YELLOWKNIFE

Cold: Put it to the test
YELLOWKNIFE
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA
A PREMIER LOCATION FOR COLD WEATHER TESTING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Ice Road Reality - Erik Madsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Polar Pilots - Paul Laserich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Designed With Cold In Mind - Jerry Jaud. . . . . . . . 8
Amenities And Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Map Of Yellowknife And Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Other Desert Race - Scott Smith. . . . . . . . . . . 16
Kingdom Of Snow And Ice - Anthony Foliot . . . . 18
Testing Snowmobiles On Dog-sled Tracks Grant Beck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Under The Lights - Don Morin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Cold Facts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Key Contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
LOOKING FOR COLD?
WE ARE IT !
As soon as you arrive in Yellowknife, you feel the
City’s distinctive northern character as a cold
climate City. Our rocky topography is covered
for a large part of the year by a blanket of ice
and snow as our City bustles with daily activity.
We are a small City with the infrastructure,
amenities and services found in a much larger
City.
Whether you need an empty building to cold
test an airplane, storage for your equipment
and gear, a frozen lake, or comfortable
accommodations – you will find what you need
in Yellowknife.
If work is not what brings you to our winter City,
you will be kept busy with an abundance of
winter activity you will not find elsewhere. If you
are looking to test yourself mentally and
physically, check out the hard-core endurance
races at the Rock and Ice Ultra.
When you have some down time, take in some
ice fishing, cross-country skiing, northern lights
viewing and dog sledding.
The list of possibilities is endless in Yellowknife,
Diamond Capital of North America™.
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WARM WELCOME
FROM THE
WINTER CITY
Our City of 20,000 was built on cold and gold. People who
live here have gone far beyond developing ingenious ways
to build houses and ice roads, run successful businesses,
maintain vehicles, and stay warm over eight months of
sub-zero temperatures.
Yellowknifers have turned this Arctic landscape into
something to be celebrated. We have a variety of outdoor
events during the winter season: from festivals and races with both four-legged and two-legged species - kite-skiing,
skijoring, pond hockey tournaments, ice fishing,
snowmobiling… the list goes on and on. In other words, we
are brought together as a community by the cold.
Our winters may be long and cold, but our City is vibrant and
one of the most welcoming places you will ever visit. You are
guaranteed to experience two things if you travel to
Yellowknife during winter: what it feels like to live and play in
Canada’s coldest City year-round, and the hardy, friendly
people who love to work and play outside!
It’s cold and we love it.
Gordon Van Tighem
Mayor, City Of Yellowknife
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Erik Madsen
ICE ROAD REALITY
Every year since 1982, a seasonal road is built that starts just
outside of Yellowknife. It is 600 kilometres long, bearing north
of the City and extends to Canada’s northern tundra. The
road, which is usually opened from January to March or April,
is the supply lifeline to Canada’s first diamond mines – BHP
Billiton’s Ekati Mine, Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mines, and
De Beers’ Snap Lake Mine – and other resource and
exploration projects along the route.
The equipment is huge, the cargo precious, and the road is
made entirely out of ice!
“SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT. EVERY DRIVER GOES THROUGH
A COMPLETE SAFETY AND ORIENTATION COURSE.”
Forty-two inches of ice is all that
may separate a 200,000-pound
18-wheeler from the unforgiving
deep waters beneath the icy
surface of the world’s longest ice
road - Tibbitt to Contwoyto.
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Everything from the road
planning, construction and
maintenance, safety and speed
limits to haul schedules is very
much the business of Erik
Madsen, Director of Winter Road
Operations. The road is
managed by the Joint Venture
Management Committee, which
is made up of BHP Billiton
Diamonds Inc. and Diavik
Diamond Mines Inc.
It is the experience and effort of
Erik and his team that helps build
the world’s longest ice road. Their
main focus at all times is making
sure that everyone stays safe on
the route, which takes the
average driver 12-15 hours to
drive one way.
“Safety is paramount. Every
driver goes through a complete
safety and orientation course.
We have three camps along the
route with crews that are
constantly monitoring, repairing
and up-keeping the ice at
all times,” says Erik.
Constructing the ice road is
much more complicated than
letting winter take over and turn
the lakes and portages to ice.
Specialized, amphibious vehicles
called Hagglunds are fired up
and are the first on the ice. These
short, stout vehicles look like a
couple of sea cans on tank
tracks, but are expertly designed
to drive on only eleven inches of
ice and they float if required. The
Hagglunds start at the beginning
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of the route and, with helicopter
support above, drive the length
of the road, dragging an
electronic device behind them
that measures the ice thickness.
They plot the best course with
GPS and identify areas where
the ice thickness needs to
be enhanced.
