Festival du Voyageur begins today! The beard growing contest is one of the more popular customs associated with Festival, mostly because it gives guys the opportunity to look as slovenly as possible, and all for a good cause. Fellas, you've got some work to do if you want to measure up to these classics.
Date: February 7, 1975; Photographer: Jim Walker
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 10
Karen Love trims Bernard Olson's beard with ridiculously long shears. Santa Claus looks on smugly knowing that he has the competition in the bag.
Note: Not the actual Santa Claus. But is the actual Fred Olson.
Date: February 17, 1976; Photographer: Jon Thordarson
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 13
Veronique Arpin, 1976 Festival Queen, is the meat in this old, scraggly beard sandwich. Vic Girard, the winner of the 3 month or younger beard, is on the left and Bob Boittiaux, 1974 and 1976 winner of the older than 3 month beard competitions, is on the right.
Date: February 17, 1977; Photographer: Jim Wiley
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 37
Susan Waldie threatens to trim her husband Dennis' beard/handlebar combo. She wouldn't dare!!
Date: February 22, 1973; Photographer: Jim Walker
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 106
Gertrude Mousseau and Denise Kotowitch size up Bob Hauser's beard while Elsie d'Eschambault checks out the pathetic entry in the back.
Date: January 16, 1974; Photographer: Gerry Hart
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 173
It was at this moment as Robert Boittiaux gazed at his hairy reflection in the ashtray that he knew the 1974 competition belonged to him. Louis Dubé, Gil Boissonneault, Alphonse Hince, Larry Weselake, and Jean-Louis Hebert (L-R) look on in embarrassment.
Date: February 21, 1974; Photographer: Jim Walker
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 181
And to the winner go the spoils. Boittiaux claims his prize and is instantly hit on by Festival Queen Lynne Normandeau. Queen and beard losers Valerie Chatain, Paul Delveaux, Albert Dube, and Colette Carriere console each other in the background.
Date: February 16, 1977; Photographer: Jim Wiley
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 38
"Peter Rottentail" (aka Edmond Beaudry) measures up Wally Berrie's beard. What?! Don't act like you've never seen a grown man dressed in a bunny suit measuring another man's beard before.
Date: February 15, 1976; Photographer: Jim Walker
Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A.81-12) - Box 37, Folder 3005-3006, Item 42
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
Enjoy the festivities. More to come on Tuesday after the long-weekend.
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