George, I think there is a difference between a person who collects folk songs and a person who sings them. I agree that Helen did a tremendous deed in her contribution to the preservation of folk music(in the Maritines)and deserves the recognition as Canada's First Lady of Folklore. But to me Penny owns the title as "First lady of Folk" because she is known as a singer across Canada. I think there is a distinction in the works that they have done and in Penny's case still doing. How Penny got the title I don't know and there are certainly others out there who have been mentioned on this thread that could very well be deserving. But the bottom line in this. Penny has the title, it was started somewhere, and cannot be taken away. Even if contributors to this thread disagree.
Most of us have nick names.   I've been dubbed a few like Age, Abe, Ad. and others I won't mention. They belong to me because they were given to me whether I like them or not. Bruce Springsteen "The Boss" comes to mind. Hank Snow "Hank Slush". The list goes on and would be fun as a separate thread.
Lets not get to serious on this thread. It was just started as fun
Beer (adrien)