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NEWS BRIEFS: City rolls out new tourism brand

The Northwest Territories has long been dubbed "spectacular." Now, with the City of Yellowknife's launch of a new tourism brand, the capitol will carry its own label.

The city has rolled out Extraordinary Yellowknife – updated branding that coincides with a new website: extraordinaryyk.com.

The City of Yellowknife has unveiled its new tourism brand, complete with an updated logo and slogan. photo courtesy of the City of Yellowknife.

The initiative was funded through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, with the city contracting Yellowknife-based agency Outcrop Communications to research and create the Extraordinary Yellowknife brand.

"Tourism development is a part or the city's Economic Development Strategy. We are fortunate to be in a period of growth but we also want to ensure tourism has long-lasting benefits to our businesses and quality of life," Mayor Mark Heyck stated in a news release from the city Monday.

In a bid to "market Yellowknife as a major tourism destination," the city is seeking the authority to collect a levy on short term accommodations, stated the release.
– Brendan Burke

 

MMIWG inquiry asks for extension

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is asking the federal government for a two-year extension.

Last week, the inquiry announced it had made a formal request to Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, to continue working through to December 31, 2020. The inquiry's current deadline is December 31 of this year.

"The commissioners and I firmly believe that an additional two years is required to do justice to our critically important mandate for the safety and security of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ people," Chief Commissioner Marion Buller stated Tuesday.

"The response from families, survivors and Indigenous communities has been overwhelming, and we have a sacred responsibility to them to continue moving forward."

Commissioners say an extension will allow them to hear more from 2SLGBTQ people, as well as women and girls who are homeless, incarcerated and trafficked.

– Sidney Cohen

 

Watch winter games on TV

Northwestel Community TV has announced coverage plans for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games.

Starting this week, Yellowknife Ch 709 HD features AWG 2018 Warm-Up Show, with stories on Fort Smith NT Team trials, Arctic Sports in Inuvik, AWG history and more, the company stated in a news release.

Also to be shown is the National Film Board's Arctic Winter Games 1972 and a preview of the 1980 Arctic Winter Games. Both show some history of this truly northern event.

Starting Monday, live shows from the games in Hay River will be shown daily on Facebook Live at the Northwestel Facebook page, with re-broadcasts on YK Ch 709, along with some historical AWG Throwback content.

– James O'Connor