The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Queen Mermaid Pageant will be canceled this year unless a couple more contestants step forward. Six teens have signed up for the pageant but organizers say at least eight are required for the time-honoured Flin Flon tradition to go ahead. "There are a lot of young ladies who would represent our community fantastic," said pageant director Loraine Poirier. "I'm hoping they'll look at the pageant as, yes, it's hard work, but it's also going to be a lot of fun." Efforts to sign up contestants initially spurred substantial interest among teens but now many of them are saying they would rather enter next year. But if the pageant isn't held this year, Poirier doubts there would be a next time. Poirier and a new committee of about 20 people have planned a number of changes for this year's pageant, should it proceed. See 'Talent' P.# Con't from P.# That includes the elimination of the Talent Night, which would be replaced by an event at which the contestants would learn about the community and deliver speeches on community-related topics. There's also a reduced practice schedule that would call for two practices per week rather than the three or four that took place in previous years. As well, the committee has plans for a "Girl's Fun Night," which would include tips on hair styling and make-up techniques. And once the Queen Mermaid and her First Princess are crowned, the committee wants to schedule the girls to participate in more community events than in previous years. Poirier also mentioned the possibility of having the girls travel to community events in The Pas, Thompson, and Swan River to represent the Flin Flon area. Aside from serving as role models and community representatives, the winners of the Queen Mermaid Pageant receive scholarships and at least one special trip out of town. The deadline for girls aged 14-17 to enter the pageant will be this Sunday. For more information, phone Loraine at 687-5513 or 687-2972.
