No doubt you saw the massive amount of black smoke being emitted into the sky earlier Saturday evening. The dump was on fire once again, this time in full forced. What started at 4:30pm continued to burn for about 12 hours. With help from Airport Fire Dept as well as helicopter and bomber they managed to contain it.

Mayor Van Tighen released this statement at 6:44pm:

There is a fire at the dump.

YKFD is on site and fighting it.

City heavy equipment is being supplemented by RTL.

ENR are working to enable an air attack.

YKFD asks residents t…o stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed until it is extinguished.

Unfortunately I was not able to be there myself and take pictures, nor was I even in internet range, but here are links to picture and posts they were put up as the first was happening.

http://twitpic.com/gn64f – Credit Shane Riley

http://twitpic.com/gn6aa – Credit Shane Riley

http://twitpic.com/photos/arcticrose45 – Credit  Val Pond

Fire at Yellowknife Dump and Facebook album with amazing photos – David Heffernan

Flickr Photo Album – More amazing shots – Nigel Fearon

Reflections in the Snow-covered Hills – Megan brings up any excellent point about something I want to talk more about soon.

News/North (NNSL) Video Clip – Credit NNSL

http://twitpic.com/photos/aumpleby – Credit Aumpleby

If you know of more pictures and/or posts that have gone up make sure you add a link in the comment section.

This coming Friday evening is the Red Carpet Screening for the Youth Photovoice Project. The showing, which will be held at the capital theater, starts at 5:30pm and goes until 6:30 and is free to the public. You can find out more about what the Youth Photovoice Project is HERE.

The Project was done by local youth who put a lot of work into it over the last couple of week. Please consider going to show your support. You know what they say “A Picture is worth a Thousand Words”.

You can view the PDF Poster HERE

Where: Capital Theatre

When: Friday, August 7, 2009 5:30-6:30

Update: Here is the link to the schedule of events.

Old Town is one of the most fascinating places of Yellowknife. It is rich with history and memories.

Starting today and going until Sunday is the 3rd annual Old Town Ride and Rumble. This event is to highlight the business’ of Old Town, some which have been around since the very beginning of Yellowknife. This is a great time for you and your family to come down to Old Town and have fun learning about the extraordinary past of the place we call home. To any visitors from the south, this would also be an excellent event to go to looking into the past of Yellowknife.

This year it will be more “hopping” than ever. Most of Yellowknife’s musical talent is going to be there showing off their best as well as many others showing off there talents.

The event runs from Friday July 31 to Sunday August 2 and will be happening all over Old Town, so just look for the crowds of people having a good time.

UPDATE: Shortly after this post was officially published the site was taken down. For the better I suppose.

I was recently sent a link to a blog that I am assuming is written by a local student. I’m not sure how to take the site.

Photo Credit: cchiao

This person calls them self the Gossip Girl of YK. I’m sure not all of you are familiar with the TV show Gossip Girl so I will try to explain it the best I can.

In the upper east side of New York there is a school of high class kids with rich parents who seem to get everything they want. The show is full of sex, partying and scandals and it is all based around this Gossip Girl who is anonymous. She runs a website, a blog if you will, about the gossip around these students lives and every time she makes a post about some dirt she has uncovered they all instantly get the update to their mobiles.

Now I would say that this site here in Yellowknife is a long way off from being anything like that and one must remember that the real Gossip Girl is a fictional character in a TV show. That being said seeing this site slightly worries me because if you read through it, it really is making some big accusations about people and making those people mad. Knowing enough about how the internet works I can also guess that the “Gossip Girl” will be found out soon enough through a simple IP check and call to a internet provider.

Then there is the part of me that is intrigued by it and would keep reading but at the same time I feel bad for those being written about.

A word of caution to the writer. You may want to rethink what you are doing. You have already received many threats if you are found out. Be Careful whose toes you step on!

Yellowknife, what are your thoughts on a site like this? I know most of my readers are adults but how would you respond if you read something about yourself you didn’t want anybody to know. What action do you think should be taken?

UPDATE: Find full details about Yellowknife’s Float Plane Fly In HERE

This weekend, like the last, is going to be another fun one. This time we are going to look up, waaaaay up. That’s right it is the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-in. Bush planes and their daring pilots were some of the first to explore the vast northern frontier we call home. Come out for fun in the skies and great northern hospitality. This is always a spectacular event no matter how many planes show up. Years past planes from as far south as southern USA have come all the way up to Yellowknife to participate in this event.

Unlike the Folk on the Rocks posts I’m going to keep all these details for the Fly In here in this post. So here is the schedule of events.

Saturday  July 25, 2009

Pancake breakfast down on the docks.

