Yellowknife (Apr 20/05) - Operating on the premise that laughter is the best medicine, Yellowknifers could be among the healthiest people in the world next month.

A group of devoted revellers from the Yellowknife Laughter Club are gearing up for the eighth annual World Laughter Day, scheduled for May 1.

Lone Sorensen prepares for the upcoming World Laughter Day with a good chuckle.

"Laughing is a great way to relieve stress, get exercise and connect with another person on a deep level," said Lone Sorensen, head of the Yellowknife Laughter Club.

The city is the only jurisdiction in the country to officially recognize World Laughter Day, Sorensen said, pointing to a laminated proclamation from council.

World Laughter Day originated in Mumbai, India, in 1998 and has since spread to the four corners of the globe.

The guiding principal behind the event is simple, Sorensen said.

"Give yourself one day to laugh," she said.

Laughter, Sorensen said, is one of the few truly universal human traits.

"It is something we can all relate to. No matter what language, political conviction or skin colour, we can still laugh together."

Fellow Yellowknife Laughter Club member Ardith Dean - who said she shares a profound "laughter connection" with some of her clubmates - said a good-natured bellow is the perfect panacea for the everyday problems of modern life.

"We are brought up to be serious. Whenever your turn on the television, all you want to do is cry," Dean said. "Sometimes we have to lighten and have a good laugh. Life is short."

Some scientific research has shown laughter helps boost the immune system by triggering the release of chemicals from the brain - which is another good reason to guffaw, said Paulette Doucett. "Laughter is the best medicine."

World Laughter Day festivities in Yellowknife run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 1 at the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly.

The event has grown substantially over the last three years, Sorensen said, beginning with about 60 celebrants in 2003. That number doubled to 120 in 2004 and this year - with corporate sponsorship and live entertainment - Sorensen hopes to see a similar increase.

"This year, people are taking Laughter Day seriously," she said with - surprise - a laugh.