TRANSCRIPT

MK: … As I recall in those days the purpose of the festival (originated I guess back in the '30s) was to get the trappers to come in to The Pas to expose their furs to the market and also for the market of the fur buyers that came to The Pas to give the trappers information in terms of what kinds of furs were a commodity for that year for the kinds of fur coats they were making. So it was kind of a gathering between the two groups here in The Pas and after the meetings were over, of course it was time for a little celebration to break the mid-winter blues. I think that's kind of how the festival came to be and it certainly has progressed from there. From the time that I've spent here, it was sponsored by - all the monies for the events and prizes were raised locally or sponsored from out of town, from companies that participated in the festivals as well or had some indirect connection. The fur companies from Toronto and certainly Winnipeg and Regina would come here to, not only talk to the trappers, but also to display their products - fur coats in particular and this is where the Fur Queens came into the picture. They would put on a fashion show, modeling the fur coats - it was a promotional event for the fur companies and also certainly helped out he program for the festival. As I recall it was a beautiful event in the afternoons - the Fur Fashion Show - it would pack the hall every day, mostly women, because they would be in love with the fur coats.