Yukoners are invited to come out and support Yukon students as they vie for top spot at the 10^th Annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Northwestel Spelling Bee.

The Northwestel Spelling Bee and French Concours are part of this weekend’s Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous festivities. This is the tenth year that Northwestel has sponsored the spelling bee during the Rendezvous weekend.

“Northwestel has been sponsoring this event for 10 years,” said Curtis Shaw, Northwestel Vice President of Consumer Markets. “The spelling bee is a great opportunity for students from across Yukon to demonstrate their spelling skills, meet with students from other schools and play a wonderful part in the annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous celebration.”

Students from Grades 3 to 9 are eligible to compete in the spelling bee. Participants will compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in English, French and French Immersion. 

The event will take place in the main foyer of the Yukon Government administration building on 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse on Friday, February 25th. It was decided in 2010 to alternate the French and English events to allow families the opportunity to enjoy some of the other Rendezvous events and shorten the day for both students and volunteers.

At this time, 33 students representing 10 schools have registered. The schools include St. Elias Community School in Haines Junction, Golden Horn Elementary just outside Whitehorse, and a number of Whitehorse schools: Christ the King Elementary, École Emilie-Tremblay, École primaire Whitehorse Elementary School, Elijah Smith Elementary, Jack Hulland Elementary, Selkirk Elementary, Takhini Elementary and Vanier Catholic Secondary.  

All nine winners will receive prizes donated by Northwestel including $150.00 for the 1st place winners, $100.00 for the 2nd place winners and $75.00 for the 3rd place winners.

In addition, the schools whose students win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place will benefit by receiving a cash award of $200.00 and a large trophy with the winners names to display at the school for a year.

In 2010, Northwestel contributed more than $600,000 in cash and in-kind donations to many northern community groups. Throughout its history, Northwestel has played a key role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North. Northwestel is recognized as a key contributor to the well-being of northern communities through its community investment program and the volunteer contributions of its employees.

Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.

Complete registration information listed below.

Registration Details

Students can register for either the French or the English contest in the main foyer of the Yukon Government administration building on 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse on Friday, February 25.

French Concours:

Registration begins at 8:00 am

Contest begins at 9 am sharp and is expected to continue until 10:00 am

French Coucours finals begin at 10:15 am and are expected to end at 11:30 am

Prizes for the French Concours will be awarded at lunch

English Spelling Bee:

Registration for begins at 11:45 am

Contest begins at 12:45 pm sharp and will continue until 1:45 pm

English Spelling Bee finals begin at 2 pm and are expected to end at 2:45 pm

Prizes for the English Spelling Bee will be awarded immediately after the finals