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All dolled up for a good cause in Norman Wells Men in Norman Wells vie for this year's May Queen title
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 3, 2013
LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
Men in Norman Wells strutted their stuff to raise money for the Norman Wells Volunteer Firefighters' Association during the annual May Queen event last month.
Norman Wells resident Joseph Cinq-Mars was chosen as this year's May Queen, during the May Queen fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion on May 18. - photo courtesy of Nicky Richards |
The event features male residents dressing like ladies as they compete for the May Queen title. This year's competition had 14 participants, said Michael Duclos, organizer and volunteer firefighter.
"We had 14 this year, which, believe it or not, is a low number," Duclos said. "Last year I think there was 25 or something."
Joseph Cinq-Mars was declared the May Queen for 2013.
Residents paid $10 for tickets, but participants got in for free, he added.
More than $6,000 was raised during the one-night event on May 18, which was held at the Royal Canadian Legion hall.
Duclos estimated between 100 and 150 people attended.
Money raised during the May Queen event and other fundraisers, such as boot drives, are used in the community, Duclos said.
He said this winter, for example, the association provided some money to a woman in the community who had lost her house in a fire and needed assistance.
"Obviously, it wouldn't pay for a new house, but it was something," he said.
The May Queen event is also a great way to entertain the community, Duclos said. Well-known residents are chosen to sit on the judge's panel, which is made up of two men and two women.
They judge participants on everything from most feminine actions to the best legs and busts. The first-place winner becomes the May Queen, while second place is given to Best Legs and third place was given to The Most Likely to Carry a Moose Out Of The Woods.
Mayor Gregor Harold McGregor was one of this year's judges. He said he thought the competitors did a great job.
"I thought they were phenomenal, hilarious, really well done," he said. "It's just the most fun I've had in a long time. It's just amazing the getups they get on."
McGregor said while he isn't sure exactly how long the event has been running, it's been an annual occasion since he arrived in Norman Wells 16 years ago.
Duclos said he has heard from other community members that it all began with the Canol Road in the 1940s.
During the Second World War, the American army built a pipeline to bring oil from Norman Wells to the Yukon. The pipeline was abandoned, but part of the road is now the Canol Trail.
Duclos said he heard the event was a way to initiative newcomers who arrived to work on the project.
"During the war times, all the new guys in town would have to dress up as women if it was their first year up here," he said.
"It became a tradition since then."
The firefighters' association began organizing the event as a fundraiser about 12 years ago, Duclos said.
Duclos said part of the event's success is the prizes offered to participants. This year, Canadian North donated five return tickets from Norman Wells to Edmonton, which Duclos said was worth about $8,500.
Other community businesses and organizations also provided prizes and donations, he said.
McGregor said the event is both a fantastic fundraiser and crowd pleaser.
"It raises money for the fire department and it's a great thing," he said.
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