As I have been mentioning for the last couple weeks, Folk on the Rocks has been in a race for #1. The competition is to become the #1 Music Festival in Canada. The festival that wins, will receive bragging rights and will have CBC Radio come to the festival and broadcast live. Our festival has come along way, making it through to the top 80, top 40, top 20, and then to the top 10.

Unfortunately Folk on the Rocks is not number one. We are very proud of the festival for making it that far. It is still amazing. No matter where the festival placed we hear in Yellowknife will still think it is #1. Even though it is not #1 in Canada it is still going to an amazing 2010 festival. The festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary and there is nothing that will detour us from celebrating the Musical Festivities.

Many of us have been campaigning for votes a lot and at times I felt as though I might have been pushing a little to hard. Then again passion for a community is a powerful thing. Did you vote for Folk on the Rocks? What do you think of the Folk on the Rocks festival? Although I am very positive, I’m sure not everyone is the same. Is there something you don’t like about the festival that you think can be improved?

This is a guest post from Mira Hall, I realize International Women’s Day has past but, better late then never.

As a young girl my mother frequently brought my brother and I to work with her and involved us in the things that she was involved in. It was through this that I first became familiar with feminism, the Yellowknife Women’s Society and International Women’s Day. My memories center on a few women who defined my understanding of feminism and they include Moira Cameron, Dawn Lacey, Lynn Gangon, Joanne Lowell, Wendy Irving, Bev Grey and of course my mother, Arlene Hache.

I remember Bev always wearing flowery and flowing dresses, and her passion for nature and her earth feminism. I remember Lynn always being so Montreal-Glam and full of empowerment as if discriminating against her or infringing on her rights just simply wasn’t an option. I remember the fiery passion of Joanne who always encouraged me to create my own spaces. I remember the way that Moira and Dawn would sing ballads that wove intricate stories over the delicate sound of Moira’s Dulcimer. I remember being fascinated by Wendy’s drafting table and her kind encouragement of my own artistic development, and I remember the way that my mum would have coffee and talk with anyone from politicians to homeless women while demonstrating respect.

These are the women that I remember organizing and spearheading International Women’s Day Celebrations in Yellowknife. Especially Moira Cameron and Dawn Lacey who have also been the primary organizers for the Take Back the Night marches that have happened in Yellowknife. I remember celebrations held at the museum, and at NACC. I remember short film festivals, musical performances, storytelling and theatrical presentations depicting the lived experiences of women from all over the world living in Yellowknife.

As a young girl born and raised in Yellowknife, I can say that the International Women’s Day celebrations provided me with my biggest overview of what it is to be a woman. It was my first dedicated time and space to the exploration of femininity, lived experiences, and statements about being “Woman.” I heard from women in my life, and I saw presentations from women in other places.

Now many years later I’ve seen a temporary dip in activity around organizing for the celebration. I think in a way that people had come to expect those that had organized in previous years to just take care of things and maybe there is just a blip in patching together the work of the established feminists in our community with the work of rising feminist community activists. I see a very active and passionate new wave of feminists in our community like Rebecca Hall, Nancy and Rachel McNeil, and a few others that have started organizing V-day celebrations and being active in our community on issues effecting women. I am kind of sad that I’ve reached an age where I have started to notice generational changes, but in a way happy that my daughter can look forward to the tremendous example set by these women.

Happy International Women’s Day YZF!

The National Post has a project called “Canada Also Reads” which highlights several overlooked Canadian books published over the last two years, that should be discussed further. I mentioned the other day the Yellowknife’s own John Mutford was defending Steve Zipp’s book titled simply “Yellowknife”. He says although he may get criticized about choosing a book with the same name as the city he lives in he decided to risk it. He points out that every Canadian should read this book because deep down there is an explorer in all of us. You can read his full review here: http://ow.ly/1f1a5

Anyways, John’s essay is apart of the project and now the National Post wants us, the readers, to vote on a winner. Although I only linked to John’s (and I hope you vote for it) there are seven other essays worth considering. Voting is much simpler than another competition going on right now, all you need to do is click the one you want to vote for and press VOTE. Head over to the National Posts website now and vote.

The Arctic Winter Games are just about here and although they are down in Grande Prairie you can still keep up to date about what is going on. Here is how:

CBC North has launched page on there website dedicated to bringing up to date information on what is happening throughout the games. There are several different section to the website including a place to share photos, connect with athletes, read blogs, see the history of the games and a live twitter feed of the hashtag #awg2010. You can find this site here: http://www.cbc.ca/north/features/awg2010/

The Official 2010 Arctic Winter Games website is full of information. Most prominently is the countdown that is going on, on the homepage. Along with that there is information for athletes, volunteers, and spectators. There are also photos sections, a cultural section, store, and sponsor information. This site also provides the latest news of what is happening in preparation for the games and presumably during the games. You can find all that and more at http://www.awg2010.org

CJCD has also been promoting that they will be bring up to date results from the games at the top of every hour during the games. One of their News Announcers will be traveling down to Grande Prairie for the games. 100.1FM in Yellowknife and Hay River.

The Official Arctic Winter Games Blog can be found at http://awg2010.blogspot.com/. It goes along with the official site and has a large amount of information about the preparation for the games, although I don’t know if it will be updated during the games.

Here is a live feed of the Official hashtag of the games #AWG2010.

