Yellowknife (Oct 01/03) - Home is where the heart is.

Yellowknife's first 25-year reunion held Saturday night, approximately 400 people gathered together to reunite, talk about the good-old days, and feast on great food.

Hilya Hall, and her husband of almost 50 years, Albert Hall, left their home in Kelowna to come to Yellowknife for the event. The Hall's lived in Yellowknife for 35 years, but left in 1986 to move to British Columbia.

"All of our children still live here so it is easy to come back," said Hilya. But there was one person in particular that she was extremely anxious to see.

"Bobby Weatherby was like a son to me," said Hall about here former next-door neighbour.

"I haven't seen him in almost 20 years, and he doesn't look any different to me," she laughed.

Bob Weatherby shared Hilya's enthusiasm. He has lived here for 26 years and has no plans to leave.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Yellowknife is home to me."

June Magrum has been living in Yellowknife since 1948, and thinks events like this one should happen more often.

"I think it's very nice. You see people you haven't seen for many years," she said.

"We don't go out much anymore so this is a great way to gather everyone together."

Mickey Brown, also a long-time Yellowknifer, was one of the coordinators of the event, and explained the reasoning behind the idea.

"It seems the only time we gather is for memorial services," said Brown. "We wanted to gather for a celebration instead." Legislative assembly Speaker Tony Whitford was emcee at the event, and door prizes were donated by a number of businesses in the city.

Paul Laserich, head of Adlair, provided the hanger as the location for the venue, and agreed with Brown that it was time for a happier gathering.

"It's great to have some good things go on here like tonight's event," he said.

Funds raised at the event go to the Stanton Hospital Foundation to support Project Looking Glass.