As 2012’s Emperor and Empress of the ISCCA prepare to step down, a new year of royalty prepare to make the step up onto the throne. We caught up with the two candidates to find out more about them before their potentially very busy, and influential, year under the crown begins.

Argintina Hailey-Dior is two-spirited member of her reservation and adoring single parent of a six-year-old daughter. She has been involved in Calgary’s LGBT community for the past 11 years.

From Morley, Alberta, Argintina makes many regular trips to Calgary to perform with April Storm & The Queens of the Night Group at Cowboys, and at various events throughout the year for PURE Pride Entertainment.

"My motto for this campaign (and if elected I plan to keep this motto with me as a reminder) is: Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success," she says. "I know the court is a very strong community-based organization and I know I can bring it to great heights to achieve their goals and objectives."

Arginitina hopes to achieve unity, strength and longevity by thinking outside the box while keeping it fun – making the best out of every situation.

"I would like the community to get involved this year and work together as one for the betterment of our community and our straight allies," she says. "I look forward to working with everyone and would like to encourage you to vote YES for Empress 37 of Calgary and all of Southern Alberta on Saturday, April 13^th at the Backlot!"

Originally from a small town in South Western Ontario along the Lake Huron shoreline, Dennis Storm tells us he is a well-seasoned International Court System member, having been part of the association for some 23 years.

"I think it’s pretty safe to say when you have belonged to something for that long that is must mean a lot to one’s self," he says.

He traveled to nearby shows and volunteered within a three-hour radius of where he lived, which in his area of London, Ontario meant access to the Court systems in four different cities.

"It wasn’t until I moved to St. Catharines where I really started getting involved," he says. It was here in the Niagara Region’s largest city that Storm received his first Prince Title, which gave him the opportunity to travel extensively across Canada and the United States, and to form many lasting bonds.

"This is where I started to dream and envision... that one day I would in fact become an Emperor," he reminisces.

A new job took him to Halifax where, again, Storm took on major involvement with the Court and sought his first appointment as Emperor.

"Unfortunately things did not work out that year," he says. "I will admit I was very discouraged and upset that it never happened. I was ready to walk away, but after speaking to some of my close friends they all said the same thing: it just wasn’t your time."

Notwithstanding the upset Storm still took a position on the Board of Directors, which terminated when he was offered a new job position in Calgary.

"I first arrived right at the start of Chris and Makala’s year," he recalls. "I again was actively involved both traveling and even taking on some fund raising commitments myself. Then this past year...I was honoured to receive an Imperial Grand Duke title from Bull, a title that requires great commitment."

"I will be the first to admit that this year did not turn out the way that I had hoped and planned," he continues. "However I still took the step and handed in my application."

And after an extensive interview process he was approved as a 2013 candidate.

Despite his two decades with the Court, Storm knows one can never be fully prepared for a year as Emperor.

"I recall something that Empress Boom Boom from Halifax once said: as soon as you step up and wear the crown, you have a bull’s-eye painted on your back and everybody will be looking to find fault," he says. Storm acknowledges this yet still stands strong with conviction in his aim to gain the position.

"I totally believe whole heartily on what this organization does and what the mandate for this organization is. I want to make a difference and I believe I can make a difference in this community. It is something that I have dreamed about for many years."