This year’s Prince Albert Winter Festival King and Queen Trapper had nine participants from across the province showcasing their traditional survival skills.
Flora Whitecap, who lives in Prince Albert but is originally from Brabant Lake in Northern Saskatchewan, was a first time winner in the Queen Trapper event. She explained that she has been entering for a while before winning.
“I’ve entered ever since it started here,” Whitecap said.
Whitecap has finished runner-up in previous events, but had never won the competition. She said it was special to win this year.
The competition was tight in the women’s division but Whitecap thought speed and an excellent finish in the final event put her over the top.
“In the running events, I came in on top a lot and my tea boiling skills and my water boiling skills (helped),” Whitecap said.
In the tea boil she was the second person and first woman to finish behind multiple time and 2026 King Trapper Richard Charles of Stanley Mission.
The Trapper events concluded on Sunday in cold conditions. Whitecap said it was tough, but noted everyone had to deal with the same conditions.
“It was challenging, Whitecap said. “I kept warm as much as I could. I only came out when I was competing.”
The competition, separated into men’s and women’s categories, consisted of events such as snowshoe racing, log tossing, axe throwing, sled pulling and water boiling.
The competition took place on Saturday and Sunday at the Prince Albert Winter Festival Outdoor site on Marquis Road. There were three male competitors and six female competitors.
King Trapper winner Richard Charles takes part in the crosscut competition on Sunday at the Prince Albert Winter Festival King and Queen Trapper event at the Winter Festival Outdoor Site on Marquis Road.
Defending champion Clarissa Burns was competing in The Pas, Man. which had their competition on the same weekend this year. Whitecap said she was fortunate that back-to-back champion Burns was not in attendance. Whitecap was the runner up to Burns in 2025. Final points were not available in the Queen or King Trapper categories. The other competitors in the Queen Trapper were Judy Cook, Sylivia Bird, Claudia Cook, Gabrielle Ermine and Alex McKenzie.
Final points were also not available in the King Trapper but Charles did finish first over former Champion Norman McKenzie and multiple time competitor Andy DuBort and late entrant Edmond Ermine.
Charles left for Stanley Mission after the completion of the event and was not available for an interview.
The Junior Trapper event did not take place this year.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
