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Diversity of activities and opportunities to engage on display at community showcase

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Makayla Hartford shows off a classic Ukrainian dance pose. Makayla, who has been dancing since she was five-years old, says Ukrainian dancing is diverse and a lot of fun. Emelie Peacock/NNSL photo

Yellowknife may offer up a cold, dark and very long winter, yet those who want to get out of the house have a multitude of options.

Many of these cultural, sporting and philanthropic opportunities were on display at Wednesday night's community showcase at the Multiplex.
“I get this overwhelming joy when I pick up the fiddle,” said Alice Twa, a youth representative with the Aurora Fiddle Society at the showcase night. “It takes a little bit to get into it, but once you do and once you find what you're looking for, it’s really nice to just play and play with a bunch of other fiddlers in town. It gives me a sense of community.”
Twa, who has been playing the fiddle since Grade 4, said there are plenty of opportunities for beginners. Every second Friday night, the society hosts jams with beginner classes, monthly workshops and opportunities to perform gigs with the Fiddle Cats.
Over at the Diamond City Roller Derby table, Kathryn Pomerleau said the group is welcoming to everybody. The team has players whose ages range from age 14 to 40 and some, Pomperleau admits, barely knew how to skate when they joined.
“Committment, definitely,” said Pomerleau of what it takes to make it as a roller girl. “We work very hard in Diamond City Roller Derby to make sure it's a really inclusive space and really supportive and a place to meet people.”
Some organizations at the community showcase are still going strong after decades. The Aurora Ukrainian Dancers are 40-years old this year and member Diane Hartford said it owes its staying power to the group's strong family dynamic. Mothers dance and pass their love of it onto their children, as Hartford did with her daughter Makayla.
Makayla said she loves meeting new people through dance, as well as the variety of routines she gets to learn from different regions of Ukraine.
The clubs and organizations at the community showcase are starting up their operations this month after the summer break and are keen to sign up new members. Whether it's playing Magic: The Gathering, volunteering with furry animals or joining a fiddle troupe, Yellowknifers have plenty of opportunities to chase away the winter woes.

FACT FILE – Community Showcase participants
Alzheimer Society of Alberta & NWT
Army Cadets
Association Franco-Culturelle de Yellowknife
Aurora Fiddle Society
Aurora Ukrainian Dancers
Cadets Canada
Canadian Forces
Canadian Parents for French
Canadian Tai Chi Academy
Collective Soul Space
College Nordique Francophone
Diamond City Roller Derby
Ecology North
Fireweed Children's Chorus
Foster Family Coalition of the NWT/Camp Connections
Magic: The Gathering
Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
NWT Pipe Band
NWT SPCA
NWT Wellness Society
Scottish Country Dancers
Special Olympics NWT
United Way
VE8YK: Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society
Wolfpack: Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association
Yellowknife Association of Community Living
Yellowknife Badminton Club
Yellowknife Curling Centre
Yellowknife Dance Collective
Yellowknife Elders Folk Dance Collective (YEFDC)
Yellowknife Farmers Market
Yellowknife Gymnastics Club
Yellowknife Playgroup Association
Yellowknife Playschool Association
Yellowknife Public Library
Yellowknife Ski Club
Yellowknife Speed Skating Club
Yellowknife Tennis Club
Yellowknife Ultimate Club
Yellowknife Women's Hockey Association
YK Seniors' Society
YK Quilters
YK Wado Kai Karate Club
YWCA – Dudes Club & GirlSpace