Lac La Biche, Alberta is my home town. Born and raised in this small little community as a country girl,
but only 219km from the big city of Edmonton, Alberta.  Lac La Biche is the type of town that anyone who lives here is effect by it, but ask anyone else if they have heard of Lac La Biche…. the question is usually answered by “where is Lac La Biche” My home town isn’t one to stand out on the maps, but it’s one to make its own impressions.     

Lac La Biche is the town that I will always remember no matter where I go. My home town has given me the foundations to accomplice everything that I set out to do in this world.

Lac La Biche is such a beautiful place, and it has given me so many opportunities to further myself to be the best I can be.

At the age of 6 is when I started up dancing, and continued on dancing till the age of 17. Dancing was a big part of my life growing up. I was able to attend numerous dance competitions in Edmonton, St Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, and many others. I loved the opportunity to compete in many different competitions and attend 11 years of year end recitals.  

Lac La Biche gave me the opportunity to explore my options beyond my own knowing. I was enrolled into a Jr. Curling club at the age of 10. I know what you’re thinking, curling doesn’t sound that impressive of a sport. Don’t worry, I thought the same thing when I was younger, but my thoughts about curling got changed when I got out on the ice. I can honestly say I haven’t kept up with curling over the years, but I’ll give into my little brothers to help them at their curling bonspiels.  So I’m thinking for this year, I’ll have to give curling another try…. and see how that goes. Wish me luck. During the winter there are numerous curling bonspiels to watch over the season, which has become a past time of mine to go out and watch the curling games, and cheer on my boyfriend’s team.  

Even though Lac La Biche is a small town, there are always things to do. During the winter time some of my favorite things to do are, watching the Lac La Biche Voyagers hockey games,  going to the theater to watch movies, sledding, ice fishing, or going skating.

But what you really need to see is Lac La Biche in the summer. It’s one of the most  beautiful places I’ve seen. Summer is what I live for. 

Lac La Biche is known for all lakes in  the surrounding areas. This is perfect to me! In the summer time it’s nonstop, camping, fishing, boating, tubing, quadding, and just                                                     relaxing on the beach. Usually every weekend my family is out camping at some of the most beautiful camping spots in Alberta.
Many people come from all over to Lac La Biche with their families for a weekend camping trip. One of my favorite camping places in Lac La Biche is Church Hill Park,which is located in the middle of Lac La Biche Lake, and known for the best Lac La Biche Island to camp on. My favorite parts about Church Hill Park are definitely the beaches, the walking trails, and most of all the drive to get there. Fishing is another thing I enjoy doing, and spend a lot of time doing in the summer. One of my favorite places to go fishing is the big dock. Which is another thing Lac La Biche is known for, the big dock has always been a part of Lac La Biche, and has given me so many memories that I will never forget.

My suggestion to you is, at least make it out to Lac La Biche once, and you can see for you’re the beauty of it all, I wish I could show you what I see, and experience the adventures the same things I do. But beyond all the activities you can do, the camping trips, the weekend get away, and memories that can be made. 

My home town wouldn’t be the same, if it wasn’t the people who made Lac La Biche from a community to a place you can call home. From the start of my first pageant in Calgary, I came back to Lac La Biche with so much support from so many people. As I started looking for sponsors at a couple of business around Lac La Biche, it was made clear that they were more than just another businesses support… But my sponsors are family to me.

I have many wonderful sponsors such as Royal Le-page, who showed me a great interest when I mentioned all the things I will be doing in Toronto. Tom’s Pizza Steak House, which is a fabulous place to eat. Had no hesitations to sponsor me, they were very supportive. Commercial Business was another wonderful sponsor that I had.

Road Kill Trucking is my proud uncle’s log hauling company. He has been so supportive throughout this experience by making the time to be there for me, and giving me the advice I need to make myself as successful as possible. Which is why I can’t forget to mention my beautiful aunty, she has encourage me to do my best, and helped me greatly with my fundraising for Free the Children.

Next to mention is the staff at R &R Creative Interior. They have been with me from the start; their excitement towards my pageant hasn’t faded since day one. They have been such a joy to share this experience with. I can’t thank them enough for their support, and there encouragement. They bring this experience so much life when we have the chance to talk about my next activity as Miss Teen Northern Alberta, or my upcoming trip to Toronto.  Thank you R&R for all your advice, I will never forget about world peace.

Ted’s Automotives Repair Shop, let me just say he is       another wonderful sponsor that has helped me out so greatly throughout this competition. He is very supportive of all the things I was able to accomplice throughout the beginning of this wonderful experience. He’s laughter and humour brought so much joy to my experience. Thank you Ted!!

The Lafreniere family, words can’t say enough for all the love and support they gave me throughout this experience.  They were always there to encourage and remind me the importance of this experience, and to push through the hard times. Mr. Lafreniere told me something that will never forget “nothing can cost too much when it comes to being perfect” My boyfriend’s family made themselves part of mine, and I can’t thank them enough for everything they do for me. Everyone one of them are amazing. And I just want to say thanks.

These two beautiful people gave me what you see. My parents not only gave me there good looks, but they’ve been with me throughout my whole life.  They have been supportive in everything I do, and encouraged to me to do my best, they sacrificed so much for me being in this pageant, and they continue to sacrifice many things for me as the day gets closer to fly out to Toronto.  They have been with me throughout my journey in this pageant, and throughout every journey I will encounter in my life. Thanks Mom & Dad for all your love and Support.

Last but not least, my boyfriend. He has been my # 1 fan from the first day I told him that I was accepted into this competition. He has done more for me than he ever had to do. He has been with me throughout my whole experience; he encouraged me to be myself and nothing more. He supported me in all the appearances that I’ve made throughout my home town. And he did his share of helping me with my fundraising, planning for new events, giving me new ideas, preparing myself for Toronto, and most of all supporting me through everything. A big thanks goes out to him from me!!

I wish I could say something about everyone who has helped me throughout this competition, but just know that if you’ve reading this, a big thanks goes to you for supporting me !!

So I hope with this blog I have given you a better idea   
of where I come from, Lac La Biche as a big effect on
who I am today, and I’ve been very grateful for
the journey that it has given me

Shailize Gaudet- Miss Teen Northern Alberta
Lac La Biche http://www.laclabicheregion.com/