The big toys are brought out next,
such as the SnowCats. The
SnowCats start the arduous but
crucial journey of clearing snow
on the route. As the snow is
cleared, the road takes shape.
But the snow also acts as an
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insulator, so areas that have
more snow will have thinner ice.
When the snow is removed and
the icy surface is exposed to the
-40°C temperature, the
ice thickens.
When the road is cleared of
snow, flood and drill crews come
in to “focus flood” the area. This
maintains a constant ice
thickness.
It is up to each driver to maintain
the regulated speed limits (which
vary depending on location and
whether or not the truck is
carrying a full load), use
common sense, and drink some
strong coffee.
Erik and his crew know the Arctic
cold well. From experimenting
with hydraulics that need to
survive long journeys in -40°C, to
using methyl hydrate in frozen
brake lines, they have learned all
the tricks of the “cold” trade. It is
their job to deal with the extremity
of their surroundings and use the
cold expertly to build this road,
which is unlike any other in the
world.
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Cold Facts
• First year of operation 1982.
• Length 568 km with 495 km
(87%) over frozen lakes and
73 km (13%) over land.
• There are 64 over land
portages.
2007 was a record year for the
ice road. Some facts include:
• The ice road was in
operation for 73 days.
• 10,922 loads were hauled
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north up the ice road, which
weighed 331,000 tonnes.
• Approximately 700 drivers
were registered.
• 17 security staff logged
270,000 km on the group’s 10
trucks. Security patrols the
road 24 hours a day during the
season.
(source: www.jvtcwinterroad.ca)
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Paul Laserich
POLAR PILOTS
Paul Laserich had no choice but to go into aviation. He talks
about being “drafted” back in the 1960s by his father Willy
Laserich, who is a legend in Canadian Arctic aviation history.
Willy was considered to be an adventurous pilot who put the
needs of the people in small northern communities first no
matter what the aviation rules were at that time. Paul has a
storybook full of epic adventures and has even survived a
mid-air engine failure due to extreme wind-chill conditions.
“FLYING UP HERE IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, IT’S ALWAYS
EXCITING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM
DAY TO DAY IN THESE CONDITIONS BUT IT KEEPS YOU
ON YOUR TOES AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT GREAT.”
Spend five minutes with Paul,
and it is obvious that the apple
has not fallen far from the tree.
He exudes a rugged frontier spirit
of adventure and excitement.
When asked why he continues to
run an aviation company North
of 60, his reasons are clear.
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“Because I’m living the dream.
I’ve been here for 49 years and
there’s nothing like it. It’s more
personable and I know people
in all the communities. When I
walk into a terminal, I know I’m
going to see someone I know,”
says Paul.
His company, Adlair Aviation,
has operated in the North since
the 1960s. The airline transports
goods and passengers to and
from remote communities,
provides MedEvac services, and
has strong connections to
aviation industry partners that
have put their planes and
products to the test in Arctic
conditions.
Aircraft can be expected to
withstand temperatures of -70°C
with wind chill when operating in
northern skies. As a result,
companies from around the
world come here to test
everything, including the
engine, avionics, windshields
and tires on their aircraft.
The Gulfstream G-450,
Bombardier Learjet RJ700,
Hawker 800, the U.S. Airforce,
NASA, and even the world
famous Airbus A380, have all
used Yellowknife as their primary
destination for cold weather
testing. When asked why
companies use Yellowknife as
the testing destination and not
further north or Alaska, Paul says,
“Yellowknife is strategically
placed. It is close enough to the
States but has the cold
conditions of the most remote
Arctic places in the world. At the
same time, it also has all the
modern facilities and amenities
a cold weather testing crew
needs such as hotels, Internet
access and daily flights.”
He gives an example of having
cold tested a jet engine, which
led to its sudden failure. They
needed a new engine and
within 24 hours, one was shipped
from Tulsa, Oklahoma to
Yellowknife via courier!
to be here and part of the
ongoing adventure that is
the North.
Paul and his crew have learned
the tricks of the trade through
decades of operating in this
“Flying up here is always a
extreme climate: from installing
challenge, it’s always exciting.
battery blankets, placing
You never know what will
heaters around avionics, using
happen from day to day in these
engine tents to putting
conditions, but it keeps you on
anti-freeze in the wheels.
your toes, and that’s what makes
Despite the added concerns
it great,” says Paul.
and dangers of
operating aircraft
in the North, Paul
and his team are
YELLOWKNIFE IS THE BUSIEST
proud and excited
Cold Fact
AIRPORT IN NORTHERN CANADA.
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Jerry Jaud
DESIGNED WITH
COLD IN MIND
For FSC Architects and Engineers, cold weather testing is at the
core of everything they do. Established as a company in 1976,
they have since built themselves into one of the top Northern firms
for large-scale cold regions design and construction. Their
infrastructure projects stand as a testament to their expertise
throughout the three northern territories – Northwest Territories,
Nunavut, Yukon – and Russia.
