Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - This is a pivotal year for the Caribou Carnival, says its marketing co-ordinator.

After last year's discouraging support, James Pugsley wants the public to know the carnival will be "bigger and better than ever before."

"We have so many new events going on -- there is no way it can be the same as last year," Pugsley says of the March 25-28 event.

Carnival organizers have a lot at stake in building up the reputation of the carnival, which lasted a mere half-day last year.

"We aren't promising the world, but instead a great time for everyone," Pugsley says.

The carnival is on the threshold of its half-century mark in Yellowknife's history.

Pugsley says the goal of carnival organizers is to have it thought of as one of the oldest and most recognized events in North America.

"This year, we got the ball rolling early," Pugsley said of the carnival staff and the drive for volunteers.

Currently, there are three staff members: Lisa Tesar, event co-ordinator; Pugsley, and Carol Van Tighem, Quest for the Crown co-ordinator.

"I think when people saw what happened last year it inspired them for this year. People responded," Pugsley says of the call for volunteers.

With a current volunteer base of about 60, he says more are still needed. However, the foundation has been set for subsequent years.

Good investment for businesses

"We want people to see we are a professional organization and a good investment for businesses," says Pugsley.

Tesar says there is no denying it has been a difficult feat to turn the carnival around to infuse both funds and life into it.

"There were big corporations who pulled out (of sponsorship). But we're trying to bring it back to being a community event and show sponsors the carnival needs sustaining funding year-round and it is a good investment," Tesar says.

Another goal of the carnival is "not to have a deficit," says Tesar.

What better year to prove that it can be done than the year before the carnival's 50th anniversary, Pugsley says.

"We want to go wild this year and aim for a better time next year," he says.

Reading the carnival schedule itself shows a mixed bag of events -- from the silly to the sensational.

Pugsley says such a variety ensures everyone attending will find something of interest.

New this year is the creation of two zones on the carnival site, he says.

"One is the 'go' zone, which is cultural, and the other is the 'wild' zone -- for sports."

"We want culture to be a bigger part of the carnival. We will have traditional hand games, drumming and show the culture of the region," Pugsley says.

"But we need a community effort. We want it to be the biggest party of the year. We're expecting thousands."