It was brought to my attention that CBC’s hit show Dragon’s Den announced the dates it will be coming to Yellowknife. A couple weeks ago CBC announced that it would be coming to Yellowknife but didn’t release the dates. Read all about it in the press release below.
Do you have a hot new invention or the next million-dollar idea? Think you have the money-making chops to take on the savviest business tycoons in the country? Then DRAGONS’ DEN wants to hear from you!
The DRAGONS’ DEN production team will be in Yellowknife scouting for Season Six of the hit series on CBC Television. The show gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of wealthy Canadian moguls for the chance to earn real cash and real investment – from the Dragons’ own pockets!
Open auditions are taking place on Thursday, March 25th from noon – 7 pm at the Yellowknife Inn, 5010 49th St, in the Zinc Room.
No experience is necessary – just be ready to pitch your business in under five minutes. If you can convince producers you’re ready for the limelight, you could be invited to face Dragons when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto.
And as extra incentive this year — entrepreneurs with an eco-friendly business, invention or idea could qualify for a $100,000 Greenvention prize from Sun Chips.
Please apply online starting March 1st and bring your completed application form to the auditions. More details can be found on the show’s website at http://cbc.ca/dragonsden.
DRAGONS’ DEN airs on CBC Television at 8 pm Wednesday nights. Full episodes and web extras can be viewed on the DRAGONS’ DEN website.
Knowing a fair number of people in this town, I know this is an excellent opportunity. We here in Yellowknife are privileged to have so many bright minds living among us. If you think you have what it takes to be on the show or know someone who should be make sure you’re at the auditions.
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?
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to find out what it takes to Roast Coffee Beans. Being able to Roasting Coffee Beans in the north is a rare trade. Mira Hall is one of only a hand full in the Northwest Territories and Yukon that have the trade. At this point it doesn’t look like anyone in Nunavut is doing it.
Most of us enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning, whether it is from home, Tim Horton’s or one the downtown coffee shop; but we don’t often think about where the coffee comes from or how it ends up as the hot liquid in our cups. Importing coffee beans from around the world is only one step in the process and we’ll cover it in another part of this series. In this video post (Part 1) Mira explains the process of roasting the coffee beans in the roaster and how she does it. She talks about how the beans are kept fresh after being roasted and how soothing roasting beans can be.
Part 2 & 3 will be the actual roasting of the beans and a look at where the beans come from. Leave your feedback below.
On a warm, sunny, afternoon, while I’m sure you were working hard, I got to venture down to the Snowking’s Snow Castle to look around. The castle has been under construction since December when the windows were first being constructed and is just about ready for the first weekend of events. The crew was putting the last touches on the roof while we were there.
The castle is every kids, dream snow fort, with several rooms and path ways. When you enter the castle through the front door you will pass the admission box and proceed into what I assume is the common area. In this area you’ll find an igloo, slide, viewing point, bathrooms, and open ceiling. When you follow another tunnel you’ll enter into the, what I am going to call, Great Hall part of the castle. This is where the concerts, showings and weddings take place. This room is enclosed and can be heated if needed. At one end is the performing stage, with bleachers at the other and a large floor area. There is a wedding altar and art gallery to the side of the floor. In all it is an amazing structure and something very rare. Something as special and spectacular should be seen by everyone, so I hope you take the time over the next 3 weeks to head down and see it.
Although busy I got the chance to ask the Snowking a couple questions about the castle and how it was going this year. I asked him if the warm weather we have had is affecting the castle at all and his response to me was ultimately no. Although he did point out that the once clear windows are now opaque but other than that everything was going as planned and they will be ready for the weekend.
Finally are the photos and a video. The photos are in a slight bit of an order, we walked into the castle and enter the common area. From there we went into the great hall and then back into the common area. The video is much the same. You can see all the photos by going to our flickr set.
Have you been to the castle yet this year? What do you think?
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!
There is no doubt you have experienced the warm weather Yellowknife is having, if you haven’t you should definitely come on up. Part of me can’t believe I’m going to say this, but this the warmest March 1 I have experienced in the north. I can remember 6 years ago camping towards the end of March in a tent at the other end of Prosperous Lake in -50 temperatures.
Without getting in to the argument about the environment and Global Warming I curious to hear other thoughts on this weather. I know personally, I have had my guard up this entire winter in anticipation for -40 weather. I even am still betting we will get a least a week of -20 to -35 weather before the spring actually gets here.
With the warm weather brings on the mucky roads and sidewalks. Stores have trails of rocks and mud through out. Here are some pictures from this afternoon.
It was going to be big for me, I was going to have an awesome set-up for live streaming the Snowking Fireworks, the evening of Sunday February 28, right here in on YkOnline.ca, but of course it didn’t work out as well as I hoped. We were too far away. I parked on the Dettah Ice Road, not knowing how big or high up the fireworks would go. As they started I quickly realized that we were to far away, but didn’t know what to do. The way we have the camera setup it wasn’t as easy as moving the truck, although next time the camera will be on the somewhere. Halfway through the show we decided to move, so while still streaming, my brother reached out of the truck window and picked up the camera and we went. Rattling over the make shift ice roads and then making our own path we found a place which I thought was close enough, unfortunately it wasn’t but we made it work. During the first half I was playing music on repeat so there was not dead air, then for the second half went to commentary by my brother and I, which in my opinion we better, would love feedback.
