Saskatonians often head to the West Edmonton Mall for a few days of shopping fun, ice skating, water-sliding and — let’s face it — a stop at Hooters. Now we have a new reason to head to WEM. The award-winning exhibition celebrating the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, has made its stop at the mall and will be there until June 9.

Turn back the clock to Aug. 31, 1997 and remember the tragic accident in which Princess Diana was killed. Her passing has probably been the most heartbreaking celebrity death in recent memory.

Interestingly, her death and legacy have since been turned into commodities. Is this a good thing?

Remember the Ty Beanie Baby memorial bear modelled after Princess Diana? Of course the proceeds of this bear go to the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which is a positive, but we’ve still turned the death of a beloved woman into a product.

Think about the movie The Queen. I enjoy this film because it gives insight on circumstances and decisions kept out of the public eye when Princess Diana passed away.

However, Hollywood still made a shit-ton of money from this movie. Would screenwriters have come up with this plot on their own without the tragic circumstances surrounding Princess Di’s death? Nope.

Here’s the way I see it: A royal celebrity and philanthropist dies tragically and numerous companies continue to financially benefit from her death.

Again, there are some positives in this money-making madness. Many of the proceeds from anything Princess Diana-related have gone to either her memorial fund or other charities. Indeed the travelling Princess Diana exhibit donates its proceeds to causes of which Diana was fond.

But I still find this exploitative. Can’t we just let the woman rest? Elton John was right in his tribute “Candle in the Wind” when he suggested Princess Diana’s candles burned out long before her legend ever will.

I suspect her legend will survive as long as money can continue to be made from her death and royal status.

While this subject matter intrigues me, I have no interest in paying over $20 to see Princess Diana’s numerous designer dresses — including her wedding gown — family heirlooms or rare home videos. These items should be for her boys to keep and cherish. Her family should watch those videos, not complete strangers who thought they’d check out the exhibit after a quick stop at McDonald’s.

I realize Princess Diana was a highly public figure who affected many lives, but I fear we’ve turned her into an object for purchase, or simply consider her life a source of profit  — regardless of whether it’s for a charity or not.

She was more than a way to make money. She was a mother, a wife and a friend, among other titles. She was a woman and a role model, but most importantly, Princess Diana was a human being.

The dignity of celebrity status continues to plummet in today’s society. We’ve got Snookie and Jwoww from Jersey Shore, or The Real Housewives of Vancouver to remind us that being a celebrity isn’t what it used to be. If I get some collagen or some cheek and butt implants, can I also can become famous? I’ll call my best friend forever a bitch on national television if that’s what it takes.

Perhaps Diana was the last dignified celebrity. And that’s why I dislike that the memory of her is now on sale.

She was a victim of mistreatment on the part of her royal family and was continuously hounded by the paparazzi following her divorce from Charles. What was the point?

If I’ve learned anything from Princess Diana, it’s that being a celebrity is extremely dangerous, and can prove fatal under the wrong circumstances.

I do not mean to suggest that we should forget the Princess of Wales, as she is certainly a woman worth remembering. I simply want to encourage individuals to think critically about how our society turns people or events or tragic circumstances into products for purchase.

I’m going to remember the woman and mother that Diana was — not the product we’ve made her into.

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Photo: TheFoxling/Flickr