FSC received a prestigious honour in 2008, when they made the
list of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Rather than focus on the firm’s
accolades, Operations Manager Jerry Jaud would rather chat
about the ins and outs of building in the extreme North.
“IN OUR INDUSTRY, THE LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED UP
HERE HAVE BECOME EXPORTABLE TECHNOLOGIES.”
FSC Architects and Engineers know
from experience that building in
Arctic temperatures takes a lot of
knowledge, expertise and years of
living in the North to understand the
issues that need to be addressed.
“It takes 2-3 years to actualize a
project and another 4 years for
problem solving and bug testing.
The north is our testing grounds,
every project is essentially cold
weather testing for us… but in slow
motion,” says Jerry.
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Some of Yellowknife’s largest
buildings come with the FSC name
tag attached: the North Slave
Correctional Centre, and the NWT
Legislative Assembly Building.
The nuts and bolts of building in the
cold are not the only components
considered when FSC works on a
project.
“It’s all about the cold and the
logistics of remote locations like ours
just as much as it is about creating
good experiences and contributing
to a client’s quality of life,” says Jerry.
To ensure that quality of life
continues for many years,
Yellowknife’s climate, ground
conditions and remote location are
serious considerations during the
building design phase, along with
structural engineering, mechanical,
electrical and environmental
aspects.
Due to Yellowknife’s extremely cold
winters compared to its hot
summers, there is often a 60˚
expansion/contraction factor that
any structure, be it a building or a
road, will have to endure over time.
This has resulted in transitioning to
the use of Canadian wood framing
in buildings and specialized
concrete road.
Permafrost is another main
consideration for building projects
in the North, and Yellowknife is
situated right in the middle of what
is called a ‘discontinuous
permafrost belt.’ This means that
unlike many other locations in the
North, the ground conditions here
are variable in any given location,
which requires innovative thinking in
terms of building design. To counter
this problem, FSC has helped
develop the implementation of
thermosyphon systems, which
essentially counteracts the effects
that discontinuous permafrost has
on a foundation or road structure.
Thermosyphons are subgrade
cooling systems that counter the
thermal disturbances below heated
structures thus ensuring the ground
is consistently frozen year round.
Their expertise in cold climate
building has even led FSC to work
on projects in countries such as
Russia. FSC worked in cooperation
with the Russian Federation Airport
Authorities to design and build a
large addition to the Yakutsk
International Air Terminal Building.
“In our industry, the lessons we have
learned up here have become
exportable technologies,”
says Jerry.
Cold Fact
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY BLENDS INTO ITS
SURROUNDINGS BY USING ZINC PANELING.
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AMENITIES AND SERVICES
Airport
Transportation:
Yellowknife’s airport (YZF) is the main
airport in the NWT and is classified as a
Gateway Hub. It is operated by the
Government of the NWT and is part of the
National Airports System. Air traffic control
services, Instrument Landing System
(Category 1) and independent
secondary surveillance radar, which are
provided by NAV Canada, are also
available at the airport.
BY AIR:
The airport has two asphalt runways. One
is 7500’ x 150’ and the other is 5000’ x 150’.
The most common types of aircraft flying
in and out of Yellowknife are: Boeing 737,
Dash 7/8, Hercules, Cessna, Twin Otter,
F-28, ATR 42, CRJ 200, Skyvan, Pilateus,
Dornier, Airbus 310 and helicopter. In an
emergency, a Boeing 747 and other wide
bodied aircraft can land at the airport.
Yellowknife boasts 5 airlines. Canadian North
and First Air are long time Northern carriers, Air
Canada Jazz and Westjet are major connectors
to all national and international flights.
The following links provide information on local
airlines and departure and arrival schedules:
www.cdn-north.com
www.dot.gov.nt.ca
www.firstair.ca
www.flyjazz.ca
www.westjet.com
REGIONAL AIRLINES:
Small aircraft and helicopter services:
Adlair Aviation: www.adlairaviation.com
Air Tindi: www.airtindi.com
Arctic Sunwest Charters: www.arcticsunwest.com
Buffalo Airways: www.buffaloairways.com
Great Slave Helicopters: www.greatslaveheli.com
Matrix Helicopters: www.matrixhelicopters.com
Summit Air: www.summitair.net
AIR CARGO:
Both Canadian North and First Air support heavy
load cargo capabilities with their
respective aircraft:
Canadian North:
Phone: 1 (800) 661-1505
www.canadiannorth.com/cargo/
First Air:
Phone: 1 (800) 568-7497
www.firstair.ca/Cargo_Information/
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BY ROAD:
Highway 1 - Mackenzie Highway
This highway, the longest in the Northwest
Territories, starts at the NWT/Alberta border and
continues, for approximately 690 kilometres, to
the community of Wrigley.
