Pageant crowns Queen for 2004
Beautiful young ladies could be found in abundance at the 2004 Miss North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Queen Pageant. An enthusiastic audience packed the Barriere Elementary School gymnasium to see Ashlynn Harris and Holly Rose Vesper crowned fall fair queen and princess for the year ahead.
The five contestants modeled evening gowns, answered impromptu questions from the judges, and performed a lively dance routine before judges made their decisions.
Retiring Queen Sarah Bazinet and Princess Valerie Berger performed a humorous “I want to be a cowboy sweetheart” dance routine, spoke eloquently of their year representing the community, and shed a few tears of farewell.
Donna Kibble, president of the North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo thanked all of the pageant organizers, sponsors, and everyone who helps the community and the fair.
Flowers were presented to pageant committee chair Leslie Stirling, Lorraine Griffith, Marina Brem, Bev Murphy and official flower girl Emily Clare. Ed Salle, master of ceremonies, was also thanked with a gift.
Leslie Stirling thanked sponsors of the event, Gilbert Smith Forest Products, Tolko Industries, the North Thompson Star/Journal and Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce. Stirling stated that this year the pageant had more sponsors than candidates.
Avariety of awards were presented that had been earned by pageant contestants throughout the summer. Soon-to-be Queen Ashlynn Harris received awards for speech, knowledge, resume writing and received the Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce bursary. Princess-to-be Holly Rose Vesper received awards for talent and friendship.
Royalty from many other towns were very much in attendance as was MLA Kevin Krueger and representative for MP Betty Hinton, Darshan Lindsay.
by Jill Hayward
North Thompson Star/Journal
Sept 6, 2004