Michael Jay the Fox’s northern adventure
Michael Jay has been on the move across the North, turning up in unexpected places along the way.
If you’re not yet familiar, Michael Jay the Fox is the official mascot of the 2026 Arctic Winter Games. (We know what you’re thinking, and no, not that Michael J. Fox. This one is just as cool, though, minus the time‑travelling DeLorean.) Known to many as the star of Northern Tails, Michael Jay represents the spirit of the Games, northern pride, playfulness, and the connections that bring communities together.
From Arctic Bay to roadside pullouts, fibre installation worksites, and even at Tim Hortons sipping on a Double Double, Michael Jay has been spotted across the North as excitement builds for the 2026 Games.
From Dawson City to Nunavut
From Dawson City through communities in the Northwest Territories and onward to Rankin Inlet, Michael Jay’s journey mirrors the places where Northwestel people live and work, and the communities that make the Arctic Winter Games possible.
Many of these moments come from Northwestel employees participating in the ‘Adventures of Michael Jay’ initiative, an internal program that invites team members to share photos of Michael Jay as they go about their work across the company’s vast northern operating area. Whether it’s a technician on a fibre build, a team in a local office, or a crew travelling between communities, employees are helping tell the story of the North, one stop at a time.
It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one: the same people who keep northern communities connected are the ones carrying Michael Jay on his journey.
A big thank you to our team members for capturing such great photos!
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Connecting people to the Games
That connection runs deeper than photos. Northwestel actively supports employees who want to be part of the Arctic Winter Games by offering paid volunteer leave for many of those serving as planners, coaches, officials, mission staff, and general volunteers.
It means that when the Games arrive, Northwestel will be there as more than a sponsor, through our people, standing alongside their neighbours, teammates, and communities.
On the road to the Games
As Michael Jay continues his northern adventure, his journey reflects more than a mascot on the move. It reflects a company rooted in the North, whose employees live here, work here, and give back here.
From the communities he visits to the volunteers who will help bring the Games to life, Michael Jay’s travels show how the Arctic Winter Games, and Northwestel, are connected by the same thing: Northerners, supporting one another across a vast and remarkable place.
Keep an eye out. You never know where Michael Jay will turn up next.