Highway 2 - Hay River Highway
This highway, the NWT’s shortest, connects the
town of Hay River to Highway 1 at the community
of Enterprise. The highway runs through Hay River,
terminating on the southern shore of Great Slave
Lake. Its total length is 48.6 kilometres, all of which
is paved.
Highway 3 - Yellowknife Highway
This 341 kilometre paved highway connects to
Highway 1 just south of the Mackenzie River ferry
crossing and continues north, around Great Slave
Lake, to Yellowknife.
Highway 4 - Ingraham Trail
This highway extends 70 kilometres east from
Yellowknife and travels through numerous parks,
campgrounds, hiking trails and day use areas.
The first 29 kilometres are paved. The remaining
41 kilometres are gravel and treated
for dust control.
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Driving distances:
Yellowknife to:........................................... KM
Behchoko, NT.............................................108
Fort Providence, NT................................... 314
Enterprise, NT............................................. 445
High Level, AB............................................778
Edmonton, AB..........................................1508
Calgary, AB.............................................. 1789
Whitehorse, YT.........................................1899
Regina, SK................................................ 2188
Vancouver, BC........................................2595
Winnipeg, MB..........................................2853
Salt Lake City, UT......................................3277
Denver, CO............................................. 3848
Toronto, ON............................................. 4545
Chicago, IL...............................................4953
Dallas, TX................................................. 5069
Quebec City, PQ..................................... 5157
Fredericton, NB........................................5728
Charlottetown, PE...................................5984
Halifax, NS..................................................6119
St. John’s, NL.............................................7335
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Quick Facts
1. Location: 62°27N, 114°22W.
2. Elevation: 206 metres at the airport.
3. Area: 136 square km.
4. Population 20,000.
5. 512 km south of the Arctic Circle.
6. No territorial sales tax.
7. The Deh Cho Bridge is under
construction and expected
completion is November 2010. The
bridge will replace the Merv Hardy
Ferry and Mackenzie River Ice
Crossing, providing year-round
highway access to Yellowknife.
8. Tourism attracts over 60,000 visitors
annually, over 10,000 from Japan
alone.
9. Broadband communications in every
community in the NWT.
10.The City has 14 kilometres of groomed
ski trails and endless back-country ski
routes.
11.Annual visitation to the NWT in
2007-08, which includes both
business and leisure travellers,
was in the 80,000 range.
12.Yellowknife is impacted by more than
70% of all travellers (leisure and
business) to the NWT.
13.Estimated annual visitor expenditures
in the NWT in 2007-08 was
$140 million.
14.An estimated 35,000 business
travellers visited the NWT in 2007-08.
15.Average family income in Yellowknife
in 2006: $124,200.
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Restaurants:
A&W
Centre Square Mall.
4905 50th Ave. 669-7071
Jade Garden & YK Pizza
5309 50th Ave. 873-3339
Quiznos Subs
349 Old Airport Rd. 920-7827
KFC
4919 48th St. 873-2777
Red Apple Restaurant
4701 50th Ave. 873-2324
The Black Knight Pub
4910 49th St. 920-4041
L’Atitudes Restaurant
Centre Square Mall, 4905
50th Ave. 920-7880
Robin’s Nest Restaurant
Centre Square Mall.
5022-49th St. 867-873-3762
Boston Pizza
5102 48th St. 920-2000
Le Frolic Bistro Bar
5019 49th St. 669-9852
Sam’s Monkey Tree Pub
483 Range Lake Rd. 920-4914
Bullocks’ Bistro
3534 Weaver Dr. 873-3474
Leisure Café
5018 50th St. 873-6363
Subway
5103 50th St. 920-2727
Bruno’s Pizza
5124 53 St. 920-2130
L’Héritage Restaurant
5019 49th St. 873-9561
Surly Bob’s Sports Bar
4910 50th Ave. 873-5626
Canadian Pizza
5103 52nd St. 920-4499
Main Street Donair & Falafel
Centre Square Mall,
4905 50th Ave. 766-3910
Sushi North
200 - 4910 - 50th Ave. 669-0001
A Taste of Saigon
4913 50th St. 873-9777
Coyote’s Bar & Grill
484 Range Lake Rd. 873-8818
Diamante Restaurant
483 Range Lake Rd. 920-2971
Domino’s Pizza
10 Stanton Plaza. 920-2020
Fuego International Restaurant
4915 50th St. 873-3750
Gold Range Bistro
5010 50th St. 873-4567
Hot Shots Pub & Grub
100 Borden Dr.
Stanton Plaza. 669-7529
Coffee Shops:
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Mark’s Family Restaurant
5102 50th Ave. 920-7878
Thornton’s Tapas Bar
5125-52nd Ave. (next to bowling
alley). 669-9463
McDonald’s Restaurant
202 Old Airport Rd. 873-9555
Trader’s Grill Steakhouse
4825-49 Ave. 873-3531
Our Place Family Dining Room
50th Ave & 50th St.
