I was so lucky to have the experience of participating in Toursim Montreal's 3rd Annual Queer of the Year Contest. The Queer of the Year Contest is an amazing Pro-LGBT event that takes place during Fierte Montreal Pride in the fabulous city of Montreal. Each year, five queers (6 in Season 2), get flown by AirCanada to downtown Montreal where they particiapte in a series of unique and exciting challenges that showcase the diverse culture that is Montreal. 

In the course of 9 days, we saw so much of Montreal that it can only be described as whirlwind. From one end to the the other, we saw, tasted, experienced and feel in love with this unique and beautiful city. Montreal has a culture, unlike any other Canadian City, that should be embraced and experienced by all. If you havent visited, please do. Book your ticket now. I can't praise how much I loved the city, the people, the culture, the beauty - Montreal!  

On top of the amazing experience of a VIP trip to Montreal, where we literally were completely encompassed in the world - I was so lucky to spend my 9 days galvanizing through Montreal with four of the best Queer competitors I could encounter. From Sydney to Pittsburgh, from New York to well New York....My fierce competitors were nothing but fabulous. Shane, Caleb, Peter, Ivette and myself were truly a perfect quintet for this show. We each had our own personalities and senses of humours that meshed perfectly (PS I used the U in humour to enforce my Canadianisms). I got to spend individual time with all 4 of them and each of those moments I hold as some of my highlights of the trip.

I feel comfortable saying that if I was to visit any of their home cities, I would make sure I got time to spend with each of their smiling faces. 

To match our wit and humour, there was another element that was essential to making us look fabulous on camera. The flareragous Mikala Bierma - the woman who would do anything first so we all wouldn't feel we were being used for your entertainment process. We gravied her, she ate cat food, we tied her up in leather, and she slipped and slide with us. Mikala was like the camp counsellor who forgot she was supposed to keep order in camp. She geeked out with us over anything, created nicknames for the crew - that caught on (Mustache) and made "Diva cup" a colloquialism of the Queer of the Year 2012. And let's face it  - after we geeked out over Comedy and SNL - I was connected to her forever. 

I feel at this point I want to take a paragraph to talk briefly about the amazing crew of Queer of the Year - Often I am on the other side of the camera. Coordinating the talent or the production....I am ordering the catering, dealing with logistics, watching the time, staying late to cleanup and ensuring we are following our schedule. I know how daunting and thankless those jobs can be but, how instrumental they are. For if it wasnt for the humour, smile and laughter of the Queer of the Year Crew, this week could have been a different experience. Depsite working to the bone....They made sure each of us felt like the star of Fierte. They made us feel welcome and encouraged us to be ourselves on and off camera. This "competition" wasn't competitive - because they made it a fun summer camp. 

Simply Put - Thank you! 

So there you have it -  My Queer of the Year Expierence summarized in a short little package for you to see how Grateful I am for everything, It literally was an amazing process for me both professionally and personaly. I am so happy that Ivette is the 2012 Queer of the Year - But let's face it, we all are Queers of the Year and that in it self is Special! 

Thanks for playing along! And Remember life is all about the memories so take opportunities like this when you can! 

-Topher