Yellowknife (Mar 31/04) - This year's Caribou Carnival princess has been named, but organizers won't say how many tickets were sold to win it.

Gloria Reyes, mother of princess contestant 16-year-old Alaina Reyes, said she was dumbfounded when the winner -- Karlee Turner -- was announced Thursday night, but not the number of $2 tickets she sold. The contestant who sells the most raffle tickets wins.

Karlee Turner wins the title of Caribou Carnival princess at Caribou Capers last Thursday night. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

A week before the contest concluded, her daughter was in the clear lead, said Reyes. She was named the second milestone winner -- with more than 7,000 tickets sold -- by Quest for the Crown organizer, Carol Van Tighem in Yellowknifer, March 19.

Gloria Reyes said when she contacted Van Tighem later, the Queen Mother refused to tell her how many tickets Turner had sold.

"To me, there's something fishy here," said Reyes.

"Why can't she tell me the numbers? We were very happy to support Caribou Carnival, but I want to see it done right."

On Monday, Van Tighem said she is still tallying the numbers, but won't make them public until the Caribou Carnival board gives their approval.

"I'm not going to until I got all the tickets put into the computer, and I've got all my numbers," said Van Tighem.

"I'm not prepared to give them until I have my final report in. It will be up to the Caribou Carnival board to decide whether they want them publicized or not."

She said, however, by the day of the crowning it was clear Turner was the winner.

"It wasn't even close," said Van Tighem.

This isn't the first time the Caribou Carnival Quest for the Crown has run into controversy. In the 2001 carnival, two winners were crowned queen although one, Christiane Boyd had edged her rival, Gisele Forget, by 12 tickets. The story made the front page of the National Post.