Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 11/06) - The "Strange Range" is losing its dark and dingy reputation.

For six months, owner Richard Yurkiw and Gold Range bouncer Gus Mildenberger have refurbished the bar over many Sunday afternoons, despite working double shifts most Saturdays.

Richard Yurkiw took ownership of the Gold Range four years ago from his father, Sam. He's in the middle of changing the bar's look and feel with an extensive make-over. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

With the help of carpenter Darren McPhee and Chris Bromley, the two have given Yellowknife's oldest bar a massive make-over, if not a full-blown face lift.

Blonde pine covers the walls in the main bar room, reflecting new lighting enough to brighten the whole space. With re-done bathrooms, a new dance floor and fresh carpet, the place even smells better, Yurkiw said.

"Staff morale is up," he continued. "The response has been phenomenal."

A new 10x10-foot screen plays country music videos when a band is not on stage.

"We're in an evolutionary transition," he said. "The Strange Range is still the Strange Range, but it's not the same Strange Range as 10 years ago. This place used to be the wild frontier."

And the changes aren't over yet.

The annual jigging contest is underway this month and the bar's first East Coast party, emceed by Jim Taylor, is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Yurkiw is working with four agents around the country to revitalize the bar's live music line-up with younger performers.

He's in the process of signing two new bands for summer gigs.

Next on the to-do list is flashy lighting for the dance floor, which will be installed whenever the bulbs arrive from the south, and new chairs and tables.

"Everybody will probably be sad that the terry towel table cloths will be gone, but those are from the past," he said. "We've come a long way."

The Gold Range employs eight to 10 full-time and 10 part-time staff.