Current Press Releases

INUVIK (April 02, 2009) – The signing of an agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will allow the GNWT to actively promote the people, artists, performers and tourism destinations of the NWT to an international audience at a world-class event. Details of the GNWT’s planned investment in promoting the North at the Olympic Winter Games were released today.

GNWT objectives for participation at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games include:

• highlighting the culture, landscape, and natural history unique to the Northwest Territories;


• promoting the development of youth leaders and cultural and community pride; and


• promoting the NWT as a desirable destination to live, work, and play.

The planned activities, outlined in the attached backgrounder, provide an overview of specific elements of the GNWT participation at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“The Olympic Winter Games will bring spectators from around the world to Canada,” said Premier Floyd Roland. “This is a rare opportunity for us to promote the NWT and what it has to offer to a national and international audience that can often be beyond our reach. Taking advantage of this opportunity to promote our culture, heritage and unique tourism destinations and provide experiences for our youth is part of the GNWT’s plan to build our future and maximize our opportunities.”

"The appeal of Canada’s northern culture is well recognized around the globe,” said The Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. “Our support for NWT artists and performers will not only showcase our culture and heritage, but will help to make these truly Canada’s Games."

The highlight of territorial involvement will be Northwest Territories Day February 19, 2010. NWT Day will provide numerous opportunities to showcase territorial artists and performers, demonstrate traditional Dene and Inuit Games, and promote the people and opportunities of the Northwest Territories. The three northern territories are working together to promote Canada’s North, showcase Canada’s northern culture and history, and provide opportunities for northerners to take part in the Games.

The GNWT participation at the 2010 Games will be supported by youth ambassadors selected from communities across the Northwest Territories. Activities are planned for these youth and in territorial communities that will have a lasting positive effect. “We want to get our communities and in particular our youth involved in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said The Hounourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. ”We want to promote the Olympic ideal and the health and social benefits of participation in sport in all our communities.”

A pan-territorial marketing campaign is being planned to coordinate with the 2010 Games to promote interest and investment in Canada’s North. Plans for a jointly sponsored Northern pavilion are also being developed with the Yukon and Nunavut. This “Northern House” willprovide a focal point for Northern and NWT participation at the Games, a retail location for northern artists, and a venue to promote territorial business and investment opportunities.

“Our approach to marketing and promoting our territory at the 2010 Games reflects our pride in the Northwest Territories”, said The Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. “We want to show to the rest of Canada that the Northwest Territories is a great place to visit, live and work.”

More information on each of the elements of territorial participation at the Games will be developed in the coming months.

For more information contact:

Drew Williams
Cabinet Communications
Office of the Premier
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel:(867) 669-2304
E-mail: drew_williams@gov.nt.ca

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Backgrounder: GNWT Participation at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Contributing Territory Agreement

• The GNWT has signed a partnership agreement with VANOC that includes a designated “NWT Day” at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, provides access to the Games and associated cultural events, outlines support for torch relay activities and establishes a cooperative relationship between the territory and VANOC.

Pan-Territorial Approach

• Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut are taking a pan territorial approach to their involvement and the 2010 Winter Games and are cooperating on several aspects of their participation in the Games.

Youth Ambassadors

• A youth ambassador program will provide an opportunity for youth (aged 17-25) from all 33 NWT communities to volunteer at the 2010 Winter Games.


• The program includes community youth leadership development leading up to 2010, community celebrations during the Games and follow up leadership development for participating youth.

Torch Relay

• As per the contributing territory agreement with VANOC, the GNWT will choose five youth, one from each region of the Northwest Territories, to carry the torch in the Northwest Territories.


• The Olympic torch will come through Inuvik, Dettah and N’dilo and Yellowknife and the GNWT will support torch relay related community celebrations

Inuit & Dene Game Demonstrations

• There will be Inuit & Dene Games Demonstrations at VANOC and other celebration sites during the 2010 Winter Games.

Artists & Performers

• The GNWT is supporting NWT artists involved with the Cultural Olympiad as well as NWT artists and performers participation at the 2010 Olympic Games.


• The GNWT will also identify performers to participate in Northern activities at the Games.

Community Activations

• The GNWT will use its partnership to promote the Olympic ideals and the health and social benefits of participation in sport throughout the territory leading up to and during the Games.


• Schools are encouraged to involve their students through a number of educational and related programs including the ‘Canadian Olympic School Program’, the ‘Sharing the Dream Webcast Series’, ‘Project Showcase’ and participation in the Pan-Canadian Paralympic School Week.

Northern Marketing Campaign

• The Northern Marketing Campaign is a pan territorial campaign that broadly promotes interest and investment in Canada’s North.


• Media messaging, media kits and other tools will be used in the Northern Marketing Campaign.

NWT Day

• February 19th will be NWT Day at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.


• On NWT Day, the NWT will host the nightly victory celebration in BC Place which includes medal ceremonies, a headliner performance, and an NWT specific show that will showcase territorial performers and promote the NWT as a place to live, visit and invest.

Canada’s North Events

• The territories are working together and will focus their pan-northern participation and promotion of the territories on special Canada’s North events.


• Northern performers will be showcased at various celebration sites around Vancouver and special events will celebrate the Northwest Territories languages, culture and unique Northern identity.

Northern House

• A Northern House is planned in cooperation with the territories of Nunavut and Yukon.


• The Northern House will serve as a focal point to get information on the three northern territories, promote investment and tourism, promote Northern artists, and provide a meeting location for territorial participation.