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Yk Quick Tips is your guide to Yellowknife, NT. Whether you are moving to the city or just visiting, we can offer information about all the best things. The show will contain information about what to do while visiting, things to know about moving to the City and everything else interesting about Yellowknife.

For the first episode of Yellowknife Quick Tips I thought it would be appropriate to talk about how to get to Yellowknife. So, this episode is about driving to Yellowknife.

We start off in Edmonton, Alberta, as it is a good, known, starting point for your journey north. As we leave Edmonton, Kyle talks about some of the towns you will encounter in Alberta while heading north and little tidbits about them. Information like Gas Stations, Motels and Dairy Queens.

When we get to High Level we learn that after this little town there isn’t much else until Yellowknife, amenities wise. We lose cell service, and fast food joints. As we travel the road into the NWT, Kyle enlightens us about some of the tourist information and attractions that can be seen. Like the border visitor centre and Alexandria Falls, which are a must while driving up in the summer.

A key sign that you’re on your finally leg of your drive is the Mackenzie River. In the summer you’ll have the pleasure of a ride on the Merv Hardie or in the winter a stroll on the Ice Bridge. Once past Fort Providence, be sure to watch out for the bison, they may very well be everywhere. Kyle explains about how to safely pass them if they happen to be on the side of the road.

That and more on the first episode of Yk Quick Tips. Have any questions or feedback? Leave us a comment or send us an e-mail to info@ykonline.ca

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This is the introductory episode of a new show that will be airing here on YkOnline.ca. It will be called Yellowknife Quick Tips or Yk Quick Tips or YKQT depending on where I’m writing the name.

The show will obviously feature tips and tricks about Yellowknife. Everything from how to get here, where to eat, what to do, what to see, lifestyle, etc. The show will be mainly focused towards those visiting Yellowknife or looking to move here. That being said, it doesn’t mean long time residents won’t get anything out of the show. I would actually encourage everyone who has lived, lives, visited or passed through listen to future episodes and tell me what they think.

The show will be produced once a week and at this moment I have a list of 30 different tips, which means I have enough tips for 30 weeks. But I could always use more, send any tips/info tidbits you might have into info@ykonline.ca or better yet let me know if you want to host a week. The weekly show will only be between 5 and 10 minutes (hopefully) and will be in to particular order.

You might be asking yourself, “Kyle, what about the YkOnline Podcast?”. Well I’m putting that one on hold… again… My hope with that show was to have 2 or more guests to come on weekly and just chat about Yellowknife. Unfortunately no one was willing to dedicate there time to help on a weekly basis. If you’re at all interested in finding more about being a co-host on the show send me an e-mail. In the mean time I think I may have another idea for that show, which will be in a little different direction.

Anyways I hope you will join me and listen to this new show and tell your friends and family about it. The first real episode will be out either later this week or next week.

Kyle

Happy Monday, or at least I hope you are having a good day. Sometimes I think that some posts get lost in the feed, and become buried down underneath more recent useless posts. So one thing I may do from time to time is try and dig up those old posts and see if we can’t get more conversation going.

Banning Cell Phones While Driving: I stated some points to ponder about the law, and Megan also has given some excellent points as to why it shouldn’t go through at the moment. Now it is your turn, are you for it or against?

Uptown Vs. Downtown Debate: Many stores over the years, and two just recently have moved to the uptown part of Yellowknife. What is your take on this. I tried to bring up the pros and cons of both but would love your say on the topic.

Yellowknife Food Prices: There has been good discussion about this already and many readers from down south commenting. How do you find the prices of Food in Yellowknife compared to else where?

And Finally.

Northern Airlines taking a hit: Seems as though our Northern Airlines are taking a hit with the arrival of Westjet and now Air Canada will be flying to Iqaluit. Some say competition is good, others will not give up supporting the north. What are your thoughts?

Please leave your thoughts on some of those posts and join in the discussion. Have a Good Week. If you ever want to leave me any feedback go over to the contact page or comment below.

What happens when a local film production team and the King of the Snow get together? Well you end up with an awesome Documentary. Triumph of the Chill will be premiering this Friday.

