IN PICTURES: Arctic Winter Games opening ceremonies bring teams, community together

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Whitehorse to cheer thousands of athletes, coaches, cultural performers and officials as they paraded to Shipyards Park for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games opening ceremonies Sunday night.

Waving small Northwest Territories flags — along with others, such as for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Tłįcho people — the Team NT contingent was all smiles as it passed by the onlookers, many of whom also had NWT flags.

As many of the Team NT members are from smaller communities, the pomp and circumstance in the city of 34,400 people was making quite a big impression on them.

“It’s very over stimulating because of how much people, but it’s really fun, and I’m excited to see how the games go,” said Inuvik’s Audrey Bullock, taking selfies with her friend Jolie Wolki in the crowd at the opening ceremonies.

“It’s amazing, it’s really cool, a lot of people,” said Wolki, who along with Bullock will be jigging, part of the cultural offerings at the Games.

The opening ceremonies featured a fly over from a Canadian Armed Forces CF-18 fighter jet, which fired its afterburners used for maximum performance to soar into the sky, much to the amazement of the crowd.

While some preliminary sporting events were held on Sunday, the schedule is on in full stating Monday morning.