August 23, 2016
As NWT residents say farewell to the midnight sun, the Department of Industry Tourism and Investment (ITI) was pleased to support the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society as they celebrated the return of dark skies with the 5th Annual Dark Sky Festival.
The festival was hosted in Fort Smith and Wood Buffalo National Park from August 18 – 21.
Wood Buffalo National Park was designated as a Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Dark Sky Preserve in 2013. With an area of over 44,000 square kilometres, it is larger than all of the dark sky preserves in the world combined.
Participants had a chance to use telescopes, try a photography workshop, and a join a number of family-friendly activities. This year’s distinguished presenters were Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette and CBC TV meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.
Through its sponsorship of the 5th Annual Dark Sky Festival ITI is working to advance tourism and economic development opportunities in the South Slave Region – a part of the GNWT’s commitment to advance a thriving economy through diversification.
Of the 144 participants, more than 40 were from outside of Fort Smith.