WHITEHORSE – Yukon kicks off Yukon Culture at 2010 with today’s announcement of the upcoming visual performances, art exhibitions and traditional sport demonstrations that will showcase Yukon at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The 2010 Winter Olympics will give Yukon artists and performers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their talents before a worldwide audience,” Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor said. “We are especially proud that support for programs like Culture Quest has helped strengthen Yukon’s tourism, investment and creative opportunities aimed at growing Yukon’s art and culture sectors.”
“The Yukon Arts Centre is pleased that Yukon Culture at 2010 coordinator Michele Emslie and her team have taken on the challenge of showcasing Yukon’s diverse talent at the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Games,” said Al Cushing, CEO Yukon Arts Centre. “The team has brought together an incredible cast to represent Yukon at celebration sites across the greater-Vancouver area.”
The creative components and their team leaders are:
• Yukon Culture at 2010 coordinator Michele Emslie and assistant Andrea Burgoyne.
• Yukon Victory Celebration artistic director Celia McBride, working with Vancouver producer Patrick Roberge.
• Sewing Our Traditions: Dolls of Canada’s North, Mary Bradshaw and Jennifer Bowen, curators.
Many of Yukon’s cultural activities are in partnership with the Yukon First Nation 2010 Project led by the Council of Yukon First Nations working with the Four Host First Nations, and Yukon is also working closely with Nunavut and Northwest Territories to create a pan-northern experience. Traditional Inuit and Dene Games athletes will do demonstrations at various venues throughout the Olympic Games.
Yukon’s investment of $2.6 million for the games is aimed at showcasing Yukon as a visitor destination; promoting Yukon as a great place to invest and do business; celebrating Yukon First Nations culture; exposing Yukon artists and performers to the world and engaging youth and sport development.
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Background information attached.
| Contact: | |
| Emily Younker Cabinet Communications 867-633-7961 emily.younker@gov.yk.ca |
Karen Keeley Communications, Tourism & Culture 867-667-8304 karen.keeley@gov.yk.ca |
Yukon Culture at 2010 Schedule of Events (subject to change)
| DATE | EVENT | TIME | LOCATION |
| Feb. 8 to Mar. 5 | Ted Harrison Exhibition |
Daily | West Vancouver Ferry Gallery |
| Feb. 12 to 28 | Sewing Our Traditions: Dolls of Canada’s North Exhibition |
Daily | Gateway Theatre, Richmond |
| Feb. 15 to 26 | West Van Day Camp workshops/performances featuring Root Sellers Soir de Semaine Youth hip hop dancers Visual artists |
Daily | West Vancouver Community Centre |
| Feb. 15 to 26 | Visual Art installations/workshops Meshell Melvin and Nicole Bauberger |
Daily | West Vancouver Community Centre |
| Feb. 16 | Victory Ceremony Performance preview | 8 p.m. | Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse |
| Feb. 17 | Cultural Olympiad presents Gordie Tentrees | TBD | TBD |
| Feb. 17 to 26 | Yukon Performances | TBD | Canada’s Northern House |
| Feb. 17 to 26 | Inuit and Dene Games featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut athletes |
Ongoing | Various venues |
| Feb. 17 | Arts Gala featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut artists |
6 to 8 p.m. | Canada’s Northern House |
| Feb. 17 | Pan-northern Presentation featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut artists |
12 to 1 p.m., 3:30 to 6 p.m. |
Vancouver Celebration Site |
| Feb. 18 and 19 | Yukon Music Showcase featuring Root Sellers Soir de Semaine Spring Breakup Sophisticated Cave Men Sasquatch Prom Date |
8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | Railway Club, Vancouver |
| Feb. 19 | Pan-northern Presentation featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut artists |
3:30 to 7 p.m. | Surrey Celebration Site |
| Feb. 19 | Sasquatch Prom Date | 6:30 to 9 p.m. | West Vancouver Atrium |
| Feb. 20 | Yukon Day Victory Ceremony Performance Artistic Director – Celia McBride |
6:30 p.m. | BC Place Stadium Live audience of 20,000+ This internationally broadcast multimedia event will showcase Yukon culture and heritage through video and live performance |
| Feb. 20 | Sophisticated Cave Men | 6:30 to 9 p.m. | West Vancouver Atrium |
| Feb. 21 | Yukon Performances | All day | Whistler Athletes Village |
| Feb. 21 | Soir de Semaine | 6:30 to 9 p.m. | West Vancouver Atrium |
| Feb. 22 | Yukon Presentation including YFN performers |
6:30 to 9 p.m. | West Vancouver Atrium |
| Feb. 23 | Pan-northern Presentation featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut artists |
3:30 to 7 p.m. | Richmond Celebration Site |
| Feb. 23 | Sewing Our Traditions: Dolls of Canada’s North Opening reception |
7:30 p.m. | Gateway Theatre, Richmond |
| Feb. 24 | Arts Gala featuring Yukon, NWT and Nunavut artists |
6 to 8 p.m. | Canada’s Northern House |
| Feb. 24 | Yukon Performances | All day | Vancouver Athletes Village |
| Feb. 25 | Root Sellers Youth performance |
6:30 to 9 p.m. | West Vancouver Atrium |
| Feb. 26 and 27 | Cultural Olympiad presents Soir de Semaine | TBD | Winterruption – Granville Island |
Contacts:
Yukon Victory Celebration – BC Place, February 20, 2010:
Coordinator: Celia McBride 867-456-7830.
Cultural activations:
Culture Quest coordinator Michele Emslie 867-667-8476 and assistant Andrea Burgoyne 867 667 8476.
Pan-northern artists:
Organizers Mary Bradshaw 867-667-8485 and Jennifer Bowen 867-667-8460.
Cultural Olympiad:
Laurel Parry, Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government 867-667-5264.
Yukon First Nations:
CYFN Coordinators Patti Balsillie 867-393-9221, Katie Johnston 867-332-5283 and Charlene Alexander 867-334-3523. www.yfn2010.org