Working towards a clear goal
Fundraising a tough road to hoe for Northern pageant entrants

Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 24/98) - With less than one month remaining before the scheduled start of the Miss Teen Canada 1998 Pageant, Nicole Gagnon says she still has her work cut out for her.

"I still need the $1,200 I need for my airfare," Gagnon said. "It's been difficult."

In addition to requiring the funds to buy a plane ticket to Toronto for the pageant, Gagnon added that she is still working on raising the $2,000 pageant entrance fee -- which must be paid by Aug. 1.

"I suppose if I don't have the money, they will give me an extension," she said.

Gagnon, who has been working to raise funds in a number of different ways for the past few weeks, said the response to her request has not always been favorable.

"I've gone around and given a letter to a number of businesses. They always say they'll have to talk to someone about my request. When I call back, it's like they never even intended to talk to anyone about it."

Meanwhile, Miss NWT 1998 Kim Rossignol, said she has nearly raised the funds necessary for her entrance fee into the Miss Canada International Pageant in Toronto, but that a string of unfortunate circumstances has made the fundraising process more difficult.

"When I want to go out and talk to potential sponsors, it's important to me to look my best," Rossignol said. "I work at a construction company, which does not allow me to always look as presentable as I feel I want to be.

"I have also been ill recently, which has put me behind schedule a bit."

Like Gagnon, Rossignol is working towards the same Aug. 1 deadline, yet she remains confident she will reach her final goal.

She added there are also some fundraising events scheduled to the coming weeks, which will be joint projects between herself and Gagnon.

The 1998 Miss Teen Canada Pageant and Miss Canada International Pageant are each scheduled to take place Aug. 15 to 22 in Toronto.