After weeks of practice, Quebec 4-Hers came from far and wide to showcase their talent and skill at the 11th Annual Quebec 4-H Provincial Square Dance Competition in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, at Macdonald College’s Centennial Centre Ballroom. Eleven teams from Shawville, Lachute, Ormstown, Richmond, and Prescott County, Ontario, attended on March 23.
Quebec 4-H president Christina Knox welcomed the large crowd and then presented the King Charles III Coronation Medals to the three recipients: Ann Louise Carson, Stephanie Maynard, and Paige Frost. After the presentation of the award, fiddle music filled the air as the Shawville and Lachute Cloverbuds started the competition, twirling onto the dance floor smiling.
Five junior teams (aged 9 to 13) followed afterwards, with two Ormstown teams, the Ormstown Polkadots Juniors and Ormstown Purple Juniors, competing alongside Lachute Plaids, Richmond Purple Petals, and Shawville Juniors for first place. Finally, the four senior teams from Lachute, Prescott County, Ormstown, and Shawville promenaded onto the dance floor. After that, judges and 4-H alumni Carrie Simpson and Jessica Rouleau discussed who would win each age group, as the floor cleared for a quick snack break and open dancing.
Best and Reserve Junior Callers went to Amy Sheppard (Shawville) and Aurelia Lemelin (Richmond) respectively. Best and Up-and-Coming Cloverbud Couples went to Florence Lafromboise and Grace Pasch (Shawville), and Paisley Lalande and Carey Clark (Lachute). Best and Up-and-Coming Junior Couples went to Olivia Bourdeau and Hayden Cullen (Ormstown), and Olivia McOuat and Thomas Cowan (Lachute). Best and Up-and-Coming Senior Couples went to Ben Judd and Kathleen Kelly (Shawville), and Cosette Mason and Keith Quinn (Ormstown).
In the Teams division, Lachute took first place in the Cloverbud division, followed by Shawville. Shawville Juniors took home the first-place ribbon in their category, followed by Ormstown Purple, Richmond Purple Petals, Lachute Plaid, and Ormstown Polkadots. Finally, Shawville also sashayed away with first, followed by Ormstown, Prescott County 4-H Green Team, and Lachute Seniors.
Congrats to all who participated, and thank you to the judges, the Neil MacKay Band for performing, and to Quebec 4-H for hosting. The next square dance competition will be in Vankleek Hill on April 26, followed by Ormstown’s on May 3.