Fun in the Sun mini-royalty crowned

Fun in the Sun kicked off Friday with the BIA’s “Mall Days” festivities, including the annual mini-queen and king pageants.
Nine boys and 11 girls competed for the respective titles under a blazing hot sun.

Four-year-old Nolan Mann captured the third-annual mini-king crown after impressing the judges with his rendition of “O Canada.”
The newly-crowned youngster said he chose to sing the national anthem because he “likes it,” and that he learned it while attending Fort Frances Jr. Sabres hockey games.
Mann’s mother, Tana, said she’s proud of her son, who walked away with a bicycle, donated by Paul Surdstrom of Canadian Tire, as well as a certificate for a half-hour limo ride courtesy of North Air Services.
Meanwhile, the 2009 mini-queen winner was six-year-old Samantha Stone, who sang “Fairy Tales” by Sara Bareilles.
Stone said she was excited about the win, but especially about one of her prizes.
“I feel really good about the limo ride because I’ve never really seen a limo in real life,” she noted.
Her other prize was a heart-shaped necklace, donated by Brockie’s Jewellers.
Stone’s mother, Adrienne Lake, and her grandmother, Helen Wensley, were on hand to cheer for her and both expressed excitement about the win.
Melissa Gushulak organized both pageants, taking over from Gloria Wood, who had organized the mini-queen contest for 33 years.
Gushulak expressed gratitude to the sponsors and judges whose efforts made the pageants a reality.
JoAnne Olson of Fort Frances made the banners for both winners.