YELLOWKNIFE - Foxy is only a couple of weeks old but already the Arctic Winter Games mascot is seeing a lot of action.

"It's a front for the games," said Dave Hurley, general manager of the 2008 Arctic Winter Games.

Foxy will be the friendly face of the 2008 Arctic Winter Games, being held in Yellowknife in March 2008. The mascot was decided after a territorial contest and a design by Christine Dewolf from Fort Smith won. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

The mascot was unveiled recently after a territory-wide contest.

Hurley said entries arrived from elementary schools all the way up to professional graphic designers.

In the end Christine Dewolf of Fort Smith's design of a fox was chosen.

"The mascot goes out there and promotes the Games for us," said Hurley.

He said that the concept was provided by Dewolf and they then put together the mascot outfit.

Red, black and white in colour, the friendly-looking fox will represent the 20th Arctic Winter Games, which will be held in Yellowknife next year.

Hurley said the fact that Yellowknife has a large fox population was just a coincidence.

He said that they wanted to avoid previously used animals.

"There are many other games where the polar bear has been used before," he said. "You want it to have an identity."

Already Foxy has been out meeting kids and Hurley said the mascot will be at the trade show in May.

"The kids are the ones that are going to take to the mascot," said Hurley.

Hurley said that there were three main attributes important to the mascot's personality: friendliness, liveliness and cuddliness.