Hopefully everyone is doing well and and not going too stir crazy in the house. Although the days may be mushing together, it's Thursday so lets jump right into another Thursday Tack and Tale from Stockmen's Memorial Foundation.
This week I tell the story of the lovely Mrs. Wendy Irene (Copithorne) Hawes.
Hawes was born on July 15, 1951 in Calgary, Alberta to Clarence and Irene Copithorne. She grew up on a ranch just west of Cochrane in the Jumping Pound area. Hawes mentions her earlier schooling was done at Brushy Ridge and recalls Eddy Edge as her very first teacher. The ranch was never lacking much help as the family was well equipped with a little herd of helpers. Wendy grew up around two brothers and three sisters, a nice big family.
"I did a lot of riding and cowboying for my dad, moving cows and stuff. When I got a little older I worked in the hayfield, racking hay and running the baler," said Hawes.
From about nine years of age to 17, Hawes was part of the 4-H Jumping Pound Beef Club. Her 4-H involvement would later transfer into her older years as she would become a leader to a horse club.
In 1971, the same year the Calgary Stampede Showband was formed, Hawes would enter in the Calgary Stampede Royalty competition. The event consisted of 32 ladies who would be graded on their riding and public speaking skills. Eventually the number would continue to dwindle as eliminations would take place and royalty would ultimately be named. Hawes would make it through to the bitter end and be crowned princess alongside Shirly Inkster and Queen, Leslie MacDonald.
"Riding was a high priority back then and becoming more so now going forward. There was a period of time there where it wasn't important," explains Hawes. "We were crowned during the five day, back then it was the Rodeo Royal at the Corral."
Following their crowing Hawes jokingly said the ladies had to commit to one year of being single and not getting pregnant, mentioning for me to "look into that." But really, the ladies acted as mentors and publicly spoke at numerous events through the course of the year. Very similar to what the queen and princesses do now.
"It was a fun year, we weren't as busy back then as the girls are nowadays," said Hawes.
When asked how she felt about being crowned back in 71', Hawes chuckled and said "It's been a long time since I've had to reminisce about being a princess. I was quite happy about it, overjoyed at the time."
About a year later in 1972, at the age of 22, Hawes would bump into her future husband Dave Hawes while at Olds College. They were quickly married that same year in October and shortly after moved out to British Columbia. Dave was originally from Chase, BC and the couple would go on to spend roughly 30 years in the province before moving back to Cochrane. The pair have three children who all reside in Alberta.
Interestingly enough Judy MacKenzie - Mac MacKenzie's wife was Hawe's maid of honor.
"The MacKenzie's were very close family members," she said.
The hat Hawes donned while getting crowned princess is a beautiful white "Smithbilt."
"I didn't wear it very much after I was crowned so it was in a hat box most of its life until I got it reshaped which was probably 25 years ago or so," explained Hawes.
The hat was reshaped by Vern Elliot, a famous hat restorer. Hawes said she had the crown brought down, flattened out the rim, and changed the hat band to make it look more modern.
"It's very in style now," chuckled Hawes. "I wear it during stampede week just about every day."
Currently Hawes works at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Spyhill Campus and continues to be a presence within the Calgary Stampede. She is part of the Calgary Stampede Queen's Alumni Committee which is a diverse group of past queens, ladies in waiting and princesses. She also volunteers and acts as a chaperon for the girls.
