PRETO EERE ARR NEWS photo Mike Wakefleid “THE 24th-of May is the queen’s birthday, if we don’t get a holiday, we'll ali.run away,’’ was the popular rhyme of the time back in 1930 when V/est Vancvuver citizens decided to hold May Day celebrations. - West Vancouver Museum and Historical Society’ treasurer Georgie Wilson displays some of the older May Queen paraphernalia displayed at Pauline Johnson School in West Vancouver. Bie a ane Ts ek ME Ses ao REE ae 31 - Sunday, June 28, 1987 - North Shere News entrants sought PAGE 34 May Queen a W. Van tradition for 56 years DURING THE depression years, when times were not so good in West Vancouver, May Day celebrations galvanized the community in the shared spirit of renewal and mutual celebration. The May Queen tradition strings back to the crowning of the first May Queen, Peggy Barker, in 1931, following the 1930 reign of Miss West Vancouver, six-year-old Mavis Whipple. “The older ceremonies were very, very meaningful,’’ remembers West Vancouver Museum and Historical Society treasurer Georgie Wilson. ‘‘In those times there wasn’t a Lions Gate Bridge and there wasn't TV. We made our own fun.”’ Early May 24 celebrations in- cluded school children from Hollyburn and Pauline Johnson elementary schools dancing “‘ruf- ty-tufty’’ and ‘‘gathering peascods’’ as well as dancing ‘‘the ‘spider’s web’’. around the .tradi- tional May Pole to the tunes pro- vided by the West Vancouver Boys Band. | After the parade and crowning ceremony at Ambleside, Wilson said the queen toured the :com- munity in a decorated car. The day’s celebrations concluded with a May Queen banquet and dance. May Queens-past gathered recently to be honored in the an- Cake cut in WV on July | A GIANT. birthday party is planned for July 1 in West Vancouver. © , Continuing the district’s own 75th anniversary celebration, a special salute to Canada’s 120th birth- day ‘will be hetd in cooperation with the B.C. Canada Day Committee. : ‘The ‘party will take place at West Vancouver Municipal Hall, 750 17th St., at 2 p.m. A special in- vitation is extended by Mayor Don Lanskail and council to all who wish to participate, especially West Van pioneers and long-time residents. Senior gov- ernment members will also join the birthday party. The municipal hall lobby will be open so guests can view the West Vancouver Arts Council exhibit entitled West Vancouver, My Home. The works were done by local students. Other exhibits, including a display by the historic society, will be on view on the plaza and lawns. Entertainment will be provided by several groups including the Trio Con Brio of the North Shore Chamber Music Society. A flag-raising ceremony in recognition of Canada Day will take’ place at approximately 3 p.m. The Royal Canadian Legion, West Vancouver Branch 60, will assist in the special salute. Light refreshments and a huge birthday cake will be served. For further information call the West Vancouver Municipal Hall at 922-1211. * custom foam packing * crates for art & industry ¢ packing boxes * shipping, land, sea, air * post office parcel drop Leave your parcel packing to FLASH PACK. We'll guarantee the safe delivery of your custom foam packed parcels... ANYWHERE!! Take advantage of our PARCEL DROP SERVICE and avoid Post Office line-ups. 1886.,Marine Orive,.North Vancouver, B.C, 988-2883, 7.) By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter [ nual West Vancouver Community Day parade. Gladys Wilson (Mrs. Stewart), May Queen for 1938, rode along with over a dozen other former May Queens in open antique automobiles in the parade. “It was very .exciling and en- joyable,’? remembers Stewart of her first go-around as a 12-year- old Grade 7 May Queen repre- senting Inglewood school. Stewart said three names were placed in a hat at her school and the name pulled won the honor to become queen for a year back in *38. “On May Day we gathered at Mrs. Small’s home at Esquimalt and 21st Street for the start of the parade which ended at Ambleside,’’ said Stewart. The regal rite of passage includ- ed Stewart wearing a long white gown complete with satin cape and a procession of two maids of honor, six guards of honor, a crown bearer, and four flower FACILITIES & SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN © INDIMDUAL LOCKERS © LIFECYCLE AND FAN BIKES © PRIVATE DRESSING BOOTHS * AEROBIC CLASSES * NO-BOUNCE AEROBICS * CUSHIONED WOOD FLOOR > FREE-WEIGHTS * WHIRLPOOL « SAUNA * PRIVATE SHOWERS girls, with two pages along for good measure. Stewart remembers planting a tree at the cenotaph in West Van- couver along the way to the Ambleside finish where festivities included May Pole dancing and the crowning of the May Queen by Reeve J.B. Leyland. The festivities concluded in the evening with a dinner and May Day ball at inglewood School auditorium. Stewart joined 13 other former May Queens to join in on the 75th anniversary parade this year. The other former queens along for the 75th.anniversary ride were queens of May 1935, Dale Eriksen (Mrs. D.D. McGowan); 1942, Mary Messinger (Mrs. J.R. Allan); 1943, Dawn Smith (Mrs. B.A. Langley); 1944, Ruth Steen (Mrs. Ruth Buck); 1948, Maureen McKeown (Mrs. G.N. Tickell); 1949, Daphne Lidster (Mrs. Ronald Grisdale); 1950, Barbara Thonison (Mrs. Douglas. Rogers); 1953, Cand: Carroll (Mrs. Glen Rustad); 1954, Anne Johnstone (Mrs. C. Brousson); 1956, Wendy Welsh (Mrs. G.D. Marshall); 1962, Suzanne Loehrich (Mrs. ‘P. Melhuish); 1964, Helen Babalos (Mrs. Makris); and 1968, Jill . McGregor. “ F144] MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER £98 80- 96505 . a germany is ee OS AS ee ee (One block east of Capilane - Open Sat. 10-4)