Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 18/00) - I had the opportunity recently to be tossed back in time when an old-time Yellowknifer regaled me with stories of his younger days in a much smaller, much different Yk.

It was truly magical listening to him and imagining this city when the population sat at 3,000 and growing, when outside any window was almost nothing but the land.

This Sunday, every Yellowknifer will have the opportunity to feel a bit of that magic. In honour of Heritage Day the next day, this week's Amazing Family Sundays is devoted to bringing the past to life. Whether you were part of that past or not, this is a two-hour experience not to be missed.

An old-time shopping spree at the Hudson's Bay Company, having your photo taken by well-known photographer Henry Busse, afternoon tea, bannock and jam or ice cream at a long-gone Yellowknife cafe are just a few of the eidetic experiences you can enjoy.

"The Busy Bee, the Two Girls Cafe, the Roving Hornet and the Wildcat and many more," says organizer Erica Tesar, listing the cafes.

And it's not just Busse who will be resurrected for the event. You might run into Mildred Hall, Wop May or Jock McMeeckan, says Tesar. The award-winning film Hearts of Gold: A Celebration of Yellowknife's First 50 Years, produced by Alex Czarnecki of Films North Inc., will also be shown.

"We're going back to the late '40s and '50s," says Barbara Cameron, curator of education and extension services for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

"What we're doing is we're inviting the public to come in and experience what life would have been like in Yellowknife. In a very small way, we're recreating some of the historic sites in Yk. Places that were popular. Some of the places don't exist anymore."

The museum has even built sets, like the barber shop for example. "People will actually be able to sit in the chair and get their hair cut. We're putting wigs on them and we're going to cut the wigs. So somebody will be dressed in period costume, cutting hair. Beside that will be Henry Busse's photo shop. And we've actually got Henry Busse, somebody dressed up as Henry Busse. He's going to take people's photographs. People can dress in period costumes and get their pictures taken," says Cameron.

As for the shopping spree, think trading furs for coffee.

"In our cafe area, we'll be recreating the Old Stope Hotel. People will be sitting around drinking coffee, there will be characters playing cards. And we're going to have a contest," Cameron says.

As Cameron explains it, this used to happen at the Old Stope.

"Probably right about now, people would start placing bets for money or other things; placing bets on when Yellowknife Bay will break up."

So here's your chance to guess. Will the Bay break up -- to a certain point on Joliffe Island -- June 1 or June 10? There will be a prize for the winner, adds Cameron.

"This is aimed at anybody, Yellowknifers who remember what it was like or families or tourists."

Amazing Family Sundays takes place at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre between 2-4 p.m.