13°c Partly cloudy
10°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Riel's ringer has the right genes
Descendent takes festival's look-alike title
Louis Riel: 'stone-cold glare'
Riel is Jean-Marc Lafond's great-great-grand-uncle. (DAN HARPER PHOTOGRAPHY)
IF ever there was a contest Jean-Marc Lafond was born to win, it was this one.
Lafond, 28, captured the title in the Festival du Voyageur's first-ever Louis Riel look-alike contest on Monday -- thanks to some cheerleading from his companions with the Manitoba Living History Society, and a little family resemblance.
Riel, famously known as the "father of Manitoba," is Lafond's great-great-grand-uncle on the maternal side.
Naturally, when the competition was announced, Lafond was the first to sign up. "Everyone I know kept saying, 'There's this competition, have you entered?' " Lafond laughed, strolling through Fort Gibraltar in full period costume on Monday.
The Riel doppelganger had stiff competition from some pint-sized challengers. The contest featured several kids, including a little girl named Victoria -- and the historically minded tykes definitely won the "cute factor," said Manitoba Living History Society companion Sarah-Jane Piche. "I saw the kids and thought, he's in real trouble now," Piche winked.
Still, Lafond had one special trick up his billowy sleeve: the secret to pulling off an ace Riel impression. "It's the gaze," Lafond said. "That stern, stone-cold glare into the distance, with the weight of a province and the Canadian government at your back."
Lafond was honoured with an Étchiboy sash made to resemble the one Riel wore in his later years.
After the contest wrapped up, Festival du Voyageur executive director Ginette Lavack-Walters mused the look-alike contest may be a keeper for future Louis Riel Days.
Not like Festival needs any help attracting visitors on the provincial holiday. On Monday, cars were lined up clear from Voyageur Park to Provencher Boulevard waiting for parking as families streamed into the site.
Indeed, the day was so busy, Lavack-Walters and Festival du Voyageur board members had to pause in other duties to chip in selling passes at the gate.
The warm weather helped drive attendance up to 9,000 people on Sunday -- 1,000 more than in 2011 -- and Lavack-Walters said a similar increase was likely in the works for Monday.
Of course, balmy temperatures aren't necessarily the best thing for a winter festival. Though many of the festival's famous snow sculptures were bravely battling the melt, a high of 2 C left much of the site mucky with puddles on Monday.
No worries, Lavack-Walters said -- temperatures are expected to drop this week, and get the site back to crisp condition for the closing weekend.
Other than that, the weather has been a blessing. "Thank you Mother Nature," Lavack-Walters said. "What she wasn't able to give us last month was snow, but the park will remain beautiful. It's been wonderful."
A big hit with festival-goers Monday was the appearance of the Stanley Cup inside the Fort la Reine tent at Voyageur Park.
Festival du Voyageur continues through the end of this weekend, with highlights including the Petit Canada party on Thursday night featuring a whirlwind of music, and the wild 'n' woolly beard-growing competition on Friday evening.
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Fore more Festival highlights, see the slideshow below
The Festival du Voyageur is wowing crowds in Winnipeg. The annual festival continues until Feb. 26.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 21, 2012 B1
History
Updated on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:45 AM CST: Adds slideshow
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- WWE's Jericho breaks code in Brazil
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Blue boxes to garden boxes?
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Teachers split on issue of human sexuality
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- A SHED is not enough
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Female cyclist dies on Higgins after falling into semi's path
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- At 100, she's still winning friends and winning at bridge
- His life made our world a better place
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Teachers split on issue of human sexuality
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- Cummings steps out of reunion for sick mom
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- Weeding out the chemicals
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.