Having special friends that last a lifetime is something special. Keeping those connections alive and vibrant through time and distance and the busy pace of life is impressive and so very rewarding.
We we get together with these wonderful people, whom we might not see in person too often, treating each other like royalty seems appropriate.
There are a quartet of ladies who embody all of this. They come from all around the region to meet up once a year for what they call their annual “Queen” convention. It’s a tradition that has been going on for 36 years now.
Throughout the years, they have travelled to Palm Springs, Vancouver Island, Gimli, Clear Lake and communities across Manitoba and Ontario. They’ve rented sailboats, collected matching wine glasses and coffee mugs, and proudly worn their “Queen” t-shirts and tiaras almost everywhere they go.
No husbands. No schedules. No cooking. Just several days devoted entirely to friendship.
It all started back in the late 80’s.
Wendy Fraser, who is from Kenora, had travelled to Brandon, Manitoba for her good friend Nancy Campbell’s surprise 40th birthday party.
That’s where she met another pair of Nancy’s friends, Betty McGill and Beverly Cumming.
The next morning, the four women went out for coffee and immediately clicked. From there, theirs yearly conversations quickly turned into a lifelong tradition.
This year, welcomed her fellow “Queens to Kenora for their annual gathering. Wendy, even built a giant welcome sign on her front lawn, complete with balloons, to greet the group when they arrived
The visit included dinners out, shopping, laughter, hot tub visits and catching up on another year of life.
The women have also documented every trip in scrapbooks and journals that have become a record not only of their shared vacations, but their shared lives as well.
(With files from Pam Fedack and Kenora Miner & News)
