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Someone asked me the other day if the Arctic Winter Games were going to be green and I had to say that I really didn't know. That is because in the news items and in the AWG literature that I have read, I just hadn't heard much about it. Overall I assume the organizers will do whatever they can, at this point, to make the games as green as possible.

I am sure they will set up recycling bins or use the ones already all around the city but I'm not sure, or haven't heard, about any green program associated with the games. People can of course make a big difference by using recycling bins whenever possible.

Hopefully all future games will have a green component to them just as some conferences and conventions are starting to think green. I have heard of ones where they give out bottles of water but then they have stations set up where you can refill the bottle you were given from central sources. This can cut down dramatically on the number of plastic bottles going to the dump. If the AWG haven't already, they could give volunteers and participants a reminder not to litter and to recycle whenever and wherever possible. They could also remind people not to leave vehicles idling for too long.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the games and all will run smoothly. It is a big job hosting a week-long event of this size and the organizers and volunteers should be thanked for all their work. As the host city, all residents of Yellowknife have a part to play. For me this means brushing up on the city map in case anyone asks for directions.

Telling strangers to turn left at the corner, where the old Hudson Bay Store used to be, just doesn't cut it. Hopefully the newspaper will publish a map showing where all the events will be held. I plan to carry a map of the city around with me, just in case someone asks for directions. People will be visiting from Northern Canada, Alberta, Quebec, Nunavut, Yukon, Alaska, Greenland, Lapland and Russia, so not everyone will be fluent in English and a map may come in handy.

Also, let's all try to keep Yellowknife as clean as we can during the games because that makes a big impression on visitors. Appearances do matter and I know that if I visit a place and see a lot of litter scattered around it gives me a bad impression of it. So if you see litter, pick it up. If everyone picked up five pieces of litter every time they were out, the city would be spotless.

During the games, the city is going to have a major influx of people and they will be going from event to event, so the roads will be busy. There will also be a number of people trying to get around who don't know the layout of the city well, so if you are driving, try to be patient, courteous and helpful.

We want people to have a good time and to have fond memories of Yellowknife and that will in part depend on how the general public behaves. The North has a reputation for people being friendly and helpful. Lets all try to pitch in and help make the games a great success. Everyone has a part to play and something to contribute.

- Walt Humphries is a well-known Yellowknife artist and prospector