Collective9 is a local Film/Media company comprised of a large variety of people that all contribute in the awesomeness. They are also the folks that brought you Ciest to Lie. Check out this early preview that was released last March.

The Snow King is not only a local, but international celebrity. He and his festival have become a annual tradition for tourists and locals a like. So come March 1, 2010 everyone should head down to Yellowknife bay to enjoy the winter.

From NACC:

Far above the 60th parallel in Canada’s great white North, there exists a magical kingdom made entirely out of snow and ice. Every year in Yellowknife, just as the temperature starts to climb out of its -30 slumber, the SnowKing and his legion of loyal “sno-ldiers” create one of the world’s coolest experiences.

So because I know you can’t wait that long to enjoy the Snow King’s Winter Festival you should definitely check out the premier of Triumph of the Chill. Here is what you need to know.

• Where: NACC, Sir John High School.
• When: Friday, November 27, 2009.
• Time: 8pm, go early to get a good seat.
• Price: Free, Donations will be accepted.

Copies of the documentary will be available for purchase at the showing.  Triumph of the Chill is a COLLECTIVE9 Shakedown. Directed, shot and edited by Jay Bulckaert. Produced by the Snowking’s Annual Winter Festival.

It looks innocuous, doesn’t it? and it sounds kinda … classy … Centre for the North. Even the body that’s pulling it together has a neutral sound to it: Conference Board of Canada.

But being a money coach in my past life, I’m always interested in following the money (and those of you who have watched the Best.Series.Ever, The Wire, will have had that emblazoned on your brain too). And when I followed the money on this, here’s what I found at the end of the document:

Funding of the Centre
This Centre will be funded by a variety of organizations from the private and public sectors. We are asking each investor to commit for a five-year period.

There are three levels of investment:

Champion investor ($100,000 annually)

Champion investors will be deeply involved with Conference Board staff in the drawing up of the Centre’s research plan and meeting agendas. These investors will be part of the Centre’s Steering Committee and will play a leadership role in Centre meetings.

Lead investor ($50,000 annually)
Lead investors will help the Conference Board and Champion investors develop the research plan and review the research in progress. They will also suggest meeting topics and be invited to participate in Centre meetings.

Participant investor ($25,000 annually)
Participant investors will be invited to attend Centre meetings and will have access to the detailed research findings. They will also provide input on the choice of research and meeting topics.

So. People willing to cough up between $25K = $100K every year get to

• set the agenda
• choose which questions get asked and which don’t
• and have access to the research findings.

Anyone else find it hard to believe that the Conference Board of Canada will live up to their stated commitment of being:

• “The foremost independent, not-for-profit, applied research organization in Canada.”
• “Objective and non-partisan. We do not lobby for specific interests.”

I call bullshit. But I’m guessing the final document and research findings will be presented with little mention of who actually drove the whole project.

I dunno. I guess I thought we voted in MLAs every few years to, you know, set the agenda and direction for the north. Clearly I am mistaken.

We all remember Ice Road Truckers, and probably wont forget it. Every time we run into someone from the south it is always “Do you the Ice Road Truckers, isn’t that show great”. When in actual reality we know that the show was exaggerated because there is no way trucks would be driven on that ice if there was the risk that is portrayed in the show.

Well the History Channel is back at it again, this time with a new industry to exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong though, I do enjoy watching these shows and I’m sure it brings tourism and publicity to the north. But I can’t help pointing out that somethings in these show,like many reality shows, are just not true.

The new show will be spotlighting Buffalo Airways and will be called Ice Pilots NWT. They were filming here in Yellowknife over last winter and is set to premier November 18 at 10pm ET. The show will be focusing on Buffalo Airways operations, personal (including the infamous Buffalo Joe) and of course the retro Douglas DC-3′s. I have included the trailer below.

Now I’m curious to your thoughts on these shows. I think it is clear how I feel about them above, do you agree? Or Disagree? What are some of the benefits of having these shows up here in Yellowknife? and the Cons?  Would you ever sell out for a TV deal?

This is a guest article submitted by Annelies Pool

Celebrate: An Evening with Northern Authors

NorthWords invites you to celebrate northern writing with four authors who are publishing new work this fall. Each author will read from their new work.

