It’s that time of year again! The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch (ISCCA), is having its race to select the next Emperor and Empress..

The four candidates for Empress have a wide variety of styles, experience and community involvement. Emperor candidate Ashley Carmichael and Empress candidates Eve L, Makalya Quinn, Denise Derring, and Nina Tron have been performing in Candidate Shows and frequenting GLBT events and establishments all over the city to win your vote. Each one hopes to be given the opportunity to represent Calgary’s GLBT community here and in other cities, while fundraising for a number of charities supported by the ISCCA.

Voting takes place at the Backlot on April 12th, from noon until midnight. Anyone with identification to prove an address of residence within the 403 area code is eligible to vote in this election. The emphasis on voting cannot be stressed enough as these monarchs are intended to represent the entire GLBT community.

The Coronation ceremony for the new Empress and Emperor will be held at the Metropolitan Convention Center on April 19th and will be an entire evening of drag. The first half of this evening is dedicated to the businesses and organizations that have assisted and supported the court over the last year. The second part is dedicated to awarding the monies raised to the various charities that the court supports, as well as taking time to recognize esteemed visitors in attendance from other cities and countries. The third part of the evening acknowledges the local Canadian talent present, while the fourth and final part of the evening celebrates the last walk of the current monarchs Lonnie Starlight and Conrad Twist, and the crowing of the new monarchs.

The event begins at six sharp and ends in all best efforts by midnight, and a wonderful dinner is included in the ticket prices. While the exact list of performers is still not known, we are told that all the candidates will be performing, and that there will be a tribute held in memory of Flora Tron who passed on earlier this year. The charities this year include the SHARP Foundation, Agape Manor, HIV Peer Support, Artists for Quality of Life, and the Children’s Wish Foundation.

The reign of Lonnie Starlight and Conrad Twist has been a challenging one. With a lower than average volunteer base, and difficulties finding consistent venues, the court has been working harder than ever to meet the demands of the community. However, the court is proud to announce that, despite these obstacles, this reign has reportedly raised one of the highest fundraising totals to date. This total will be officially announced during the Coronation ceremony.

Living up to the roles of Emperor and Empress takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Although there is no doubt that the next reigning duo will serve to carry on the tradition of this distinguished organization, and giving back to the community for years to come.

So don’t forget to head out to the Backlot sometime on the 12th to put your vote in, and help decide the next monarchs of the ISCCA.

ISCCA Coronation Week

April 16 to 20th, 2008

www.iscca.ca