Where: Wardair Floatbase

When: 8am – 10am

Model Airplane Demonstration by Roy Williams

Where: Wardair Floatbase

When: 10am

Buffalo Airways Tour

Where: Buffalo Hanger – Airport

When: 10am

Aviation Art Show – Wally Wolfe’s Art

Where: Northern Frontier Visitor Center

When: All weekend

Douglas DC-3 Rides

Register Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm

Where: Register at Wardair Floatbase, leave from Buffalo Airways Airport

When: 10am

BBQ on the Docks

When: 6pm

What’s Happening: Live music by Rick & the Relics, BBQ catered by Chef Pierre, followed by a live auction. Tickets are $45 and can be bought at Northern Frontier Visitor Center or by calling Yvonne Quick @ 873-4036

Sunday Sunday Sunday, July 26, 2009

Bush Pilot Memorial

When: 11am

Where: Bush Pilot Monument

MLA BBQ

When: 12noon

Where Wardair Docks

Story Telling

Join in the fun and listen to some stories and tall tales of Aviation.

When: 1:30pm

Where: Wardair Docks

Wind-up Banquet

Where: Dinner at the Prospector by Chef Pierre

When: 6pm

For more information about tickets call Yvonne Quick @ 873-4036

There you go, another fun filled weekend. Unfortunately because of work and preparation to move I wont be there. But if you attend and take lots of picture please consider writing up a recap of the event right here on YkOnline.

In a week and a half’s time Yellowknife will become an even larger tourist destination than normal. I’m talking about the Folk on the Rocks event of course. A weekend jam packed full of music from right here in the north to all over the world. This years festival will be taking place between July 17 and 19.

If you don’t yet have tickets I suggest you get one and check it out. Although I have lived here for 15 years I have yet to go to one myself but this year I plan to. You can buy your tickets online here.

If you are not sure what Folk on the Rocks is, here is a quick description from their website:

The two-day weekend event (plus the Friday opening gala Warm the Rocks) has grown into one of Canada’s top summertime music and cultural festivals, drawing musicians from the NWT and Nunavut and across the globe for the North’s biggest party under the midnight sun.

More than 24 hours of programming on five stages, including a children’s area, cultural area, and beer garden promises fun and enjoyment for all ages. Along with the music, crowds can savour international and traditional cuisine at the food fair, and buy Northern creative works in the Art on the Rocks area.

This years line up is more promising than ever. Talent that will blow you mind.

Here is the 2009 line up:

• RICH TERFRY
• SAM ROBERTS BAND
• ROYAL WOOD
• KOBO TOWN
• SWANK
• BEHCHOKO YOUTH DRUMMERS
• DANA SIPOS
• DENNIS ALLEN
• DIGAWOLF
• DRAGON FLI EMPIRE
• FOREST CITY LOVERS
• GIANT CON
• GODSON (wouldn’t be a folk festival without a local rap star)
• KAIVA
• OLD MAN LUEDECKE
• PAT BRADEN
• RED POWER SQUAD
• T. NILE you can also check her out on twitter @tnile
• WAKE UP HAZEL
• KALEY KINJO
• ART JOHNS
• SIX STRING NATION GUITAR
• CHARLY CHIARELLI
• JIM GREEN
• KODIAK

As you can see it is quite the line up. You can also find more information about the 2009 line up here.

UPDATE: Folk on the Rocks 2009 Schedule:

• Folk on the Rocks 2009 Schedule: July 17
• Folk on the Rocks 2009 Schedule: July 18
• Folk on the Rocks 2009 Schedule: July 19

Stay tuned for two more post relating to Folk on the Rocks before the event. 2009 Schedule and What you need to know before you go.

Hey, Yellowknife #yzf while lying in bed because I’m lazy I was checking Twitter on my ipod and I saw an new and interesting account worth checking out. @NWTers . The account led me back to their site  http://nwters.com which appears to be a feed or aggregator of some NWT Twitter accounts such as @cbcnorth and @upheremag as well as our hashtags #yzf #yellowknife #x1a.

This is something I wanted to do a while ago but was to busy and quite frankly I couldn’t figure out how to make it and look fancy at the same time. I think is a great new site and I will definitely be visiting regularly. As I’m very interested in the site I had to dig a little deep to see if I could find out who created it. Whois check it was. I found out local Yellowknifer @bradpoulter, who I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting created the site. If you want to show your support send a thanks his way via twitter.

Tomorrow is the Birthday of our fine country so get out there and celebrate. Okay I know that is what we all have been doing for the last 2 weeks for the YK75 but the parties will continue!

First Up.

Rotary Parade

Starting at 11:00am in the Community Arena parking lot.

The parade will go right through Downtown Yellowknife on Franklin Avenue and finish at the Sir John High School. make sure to come out early to get a good seat.