Richard Van Camp is the author of a volume of short stories, The Moon of Letting Go (Enfield and Wizenty, September, 2009).

Mindy Willett is the co-author of Come and Learn With Me (Fifth House Publishers, October, 2009).

Jamie Bastedo is the author of Sila’s Revenge (Fitzhenry and Whiteside, October, 2009).

Annelies Pool’s essay Family Spilling Over will be published in A Cup of Comfort for the Grieving Heart (Adams Media, December, 2009).

October 29, 2009, Kat B, Explorer Hotel, 7:00 p.m.

Learn: Workshop on Writing and Getting Published

Internationally-acclaimed author and mentor Richard Van Camp will share his insights on writing the stories you dream of writing and getting published. This is for writers of any genre and at any stage of their careers.

November 1, 2009
Aurora College, Room 307, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Fee: $40.00 (includes lunch)
Registration at the Yellowknife Book Cellar.

Get Involved: NorthWords Writers Festival Society Annual General Meeting

This is your opportunity to get involved in putting on another great festival in June 2010. Agenda items will include a President’s Report, Financial Statements, and the election of our new Board of Directors.  Volunteers are welcome! If you have any questions, please call Larry at 873-4156

November 1, 2009, Aurora College, Room 307, 2:00 p.m.

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of dropping by Dave Brosha’s Studio Open House. I have been a big fan of Dave’s photography for sometime, and was excited to hear a couple of months ago he was planning on opening a studio/gallery. Well that time has come, he is now working out of the studio.

Unfortunately because I myself am no photographer, I was not able to capture any photos of his new studio. Although I can safely say it is an awesome one. As I also did not take any video like I had originally intended, I shall reenact my experience via words.

To the untrained eye you may not notice the sign to Dave Brosha’s studio, so that is why I want to explain it to you. If you know where the Taste of Saigon and Fuego’s restaurants are, then you are more than likely going to be able to find the studio. The door leading up to the studio is situated right in between the two. Upon entering the door you immediately go up a flight of stairs and find yourself in a magnificent hallway. This hallway like the rest of the studio has just been renovated, with hardwood flooring and wall mounted light fixtures. One of the first things you will notice while going down this hallway, which I assume doubles as part of the gallery, is all the photographs that have been framed and are just waiting for someone to take home. There are several doorways off this hallway that lead to the rest of the flat. One door to another gallery area, another to an office and even a waiting room for clients. There is a large open area at the end of the hallway where the magic must happen. If you are ever in the area you should definitely check it out.

It was a pleasure seeing Dave and his studio again. Dave is a magnificent photographer and if you are at all interested in getting some photographs done I would encourage you to give him a call. Everyone that I have spoken to that has ever work with him has nothing but good things to say. You should also check out his website, he has one of the most active photo blogs of the north.

All photos associated with this post from DaveBrosha.com

UPDATE: Bell has announced the launch date of its new network and the release of the iPhone. Find out when HERE.

Earlier in the day Bell and Telus released a statement proclaiming they will be bringing on Apple’s iPhone. Currently Rogers is the only service provider in Canada that has the iPhone and is not available in Yellowknife. The iPhone is also the phone that most people want. It beats out Blackberry, Plam and all Windows Mobile phone on the market.

What else does this mean for Yellowknife. Well after feeling like we have been left in the dust, Yellowknife will finally have 3G or HSPA (which is just as fast or faster) service.

Northwestel has put in it first order for 1000 iPhone but is not sure of when they will arrive or the pricing yet. Bell has yet to announce the pricing of the phone.

I will also be updating this post with more information as it becomes available. To read more about Bell and the iPhone read this Globe and Mail article.

Update: Here is the press release from Bell announcing that they signed a deal with Apple

If you for some reason didn’t notice, this morning cell phone service went down. In this CBC article a NorthwesTel spokesperson said a fiber line owned by Bell was cut just outside of Dawson Creek, BC (which ironically is where I am at the moment). A crew was sent to fix the line but there was no estimate of a time of completion.

Read the full CBC article here.

UPDATE: Approximately 3 hours and everything will be restored to normal. (as of 12:00pm)