Enterprise (Aug 14/06) - The Gateway Jamboree music festival -- one of the biggest annual events in Enterprise -- has been cancelled for this year.

The two reasons for the cancellation are a shortage of volunteers in the small community of just 90 people and a late start to organizing.

The eighth annual festival had been tentatively set for Aug. 12. Dave Richards was one community resident who showed up for two organizing meetings, which were held a week apart in late June.

Richards says seven or eight people showed up for the first meeting, but only four turned out for the second.

No official organizing committee was formed, he said, describing the meetings as discussion groups.

Richards said there are many people in the community interested in the Gateway Jamboree, but added, "It's hard to get a lot of time to volunteer."

People had other interests and vacations, which cut into their available time, he explained. "It was too much work in a short period of time."

Plus, he said the planning process started too late.The second meeting decided that a recommendation be made to the Enterprise Settlement Council that the festival not go ahead this year.

Richards said he hopes to see the festival return next year. "It's a good thing for the community."

Mayor Winnie Cadieux is disappointed the Gateway Jamboree was cancelled.

However, she is confident it will return in 2007, adding she hopes organizing will start a little earlier.

"We'll be back on track for next year, for sure."

The festival, which often attracts performers from Hay River, Yellowknife and Fort Smith, features a mix of traditional, country and rock music.

This year's festival was to have included a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Enterprise's incorporation as a settlement.

A separate anniversary celebration may be held, in September, Cadieux said.