Grand opening of Tory HQ

It was Bob Dowdall's campaign manager that stole the show at the Progressive Conservative campaign headquarters' grand opening Saturday.

In an effort to get more supporters, Haigh Carthew, a transplanted Brit, broke out his bagpipes to bring in some listeners for Dowdall's speech.

Though unsuccessful in his attempt, Carthew did say things could be worse. Dowdall spoke to a small gathering of about a half dozen people.

A break, but no time off

Ethel Blondin-Andrew took a breather from the Western Arctic campaign trail earlier this week.

But it wasn't much of a rest. Blondin-Andrew was in Saskatchewan lending support to other Liberal aboriginal candidates.

The special ballot

If you can't make it to the advanced or regular pools for the federal election, have no fear, you can easily exercise your franchise.

Perhaps the easiest method to cast your vote is to stop by the Elections Canada office in the Northway Building to receive your voting kit. Once you have received this kit, you can cast your ballot immediately, right at the office.

If you're travelling out of the riding you can also contact the local election office to receive your special ballot form.

You can then fill out the form and the local office will relay it to Ottawa. Ottawa will then send you the voting kit and you, in turn, send your vote to Ottawa.

By law, late ballots cannot be counted.

Line 'em up

If you missed the all-candidates forum hosted by the Tree of Peace last night, don't fret, there are more meetings to come.

Tonight, Alternatives North is sponsoring a forum beginning at 7 p.m. at Northern United Place.

And if that is not enough, the Deh Gah Got'ie Dene Council in Fort Providence is hosting a forum Saturday, May 17, beginning at 2 p.m. in the community hall.

Congratulations

Yellowknife's Phil Silvers is sporting a big smile today after being the first person to call the notebook with some humorous campaign trail gossip.

Phil called in to share the story of one candidate who spent the weekend drumming up votes. The candidate thought everything was going well until stopping at one home owner's door.

The resident wanted to know if this particular candidate would support the idea of an annual guaranteed orgasm, as once promoted by the Rhinoceros Party.

This scenario never actually happened. But it could have. If you have any exciting tales from the campaign trail, call the notebook at 873-4031.