The Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMFT) has come and gone for another year, and a new Fur Queen has been crowned. The NMFT 2023 Fur Queen is Gloria Ballantyne-Packo, First Princess is Cadence Easter, and Second Princess is Airianna Bignell-Beardy. For Ballantyne-Packo, being crowned NMFT Fur Queen has been a childhood dream come true.
“I had always wanted to run for fur queen when I was younger,” said Ballantyne-Packo. “When Kendara and I were younger, we used to watch the fur queens in the community and it was something we liked to do together as sisters. When I was old enough to sign up, I knew I couldn’t commit to the following year afterwards, because I had plans to relocate. While I was living in Calgary, I felt sad because I felt it would be an opportunity I would never be able to have.