For more information check out the Rotary Clubs website

All Vehicle Show & Shine

When & Where: Downtown Yellowknife, 4900 Block of 53rd Street 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Show & Shine for all vehicles! Come out and show your pride. From semis to scooters, there will be lots to see. A fun family event. CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) will be on site with a unique interactive display for all to try. Free event, donations to the CNIB welcome. Register your vehicle early for an extra chance to win a Canadian North ticket.

Buffalo Airways Tour, Flight & YOU on Reality TV

When & Where: Buffalo Airways Hangar, 108 Berry St 11 am to 3 pm

Want to be part of a reality TV show?? Buffalo Airways will be airing their footage on the History channel in Sept of 2009! Come take a tour of the hanger and airplanes, tour Yellowknife on a DC-3 with a film crew!! History in the making and you could be part of it. Cost $50.

Min passengers for flight 20, max. 27 so register early. All ages welcome. Contact Mikey McBryan at 873-6112 or buffalo@buffaloairways.com.

YK Guild of Arts & Crafts – Summer Fireweed Sales

When & Where: 11 am to 4 pm Fireweed Studio in the Civic Plaza next to City Hall

Purchase locally made pottery and fibre arts made by members of one of Yellowknife’s longest running organizations. Open to all ages.

Monkey Tree – Corn Roast….?

Veteran’s Luncheon

When & Where: Noon – Legion Hall 4709 Franklin Ave

Vet’s free luncheon. All others $7.50 & open to the entire family.

Today is another day jammed packed full of events. Topping of the day with the President’s Ball hosted by Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

Community Constituency Pancake Breakfast

Robert Hawkins, MLA YK Center

Where & When: 7:30 am Tent on lawn behind City Hall

Start your day off with pancakes, compliments of your YK Center MLA!!

Open to the public of all ages.

Up Here’s Next Top Model

Where & When: 11:30am-1:30pm & 7pm-8:30pm

Come and be on the cover of Up Here magazine!Dress in Northern clothes (provided) with your friends, family, coworkers and let the Up Here staff transform you into your very own cover – complete with a customized headline! Cost: Free to YK75 Registrants!

Yellowknife Quilt Guild

Where & When: 4919 – 51 Street (across from the Scotia Bldg) -10AM to 6PM

Enjoy a display of quilts which have been made by local members of YK Quilt Guild. Truly a demonstration of quilting excellence. Contact Elise Chorostkowski at 873-2392 or jrmech77@yk.com for more info.

Celebrating 75 Years of Wild Women

Where & When: 7pm to 11 pm Elk’s Hall, 4919 49 St.

It’s a reunion of the Daughters of the Midnight Sun, BAV & the Red Hat Society. Join the gals for an evening of storytelling, appetizers and of course, cocktails! Wear a hat from your era. Bring your photos and share stories. An evening of sharing and caring about women. Open to 19+, women only, $20 for non-registrants. Contact Jacqueline at 445-5760 or Jacqueliner@cb.yk.com for more info.

Youth Dance (Side Door)

Where & When: 7 – 10 pm. DND Gym.

Multiplex Dance Away booked for an evening of music. Live music and ticket costs TBA.

Contact Spencer at 766-3272 or sdprograms@theedge.ca for more information.

MUSIC IN THE TENT

Where & When: 7pm – Tent on lawn behind City Hall

Featuring: Stephen Pretty; Love Gut

YK Chamber of Commerce 63rd Annual President’s Ball

Explorer Hotel

$50 Tickets on sale now, call 867-920-4944

For more info on the YK75 Celebration go their website.

I know what your thinking: What former President Bush on Twitter, I thought it would never happen. I didn’t even think that guy knew how to use a cell phone.

Well that is wrong. He is not. I was reading today’s paper and turned to our own Bush’s weekly cartoon. What was it about, twitter of course.

I like this cartoon. It makes me laugh because to some extent it is very true. The one thing I think is slightly wrong about it that I want to get out of the way first is. There are not many youth in Yellowknife actually using Twitter, it is mainly people over the age of 20.

That aside, the meaning of the picture is exactly what is going on right now. The majority of people do not understand Twitter (and other social networking sites) and choose not too. Which is unfortunate because that is the way things are going. Soon the internet will be used in every form of business and these social networking sites with be a very useful tool. The one thing I would like to try and encourage businesses and governments to do is not be the last one to join the revolution. Why not try to incorporate it now, why not try and be one of the front runners in this new revolution. Think of the recognition our small northern city could get if we started to use these sites to our advantage before others.

For example: Google Wave, which Google just announced 2 weeks ago will change (REALLY CHANGE) the way e-mail sharing and collaboration is done within a workforce. I encourage you to watch Google’s video on the Wave

Yellowknife, what are you thoughts on these Social Networking sites? Do you understand them?