Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to speak about carnivals today. Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about Snowking Winter Festival, a great unique winter event put on by a committed and creative group of Northerners. Today I want to congratulate another group of dedicated people who are working hard to put on another spectacular event. I am referring to the board and volunteers who are gearing up for the sixth annual Long John Jamboree, March 24 to 26.
Mr. Speaker, all around the North, communities get together this time of year to celebrate the lengthening of days, the return of warm sun, and the knowledge that winter is finally coming to an end. Yellowknife has a long and strong tradition of end-of-winter celebrations through Caribou Carnival. Sadly, when Caribou Carnival had to close down, the city was without a winter festival for a few years.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been a member of a group of volunteers who came together to revive the tradition. In 2012, the first Long John Jamboree started out. We didn't know what the response would be, Mr. Speaker. Even at the end of March as we can see right now, it can be really cold, but Yellowknifers came out in droves to celebrate and support their new festival.
For five years, jamboree has celebrated the best parts of being a winter city. Games on the snow stage, live music in the carnival tent, arts exhibitions, the heritage tent, la Cabane a Sucre, the Burn on the Bay, curling on the lake, and the international ice carving competition have made the Long John Jamboree a winter festival this city and territory can be proud of.
Importantly, the jamboree never charged a penny for admission. It has always been open to all for free. In two weeks' time, the sixth annual Long John Jamboree will kick off. The organizers of the jamboree have been working hard for months, and volunteers are dedicating hours of hard work and resourcefulness to create a winter festival that is accessible, fun, and celebrates the departure of winter and the coming of spring.
There is the jamboree and the Snowking Festival and the longest-standing Yellowknife tradition, the Canadian Championship Dog Derby. Yellowknife Bay teems with activity, fun, and celebration in late winter, great activities for Northerners and visitors alike to enjoy.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing our congratulations to the hardworking organizers and volunteers of the Long John Jamboree and all our northern carnivals. Celebrations like these make our communities great and they deserve our support and recognition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
