Yellowknife (Apr 11/03) - Every June for the last 17 years, a little bit of the North bands together in the South.

Ex-Northerners, and a growing number of people who simply wish they were from the North, meet for the NWT Picnic in Kelowna.

"Getting married there is such a good idea," said organizer Delrose Curry, a former Yellowknifer who now lives in White Rock.

Romances have been sparked at the picnic as old friends and classmates reunite, some rekindled flames have even got married.

Started by a small group of Northerners living in British Columbia, including Harold and Zelda Glick, the picnic was started initially because of the number of retirees in the Okanagan Valley. And, as Curry explained, too many Northerners complained they were meeting only at funerals.

The picnic attracted well over 200 people last year.

"When they register we ask them to put down what year they were in the territories and where," said Curry.

"And now we're attracting people who have never been in the territories, they just happened to hear about it, and come because they've been intrigued by the North.

"We say past, present, or anyone who'd like to be a Northerner."

This year's picnic is June 8.