Yellowknife (Feb 28/03) - Caribou Carnival organizers are hoping a one-day affair this year will lead to better things to come the next.

The carnival association met Tuesday night to hammer out a plan to keep at least some semblance of the carnival alive this year, even if considerably scaled back.

They passed a motion that will make this year's event a fundraising prelude for next year's 50th anniversary.

"We are making some changes due to the fact that next year's our 50th and we want to do it bigger and better," said association president Ellie Sasseville.

"This is one way of still having carnival this year, and covering all our issues with insurance, increased cost, and still being able to give the public what they want and still satisfying everyone."

Entitled Caribou Carnival: Under Construction, the event will now take place at the City Hall parking lot for one day only, March 28 starting at noon.

The group is still selling buttons at $3 a pop, but with an "under construction" sticker pasted onto them.

"The only fee you will have to pay, which will include the (MLA) barbecue, is the purchase of your $3 Caribou Carnival button," said Sasseville.

Festivities begin with the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce's Corporate Challenge, a "mini-Olympics kind of thing" competed by local corporate sponsors and businesses, followed by the NMI Mobility Canadian Championship Dog Derby at 1 p.m.

In the afternoon, the kids will enjoy a Barbie fashion show and children's monster truck races. Kids bring their own Barbies; prizes are available in both events.

From 6 to 8 p.m. will be the "Not Caribou Capers." Local talents are encouraged to give the association a call to enter the event. Afterwards, will be the MLA barbecue, although Sasseville concedes she's still awaiting word from some. After the barbecue will be the fireworks display.

Although almost all the events are taking place on the Friday, the ugly dog and truck contest will carry on this year in its usual Saturday time slot.

Although reduced, Sasseville says she thinks it will go over well with the public.

"I think they're going to think it's fabulous," said Sasseville.

City Coun. Dave McCann said he was happy to hear the event will at least carry on this year, although he wasn't too thrilled with the "under construction" theme.

"If that's the case I'm not too thrilled with it," said McCann.

"I'd prefer to have it Caribou Carnival: Celebration of Spring. That's what it's about, that's what traditionally people are about at that time of the year."