on the second floor. 920-2265
Vietnamese Noodle House
4609 50th Ave. 873-3399
Papa Jim’s Roadhouse
Chateau Nova 3rd Floor. 669-0070
Yummy
5023 49th St. 920-7992
Pizza Hut
312 Old Airport Rd. 669-6700
Gourmet Cup
Lower level YK Mall.
#3 4802 50th Ave. 873-8782
Javaroma Gourmet Coffee
Northwestel Tower & Centre
Square Mall 873-3373
Tim Hortons
309 Old Airport Rd.
873-4999
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Hospitality
Anderson Thomson Tower
5300 49th St. (867) 873-5701
Capital Suites
100 5603 50th Ave. (867) 669-6400
www.capitalsuites.ca
Chateau Nova
4401 50th Ave. 1 (877) 839-1236
www.novahotels.ca
Discovery Inn
4701 50th Ave. (867) 873-4151
www.discoveryinn.ca
The Explorer Hotel
4825 49th St. (867) 873-3531
www.explorerhotel.nt.ca
Coast Fraser Tower Hotel
5303 52nd St. (867) 873-8700
www.coasthotels.com
Northern Lites Motel
5115 50th St. (867) 873-6023
www.yellowknifehotel.com
Nova Court
476 Range Lake Rd. (867) 873-6686
www.novahotels.ca.
Arnica Inn
4115 50th Ave. (867) 873-8511
www.arnicainn.com
Super 8 Motel
308 Old Airport Rd.
1 (800) 800-8000
www.super8yellowknife.com
Yellowknife Inn
5010 49th St. 1 (800) 661-0580
www.yellowknifeinn.com
Bars:
Boston Pizza
5102 48th St. 920-2000
Harley’s Hard Rock Saloon
5018 50th Ave. 873-6789
Hot Shots Pub & Grub
100 Borden Dr., Stanton Plaza. 669-7529
Kingpin Bowling Centre
5125 52nd Ave. 920-2695
Le Frolic Bistro Bar
5019 49th St. 669-9852
Mackenzie Lounge
5010 49th St. 873-2601
Sam’s Monkey Tree Pub
483 Range Lake Rd. 920-4914
Surly Bob’s Sports Bar
4910 50th Ave. 873-5626
The Black Knight Pub
4910 49th St. 920-4041
Gold Range
5010 50th St. 873-4441
The Ravens’ Pub
5030 50th St. 669-9755
The Top Knight
4910 49th St. 920-4041
Trapline Lounge
4825 49th Ave. 873-3531
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Scott Smith
THE OTHER DESERT
RACE
It is called the other desert race, and it has put Yellowknife on
the global map in the ultra-marathon racing world. The Rock
and Ice Ultra Race is the dream come true for Scott Smith,
who started the adventure race in 2006. Yellowknife has
welcomed countless Rock and Ice Ultra athletes from over 12
countries in just a few short years. Scott now has race agents
in several countries including: France, Korea, Japan, Italy,
United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria,
United States and Russia.
“IT’S DEFINITELY THE ARCTIC CLIMATE AND THE COLD HERE THAT ARE
THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS. THESE PEOPLE RACE ACROSS DESERTS LIKE THE
GOBI AND THE SAHARA, BUT OUR RACE ADDS A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF
COMPETITION FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE ARCTIC CLIMATE.”
The main event in the Rock and
Ice Ultra is the Diamond Ultra. It is
a grueling race that extends over
six days and covers 225
kilometres of frozen terrain
on ungroomed trails.
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Racers train for months to
withstand the brisk challenges in
the Arctic climate. They practice
running in snowshoes, skis and
foot gear, and prepare their
lungs for breathing in sub-zero
temperatures. Racers must learn
Arctic survival skills, like building a
lean-to, and require the added
strength to pull a ski “pulk”
behind them that will hold all
their emergency and
survival gear.
“It’s definitely the Arctic climate
and the cold here that are the
main attractions. These people
race across deserts like the Gobi
and the Sahara, but our race
adds a whole new level of
competition for them because of
the Arctic climate,” says Scott.
Scott insists that having the
correct understanding of the
climate is crucial when it comes
to acquiring the proper gear.
