to come in contact with great teachers who have taught me excellent business and communication skills, and other teachers who have taught me compassion and open-mindedness. I know that every experience that we have prepares us for our future and my heart is with helping others so that they may experience the beauty and happiness that we have in this world.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
When I first started managing my business, a month in I lost everything in a fire (with no insurance). It was devastating. I look back at that situation and realised that giving up never even crossed my mind. I knew that I had people counting on me (I employed several people), and I knew that I had to act quickly to get things going again. Within 2 weeks I had re-established my business and had things running again.

I am very grateful to have magnificent parents. They have always been behind me and supported me in everything that I have ever done. From being on the wrestling team to starting up my own business, and then starting up my own business again after I had lost everything in the fire, they have been there. Even if they did not agree with something that I was doing or it was the craziest idea they had ever heard, they were still always behind me!

I love my parents with all of my heart and I am very grateful for everything they have taught me. My Mother and I never forget to say "I love you" at the end of every phone call, just in case anything were to ever happen, we'd have comfort knowing that our last words to each other were those. Thanks Mom and Dad for always being there. I really appreciate it!

As a little girl my sister Leanne and I used to sit in front of the TV watching the Miss America pageant, picking our favourites and cheering them on throughout the night! We waited for that night every year! This pageant is something that I have always dreamed of and it is an honour just to be a part of such a distinguished event and to be around so many wonderful people that I can learn from. I have always known that I wanted to help people on a greater scale and the Miss Universe Canada competition gives me a voice that I can use to benefit others.

I look forward to making some great friendships through this experience and hope that I may positively influence the lives of others. Thank you again to my sponsors. None of this would be possible without you. Thank you to my family and friends for all of the support you have given me on this exciting journey! Thank you to Beauties of Canada for this wonderful opportunity!