It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 easy, but through corporate contributions, a SA国际影视传媒渕adSA国际影视传媒� fundraising dash, public grants and the continued support of community volunteers, board members were able to pull off the 2019 Long John Jamboree that almost wasnSA国际影视传媒檛.

SA国际影视传媒淲e (the board members) really banded together to get everything done,SA国际影视传媒� Long John Jamboree president Michelle Demeule told Yellowknifer in an interview earlier this week.

After unusually high-winds threw a wrench into last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 festivities, forcing organizers to close the jamboree beer garden while losing a full day of events, the board was left in the red, with the future of the festival left on thin ice.

Demeule said the beer garden usually pulls in $30,000 each year. In 2018, due to windy weather that threatened the many tents used to host activities, the jamboree made half of that, leaving them in debt with local vendors.

SA国际影视传媒淟osing all that revenue really affected us pretty badly,SA国际影视传媒� said Demeule.

Facing financial strain caused by the hit to the beer garden last year, there were concerns the 2019 Long John Jamboree might not have the funds to forge ahead.

But De Beers Canada, a founding sponsor of the end-of-March festival on Yellowknife Bay, SA国际影视传媒渟tepped forwardSA国际影视传媒� to offer a lifeline during that uncertain time.

De Beers donated a one-time additional contribution of $11,000, equaling about 50 per cent of the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 outstanding debts, SA国际影视传媒渢o help us pay down local vendors,SA国际影视传媒� said Demeule.

The money was on top of the yearly contribution of $30,000 the festival receives from De Beers.

SA国际影视传媒淒e Beers came on board and said SA国际影视传媒榠f you can guarantee youSA国际影视传媒檒l have an ice carving competition' SA国际影视传媒� where they normally give us $30,000 a year SA国际影视传媒� 'we are willing to pitch in 50 per cent ... to help you guys get back on your feet,SA国际影视传媒� so that we could continue with the 2019 jamboree,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were also on sort of a mad campaign of fundraising SA国际影视传媒� bingos, chase the ace. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not exactly the easiest way to raise money in this town so it was very difficult to make up the difference of the money we owed,SA国际影视传媒� said Demeule.

The board also received a grant of $11,000 from Heritage Canada, to go toward musicians, staging and ice carving expenditures.

SA国际影视传媒淪o we are able to move forward with 2019, but of course it still sets us back a little bit, because the fundraising you do after the jamboree is normally for the next jamboree, not paying off debts from last yearSA国际影视传媒� added Demeule. SA国际影视传媒淲e still start at a bit of a disadvantage but at least starting at ground zero was better than starting in the hole.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the slight disadvantage the festival now faces, Demeule said guests attending the weekend-long event can expect the same fun-filled slate of staple events and activities, including the De Beers Inspired Ice Carving Challenging.

Jamboree-goers can expect some changes to 2019SA国际影视传媒檚 festival, but not necessarily due to financial setbacks.

Faced with weather woes of a different kind this year SA国际影视传媒� record-high warm temperatures SA国际影视传媒� Demeule announced Monday the site of the festival, which has taken place on Yellowknife Bay since its inception in 2012, would be relocated to the Fieldhouse parking lot.

That means some snow-centric activities, including snow rugby and a fat bike track, will likely have to be cut from the festivalSA国际影视传媒檚 line up.

The last minute relocation put SA国际影视传媒渁 lot of stress and pressure on everybody involved to pull this event off,SA国际影视传媒� said Demeule, adding SA国际影视传媒淎t least weSA国际影视传媒檙e fortunate enough to make the (relocation) decision ahead of time this year, and not be caught in the middle of the weather.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 still going to be ice carving, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a beer garden with musicians SA国际影视传媒� thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no reason why people wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to come out and enjoy the nice warm weather,SA国际影视传媒� assured Demeule.

Following suit with the Snowking Winter FestivalSA国际影视传媒檚 considerations of starting early next year, after flooding forced organizers to close early, Demeule said the Long John Jamboree board is also mulling a revised schedule.

SA国际影视传媒淲e may have to look at changing dates because you never know what youSA国际影视传媒檙e getting with weather in March,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

For the Long John Jamboree to be a success for years to come, Demeule said the board will continue to rely on corporate sponsorships, fundraising initiatives and, importantly, the time and efforts of volunteers. It takes between 60 to 100 volunteers to pull the weekend event off.

SA国际影视传媒淭hen we have to get back out there and rebuild community relationships with sponsors, donors, the community in general for volunteering SA国际影视传媒� just really building that community spirit that ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping is going to last a long time"

Editor's note: The original version of this story erroneously referred to De Beer's additional contribution as a "loan." Yellowknifer apologies for any confusion this error may have caused.