“Definitely No Goretex” is one of
Scott’s main pieces of advice to
the racers. While Goretex is great
for humid climates, Yellowknife
boasts a dry cold, and the last
thing a racer wants is to lock in
the sweat and moisture. All
clothes need to be warm but
breathable. Northface clothing is
a main staple among racers,
especially their “Flight Series”
layering systems. Fischer Skis and
Atlas Snowshoes are often the
favourites when it comes to
gearing up.
Scott also advises racers to use
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traditional aboriginal gear and
protection when possible.
Inuit parkas are not only light and
breathable, but also windproof.
Scott prefers Moosehide Steger
mukluks for footwear.
in diamond prizes welcome
winners at the finish line. The
diamonds are courtesy of top race
sponsor BHP Billiton, owners of the
Ekati Diamond Mine, Canada’s
first diamond mine.
Cold Fact
AT -40º, SKIN CAN FREEZE
IN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES.
“They are very lightweight, good
to -40°C, and fit right into my ski
bindings,” says Scott.
RACE CATEGORIES
ON YOUR FEET
Cold Foot Classic
(55 kilometres, one day event)
Foot and Snowshoe, Cross-Country Skis
Scott has turned his career as a
prospector and expediter walking
thousands of miles on frozen
tundra into a world-wide race
phenomenon, where over $40,000
K-Rock Ultra
(135 kilometre race over three days)
Foot and Snowshoe, Cross-Country Skis
Diamond Ultra
(225 kilometre race over six days)
Foot and Snowshoe, Cross-Country Skis
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Anthony Foliot
KINGDOM OF
SNOW AND ICE
Yellowknifers’ sheer joy of living in their rugged winter
wonderland is perfectly represented in the bushy and often
frozen silver beard and piercing blue eyes of one of their
biggest local celebrities, Anthony ‘The SnowKing’ Foliot.
Originally from Quebec, Anthony embodies the fun-loving
renegade spirit of many people who call the North home.
“...WHEN YOU LIVE UP HERE, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT
TO EMBRACE THE -35ºC WINTERS!”
Anthony (SnowKing) has lived
here for over half of his life, but
he won’t tell you how or why he
came here. There’s a cool,
collected mystique about the
man who has turned
Yellowknife’s most abundant
renewable resources – snow and
ice - into a cultural phenomenon.
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After living in several smaller NWT
communities like Fort Smith,
Wrigley and Lutsel K’e, Anthony
made his way to Yellowknife and
set up shop in “the woodyard”,
near Yellowknife Bay. A number
of years ago, snow removal in
Yellowknife meant mountainous
piles in the woodyard area. Kids
liked to turn snow mountains into
snow fortresses. Joining in the
fun, Anthony and some friends
would go out to help the kids
make their snow lairs bigger and
better. Word spread quickly
about this fantastic winter
playground, until it finally
snowballed into what is now a
world-famous snow castle and
month-long festival.
November, when Great Slave
Lake’s water has frozen around
his houseboat, Anthony gets out
his custom-made, four-foot
long-hand saw and starts
cutting out blocks of ice to make
windows for one of the world’s
largest snow castles.
Constructing the castle each
year is done the “old school”
way: windows are measured by
boot, not tape measure; and
deals are made over a coffee
and a handshake.
Every year around the end of
SnowKing and his merry band of
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‘snow-prentices’ get bigger and
better with each snow castle. He
officially opens the castle and
month-long celebration of snow,
ice and all things Arctic in
March. Over the course of the
month, the castle is a venue for
people of all ages to enjoy – with
its slides, beautifully-sculpted
arches, ice café, and a new
design every year. Dances,
music videos, live bands, hockey
tournaments, film festivals,
weddings and much more have
been held over the years on the
castle grounds. If you visit the
castle, don’t be surprised to
meet a local, a tourist from
Japan, a political dignitary and
a Canadian celebrity – all at the
same time.
growing legion of Arctic
enthusiasts.
“People move up here from
places where they used to run
from their cars to their front doors
because it was -10°C, but when
you live up here, you have no
choice but to embrace the
-35°C winters!” says Anthony.
The SnowKing has long declared
Yellowknife’s winters are to be
celebrated, and that extreme
cold is something to be enjoyed.
His chilling message has been
heard by
thousands of
visitors and
residents which
THE SNOWCASTLE CELEBRATED
has led to a
ITS 14TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2009.
Cold Fact
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Grant Beck
TESTING
SNOWMOBILES ON
DOG-SLED TRACKS
Grant Beck and his healthy and happy Alaskan Huskies have
been in the dog mushing and tourism business for over 25
years in Yellowknife. They have attracted many residents and
tourists from all over the world, who are looking to try their
hand at one of the oldest and most romantic forms of travel.
With a team of 12 dogs all strapped in line and eager to run –
the dog-sled can get moving up to 25 miles per hour!
