Vintage B.C. beauty queens

This past May in a post devoted to the Library and Achieves Canada, I discussed the fact that, as a general rule, one does not encounter nearly as many vintage and antique images from Canada as there are to be had as those from countries such as America and the United Kingdom.

Of course there are vintage Canadian photographs out there(some of which you can enjoy in the Vintage Canada Flickr group I started a couple of years ago, as well as my Vintage Canada Pinterest board), but it can be tricky (verging on impossible) at times to unearth images online pertaining to certain locations (especially small towns) and subjects.

I'm constantly on the prowl for new-to-me vintage Canadian photos and always keep a flame of hope burning bright that I might happen across one of more relating not just to Canadian history, but to British Columbia, and even - if I'm especially lucky - to Penticton's past.

Despite the Okanagan Valley having been settled from the mid-1800s onwards, there are surprisingly few yesteryear photos of the area to be had on the web, so it was with no small amount of excitement that I just about leapt off the sofa when I spied the delightful image below one day on Flickr.

{Image source}

Aside from a date of 1949 (which appears on the sash of the woman on the far left of the picture), the Flickr poster didn't provide any further information about this shot, but the photo itself speaks volumes and clearly depicts a group of beauty pageant winners from various B.C. towns, surrounding an unidentified man as he tries his hand at ironing. I have no idea who this fellow was, but I'd venture to guess he might have been a local politician or well known figure in the community.

Listed amongst the beautiful swimsuit clad ladies here, we have beauty queens from (my town of) Penticton, Kamloops, and what looks like it probably says Trail, as well as a few others whose sashes we're unable to see.

They're all so lovely and are decked out in swimsuits, shoes, and haircuts I'd be pleased as punch to sport myself, too. I've never been involved with a beauty pageant, but sure wish I could hop back in time and take part in a local 1940s Miss Penticton competition!

Given that tomorrow is the August Civic Holiday here in Canada, I though this fabulous image of yesteryear ladies who hailed from my very same corner of the province sporting summery swimsuits would be the perfect image to help get us all in the mood to kick back, slip into something beachy, and enjoy the many different kinds of beauty that August is famous for.

Happy long weekend, my dears - I hope you all have a thoroughly fantastic one!


*Post update* Tony, along with two wonderful blog readers, did some top-notch online detective work and uncovered further details (including some names) about this delightful vintage photo. You read all about their finds here.