Long John Jamboree looks for sponsors
Ice-carving competition scaled back to demonstration last year after De Beers pulled sponsorship money
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With just over two months to go until this year's Long John Jamboree, it is not yet clear whether one of the event's most popular attractions will return in its original form.
The Inspired Ice Carving Championship attracted carvers from across the North as well as the U.S. and brought tourists and locals alike to the jamboree to marvel at the intricate, artistic sculptures. However, due to De Beers pulling out of its sponsorship role of the event last year, the competition had to be scaled back.
Born and bred Yellowknifer Michelle Demeule took over as president of the jamboree on Oct. 1. She said she and her fellow organizers are looking for a replacement sponsor.
"We're always looking for sponsors for everything jamboree-related, not necessarily ice carving," Demeule said.
"Last year we didn't get any funding for the ice carving so we did a demonstration event instead of a full competition. It still kept the interest."
She said last year the jamboree brought up four carvers from the south and a mixed team, who helped develop skills. She said organizers are still working with De Beers to get some sort of funding.
Funding for the festival comes from the federal, territorial and municipal governments. According to Demeule, Heritage Canada has committed about $24,000 for this year's festival. The dollar total from the city has yet to be determined. It gave $13,000 to the jamboree last year, according to Brian Kelln, community services program manager for the city.
The territorial government also has yet to confirm how much it is giving to the Jamboree this year. Drew Williams, spokesperson for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment stated in an e-mail that funds have been earmarked for the festival adding that because of increased safety requirements, the jamboree may need a little additional funding and the department is prepared to entertain that.
Demeule said that about a quarter of the jamboree's funding comes from local private donors.
She said that at this point, no new events or attractions are planned but she said the natural ice curling competition that successfully debuted last year could expand to two ice sheets this year.
"It's kind of hard to provide the details of what's happening when we are just starting to get people involved," Demeule said.
"Probably by the beginning of February we'll have a better idea of what our schedule is going to look like."
Attractions in the past have included helicopter rides, numerous food vendors and a beer tent with live music.
Demeule said she is proud to have a major role in an event that attracts thousands of people each year.
"I became involved from the beginning when Adrian Bell put out a call for people interested in revisiting the Caribou Carnival concept," Demeule said.
"The community really comes together over this and I'm glad to be on board."
Demeule said people who want to volunteer or provide sponsorship money are welcome to contact organizers by e-mail at longjohn@jamboree.ca.
