Nordstrom crowned as 2008 fair queen

Last Thursday was the final evening of the 2008 Emo Fair Queen pageant. The floats had been marked, the banners sewn, the interviews completed, and the fashion show over.
The only thing that stood between the girls and the 2008 crown was the talent show.
The first of the five contestants to take the stage was 17-year-old, Alyssa Strachan (Green’s BBQ and Bar), who presented and narrated a slide show entitled “Emo Tour Guide,” which included pictures of why Emo is an excellent place to visit.
To allow each contestant time to get ready to perform, the pageant committee had asked various entertainers from across the district to be part of the evening festivities.
As such, next up was an energetic and creative group of brothers and their sister, called the “Dueck4,” who were inspired to perform while watching a Christian mime group perform in San Diego, Calif.
The Dueck4 danced to the tune of “We Are Family.”
The second queen contestant to perform was Janel Barker (Tim Hortons). Although it was her first time singing alone in public, she did an excellent job singing “Anyway” by Martina McBride.
The next local entertainer to perform for the audience was Katelyn Shortreed, who played guitar and sang “All or Nothing” by Theory of a Deadman. The crowd responded, appreciatively, with a loud round of applause.
The third queen contestant was Ashlee Nordstrom (M.L. Judson), who presented a humorous skit that incorporated music and dance along with her friends, Jamie Petrin and Dana Elders.
The next local performer was Maverick Judson, who performed a song he wrote entitled “A Ballad Just for You!” Judson is off to Fanshawe College in London, Ont. this fall to study a music business and arts program.
The fourth queen contestant to entertain the crowd was Lauren Davis (Harold McQuaker Enterprises). She played a piece on the piano entitled “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan, which was met with a warm round of applause.
The next local performer for the evening was Milo Smith. It was only his third time singing in public, but he did an excellent job singing “Too Lost in You.”
The fifth and final queen contestant then took to the stage. Dana Drennan (Emo Dental Clinic) performed a creative dance and singing number with her friend, Carrie Bragg.
Making use of a black light, their performance was both innovative and entertaining.
While the judges finished their marking and the auditor, Doris Dyson, tallied the scores, the audience was entertained by Ashley Jewett, the 2006 1st Princess. She did an excellent job singing “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.
Emcee Robin McCormick thanked the judges (Tammy LeBlanc, Ed Carlson, Joyce Meyers, and Angela Cousineau) for all of their hard work. She also thanked the many businesses and sponsors for their generous donations and prizes for the queen contestants.
With the talent show over, it was time for the crowning of this year’s royalty.
Reigning Fair Queen Chelsea Bragg, along with 2007 1st Princess Sairah Chabot, 2nd Princess Raylene Smith, and Miss Congeniality Bridgette Maki, prepared to pass on their crowns to the new girls.
The 2008 candidates were accompanied on stage by their sponsors. Sis Wilson, who co-ordinated the pageant with the help of her sister, Trish, thanked her committee and everyone who made this year’s contest possible.
A special thank you goes out to Debbie Carlson. The crown the queen wears each year is supplied by Debbie in memory of her late daughter, Jennifer Carlson.
Also each year, Miss Congeniality is given a digital camera in memory of Carlson.
Then Wilson made the long-awaited announcement: Ashlee Nordstrom was the 2008 Emo Fair Queen, with Dana Drennan as 1st Princess, Lauren Davis as 2nd Princess, and Janel Barker as Miss Congeniality.
The girls literally erupted with emotion as they were mobbed on stage by their friends and relatives.
“I was pretty excited and a little shocked,” Drennan recalled the next day. “It was a lot of work, especially the talent show, but it was well worth it.”
“It felt awesome,” enthused Nordstrom. “When she called my name, it was like a giant load was lifted off me, the stress was gone, and it was finally over!”
Although the competition is over, the year is just beginning for the new queen and her princesses. Watch for their public appearances over the next few months.