Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 07/00) - Six Canadians will experience the beauty and uniqueness of the City of Yellowknife this summer.

This city has been chosen to host the `Celebrate Canada in the Capitals' program from June 29 to July 3.

Sponsored by the National Capital Commission in Ottawa, the program was designed to promote pride in our country by encouraging Canadians to experience our nation's unique culture and heritage.

Families from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and the Northwest Territories will spend five days with host families in Yellowknife.

The families are expected to attend a welcome breakfast with Mayor Dave Lovell, tour the Legislative Assembly, cruise Great Slave Lake, attend local Canada Day festivities, visit Watta Lake Lodge and attend a Friendship Feast and drum dance in Ndilo.

Travel expenses for the visiting families will be funded by the federal government and the city, with the help of several corporate sponsors, will foot the bill for the visitor's activities.

Mayor Dave Lovell said city council approved funding for the initiative when the budget was announced last November.

It has been allocated under the community partnerships program of the city's department of economic development budget.

Jamie Smythe, economic development officer for the city, said the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and corporate sponsors are also expected to provide monetary contributions.

Lovell said the initiative will not only foster Canadian unity, but could also help improve the Yellowknife tourism industry.

"They'll be spending a little bit of money on local businesses and they'll be going back out and talking about Yellowknife because they will have a good time, so it might have a tourism impact -- they might even come back again," said Lovell.

"It's positive public relations," he added.

Smythe said several host families have confirmed their intentions to accommodate the visiting families, but more are still needed.

Families interested offering accommodations can contact city hall for more information.