Tonight was another one of those magical nights when I could imagine myself living in Yellowknife, especially if I could move into a house like this one with a beautiful dock on the lake. TV producer Heather Avery often comes here to kayak and swim. She invited me along for a BBQ meet and greet with volunteers and writers involved in the NorthWords Writers Festival that starts today. The comfy house is nestled in birch trees (large ones by northern standards), with huge windows overlooking the water. Behind Heather you can faintly see some of the houseboats. It's a stark contrast to the suburban development in the part of town where I live.
This is Judith and Ian Drinnan, who own the Yellowknife Book Cellar. Originally from the UK, they met in Montreal and moved north around the time I came here in the late '70's. The book store specializes in territorial authors, and Judy clearly is passionate about the the local books. After being pushed out of their location in a small downtown mall a year ago, she considered getting out of the business, but I think it will be awhile before the doors are shut. It can't be easy, though, running a book store in a city with under 20,000 people.
Judy is a supporter of the writers' festival --this is the second year. Most of the writers are local, from storyteller Richard Van Camp, who is doing a session on writing a graphic novel, to spoken word artist Shane Koyczan. However, well known children's writer Deborah Ellis from B.C. is here too, along with Michael Johansen from Labrador whose specialty is historical fiction. Workshops, mentoring sessions, a comedy night and readings are lined up over the next three days. It's a city with a lot more to offer than bars and baseball, which seemed to be the only options three decades ago.
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