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Miss Dominion of Canada was abeauty pageant held inNiagara Falls, Ontario for many years, primarily in theSheratonBrock Hotel, on July 1, Canada'sDominion Day (now known as "Canada Day"), beginning in 1959.
The winner of this pageant represented Canada at four of the world's largest international beauty pageants,Miss Universe (until 1977),Miss World (1962–1979),Miss International, andQueen of the Pacific. TheMiss Dominion of Canada pageant originated when the Bruno family ofAncaster, Ontario, obtainedfranchise rights to select and send Canada's exclusive representatives to these international pageants. As many as 20 contestants selected via local pageants across many provinces of Canada competed in the annual Niagara Falls competition. Throughout the 1970s, there were generally between twelve and twenty contestants competing at the final judging.
The Miss Dominion pageant required the finalists to participate in events including evening dress, swimsuit, interviews, talent, and various singing and dancing vignettes. Notable individuals selected as pageant judges would then select the runners up and the winner.
The contestant selected asMiss Dominion of Canada would visit nearly every Canadianprovince and other countries such as theUnited States,Japan,Australia, andEurope during her one-year reign. Until 1977, Miss Dominion of Canada was the country's representative atMiss Universe. The Miss Universe franchise in Canada was taken over by the nationally televisedMiss Canada contest in 1978. Miss Dominion of Canada also represented the country atMiss World from 1962 to 1979 after which the franchise was taken over byMiss World Canada.
Famous or notable winners of this pageant include Sandra Campbell of Leamington, Ontario, who became a television personality in Sydney, Australia (Celebrity Squares andOne in a Million) and a marketing executive with a major American corporation. Another notable winner isJacquie Perrin, who for more than a decade was the host of CBC TV's award-winning investigative consumer program,Market Place. Now atCBC Newsworld, Jacquie has been involved in various special news projects and is seen weekly as the host of highly ratedSaturday Report.Mary Lou Farrell made guest appearances on the Lawrence Welk Show, and used her stage name Aniko in performing in many Broadway musicals.
Rumours that the Miss Dominion of Canada Pageant continued beyond 1979 have been present for many years. Despite the lack of media coverage from Canadian media, Miss Dominion of Canada delegates continued to represent Canada at various international contests, includingMiss International,Maja Internacional and others throughout the 1980s. These women were selected by the franchise owners as Miss Dominion of Canada from 1980 until at least 1991; they included Linda Farrell (1987), Lee-Ann Bruce (1988) and Robin Nardi (1989).
There was also a Miss Teen Dominion of Canada Pageant for at least one year in the early 1970s.
Miss Dominion of Canada Pageant Director John Bruno died in 2004.
A history of Canadian beauty contests, including Miss Dominion of Canada, is currently under development in book form.
*Forfeited title September 19, 1962