Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 29/99) - The Caribou Carnival office is a hotbed of activity these days.

Although the carnival takes place March 26-28 -- two months away -- general manager John Clark is gearing up for an extraordinary 45th anniversary.

"This is going to be a very special year," explains Clark. "First of all, this is the 45th anniversary of the carnival. Second, this is the last carnival of the millennium. And third... this is the last one before division takes place, three days after the carnival's close."

Yet even more exciting, reports Clark, is the international attention our end of the world will receive this year.

"We've received inquiries from European reporters doing articles about the carnival, and the British TV show, The Lonely Planet, is sending a film crew to Yellowknife to do a feature on the carnival, and specifically, the NMI Mobility Canadian Championship Dog Derby."

The Lonely Planet is a travel and adventure show that airs on the BBC's Outdoor Life Network. The film crew will spend five to eight days in Yellowknife, after a stopover in Iqaluit.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to show the world the best of Yellowknife," says Clarke.

The carnival will feature many of the activities Yellowkifers have come to know and love, Clark says.

"The French Association is on board with the Sugar Shack. They'll be serving maple syrup on snow cones. The Northern Games will take place with native events. Of course, we'll have the ugly dog and truck contest."

Clark also intends to revive an old standard of the carnival that's been absent for the last 10 years -- broomball.

This year, Clark also hopes to begin a few new traditions. One such possibility is a Bull-of-the-Woods strong- man competition.

"There are a lot of big guys up here. This would give them a chance to show off their powers... but I haven't worked it all out yet," Clark explains.

Finally, expect to see some great high-calibre live acts.