Arctic Winter Games 2018 - ITI Highlights

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March 20, 2018

The South Slave Arctic Winter Games are underway and as athletes and their supporters from around the circumpolar North descend on Hay River and Fort Smith, they are likely experiencing some special touches made possible by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

South Slave Region Art is on Full Display

Art demonstrations are occurring daily from March 18 – 23, featuring talented artists from the South Slave Region.

Click here for the full schedule of demonstrations.

NWT Arts displays have also been refreshed and revamped in locations around Hay River and Fort Smith, including: the Fort Smith Airport, the Ptarmigan Inn, Wood Buffalo National Park Office, the Kátł'odeeche First Nation Band Office, ITI’s Fort Smith Office, and Recreational Centres in both communities.

Promotional tent cards celebrating artists registered with the NWT Arts data base were placed in every hotel room in Fort Smith and Hay River to further promote local artists.

Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park Offers Winter Camping

To cater to the large number of guests arriving for the games, ITI’s South Slave Regional Office has put NWT Parks to use – promoting a beautiful backdrop to the AWG experience.

Guests can enjoy winter camping at Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park, free of charge, while they take in the games. Power was hooked up, sites were ploughed and wood was supplied. It’s an idea that demonstrates one of the ways that parks infrastructure can be used in the off-season to further promote tourism and community events.

Hospitality Training

To prepare for the influx of visitors during Arctic Winter Games, ITI’s South Slave Regional Office also hosted two Northern Most Host training sessions. Workshop topics include:

  • The tourism industry in the NWT;
  • Aboriginal cultural tourism;
  • Customer service techniques; and
  • Dealing with challenging visitors.

Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Featured on Team NT Uniforms

Finally, Team NT athletes are staying warm at the games, thanks to their fur-trimmed uniforms. The uniforms, which were unveiled in February, feature Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur which was provided by ITI and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Read the full story at:
Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Connects NWT Uniforms to Cultural Roots