Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 27/00) - This year's Celebrity Auction will literally sparkle into its 21st year.

Adding to the glitter of this year's popular NWT Council for Disabled Persons fund-raiser will be a one-carat diamond, valued between $4,000 and $5,000, as well as three smaller diamonds. The items are being donated by Arslanian Cutting Works NWT Ltd. and law firm McLennan Ross.

"The Celebrity Auction coincides with the opening of our facility...This is a great way for us to make our debut on the Yellowknife scene," said Hilary Jones, Arslanian's director of operations.

Leanne Tait, auction co-ordinator, said the additions of diamond to the yearly fund-raiser is exciting.

"At some point, I'm going to be able to go down to Arslanian and actually pick out the diamond," said Tait.

"It's probably the closest I'm going to get to that many diamonds."

Arslanian is not the only sponsor who is the upping the ante this year. Canadian North is adding two more trips this year to its usual contribution of one round trip out of the NWT.

The airline has donated one return trip for two to Edmonton and one for Ottawa. The third trip will be a family vacation for four, most likely to the U.S.

Tait added that organizers are working on including passes to various events for trip winners as well.

Another item that Tait believes will catch the attention of auction goers are etchings of Cape Dorset by Bob Kussy, valued at about $6,000 each.

The event, set for Nov. 25 at the Explorer Hotel, is expected to raise from $25,000 to $35,000.