Borders are closed and would-be visitors unable to travel, local residents can still send a piece of Yellowknife to friends and family outside the NWT through the creative products featured at one local business.
has only been in operation for one year, but its cards have quickly become a staple at markets and pop-up shops around town.
Images of sundogs, sleds and Franklin Street icons can be purchased and shared to show out-of-territory loved ones what Yellowknife is all about.
Having moved from England over the summer of 2019, Joanne Fairbrother said she was struck by the beauty of the North. She's always dabbled in artistic hobbies and was a painter back in England. Seeing Yellowknife with fresh eyes, she thought it would be fun to capture scenes from the city.
In January 2020, she began turning her photos into drawings and sharing them with friends and family on Facebook. She said everyone seemed to like them, so when Covid struck and Fairbrother began working from home, she was able to create more images with the extra time. Yellowknife Cards took off from there, she said.
Fairbrother runs the business with her partner Haley Doucet, who runs the marketing and social media for Yellowknife Cards. Together, the pair has sold about 1,300 cards. The pair suspects that number would be higher in a year with more open markets and shops.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's wonderful how everyone's supporting local,SA国际影视传媒 Fairbrother said. SA国际影视传媒淚 love the community feel in supporting the arts and supporting each other in a tough time. It's been really nice to see how people have come together.SA国际影视传媒
So far, an image of a flower-clad Elon Muskox is Yellowknife CardsSA国际影视传媒 best seller. Fairbrother suspects itSA国际影视传媒檚 because the Sombe KSA国际影视传媒檈 mascot is a a figure people recognize and remember from time spent in Yellowknife
SA国际影视传媒淵ou obviously create your own memories in the North while you're here and a lot of people have sent the Elon to family members that have been (here) and had the picture in front of you,SA国际影视传媒 Fairbrother said. SA国际影视传媒淪o it's not just a picture, it's a picture that evokes a memory as well, for the people receiving it, which is really cool.SA国际影视传媒
Fairbrother said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 partial to the lynx card, a new release of a lynx staring at the camera surrounded by autumn colours.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really fantastic,SA国际影视传媒 she said.
While creating each drawing by hand can be time consuming, Fairbrother said she's happy to create something SA国际影视传媒渁 little bit different that really captures where we are.SA国际影视传媒
She acknowledged that there are a lot of artists in town, but said she feels lucky to have found her niche.
SA国际影视传媒淭ourists and locals alike, they both seem to really love the artwork so that's really nice.SA国际影视传媒
Yellowknife Cards has only been part of one pop-up shop so far in 2021. As the duo continues to create new designs and grow in popularity, they said there could be new materials on the horizon including prints and vinyl stickers.
SA国际影视传媒淭he possibilities are endless,SA国际影视传媒 Fairbrother said.