As hundreds of people were packed in under the big tent at Pither’s Point on Monday afternoon, some difficult decisions had to be made about who would be crowned as this year’s Fun in the Sun queen and king.
In the end, with an exchange of hugs and smiles, Sarah Noonan (La Place Rendez-Vous) and Tyson Dennis (Rainy Lake Sports & Tackle) received the honours.
Kayla Caul (Pinewood Sports and Marine) was crowned First Princess Monday while Hope Wilson (Dairy Queen) was named Second Princess.
Lorne Koski (Skates & Blades) was named First Prince, with Jamie Pryde (West End Motors) crowned Second Prince.
Koski, along with Sarah Angus (The Great Bear), also had earned top honours at the entertainment night held June 23 at Warp 9.
Rick Ricard (Pharmasave) and Alison McIvor (M&S Bootery and Sportique) were named Mr. and Miss Congeniality, respectively.
Besides flowers and small gifts, the winners will receive scholarships of varying values. The amounts of these still are being tallied as organizers cover expenses.
Monday’s pageant activities also included a picnic basket auction, during which contestant Jessica Wilson (The Olde & Resold Shoppe) fetched the top bid ($160).
The winning FITS royalty button also was pulled Monday. Whoever has a Sarah Angus button bearing the number 0169 should bring it to the Chamber of Commerce office (across from Safeway) to collect their prize—$100 in loonies.
Rounding out the queen contestants on the stage were Heather Algie (Lakeland Personnel), Shanna Calder (Weeza’s Gifts, Etc.), Sara Fitzgerald (Gillons’ Insurance), Melanie Hyatt (Legion Br. #29), and Tanis McTavish (MacDonald Motors).
The other four king contestants were Jamie Algie (Happy Chappy’s Swinging Sounds—Adrian Chapman), Karl Martinson (Howarth’s Home Centre), Dan Robinson (Morgan and Associates), and Ryan Whalen (Tom Veert Contracting Ltd.)