Every last ticket was sold out in advance for the 2003 Miss
North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Queen Pageant.
Ticket-holders packed the Barriere Seniors’ Center to see
Sarah Bazinet and Valerie Berger crowned fall fair queen and
princess for the year ahead.
The crowning came at the conclusion of a lively evening’s entertainment
which began with Miss Minnie Pearl — bearing a striking
resemblance to pageant committee chair Leslie Stirling — introducing
the evening’s master of ceremonies, Ed Salle.
Seven contestants performed, modeled evening gowns and
responded to impromptu questions before the event judges secluded
themselves to reach a final decision.
Retiring Queen Rozalind Ewashina and Princess Melissa
Webb danced, said spirited farewells, shed a few tears and
dispensed gifts to pageant committee members Stirling, Lorraine Griffith, Beverly Murphy and Marina Brem, judges and others.
Awards in a variety of competitions were handed out: Soon-tobe
Queen Sarah Bazinet received three including the Barriere and
District Chamber of Commerce bursary; princess-to-be Valerie
Berger claimed top honours in both the speech and talent categories.
The annual friendship award went to candidate Nikita Cole.
No ‘outside’ guests were invited to the rescheduled, relocated
pageant after the fair itself was canceled for 2003, both MLA
Kevin Krueger and MP Betty Hinton were on hand for the evening.

North Thompson Star/Journal
Sept 8, 2003