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Friendly rivalry showcases region
Roar of Virginia Falls leaves Niagara Falls mayor in awe after visit

April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 11, 2015

NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK
If Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati had his way, the Deh Cho's Virginia Falls would be on everyone's bucket list.

NNSL photo/graphic

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, left, visited Virginia Falls on June 3. That evening, he flew into Fort Simpson aboard a float plane where he was met by Mayor Sean Whelly, who presented him with an authentic NWT licence plate as a souvenir. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Diodati spent a couple days in the Deh Cho last week on holiday and on June 3 hiked to the beautiful NWT falls with his daughter Olivia.

Despite representing one of the continent's best-known waterfalls, Diodati said comparing Niagara Falls to Virginia Falls is like "comparing apples to pineapples."

"In Niagara Falls, you're in an urban place. Here, it's just you and nature. It makes it personal, organic - it's a beautiful way to enjoy nature's canvas," he said.

Diodati said the trip was the experience of a lifetime. To get to the falls, he and his daughter flew out in a float plane and then climbed down to the base of the falls - an experience both said they wouldn't soon forget, since it involved skirting a trail right against the rock wall.

Diodati admits the falls are bigger than their Niagara counterpart - conceding a running joke between he and Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly that Virginia Falls is twice as high.

"The most impressive part is the roar as you get closer. There are also no mountains in Niagara Falls, so that adds to the majesty here," Diodati said. "I've been to many places in the world and no place is nicer than this."

Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly brought Diodati and his daughter some keepsakes to remember the NWT by before they parted ways.

Whelly said Diodati's trip "just happened" and wasn't a part of any tourism-related initiative.

He gave credit to Simpson Air owner Ted Grant, who initially piqued Diodati's interest in the falls.

"This happened because (Grant) has been a longtime promoter of the community. I have to give him credit for bringing a lot of people to Fort Simpson over the years," Whelly said. "He get's the picture that we're all in this together; he's done a lot for us and it's not always for his own business."

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