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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The sight of yellow buses and shiny white sneakers could be seen around the city on Tuesday, marking the start of the new school year. The influx of students can only mean that summer is on its way out.

As a few in the community are starting to put on the cozy sweaters and turn on the heat, there are still some who were prepared to make the most of the Labour Day long weekend.

Melissa Ferrier and Roberta Meszaros, along with friends and their families spent it at Fred Henne Territorial Park.

"This is our third weekend in a row. We like the local campground; it's perfect for the kids and getting groceries," Ferrier says with Tim Hortons coffee in hand.

As a rare group of almost all born-and-raised Yellowknifers, they said they are sad to see the summer end. With toys like dune buggies and quads, summer means having the children outside enjoying the sunshine. Not a group to winter camp, they do enjoy snowmobiling and getting out on the Ingraham Trail in the winter months.

To prepare for winter, Ferrier said the furnace has been turned on, but no fall or winter clothes have been pulled out of storage yet.

"We're in denial," she said with a laugh. "It's why we're still out here."

For Robert Windle, this really was the last weekend of summer. As a teacher for NJ Macpherson School, he was back to business on Tuesday. To relax before the new school year started, he hitched his boat to the truck and headed out to Walsh Lake with his family.

"We've got a cabin out there. We will be doing some fishing and a few friends are planning on coming out."

Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures owner Carlos Gonzolas said winter is just as exciting as summer. "Our winters are exotic you could say," he said when speaking of tourists' enthusiasm for the ice and the aurora borealis packages.

Yet, it's not just for visitors. Gonzolas said there is a benefit for locals, especially new Northerners, to take advantage of the North's gifts as a way to rediscover their natural playground.

"When you look at summer leaving, it just means transportation changes. Hikes and boats turn to snowmobiles. Every day is different on the lake, the people you're with make the experience," said Gonzolas.

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