Rossland's Winter Runway: Historical Styles of the Rossland Winter Carnival
The Rossland Winter Carnival has produced a unique selection of winter apparel. From elaborate toques to elegant gowns, join us as we explore some of our favourite looks from the history of the Winter Carnival!
Historical Styles of the Rossland Winter Carnival was curated by Tyler Bignell (Collections Intern) and will be on display at Curiosity Clothing & Gifts between January 19 and February 4, 2023. The exhibit explores distinct fashions throughout the Rossland Winter Carnival’s history and features textiles from both the RMDC collection and the Rossland Light Opera Players.
Masquerade on Ice
A notable event of the early Rossland Winter Carnival was the Masquerade on Ice. First held during the 1898 Winter Carnival, the Masquerade on Ice went on to become a staple of the Winter Carnival. Participation required a costume, skates, and, of course, a mask. There were six main costume categories at the Masquerade Ball: Women, Men, Girls, Boys, and Couples (both young and old). Eventually, different categories were added, such as Under 16, Best Female Skater, and Best Comedic Character.
The event was held in the Rossland Arena from approximately 8:00 to 10:00 pm and was accompanied by music from a local band.
The costumes ranged in theme, detail, and creativity––and never failed to impress the audience. Among the most notable were Marie Antoinette, Satan, and, interestingly, a Box of Corn Flakes. Towards the end of the evening, the best costumes would be chosen and the skaters were unmasked.
The Masquerade on Ice was included as a part of the Winter Carnival until 1917. Despite the popularity of the event, images of Rossland’s Masquerade on Ice are not known to exist.
Ladies’ Hockey Team
The 1900 Winter Carnival saw the introduction of the Rossland Ladies’ Hockey Team. Originally formed as a “novelty,” the Rossland Ladies’ Hockey Team quickly gained fame outside of the Winter Carnival and became a pioneer in women’s sports.
The team was undefeated in organised competitions between 1900-1917, winning the Ladies’ Hockey Championship of BC every year. In January 1917, however, they were defeated by Grand Forks at the Provincial Championships––the final score was 2–1. In 2018, the Rossland Ladies’ Hockey Team was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
In contrast to modern hockey attire, the team's uniform consisted of an ankle-length black dress and a matching scarf. During the 1910s, the uniform transitioned to a knit sweater, black shirt, and toque.
Snow Queen Pageant
The 1947 Winter Carnival was the first to feature the Snow Queen Contest, a much-loved beauty pageant involving local contestants.
Contestants at the first Snow Queen Contest were Edith Tedesco and Anne Roberts of Rossland and Betty Anne Biker of Trail. Edith Tedesco was crowned Snow Queen after receiving the most votes. Candidates for Snow Queen were chosen based on the number of votes they received. To vote for the Snow Queen, an individual had to purchase a voting ticket from a local business (1 ticket = 1 vote).
The Snow Queen Contest ran consistently from 1947 until the end of the 1960s. Contestants competed from communities across the West Kootenays.
Olaus Jeldness
Larger-than-life figure Olaus Jeldness helped organise the first Winter Carnival in February 1898 and remained active in the event until approximately 1910. He dominated the skiing events from the very beginning, winning both the ski-jumping and ski-running events from 1898-1900.
Second only to Jeldness’ ski prowess was his impeccable fashion sense. The Olaus Jeldness-style toque, for example, has become well-known in Rossland.
Called a “topplue” or “rødlue,” the toque is of Scandinavian origin and is traditionally knitted from woolen yarn, with a large tassel or pop-pom. Jeldness is known to have worn the toque during competition, accompanied by a three-piece suit and ski boots.
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