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8 Tuesday July 28 2015 By DALI CARMICHAEL As organizers of the annual NWT Pride Festival head into the fourth year of hosting the Yellowknife summertime staple they are looking to cater to a more inclusive group of patrons than ever before. With the festivals balance of entertain- ment and educational workshops now well- established the Pride team has a new focus on delivering programming to make the fes- tival more accessible to more people espe- cially to youth. Making sure that information edu- cation and all of our events are accessi- ble to everyone is really important said Pride arts coordinator Iman Kassam. But sometimes as adults we forget that our younger populations dont have the same access that we do they dont have the same freedoms that we do and they dont have the same support systems that adults can have and that adults can find for themselves. While the younger generation has always been encouraged to attend Pride holding more activities for them was identied as one of the main areas of improvement. Its in part by our own effort were trying to do more year-round activities for youth but also the youth of Yellowknife have just taken more of an interest this year in being a part of Pride Kassam said. Its been re- ally amazing watching the LGBTQ youth sort of take charge of the messages they want to spread and the information they want to receive. Almost all of this years events and work- shops are open to the 19 and under crowd. The only events youngsters will be barred NWT Pride prepares for round four of inclusive summer festival from are the showings of Queerlesque on Aug. 6 and 7. Otherwise they will have the chance to cheer on the the Jerry Cans as they head- line the festivals main stage on Aug. 8 and dance to the electronic sounds of headliner Austra the following night. Pride promises a wide array of sounds throughout the weekend with performances by Toronto-based duo LAL Light Fires the drag-queen side-project of Gentleman Reg Scary Bear Soundtrack a dream pop act from Cambridge Bay Nunavut 2014 Polaris Prize nominee Rae Spoon VJDJ the side project of Fort Smiths The Johnnys and Yellowknife favourite Grey Gritt. For the rst time this year Pride will also be partnering up with the Association Franco-Culturelle de Yellowknife to provide French programming and to bring in Que- becois chanteuse Patricia Foster. Were really excited to have a workshop in French said Pride board member Maken- zie Zouboules. Well have people on the site who are volunteers wearing Je parle francais buttons to make sure that were becoming more accessible. Also making their debut at this years fes- tival are a group of active listeners trained professionals from around the city who will be planted throughout the festival. We know that sometimes being a part of something that is so emotionally charged including being at an event like Pride its re- ally important that folks feel supported and comfortable and that they have access to re- sources Zouboules said. We are going to have active listeners on site who will be vis- ible wearing cards that explain a little bit about their experience or about things they are open to talking about. If someone is hav- ing a moment where they feel like they would need support theyll have volunteers around who can direct them to the right resources or just be a listening ear. The NWT Pride festival is only one activ- ity in an ongoing effort to make the NWT a safer and more welcoming place for people who identify as LGBTQ and their support- ers. Over the last four years its prominence has grown inuencing Inuvik and Hay River to host their own Pride events. Recently theres been a lot of people changing their prole pictures to rainbows and wed really like to challenge people who are interested or who call themselves allies to make sure that theyre being held to their word and showing up at the festival and maybe volunteering Zouboules said. Thats a very concrete way of contributing to the wellbeing of LGBTQ people in the North. NWT Pride will take place Aug. 7-9 at the Folk on the Rocks site in Yellowknife. ARTS CULTURE FESTIVALS PhotoMeaganWohlberg By DALI CARMICHAEL Professional kayakers from around the world and novices alike are starting to trickle their way into the North to attend this years Paddlefest Fort Smiths annual August long weekend party on the Slave River. With the 2015 World Freestyle Kayak- ing Championships taking place in Ottawa in late August some paddlers are arriv- ing early and deviating to the NWT for the chance to hit some of the best white water rapids on the planet. We have a few people that have been com- ing up to the Slave because they are going to the worlds after said Paddlefest coor- dinator Genevieve Ct. Its like Oh well now that Im in Canada lets just do a little bit more driving and get to Fort Smith. For the water its really worth it because they can get good training up here. Even the most novice of paddlers will be able to appreciate the skills of the pros Ct noted. Those guys have a lot of advanced races that well be able to watch and theyre really hard she said. TheslalomracesstartontheSundaymorn- ing of the festival at a set of waves known as the English Channel at the Pelican Rapids. There will be a guided hike for spec- tators to go and check it out Ct said. There could be some carnage hopefully not too much. Renowned athletes to make a splash at Paddle- fest So far paddlers from as far away as New Zealand Australia Norway and the United States are registered to partake in the aquatic activities along with about 65 other participants from the territory and Alberta. Im expecting over 100 people this year Ct said. We only had 80 last year because of res we lost about 50 people because the road was closed. Unfortunately the pre-paddlefest youth lessons usually led by the Calgary-based kayaking business Aquabatics had to be can- celled this year due to injuries sustained by the instructors. That said Ct remains upbeat about this years event. She said the festival has found its groove and organizers plan to fol- low last years recipe for yet another suc- cessful Paddlefest. Ingredients include a dash of stand-up paddleboarding a hunk of inatable pool toy races a smattering of kids games with Parks Canada and a dollop of community feasts at the Queen Elizabeth Campground all topped off with a night of dancing at Satur- days beach party at the Roaring Rapids Hall. On top of providing two round-trip tickets from Fort Smith to Edmonton as prizes for the Paddlefest silent auction Northwestern Air Lease will be offering discounted return ights for registered paddlers over the fes- tival weekend. Yellowknifers will pay 199 one-way or 398 return and those in Hay River will pay 105 for their return trip. There will also be sight-seeing yovers all weekend for 25. With most of the organizing complete and the nal few pieces of the festival fall- ing into place Ct is almost as calm as the atwater on a windless day as she waits for Paddlefest weekend to arrive give or take a few ripples. ItsbeenacrazycoupleweeksbutIfeelpretty peaceful about it now she said. Im ready. SPORTS RECREATION PADDLING PhotoPaulBannister Pride-goers dance during the 2013 festival. This year marks the fourth year for NWT Pride. A kayaker plays on the waves at the 2014 Slave River Paddlefest.