Here are two videos, one from my video camera which I edited down and added music. The second is a recording of the last part of the firework live stream, commentary starts at mark 4:25.
Of course I tried to take some photo and failed horrible. I didn’t have a tripod and I couldn’t remember what the best settings for fireworks would be, but they did turn out slightly artist.
The show was excellent and I was not expecting that much, so congrats to everyone who put on the show. They have started off the 15th Snowking Festival on a good foot and look forward to the rest of the events that will be put on. Below is two photos of how I had the cameras set up. It was warm enough that they could be outside. I also want to thank the 55 people who took at look at the live stream, I can certainly say I will be doing this again, as long as it doesn’t cost too much.
Do you see the Firework Show, what did you think? How does it measure up to the other 2 firework shows we have had this winter? You can also see Photos and Video on Life in the Knife
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!
I nearly jumped off my seat when I saw the message from one of the announcers of the local radio station. For the longest time I haven’t thought to highly of their site, but understood there were many factors to why it was so out dated. I’m in awe at how they didn’t say they were coming out with a new site, although I think Paul, the morning host, has been dropping hints for a while. Never the less it is here, and I am excited!
At first glance it looks very slick and professional. A rotating image of hot artistes and bands is what caught my eye first and then the station logo. A nice easy to use navigation is just above that at the top of the page. Going through all the different sections you’ll find all the information you need about the station. Everything from Announcers Bios to contest info. They have also updated their news and sports page, it now no longer pops out into a different window. The only thing I couldn’t find was a RSS feed, although there must be somewhere. They did add a “Share This” button for readers to share the news within their social circle. I’m not sure how the Events page will work as there is nothing on the page yet and the Radio Marketing if for those wanting to advertise on the radio. Back on the homepage they have eight fancy looking image/buttons that take you throughout the site. One being for Mix 100 Cool Club, which will apparently keep us up-to-date about events and concerts. I am presuming it will be a e-mail newsletter type of deal, although I can’t be sure until I get the first update.
The last two things I want to talk about are the two things that excite me the most and what I have always pushed for. CJCD now is on Twitter at CJCD_Mix100 and they are now streaming radio live from their website. Twitter for a radio station is a wonderful tool, I follow a couple from out-of-town and have seen the benefits of having it. It is another way for listeners to interact with announcers live, as well it allows announcers to send out messages. Messages like teasers, contest details, and news. Online radio is quickly becoming more and more popular for those who obviously don’t have access to a radio. It now allows us the listeners to take CJCD with us anywhere we go. I could go on and on like the fan boy I am but I wont. What I will do though is send you to their brand new website at CJCD.ca. Go now.
Yellowknifers, what are your thoughts on their new website. Do you plan on going to it more often now? Let everyone know in the comments.
If you haven’t heard already Shane Koyczan who wrote and performed the poem “We Are More” at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was born in Yellowknife and has become an overnight sensation. If you want to know more about where Shane will be check out his Tour Group on Facebook.
VANCOUVER, B.C. – As Shane Koyczan stood obscured behind a curtain atop B.C. Place’s centre stage on Friday, only then did it hit him.
The opening ceremonies. The Olympics. The billions of people who were about to listen to him deliver his poem, “We Are More,” while preaching from a platform raised high in the air.
“I was, like, ‘You either go for it, or jump.”‘
Born to a French mother and a father of First Nations heritage, Koyczan grew up in Yellowknife, where he was raised by his grandparents.
He first began writing as a way to deal with his social awkwardness.
“Not knowing how to speak to people, I decided it might be best to go home and write some prepared speeches,” he recalled.
“Because somebody would ask me a question like, ‘How’s it going?’ Which I realize now is a very benign question, but at the time, it was: ‘Oh my god. I can’t believe this person just talked to me.’
“So I’d go home and write prepared speeches so when people would be like, ‘How’s it going?’ I’d be like, ‘Cheese is my favourite food and I’ll tell you why.”‘
Koyczan said the poem is about what he loves about Canada and Canadian people, and what he hopes for his country.
The genial, soft-spoken 34-year-old said he arrived in Vancouver a week before the speech and said that he managed several hours sleep – in total – over those seven nights.
And he wrestled with the idea of performing, not simply because of nerves. He has serious misgivings about the current Canadian government, specifically with the decision to cut arts programs.
“It was a moment I can’t even define in my life right now. I think I still need to process it. It was an absolute honour to be a part of it.”
If you missed his performance you can watch it below.
It was brought to my attention that CBC’s hit show Dragon’s Den announced the dates it will be coming to Yellowknife. A couple weeks ago CBC announced that it would be coming to Yellowknife but didn’t release the dates. Read all about it in the press release below.
If you haven’t heard already Shane Koyczan who wrote and performed the poem “We Are More” at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was born in Yellowknife and has become an overnight sensation. If you want to know more about where Shane will be check out his 
