Jessica Gray
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 13/06) - In just over two months Yellowknife will host the 51st annual Caribou Carnival.

On Monday, carnival committee members will sit down to begin planning this year's celebration. One of the biggest events in Yellowknife, the carnival's 50th anniversary was a success last year.

The carnival hosts thousands of visitors from all over the Northwest Territories and Canada. Giselle Forget, acting president of the board, says a meeting will be held Monday evening at the carnival office.

The board will welcome new members who were sworn in Wednesday. Forget declined to comment on how much planning has been done for the March 24-26 event.

She says she preferred to wait until Monday's meeting before speaking publicly.

Mayor Gordon Van Tighen said he isn't concerned and expects a lot of the preparation and planning from last year is still in place.

He also says board members from last year said they were staying on for 2006 at the annual general meeting held Dec. 15, 2005.

When asked how far plans for the carnival are, he would only say, "Caribou Carnival always happens and it is always fun."