“THE COLD IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE JUST AS
MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE. PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME
TO SPAIN OR JAPAN OR WHEREVER AND BRAG THAT THEY SLEPT OUTSIDE,
UNDER THE AURORA IN -45°C.”
Grant Beck, owner of Beck’s
Kennels Dog Sled Tours, has a tried
and true formula for his tourism
business in Yellowknife.
“Cold weather equals clear skies,
which equals the ability to see the
northern lights, which equals lots
of customers,” says Grant.
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“The cold is a tourist attraction
here in Yellowknife just as much as
anything else. People want to be
able to go back home to Spain or
Japan or wherever and brag that
they slept outside, under the
aurora in -45°C.”
And true to form, throughout the
2008 Christmas season when
temperatures plummeted to a
pretty consistent -40° C, Grant
saw business pick up suddenly.
“The people from Porsche who
were here testing their vehicles,
contacted us to find out what
they could do while staying here
in Yellowknife. Two doctors from
Spain came to Yellowknife
because they had never seen
snow before and ended up going
on an overnight tour for the
experience and bragging rights
that go with it!” says Grant.
It is not only dogs and their drivers
that have tested their abilities to
withstand the bone-chilling
temperatures of a Yellowknife
winter.
Grant’s dog-sled trails have also
been used by Yamaha to test
their 340 Trappers snowmobile,
“…because of the diverse terrain,
deep snow, extreme cold, hills
and ice.” says Grant.
Grant and his kennels have also
been featured in over 14 television
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shows from around the world,
from the History Channel’s Ice
Road Truckers to a remake of the
game show “Thrill of a Lifetime”
for a Japanese network.
When Grant and his staff are not
teaching tourists and residents
how to drive a dog team or
taking them on a guided tour
under the northern lights, he is
taking the reins himself and
testing his skills as a world-class
dog musher. Grant has won
races in Spain, France, the
United States and Canada.
Grant and his team also
compete in the annual Diavik
150 Canadian Championship
Dog Derby that is held in March
during the Caribou Carnival
festivities. The race started in
1955, and teams from all over
the world travel to Yellowknife to
race in the prestigious event.
Yellowknife’s Arctic climate is
something that Grant has used
to help him create a successful
tourism operation. Like many
others in our fair and chilly city,
he is a leader at taking one of
our greatest natural
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resources – the extreme cold –
and showing the rest of the
world the benefits of living in a
cold climate.
Cold Fact
DOG SLEDS TRAVEL
10-15 KM/H ON AVERAGE.
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Don Morin
UNDER THE LIGHTS
Don, a Metis from Fort Resolution, NWT, started his career
building log homes and eventually ended up selling them,
pre-fabricated, to the Japanese. It was both his growing
involvement within the local housing corporation and his
connections to Japan that would ultimately carry Don from
high-profile politician to tourism operator.
“WE OUTFIT THEM (CUSTOMERS) WITH SOREL -100°C WINTER BOOTS AND
CANADA GOOSE PARKAS AND THEY ARE GOOD TO GO. AS LONG AS
PEOPLE ARE WARM IN THEIR GEAR, THEY ARE HAPPY AND HAPPY IS JUST
WHERE WE WANT THEM.”
Growing up in a fishing family
known for helping fellow fishermen
in need of food and shelter, Don
acquired a taste for northern
hospitality and tourism.
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After winding down his political
career in the late 1990s, Don and
his wife, Gladys, researched
northern tourism and the aurora
borealis (northern lights). As
Yellowknife is considered a top
destination for aurora viewing,
Don and his wife saw an
opportunity to bring together
aurora viewing and aboriginal
culture.
The couple opened Aurora
Village in 2000. The village is
about a 20-minute drive east of
Yellowknife. Today, Aurora Village
has several large teepees that sit
close to the edge of a lake. Some
of the teepees accommodate up
to 70 people for traditional
dancing shows and a place to
warm up while waiting for the
dancing show in the sky.
To stay warm while watching the
world’s most brilliant, natural light
show, guests use the Aurora
Kotapsu, which are 70 ‘cocoonlike’ heated seats. The specially
designed heated seats allow
guests to lean back, rotate 360
degrees, and comfortably take in
the full glory of the northern lights
in -40°C.
Amazing aurora lights are not the
only thing served at Aurora
Village. The village has a classy
but rustic dining hall, which has
served dignitaries and thousands
of tourists from around the world,
and features a menu of
homemade buffalo soup, arctic
char, bannock and of course, hot
chocolate.
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All of these features have made
Aurora Village one of the top
destinations world-wide to view
northern lights.
Aurora Village employs about 20
full-time Japanese staff each
season, which runs from August to
September and November to
April.
