(February 6, 2013) - Good morning ladies and gentlemen. As the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories, I am here to extend a warm welcome to each of you to NWT Days here at Winterlude.
To many Canadians, the Northwest Territories is the great white north, land of polar bears, snow, ice, the northern lights and minus 40 temperatures. And although that temperature wasn’t far off the mark when I left, I can assure you we also get endless summer days full of warmth and bright sunshine. There is so much more to our territory than the extreme temperatures. Here at NWT days, we are showcasing the “more” ─ our culture, our people, our art, our land and our opportunities ─ to all of you at Winterlude this year.
This weekend we have performing artists, youth ambassadors and even a polar bear on hand to give you an authentic glimpse into the real Northwest Territories - our history, our culture, and our land.
Many of you may not be that familiar with our territory’s tourism attractions. So to give you just a snapshot, I’m going to borrow a tactic from the American late night talk show host David Letterman – his famous top 10 lists.
Today I am going to share a Top 10 list of my own – “The Top 10 reasons to visit the Northwest Territories.”
#10 – It’s simply spectacular
In the Northwest Territories, you can experience things that are beyond belief. Imagine dipping your toe in the Arctic Ocean. Driving your own dog sled team. Taking a ride in a floatplane above a thundering waterfall. It’s all here in the naturally spectacular Northwest Territories.
#9 – You can walk on water
Ok, it’s frozen water, but winter travel takes on a whole new meaning when you drive on our ice roads. These are the roads some of you have seen on the Ice Road Truckers reality TV show. Our tourism operators are waiting to take you on them and explain how they serve as an important transportation link for our communities during the winter months.
# 8 – Experience the Midnight Sun
You can wear sunglasses at night – and actually need them! Our summers might be short, but the good news is you can jam in twice the activity in half the time because it doesn’t really get dark in June and July. Want to go for a paddle on a calm northern lake at 2 a.m.? In the NWT, you can do it. Want to tee off for a golf game at midnight? You can do that too. And odds are, you’ll even leave with a tan from the brilliant northern sunshine.
# 7 – You’ll never talk about the one that got away
The Northwest Territories offers some of the world’s most spectacular fishing. The rivers are teeming with fish – there’s a good chance you’ll land a trophy-sized trout, Arctic char, northern pike or Arctic grayling.
# 6 – Our vibrant cultures
Our territory is the home of the Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis Aboriginal peoples. And cultural traditions remain vibrant and strong. Eat some delicious traditional food, take part in a cultural tour including activities such as arts and crafts or help tan a hide, and hear stories from elders.
#5 – We like to party
Northerners love an excuse to have a good time. Each season brings with it a new crop of festivals - whether it is the South Slave Friendship Music Festival in the summer, the Muskrat Jamboree in the spring, or the SnowKing festival in the winter, including a custom-built castle made entirely of snow and ice, you’re guaranteed a northern good time. Come visit and get in on the fun.
#4 – Our picture perfect, vast wilderness
Our landscape is awe-inspiring and unforgettable. We have the Nahanni National Park Reserve with its abundance of rivers, canyons and UNESCO world heritage status; Virginia Falls at twice the height of Niagara Falls, and the challenging Canol trail to name just a few. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or sport thrill-seeker, the Northwest Territories is the place for you. Our parks and campgrounds are some of the best in the world – visit some of them and go where no man, woman or even caribou has gone before.
#3 – It’s like going to the zoo, but with no admission fee
If you want to experience wildlife where it should be – in the wild – the Northwest Territories is your ideal destination. You can spot songbirds, geese and ducks by the thousands nesting on tundra and lakes. You can see bison, foxes and bears on the side of the road. If you are quiet or lucky enough you might even see a lynx, a moose or a caribou.
#2– Watch the greatest light show on Earth.
From late August till April, the aurora borealis – or the northern lights – light up our northern skies with dancing waves of glowing lights that range in colours of yellow, purple, silver, green and red. Actually, if you come right now we’re in peak season! Visitors come from around the world come to catch a glimpse of this amazing show because the Northwest Territories is one of the best locations in the world to see them. And some of our tour companies even offer dog sled rides under the northern lights – what a perfect northern adventure!
And my #1 reason to come visit the Northwest Territories is – of course – the people
With 11 official languages across five regions and 33 communities, diversity is our middle name. Visit our vibrant communities and meet our friendly people. They are eager to share their history, their languages and their cultures with you. We hear time and time again that although people loved the midnight sun, the amazing natural beauty and the wonder of the northern lights, the reason they come back – and that I hope you will too – is the people.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Northwest Territories is massive – 1.2 million square kilometres and only about 42,000 people living in it. So we have plenty of room for more of you – to visit, to live, and to enjoy!
I could have easily given 100 more reasons to visit the Northwest Territories, but I’ll leave it there for now. We can’t wait to welcome you north – we’d love to have you.
Thank you for visiting NWT Days and enjoy the rest of the weekend.