Pageant News Bureau - Miss Canada Chronicles

Newfoundland, Canada's easternmost and poorest province, was a perennial pageant dud, occasionally making an appearance in the semifinals of the Miss Canada Pageant, but never once finishing among the court of honor. However, a Newfoundland girl, Mary Lou Farrell (left), finally broke the ice in 1964 -- by winning the rival Miss Dominion of Canada Pageant.

The Miss Canada Chronicles

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Social historians, lovers of beauty, connoisseurs of the unconventional, this is for you. We offer an informative, irreverent but affectionate look at a pageant that a vast nation took to its heart. The author, himself a Canadian, is the creator of Jimmy's Pageant Page and is one of the world's premier authorities on beauty competitions.

By Jimmy Steele
Special to PNB

Thirty-four women stand on a stage at a Toronto television studio. The lap of each tuxedo- and evening dress-clad audience member holds tense fists, as 4 million other people watch their home television screens with bated breath. Banners reading Grande Prairie, South Shore, Oshawa and Interior of B.C. hang stiffly off tightly squared shoulders, while Calgary, Vancouver, Oakville and Laval nervously hold hands at center stage.
A drum roll begins from the bowels of the studio. An envelope is torn open. A bouquet is readied. The bandleader cues his orchestra. The host, flashing a toothy grin at the TV camera, announces that Oakville is fourth, and she smiles wanly as she presses her fair cheek against last year’s queen.
The drum roll resumes. Three ladies remain. The compère’s pearly whites re-emerge, and he announces that Vancouver is third. She receives her accolades from the assembled crowd.
Drum roll. Calgary and Laval clasp hands again, tense with worry. Laval points to something offstage that makes Calgary turn and smile. The two lock eyes, smile, look away. Both subtly grimace and hold their breath. The announcement comes. Calgary is second. She smiles, exhales deeply. Quebec City cheers. Newfoundland and Labrador claps once. Nova Scotia rolls her eyes. Sherbrooke glares venomously. Laval clutches her throat and laughs The title is hers.
While the also-rans shout their support to the runners-up, for they really dislike the new queen, Laval walks haltingly toward her predecessor and hugs her tightly, mouth wide open with astonishment. She is crowned, receives her sash and bouquet, and starts her victory lap: Miss Laval is Miss Canada.

The chronicles continue ...

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