The word about the fantastic light
show in Yellowknife has spread to
other countries like Korea, where
Don has recently signed an
exclusive deal with a tour
company.
Cold Fact
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE MOST ACTIVE
THE HOUR BEFORE AND AFTER MIDNIGHT.
In other words, business is only
getting better.
With no shortage of northern lights
for his customers, it would seem
that the cold is the only obstacle
for convincing people to stand
outside, at night, and wait for the
show. But according to Don, that
is not the case.
“People love the cold when they
come here! We outfit them with
Sorel -100°C winter boots and
Canada Goose Parkas and they
are good to go. As long as people
are warm in their gear they are
happy, and happy is just where
we want them.”
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COLD FACTS
Who Has Tested Here
Why Yellowknife?
1. Bombardier Aerospace
• Established service and supply
sector.
2. Audi
• Telecommunications,
transportation, business and
health-care centre of the
Northwest Territories.
3. Ford
4. BMW
5. Airbus
• Top-notch accommodations,
amenities and visitor activities.
6. Raytheon
7. Gulfstream Aerospace
• Easily accessible by road and air.
8. Bell Helicopter Textron
9. Porsche
10.Yamaha
11.Canadian Police Research Centre
Cold Weather Champs
As recorded by Environment Canada,
Yellowknife is the number one City for:
Extreme Cold
MONTH
2003
2004
2005
2006
January
- 39.9 C
- 44.1 C
- 42.9 C
- 41.3 C
February
- 41.7 C
- 39. 1 C
- 43.7 C
- 35.9 C
March
- 41.7 C
- 43.3 C
- 28.4 C
- 28.5 C
• Most hot and cold days
April
- 28.6 C
- 26.0 C
- 14.9 C
-22.8 C
May
- 11.3 C
- 20.0 C
- 10.9 C
- 2.3 C
• Most heating degree-days
June
- 0.3 C
2.4 C
2.8 C
2.2 C
July
8.8 C
7.2 C
6.6 C
9.8 C
August
6.0 C
2.6 C
3.7 C
7.8 C
• Most deep snow cover days
(10 cm or more)
• Extreme wind chill
September
-2.7 C
- 4.5 C
- 4.2 C
1.9 C
October
-15.6 C
-17.2 C
- 10.3 C
-11.6 C
November
-33.9 C
-36.0 C
-25.4 C
- 34.6 C
December
-31.4 C
- 42.0 C
- 28.9 C
- 33.1 C
Source: Environment Canada
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• Coldest winter
• Coldest spring
• Most cold days (-20°C or less)
• Longest snow cover season (days)
• Most high wind chill days
(-30ºC or less)
• Driest winter air
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KEY CONTACTS
NWT Tourism
www.spectacularnwt.com
Northern Frontier Visitors Centre
www.northernfrontier.com
City Of Yellowknife
www.yellowknife.ca
NWT Chamber of Commerce
www.nwtchamber.com
Photo Credits
Front Cover: Jiri Hermann
17. Jiri Hermann
1.
John Schnell
18. Patrick Kane
2.
John Schnell
19. Rhonda Kennedy
3.
Seiji Iwaihara
20. Dave Brosha
4. Jiri Hermann
21. Jiri Hermann
5.
Jiri Hermann
22. Martin Darku
NWT/Nunavut Chamber of Mines
www.miningnorth.com
6.
Jiri Hermann
23. Kate Steadman
7.
Erik Madsen
24. Jamie DeRoose
NWT Construction Association
www.nwtca.ca
8.
Jiri Hermann
25. Jiri Hermann
9.
Jiri Hermann
26. Patrick Kane
Government of the Northwest Territories
(GNWT) - Department of Industry,
Tourism and Investment
www.iti.gov.nt.ca
10. Jiri Hermann
27. Jan Phillips
11. Erik Madsen
28. Dave Brosha
12. Jiri Hermann
29. Dave Brosha
13. Jiri Hermann
30. Murao Nobuyasu
14. Jiri Hermann
31. Jiri Hermann
15. William Nalley
Back Cover: Jiri Hermann
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce
www.ykchamber.com
GNWT Department of Transportation
www.dot.gov.nt.ca
NWT Bureau of Statistics
www.stats.gov.nt.ca
16. Jiri Hermann
31
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Cold: Put it to the test
Diamonds were discovered in the NWT in 1991. Today, three
diamond mines are operating 250 kilometres northeast of
Yellowknife. The NWT has been propelled into third position in
the league of the world’s diamond producers, producing 15%
of the world’s diamonds by value, after Botswana and Russia.
In 1999, the City Of Yellowknife trademarked itself as the
Diamond Capital of North America. Yellowknife is home to a
successful diamond cutting and polishing industry.
2010
WWW.YELLOWKNIFE.CA