There is just something about Rick Mercer that will make you laugh, and no it isn’t his towering height of 3 feet. His openness to say what is on his mind is what we often need to cheer us up.
I stumbled upon this video today from when Mercer visited Yellowknife 5 years ago. Watching it made me think “My, Yellowknife has changed”. There are several things throughout the video I’m sure you’ll notice that are different in 2010. We no longer have an abundance of Caribou or Japanese, the Snowcastle has grown and the weather is a wee bit warmer. Whether it is less or more the one thing that hasn’t changed it Yellowknife as a community, we continue to have an upbeat spirit. We have continues festivals and events happening. This is part of the reason I love Yellowknife.
I think everyone show take a look at Mr. Mercer’s video and have a laugh as we begin the weekend.
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?
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 first weekend of March is almost here and with the nice weather we have been having here in Yellowknife why not get out and experience some northern events.
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.
You may have seen it while wondering through the Book Cellar, a book simply entitled, Yellowknife. I know I have, I have even picked it up and flipped through the pages on occasion, but never gone any further than that. That just maybe because I never seem to find time to read or I just rather read content online, either way I maybe going to get it now.
Blogger and Novel Reviewer, Tricia, of My Novel Reviews has had the opportunity to read this book and has graciously written a review of it. In the first half of her post she explains what the book is about, the storyline, what is involved and what to expect. Into the second half she begins her review, talking about a character, a drifter if you will and the quirky mysteries of the north.
This quirky novel begins with Danny crossing the border into Yellowknife. He is a drifter, and when he enters Yellowknife, the reader drifts with him into a land populated by eccentric characters, where anything goes.
More than the fact I haven’t found time to read the book, I think I have been hesitant. I am afraid it may squre my view of Yellowknife, although Tricia does mention that our very own Yellowknife Blogger, John Mutford, will defend the book. If that is the case, I guess I will have to go pick myself up a copy. If you are still unsure about the book, you can read more about it on BookCrossing.com. If you have read the book, please share you thoughts with us below.
UPDATE: When I read that John, defended the book I look for his article on the topic but couldn’t find anything. Apparently I didn’t look will enough. As you can see in the comments, he posted the link the National Post article he wrote on the book. I thought I would also point out the first paragraph, because it is something I too believe is the case:
There’s Yellowknife and there’s Yellowknife. One’s a northern city most Canadians haven’t visited, the others a novel most Canadians haven’t read. You should do both.
I keep expecting events to slow down, but I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon. March looks like to be a big month with both the Snowking Festival and Caribou Carnival happening. Here is what is happening this weekend though:
Thursday, February 25:
Arctic Energy Alliance 2009 Energy Awards: 7pm at the Explorer Hotel. Anyone interested in finding out what the Arctic Energy Alliance is currently doing to reduce costs such as high heating, transportation, power bills and climate change may attend their 2009 Energy Awards and Initiatives Meeting.
Friday, February 26:
The Twisters: The CBC True North Concert Series and Saturday Night Blues present: The Twisters. 12 rounds of swings, stinging powerhouse blues. Featuring Special Guest: Steve Slade. Hosted by: Holger Peterson. Located at The Top knight Pub starting at 7:30pm. Tickers $20 at CBC North, 5002 Forrest Drive. Contact: 920-5400.
DJ Johnny Volumes: Deejay Johnny Volume spins the best Ska, Funk, Soul, Motown, and so much more!! 9:00pm – 1:00am at the Twist Bar
Saturday, February 27:
The Twisters: The CBC True North Concert Series and Saturday Night Blues present: The Twisters. 12 rounds of swings, stinging powerhouse blues. Featuring Special Guest: Steve Slade. Hosted by: Holger Peterson. Located at The Top knight Pub starting at 7:30pm. Tickers $20 at CBC North, 5002 Forrest Drive. Contact: 920-5400.
Sit Down Stand Up: Comedy and Music show at the Twist Bar starting at 8pm featuring Mel Leonard, Loren McGinnis, Tim, Heidi Raulin. All funds go to the Vagina Monologues VDAY Campaign.
Sunday, February 28:
Amazing Family: From the Recycling Bin to Stage Join us for some musical magic. Mix science, conservation and a lot of creativity to make your own musical instruments. Afterwards, COSY will entertain us with some kid friendly tunes and the opportunity to try out our recycled sound. Happening at the Museum at 2pm.
Snowking Winter Festival Kick-off Fireworks: The opening ceremonies for the Snowking Winter Festival will take place today at 8:30pm with Fireworks down at the castle on Yellowknife Bay.
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 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!
