Summer in Yellowknife

Hi Everyone:

Hope this finds you all well. I can not believe it's been a year since we started this Yellowknife adventure!  Whenever I talk to a new military spouse, about her first posting away from home, I always tell them to give it a year before you begin to feel at home in your new location.  We are definitely feeling at home here!

I've had an employment change since I last blogged.  Now working at the MFRC (Military Family Resource Center), as the Information and Referral Coordinator.  Basically, my job is to get information about programs, education, and community activities offered in Yellowknife, and get that information to the military families.  We also do a lot of socializing with families that are here on house hunting trips, and then again when they move here.  I love it!  I feel like I'm putting my 30 years of  experience being a Military spouse to good use!

Summer in Yellowknife is great!  OK, we have had a bit of smoke from local forest fires, but not that much, (everyone tells me it is so much better than last year).  It never gets too, too hot, (good thing, as there are not many air conditioned places in Yellowknife), but it's warm and comfortable, and sunny. June 21st was the longest day of the year with almost 24 hours of daylight. Black-out blinds and curtains are a must for the bedrooms.  It's great after all those months of darkness to go out after supper, return home and it's still daylight.

Rick and Matt have become fisherman.  Rick bought a boat in June, and they have spent many weekends out on the many lakes in the area.  The size of the fish is amazing!  A lot bigger than the little ones Rick and I use to catch in rivers in NS.

Lots of activities around to keep us busy.  Every Tuesday at 5:15 - during the summer months - there is a Farmers Market held down at the Somba K'e Park, (an outdoor area located beside city hall, by the water).  There are always a lot of people and lots of venders.  Matt and I usually go and buy supper. There are places to sit, and watch some local entertainment.  You usually run into someone you know. I've attached a picture of the Mobile ATM machine that is there to use, as the venders only accept cash. This area is also used for other community activities.  There was lots to see on Aboriginal Day,

and Canada Day. I love that it is just a 10 min. walk from where we live. Don't have to worry about parking.  Canada Day is different here, as there is no point to having fireworks - never gets dark enough.  There is a parade, and a gathering at the Somba K'e, and everything is done by 3pm.

Rick and I spent a week in Ontario.  It was great to see friends and family.  While flying back we flew to Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.  Really neat to see the scenery from the airplane (happy I had a window seat).

I hope in the past year, I've given you a bit of an idea of what our life here is like.  The rest of the summer is certainly going to go by quickly.  I'm taking a class next month on how to make porcupine earrings, and a glass workshop in September to make stenciled and sand-blasted glass pieces.  I've also taken a paddle boarding class.  Trying to take advantage of every new opportunity available.

This may be the last blog for awhile, as I think I've pretty much covered a year of life in Yellowknife.  Feel free to send me a note if you have any questions.  Take care, Joanne

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter from Yellowknife!  Well, it looks like we might have survived our first winter in the Great White North. Although it's April, it still looks like winter outside my window.  There is definitely less snow, (Rick has a hard time getting to the snowmobile trails), as the roads are pretty much clear.  We had a warm spell last week, but this week the temps have gone back down to the -20's. Hoping for a warm up soon.  We have for sure had some cold days, but honestly it wasn't that bad.  Especially compared to the snow amounts that my friends and family have had in the Maritimes.

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, we have never had such a busy social life!  I've attended a fancy Italian dinner, with opera singing between courses, a mixed dining-mess dinner and dance, numerous TGIF's, game nights at friends, and birthday events.  Still trying to get to the gym as often as possible, and have joined the MFRC (Military Family Resource Center), Advisory committee, where we help make decisions about activities that help and improve the Yellowknife experience of military families.  Plus I had a wonderful week away in Mexico to visit my Parents..  It was a nice getaway from the cold.

We got the opportunity to go dog sledding.  Really cool, (and cold).  I went on a traditional sled with 4 other people.  Rick and Matt did the U-drive, where one drives and the other sits, and then half way around the lake, they trade places.  My sled was pulled by 14 dogs. You can tell they love getting the opportunity to run like crazy.  There are many dogs at Becks Kennels, so they have lots of rest time, before heading out again.  It was funny to watch the dogs scoop up snow as they are running to get a drink.

Another event we went to was the Long John Jamboree.  This was held the last weekend of March.  A fairly new event - this was the forth year.  It is held on Great Slave Lake.  The "Snow King" and friends start building an ice castle in January.  It's really something to see.  They charge $5 to go inside.  There are rooms, a stage where bands perform, a "chapel area", where couples can get married and an area to buy hot chocolate and snacks. This year you could also go upstairs and slide down to the bottom.  There are ice-sculpting competitions, various contests, food tents, and local arts and crafts.  Matt and I checked it out on the Saturday afternoon.  The weather was beautiful, but the snow had melted quite a bit around the Jamboree area.  Everyone was walking very carefully, as it was clear ice.  Very cool looking straight down into the clear lake ice.  Later Sat. night, we all went to see the big bonfire on the ice, fire eaters, and fireworks.  I think almost everyone in Yellowknife was there.  Hard to recognize people though, with everyone bundled up.  There was a girl on the other side of the bonfire wearing a tank top and no jacket. Crazy!

I'm still working at the Co-operators.  Some days are good, some aren't, but I'm never bored. Have made some great friends.  Speaking of friends, we have been invited out for Easter dinner to the Rowlandsons.

 They have for sure helped make our Yellowknife experience more enjoyable.

I've attached some pictures of the Long John Jamboree, and Dog sledding.  Hoping for you all to have a wonderful weekend, and take care of yourselves.