FINAL Aug Sept EDGE YK (PDF)

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | FREE

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EDGEYK.CA

ISSUE 15
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014
Editor
Laurie Sarkadi
editor@edgeyk.ca
Photographer
Pat Kane
patkanephoto@arcticmail.com
Design
Janet Pacey
design@edgeyk.ca
Ad Design
Jillian Mazur
jmazur@vergecomms.ca
Advertising Manager Jeremy Bird
jbird@vergecomms.ca
Sr. Contributing Editor Jack Danylchuk
Publisher
Brent Reaney
breaney@vergecomms.ca
Copyright 2014 by:

CONTENTS
Contributors:
Bill Braden
Dave Brosha
Catherine Dook
Anthony Foliot
Patti-Kay Hamilton
Brad Heath
Katherine Hudson
Fran Hurcomb
Carole Musialek
Alex Power
Gary Vaillancourt
David Wasylciw
Alayna Ward
Katie Weaver
Terry Woolf

Front Edge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Endangered Species, the polar bear
diamond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pipe Dreams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Work in Progress: Alex Sparling . . . . . . . . 19
A Photographer’s First Impressions
of YK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Aeroplan vs Westjet Dollars. . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Rocking the Dryathlon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Looking for Drugs in all the
Wrong Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Dook’s Look Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Dog Island Floating Film Festival,
YK’s Watery Drive-in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
On Edge: Katherine Hudson. . . . . . . . . . . 57

All rights reserved.
ISSN 1927-7016 (Print) | ISSN 1927-7024 (Online)

COVER PHOTO BY
CAROLE MUSIALEK
FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/CAMUSI

3 EDGEYK.CA

On Edge: David Wasylciew . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Old Town Versifier: Bullshit in the
Coffee Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

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FRONT EDGE

There are winds of change
about, and we’re not blowing
smoke
Have you noticed something in the air of late? Yes, there’s the lingering smoke of an incredible summer that taxed our
hardworking fire crews to the max. And as always, those infernal blackflies continue to crash every last backyard BBQ.
But there’s something else riding the wind…change, that’s the whiff I’m getting.
I don’t have to tell you that nights are dimming and soon thicker blankets will be unfurling on beds across the city. We
all know THAT change is coming. But maybe you’re noticing this issue of EDGE YK seems to have lost a bit of weight,
not in substance, but it’s leaner, like it’s cut back on the pints and is working out more (Alayna Ward knows how to do
that, see her Dryathlon story on p. 35). Fear not, all is well. It’s part of a grand plan to bring you more of Yellowknife’s
best stories. To do that, we’re gathering steam this summer to launch a more comprehensive online presence at www.
edgeyk.ca in October. To our many faithful readers and advertisers who covet the print edition, don’t worry, it’s still
coming to racks and homes across the city, same as ever.
Our expanded coverage means we need an art director and the very talented Jill Mazur is becoming a more
permanent fixture at EDGE YK, taking over from Janet Pacey next issue. We have been blessed to have Janet design the
magazine since its inception; her verve and imagination have been key to its success and we couldn’t have done it
without her. Janet is one of YK’s busiest artists and she’s pulling back to devote more time as owner/manager of her
thriving graphic design business, Signed. We’ll lean on her for advice, and she’ll always be a valued member of the EDGE
YK team. Thank you for everything Janet.
Something that’s not changing is our diverse mix of old and new tales about the city and its eclectic mix of people and
opportunities. Who knew that Yellowknife is THE place to learn to play bagpipes (see Brad Heath’s piper story on p. 15),
or that polar bear diamonds are nearly extinct (p. 11)? And some breaking news – dope-smoking hippies lived in Old
Town during the ‘70s (I know, astonishing, but Patti-Kay Hamilton weaves an awesome story about it on p. 43). As well,
I compare the travel rewards plans for Air Canada and WestJet on p. 29, with tips on how to become a points pig so
you can fly out of here more cheaply.
As we approach our third anniversary, we value your continued support of Yellowknife’s coolest magazine, and we’re
pumped to dazzle you with our digital platform this fall. Lastly, thanks to the hundreds of music lovers who came out
to our free Solstice Slam in June. I’ve never had so much fun.
Laurie Sarkadi
Editor

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2014_ JULY_Bella Dance_Edge QRT VERT.pdf

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Patti-Kay
Hamilton

Patti-Kay Hamilton came north to Yellowknife in the ‘70s to paddle the
Mackenzie (see p. 43). She never left. A hunter, trapper, baker and 30year veteran of CBC North, she retired in 2011 to write. Her story The
Hunter and the Swan won the 2014 Canada Writes competition. She
makes Fort Smith home.

Terry
Woolf

Terry Woolf is the Secretary of State of Mind for the People’s Republic of
Poetry. He’s also an Emmy-nominated videographer, committed dog
musher and some time organizer of the Dog Island Film Festival (see p.
51). He loves the North and has been privileged to film much of it in the
past 34 years. In the ‘70s he was investigated by the RCMP as a potential
threat to the sovereignty of Canada.

