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Long John Jamboree in works for March Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Friday, November 11, 2011
Work is now ongoing to get the festival off the ground, according to Adrian Bell, president of the Long John Jamboree board. The board has only met a couple of times, but a volunteer rally is in development for December and a raffle is also in the works. Because it is so early, the organization will be looking for volunteers to contribute to almost all tasks required to get the festival going - from selling raffle tickets, working weekends, to putting up promotional posters. In addition to Bell, the board is made up of vice-president Julia Mott, treasurer Michelle Demeule, secretary Lee Ann Brake and members-at- large Jeannie Rocher, David Wasylciw, and Janet Pacey. Bell said a website should be launched within two weeks. While there will be some aspects of the new festival that people may recognize from the now-defunct Caribou Carnival, Bell said Yellowknifers can look forward to an entirely new event. "We are going to keep some of the parts and events that people remember fondly," he said. "I won't specify at this point because I can't know for sure. It will be a new sort of festival but it will have certain elements common with festivals past." Nancy MacNeill, who is helping organize the jamboree, also said it will be an entirely new event. "It will be 100 per cent distinctive and there will be no mistake of anything that has happened before," she said. As for the name, Bell said the idea came out of a brainstorming session with friends. "It seems to have the right combination of being a bit kitschy and something we can build a lot of marketing around," he said. "I think it sort of captures the spirit of Northern ingenuity and survival. That is one of the things we are celebrating. It is winter, so let's get out there and show off our long johns." The organization will be ultimately reaching out to other community groups in the coming weeks and seeking support through local businesses and the city. Bell said it is important the event becomes something that places a mark on Yellowknife culture, and something people look forward to. "This is a community event and we are looking to community organizations and business and the public to make this last and proud to have and hopefully be around for another 50 years." While the event is only in its very early stages, more specific plans will be available in the coming weeks.
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