Delegates at the recent Winter Cities Conference in Edmonton, got a taste of the Northwest Territories (NWT) literally!
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and the City of Yellowknife partnered to add local flavor to a delegate lunch. The City sponsored the meal and ITI provided whitefish from Great Slave Lake along with birch syrup, which was used in a dessert.
The annual conference took place February 16-18 and brought together industry partners, tourism planners and various levels of government. Major topics at the event included: how cities can build thriving winter economies, urban planning for winter, and building a strong winter festival and events culture.
Evan Walz, Director of Tourism and Parks with ITI says the interest in the NWT was palpable:
“There are two things the NWT is never short on: winter and kindred spirits. As a result we have built a great winter culture across the territory.
Yellowknife’s Snow Castle and Long John Jamboree sparked a lot of interest and conversation.
While there was great interest amongst delegates to learn more about the countless festivals and events throughout the NWT, Evan indicates that there was much to take away.
“The conference is a great opportunity to learn about the new and innovative ways that jurisdictions are developing flourishing winter cultures.”
ITI’s Tourism and Parks Division is researching the feasibility of making parks infrastructure available for use throughout the year, in part to contribute to an enhanced winter culture in the NWT.
(Photo: City of Yellowknife)