Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (May 13/02) - According to the calendar, spring officially began on March 20.

Of course, that calendar was not created with the Northwest Territories in mind. Here, spring comes at its own leisurely pace, especially this year.

June Eirikson, president of the Hay River Horticultural Society, is hoping the snow will be gone in time to plant flowers as usual. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

For example, on May 5 both Yellowknife (-18.5 C) and Fort Smith (-20.5 C) hit record low daily temperatures.

Then, there was the little matter of a blizzard on May 2 and 3.

All this has left people wondering when spring will mercifully arrive.

In Fort Smith, the president of the local golf course admits to having been a little optimistic. "I'm the butt of the joke because I had chosen the 6th as our official opening," says Earl Olsen with a laugh.

Now, Olsen says Pelican Rapids Golf and Country Club is a good two weeks behind schedule. "It's kind of disappointing, but what can you do?"

Club members are getting a little antsy to get back on course, he says, but notes a foot of snow covers it. "Last year, we were golfing in mid-April."

The late spring is also worrying for gardeners.

June Eirikson, president of the Hay River Horticultural Society, points to her cucumber greenhouses, isolated by knee-high snow.

And Eirikson notes there are flower beds all over her yard. "We can't prove it, though," she laughs, nodding towards the blanket of snow.

Still, she is hopeful the snow will not delay flower planting, explaining they can't be planted outside until around the first of June because of the risk of frost.

Of more concern to her and her husband, Allan, is that the Hay River is still frozen, and that may delay getting water for their greenhouses by a couple of weeks.

The retired couple say it is the most snow they have ever seen on the ground at this time of year.

Eirikson notes green grass was beginning to show on their property before the blizzard. "Then within 24 hours there was 14 inches of snow. We measured it."

To the North, a co-owner of Yellowknife Hardware Ltd. has seen a change in people's shopping habits.

Consumers have delayed purchases of bicycles, barbecues and gardening supplies, says Pat Winter, explaining the weather has prevented people from getting into a spring frame of mind.

"It's just delayed," she says. "It's not that they're not going to buy it."

Winter thinks people have to feel the warm weather to believe spring is here. And that's difficult with ice on the street.