FOR RELEASE     #08-058
March 18, 2008

WHITEHORSE – Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor congratulated Yukon Educational Theatre on the tenth anniversary of its spring equinox celebration, Burning Away the Winter Blues, and on its new initiative to webcast this year’s event.

Yukon Educational Theatre (YET) provides community celebrations and educational theatre programs through the creation of original theatre pieces and touring throughout Yukon. Burning Away the Winter Blues is designed to help Yukoners mark the spring equinox, celebrate the end of winter and renew their spirits in time for spring. The Yukon government has provided funding to both this event and other YET activities through the Arts Fund administered through the Department of Tourism and Culture.

“On behalf of the Yukon government, we congratulate Yukon Educational Theatre, event organizers and volunteers on the tenth anniversary of Burning Away the Winter Blues,” Taylor said. “This annual event is an important cultural contribution to our community. It brings Yukoners together in the spirit of friendship, allowing them to bid farewell to winter and share in the excitement that marks spring’s return. This year’s event promises to be even more exciting, with the use of a live webcast to include people from all over the world.”

Yukon Educational Theatre has a new website, and for the first time, people from around the world, in particular the circumpolar world, are being invited to take part in the event via a live webcast.

“This is a great opportunity for people to take a ‘virtual’ trip to Yukon,” Yukon Educational Theatre Artistic Director, Arlin McFarlane said. “Those viewing our event via webcast will get a chance to participate in a grass roots community event here and get a real sense of what Yukon is all about. And perhaps those watching will be encouraged to come to Yukon next year to attend our event in person.”

Burning Away the Winter Blues is held every March, on or near the spring equinox. Beginning around sunset, a torch-lit procession winds its way along the banks of the Yukon River to a bonfire at Robert Service campground in Whitehorse, where an effigy of winter is burned, along with paper representations of the ‘blues’ which people have contributed. The public is invited to email or mail their blues in for burning, to attend the event via the live webcast, or come out in person and share in the celebration on the evening of March 22.

For more information contact Yukon Educational Theatre at (867) 633–4844 or visit

www.burningawaythewinterblues.com.

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