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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city of Yellowknife placed 34th on the annual Money Sense Canada's Best Places to Live in the latest issue of the magazine.

Yellowknife placed just behind Halton Hills, Ont., and ahead of Moose Jaw, Sask. Coming in first on the list was Ottawa.

The numbers are compiled by various economic data from Statistics Canada.

"The important thing is what we think of the city and what we think of us and what we do here," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "I have found in the last few years that there is a much more positive perception of Yellowknife."

He added the rating might give a few more people a better idea of what the city is really like, noting that a big feature is the city's efforts to get people to walk and bike more in the city. The ranking showed that Yellowknife came in second of all the cities involved for walking and biking to work.

Again, the city came first in discretionary income and fifth in household income.

"A lot of ways we are a leader but a lot of times we don't see it in a local context," he said.

Another surprising figure was that the city came in eighth in culture.

"When you look at what the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre does for Yellowknife and the whole territory, how many theatrical groups and musical groups and Godson on the cusp of getting a national recording contract - there is a lot of things we do here that you don't appreciate until it gets into the eyes of others," he said.

The royal visit last summer probably gave some attention in arts and culture, as well, especially with the local Dene drummers, he said.

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