LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The 40th installment of Fort Simpson's Beavertail Jamboree is shaping up to be one for the history books as planning committee members enter the end zone for the celebration schedule.

Mike Squirrel, left, and Jacqueline Elleze are two of the members on the Beavertail planning committee. On Feb. 22, they joined fellow members Cheryl Sibbeston and Ernest McPherson to hash out some of the final details for the week's events. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The week-long festival is set to kick off the afternoon of March 6 with a family sliding party and will run until March 13, closing off with a family fun run and afternoon fish fry.

Beavertail committee members Mike Squirrel, Jacqueline Elleze, Ernest McPherson and Cheryl Sibbeston got together on Feb. 22 to hash out a few final details.

All four have put their time and energy toward Beavertail preparations for years with some surpassing a decade of being on the committee.

The planning session marked the third meeting for the jamboree.

Committee members said planning sessions were business as usual, with participants working off previous jamboree schedules in order to draw up this year's events list.

"We try to come up with new ideas every year but it can be hard without enough volunteers," said Squirrel. "We need more young people on our committee."

The jamboree runs with a budget of between $30,000 and $40,000, which gets replenished every year through fundraising. The committee relies on sponsorships and in-kind donations of time and machinery in order to make Fort Simpson festival-ready. Money raised goes toward the feast, prizes, souvenirs and advertising.

This year, committee members are organizing a snowman-building contest, with contestants eligible from Feb. 22 to March 5. Snowmen can be made of material other than snow so long as they're still put together by hand. Participants can decorate their snowmen as desired and must take a photo posing with the snowman. In order to submit their entry, the photo must be e-mailed to Fort Simpson's recreation department.

Festivities for March 6 include a scavenger hunt, snowmobile parade, bonfire and fireworks followed by a coffee house in the evening.

The parade will depart from Nahanni Inn at 7 p.m. and is free to attend and participate in. Prizes will be given out for the best decorated snowmobile as well as best costume.

Four-on-four basketball games will run March 7 to 9, organized by recreation staff.

Organizers are bringing in the Magoo Crew performers from Edmonton for March 8 and 9.

Other highlights of this year's festival include the Beaver Cup four-on-four hockey tournament, set for 7 p.m. on March 8 and picking up again on March 10, 11 and 12, while the Moosehide Mammas women's hockey team will go up against the Oldtimers the evening of March 9.

Four teams are registered for the Beaver Cup, including the Dekes of Hazard, the Lucky Pucks, Blades of Steel and Flying Elbows.

Opening ceremonies are set for March 10, with the Quest for the Crown wrapping up and followed by a youth talent show. Lisa Lafferty confirmed on Feb. 15 there were 25 youth in the running for the Quest for the Crown, with 10 trying to become princesses, six aiming to become queens, four hoping to become kings and five seeking to be made princes.

The prince and princess are for children up to Grade 6, while the king and queen category are for young people between Grade 7 and Grade 12.

Crowns will go to young people who sell the most tickets in their category.

Lafferty said all participants in the Quest for the Crown will receive some type of prize for their efforts in honour of the festival hitting its 40th year.

Fort Simpson's village council has declared the afternoon of March 11 to be a civic holiday. At that time, community members can look forward to a full day of traditional games, bingo and hockey, capped off with a family dance at 8 p.m. That dance will include music by Jeremy Dallas, fiddler Donny L'Hirondelle and dancing from the Edmonton Crazy 8s.

Village councillors have a bright and early morning on March 12 as they prepare for the annual pancake breakfast.

In the afternoon, snowdrags at the Snye will be followed by Beaver Cup playoffs, adult traditional games, an adult talent show and dance.

Committee members will have a final meeting on March 3 and encourage community members to come out and volunteer.