Bill and Mary Norman attend the Winter Festival every year, but this year they will do it as royalty.
The couple were announced Tuesday as the 2011 Mr. and Mrs. Winter Festival.
They were excited about the award and Mary said it felt great.
“It sure is a big honour, it was a surprise and it’s wonderful.”
The two were told they were to be given the awards the Friday before but couldn’t tell anyone until the
Winter Festival’s opening ceremonies on Feb. 15.
To be chosen as Mr. and Mrs. of the festival the couple had to be involved in their communities and in his presentation President of the Winter Festival, Darrell Prokopie, recited a long list of volunteerism and accomplishments.
Bill had many accomplishments including helping coordinate the first prairie regions correctional hockey tournament, which is still going on thirty years later and being a member of the Heritage Senior Centre for twenty years.
Mary wasn’t far behind her husband as she did many things such as serving as president of the East Hill Club and volunteering in the kitchen of the Heritage Senior Centre for the past five years.
The two have been married for 52 years and attend the Winter Festival events every year.
“We like the country north show and the voices of the north and the trapper events and the dog races, we kind of like all of them,” said Bill.
The two are excited about what this year will bring.
In his closing remarks for the opening ceremonies Prokopie acknowledged the festival has had some trouble continuing in the past few years but said with the people they now have involved he is confident it will continue and only get better in the years to come.
“We all believe in what this festival was, is, and can be.”
lschick@panow.com
