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Pennyworth
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
This Was Then... With Old Ike
‘Yes, I was Miss Idlers ‘65’ – Lorraine Gates (nee St. Jacques) Think of Lorraine (nee St. Jacques) Gates’ reaction as she looked back 46 years to when she was “Miss Idlers ‘65”, a contestant in the Miss Alberni Pageant. “I had not seen this picture prior to this week, so you can imagine my surprise to see myself sitting in that convertible,” Lorraine emailed last Saturday. “I remember sitting in the back of this convertible for the parade and I was quite concerned about the high heels I was wearing, trying very hard not to press the spiked heels into the seat so as not to make a hole in the leather. Seeing the picture brought back so many memories of that time in my life! I was shy at the time but my experience in the pageant helped me gain so much confidence it was a personal success for me, for which I’ve been very grateful.” Lorraine was in Grade 12 back in 1965 when she entered the Jaycees-sponsored Miss Alberni Pageant. “Miss Alberni week of May 10-15, 1965 was proclaimed by Mayor Les Hammer,” Lorraine wrote. “There were nine contestants in total and the judges were Red Robinson (radio & TV personality), Diana Ricardo (Sun Fashion writer) and Dr. Tom Cosgrove (Honourary President, Jaycees). Lt-Governor and Mrs. George R. Pearkes were the guests of honour at the windup banquet on May 15.” Miss Idlers ’65 and the other eight contestants were “presented/
introduced” to the public on Friday, May 7 at 9 pm at the Paramount Theatre and then again the next night at the Capitol Theatre. Folks may also remember the young ladies making a public appearance at a teen dance in the old Civic Arena on May 8, 1965. “It was the first event of its kind held in the arena where a permanent floor had been installed the previous fall just prior to the opening of the skating season,” Lorraine noted. “Then we were at the Jaycee-ettes Spring & Summer Fashion Show at the Legion Hall on Tuesday, May 11.” Lorraine, who was raised in Port Alberni, has fond memories of when she worked weekends as a carhop at the A & W Drivein on Third Avenue (where Pley’s AutoTown is now). “In fact, I was working in 1964 when the Tsunami hit Port – I’d been serving a customer in the middle of the lot when I looked down to see water swirling around my feet – and it just kept rising extremely quickly,” she recalled. “I ran to inform our manager who directed myself and the other carhop (Sandy Cousins) to tell everyone to clear our immediately. I recall about 7 cars had been left in the lot, unattended, which ended up floating away when the high water mark was reached. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience.” Lorraine now lives in Sidney but
“Ron DeVito is driving the car, but I don’t know who’s car it was,” Lorraine Gates (nee St. Jacques) emailed last week about this picture that appeared in This was Then on Feb. 3. “I’ll ask my brother Romeo St. Jacques when he returns from holidays.” Lorraine said photo was taken during a Miss Alberni Pageant convertible parade held at 2 pm on Saturday, May 15, 1965, after a civic banquet at noon in the Beaufort Hotel’s chandelier room, where the contestants were judged on public speaking. “Following the banquet, hosted by the councils of the Twin Cities, the parade went from the Beaufort Hotel, around Woodward’s Store, and down Third Avenue to Alberni and back to the original Barclay Motor Hotel (Third & Redford),” Lorraine recalled. “The Banquet and Ball (winding up the pageant with the judging) was held at the Barclay at 8:00 that night. Joanne Bryson, Miss Chamber of Commerce, was chosen the winner.”
returns regularly to visit her parents, one brother and a sister here. “They read your article, sent me a copy and asked if I’d like to respond,” she said. “I moved from the Alberni Valley in the late ‘70’s, (to Vancouver, Calgary and
then to Mississauga, Ontario) and then pulled back to the west coast 10 years ago because my aging parents (who celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this month). Oh, the changes I’ve seen in the Valley since I lived there!
Thanks to the Gislason family for taking the picture and thank you Ike for giving me the opportunity to relive these memorable events. They really didn’t happen so long ago – they’re still so fresh in my mind.”
What do you know about this parade moment? It’s believed that Ken Soderlund took this picture of what I believe is a May Day parade between 1948 to the mid fifties. Although the photo is a little faded, you can see the red convertible is heading south on Victoria Quay, past the legendary “Three Sisters Café” bound for Port Alberni. I’m hoping that someone’s memory is still sharp enough to shed some clarity on this rare snapshot. If you can help, please email me at: ikepatterson@telus.net
This Was Then
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