I may also write a couple posts about how the games are going, although I’m not going to duplicate what you can find else where. If you come across any blogs or photo streams of the games please post them in the comment section for others to enjoy.

YkOnline.ca is wishing all of our Yellowknife and NWT athletes the best of luck at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.

The North’s beloved folk festival, Folk on the Rocks, has made it into the Top 10 Best Music Festivals in Canada. THey are more than pleased with this and what to thank the community for rallying behind them and voting. The festival has so far gone through 3 rounds, top 80, top 40, and top 20, and on its way to becoming number 1. That is why we are sending out this one last plea for votes. Voting is simple and helpful, do so here: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote.

This year marks 30 years of Folk on the Rocks and regardless of a win this year promises to be one not to be missed. Planning is already underway for the festival, which is scheduled for July 16-18, 2010.

“Folk on the Rocks is honoured to have made it to the final round of voting,” said Board
President, Claudia Haas. “This community has really rallied behind us and we can’t thank
them enough!”

If you want to see Folk on the Rocks become number one in Canada vote now and vote everyday (http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote). If you need help voting we have created this step-by-step guide on how to do it. Voting is opening until Tuesday, March 9th, at 6pm and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 10th at 12pm by Grant Lawrence on CBC Radio 3. Go Now!

Last week we didn’t have a Where is it Wednesday, so here it is again this week. Guess where the picture is in the comment section. There is no prize this week, but if you are interested in sponsoring a week a month for this contest send us a message from the Contact Page.

*Note: Hughie, I know you’ll know where this is almost instantly.

I have encouraged everyone to vote, everyday, for Folk on the Rocks to become the best festival in Canada. Well your support is showing, the festival in now in the Top 20! This upcoming festival will be the 30th anniversary of the festival, so to be the best in Canada would really be something.

Wouldn’t it be great for not only the festival, but Yellowknife collectively if it did become the best in Canada. It would! We still need to beat out the other 19 festivals, so make sure you head to http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote and vote EVERYDAY!

If you are unsure how to vote, we created an easy step by step guide the first time I mentioned the nomination. So go now.

It was unfortunate that Wolverine Sports had to close down. Those of us who are outdoor enthusiasts always enjoyed browsing the store, which seemed to have everything you’d need to survive out on the land. Although we don’t know if there is going to be a simple replacement, we do have an idea of what will be going into the empty store space in the Stanton Plaza now.

This is still unconfirmed by someone directly involved, although I have a good feeling it will be happening. A couple days ago, while I was shopping at M&M Meats, I noticed the owner of JJ Hobbies coming out of the empty Wolverine Store Space. This got me thinking, the space would be excellent for JJ Hobbies because it would be big enough they wouldn’t need a second level, like they do now. Then yesterday afternoon it came up in conversation with a coworker, who explained to me that their friend was doing the remodeling of the store.

Keep in mind that this is just a rumor and it is not confirmed. If JJ Hobbies does move, although only a short distance, I think it will benefit them. The empty store provides more window space as well as a more open feeling throughout the store.

UPDATE: I wrote this post Tuesday afternoon, Feb 23, and low and behold in Today’s Yellowknifer, Feb 24, it confirms everything I stated here and more. According to owner Jessica Coulombe they have been eying the location since rumors of Wolverine Sport closing last year. She said if the spot were to come available they would take it. The 40 year old store will also be changing its name when it reopening in its new location March 1, 2010. It will now be called Artistic Hound, which is part of the re-branding of the store. They will now also be expanding to more professional art supplies as well as more pet stuff. Get more details in Wednesday, February 24, 2010 edition of the Yellowknifer.

John Howard Society of the Northwest Territories

is seeking community-minded volunteers interested in the Yellowknife Community Justice Committee
Community Justice is an alternative measure to the usual court procedures for first time and young offenders who are not involved in serious or violent crimes

Orientation is on March 20, 2010

A police record check is required

For more information contact

Lydia Bardak at 920-4276

Community Justice Committees are made up of local volunteers who are interested in justice issues in their community and have a want to help youth and adult offenders take responsibility for their actions, making the community a safer place to live. Members of the Justice Committee are appointed under the NWT Youth Justice Act and communities have a paid coordinator in place to assist in the administration of committee functions. You can read more on the appointment process here.

Restorative justice in the NWT is achieved by using alternative measures. By using alternative measures, criminal matters are diverted by the Police or Crown away from the traditional court system and are handled in the community by the Justice Committee. The offender does not get a criminal record by this process. Restorative justice can be defined as: “a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offence and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible” (Howard Zehr).

The following documents will explain in detail what alternative measures are and how a case goes through the alternative measures/restorative justice process.

• Restorative Justice Information Pamphlet
• Restorative Justice Powerpoint Presentation
• Extra-Judicial Measures in the NWT

I received an e-mail before lunch today, letting me know that our very own folk festival, Folk on the Rocks, has made it to the Top 40 in the CBC Radio 3 Searchlight 2010. This is awesome news, but it is not over yet. FOTR still needs your help to become number 1 in Canada. They are asking everyone that has ever attended, played at, listen too, been a apart of or just lives/lived in Yellowknife to head over the CBC Radio 3 website and vote. Not once, but everyday!

To vote for Folk on the Rocks head to http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote. If you are unsure how to vote read the post I wrote for the first round, it includes a step by step guide. http://ykonline.ca/2010/02/folk-on-the-rocks-nominated/