Alayna
Ward

A native of Nova Scotia, Alayna has lived in Japan, Australia, Finland
and England and happily sampled the local liquid wares during her
travels. She has called Yellowknife home since a move north seven years
ago and her love of socializing, with all its spoils, prompted the piece
about truly seeing what the hard-drinking city she loves has to offer
– sans buzz (see p. 35). Alayna works in communications and is lucky
enough to write for a living. She can usually be found running around
the loop, hosting elaborate dinner parties, or basically being as close as
possible to the fun and interesting things happening in town. alayna@
awardcommunications.ca

Katie
Weaver

A born-and-bred Yellowknifer, Katie was pumped to come home for the
summer and put what she learned at University of Victoria into practice,
working as an intern for Up Here and contributing to EDGE YK. She was
more than happy to let comic Alex Sparling come up with the good stuff
for this issue’s Work In Progress on p. 19.

Anthony
Foliot

Anthony Foliot read a book of verse by Robert Service and instantly fell
in love with the lyric metre. He also can’t stop talking, so he decided that
some of the stuff he talks about should be written down. He lives in the
Old Town out on YK Bay with his good woman of 19 years and a really
old dog. If you see the Old Town Versifier (see p. 61) around, say hi. He’ll
talk to you. He’ll probably tell you to read his stories out loud to one of
your friends because that’s what it’s all about.

Take time to read.
September 8th is
International Literacy Day.
w ww.Gle n Abernethy. c a
7 EDGEYK.CA

|

@GlenAbernethy

867 669 2290
glen_abernethy@gov.nt.ca

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Any beachgoer under the age
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they’re doing and where
they’re playing.

For more information on beach safety, visit:

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EDGE YK EVENTS
If you’ve got something going on that
Yellowknifers need to know about, send
your info to editor@edgeyk.ca and we’ll
try to include it in our calendar. If possible,
let us know by Sept. 1 for our October/
November issue. Oh, and it’s FREE!

OVERLANDER
SPORTS AUG. 17, 2014

Aug. 1-3
8th Annual Ramble’n Ride Festival
An eco-friendly festival held in
historic Old Town with crafts, food,
live music
For full schedule: oldtownyk.com
Aug. 2-3
Garden Tour
Old Town Yellowknife
A self-guided tour with map,
garden details and tour times
provided upon registration at the
Ramble’n Ride Festival. Proceeds
go to the NWT SPCA. For details:
eventscoordinator@yellowknife.ca
Aug 5, 12, 19, 26
(Sept. 2, 9, 15)
Yellowknife Farmers Market
Sombe K’e Civic Plaza, 5:15–7:30
p.m.
Food venders, local produce,
cheese, eggs, flowers and more
yellowknifecommonscoop@gmail.
com

Aug. 5, 19th
(Sept. 2, 16)
Prose and
Cons Bi-monthly Poetry Slam
Trek Resto-Lounge, 3rd floor Days
Inn 7 p.m.
Every first and third Tuesday of the
month, spoken word poets will
compete in a poetry slam, judged
by audience members. For more
info: jacqbrasseur@gmail.com
Sept. 3
Community Showcase Night
DND Gym at the Multiplex, 6-8 p.m.
A night to showcase your nonprofit organization and recruit new
members. Call 920-5676 or email
eventscoordinator@yellowknife.ca
Aug. 17
Overlander Sports Marathon, ½
Marathon and 10 km run
For details check: overlandersports.
com

MARATHON

FULL

10KM WALK/RUN

8:00AM FULL MARATHON
9:00AM MARATHON
9:05AM 10KM WALK/RUN

Sept. 7th
Ovarian Cancer Run
Sombe K’e
Park Civic Plaza and Pat
REGISTRATION CLOSES
AUGUSTFrame
9, 2014
McMahon
Lake Trail, 12 p.m.
MANDATORY SIGN-IN
start
AUGUST 16, 2014
overlandersports.com/events
Info: ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca/
walk-locations/yellowknife
No race day pick-up available.

Sept. 14
Terry Fox Run
Registration at 12 p.m. at DND gym,
Yellowknife Multiplex Arena
info@terryfoxrun.org, or 1-888-8369786

Just Furs

Whether you’re looking for an elegant Northern gift for an
out-of-towner, or just want some warm and stylish outerwear
for another long YK winter, look no further than Just Furs!

Beautiful fur and sealskin mitts, hats, and scarves,
handcrafted jewelry and more!
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Sept. 14
World Religions Conference
Explorer Hotel, 3-5 p.m.
Scholars from native spirituality,
Christianity, Islam and Hinduism
will debate the topic: Is religion
a source of conflict or peace?
Mayor Mark Heyck will preside as
moderator.
www.islamevents.ca/yellowknife
Sept. 16
NWT Pipe Band info night
Northern United Place, 7 p.m.
Come see what it takes to
become a member of the band.
bcheath@theedge.ca 920-4733