12 IKC Social Programme

Please Note for all Social Events

Dress: All events are outdoor or partly outdoors. Dress for all events is casual. Although daylight hours are long, there is the possibility of rain or cooler temperatures in the evening. Alternatively, it could be sunny and warm. Please be prepared for both, wear comfortable flat shoes, bring a hat, sunglasses and a light wind/rain jacket or cover-up.
Cash Bars: All events will have cash bars where VISA, Mastercard and cash are accepted.
Time: All social events will start at 18:00 and end at 23:00.
Transport: Buses will be provided for the Beer Barge and Farewell and will start leaving the hotels at 18:00. Last busses will leave the venues at 23:00.

Sunday 07 July 2024

Icebreaker Evening: “Diamonds and Ice”

18:00-23:00 – Somba K’e Civic Plaza in front of City Hall (within walking distance of conference hotels)

12 IKC’s Icebreaker welcomes you to Yellowknife, one of the main gateways to the Canadian North, to start the celebration of 30 Years of Diamonds in Canada! In Canada, diamonds are intimately associated with ice. All Canada’s diamond mines are located in the vast, often remote, barren lands of subarctic Canada from the Northwest Territories to the province of Quebec. Innumerable lakes and streams freeze during the long winters allowing access to discover, and later build and operate diamond mines. Diamonds are also called “ice” because they are both clear colourless ice-like crystals and feel ice-cold to the touch because they are at a lower temperature than our bodies and conduct heat away from warm skin.

If you’ve never visited the Canadian North in the winter, now you don’t have to. 12 IKC’s opening event will provide attendees the chance to experience a Yellowknife winter without donning a parka and braving the icy cold. Traditionally a night to catch up with old friends and make new ones, this evening will feature local cuisine amidst winter-inspired décor.

You will begin the evening on the sunny, grassy lawn on the shores of beautiful Frame Lake with a welcome drink and hors d’oeuvres. Dene Drummers will perform with a traditional Feeding the Fire Ceremony. Next you will move a few feet to the marquee, where you will experience a winter wonderland and enjoy a harvest table and dessert buffets.

Alongside the Icebreaker, delegates are encouraged to visit the Northern Arts Market (17:00-21:00) where northern and indigenous artists will be selling unique and original art and fine crafts, items to take home as a memento of their travels to this beautiful area of Canada.

Icebreaker Sponsored by

Wednesday 10 July 2024

Beer Barge

18:00-23:00 – Yellowknife Historical Museum, on the Ingraham Trail

The Beer Barge was once a proud tradition in the city’s early water faring days. Until 1960, when the highway connecting Yellowknife to the rest of Canada was completed, all transportation to the city was by airplane, ice road freighting or in summer most freight was handled by barge traffic on Great Slave Lake. In the true northern winters, the lake is frozen for six months and with spring breakup the arrival of the much anticipated first barge of the season was a big deal! Most importantly, beer was always the priority for thirsty miners who, by this time, had run out of their winter supply.

This fun, informal, beer garden-style evening is located at the newly opened Yellowknife Historical Museum on the shore of Great Slave Lake. You won’t want to miss a tour of the museum to explore the fascinating mining and norther artifacts, photographs, maps and more.

Delegates will be able to view the barge coming across the lake, and can even walk down the path to greet the barge guests and crew. Fresh fish from the lake is the main item on the buffet, along with other local fare. After dinner delegates can dance away to the tunes of one of Yellowknife’s favourite party bands, The Stray Dogs.

Beer Barge Sponsored by

Friday 12 July 2024

Farewell Dinner: “Bush Flying Bash”

18:00-23:00 – Acasta Heliflight Hangar, near the Yellowknife Airport

To conclude our celebrations of 30 Years of Diamonds in Canada we, along with the 12 IKC mascot Tindi, acknowledge the key role of bush flying in the exploration for diamonds, especially in the adverse conditions of the Canadian North. The first real use of bush flying was in 1919, more than one hundred years ago and it transformed the North. This vast region’s innumerable lakes and rivers provided landing areas for water-based aircraft in summer and ski-equipped aircraft in winter, which in turn allowed the extensive use of helicopters. Acasta Heliflight is one of the companies providing specialized services to the diamond industry. This is the perfect occasion to wear your 12 IKC Tindi T-Shirt (available for purchase at the Registration Desk)!

The evening will begin with a welcome drink and hors d’oeuvres on the tarmac apron. When the hangar doors open, you will step into a prospecting bush camp in the Canadian Tundra. Following a few formalities and a buffet dinner the party starts. Yellowknife’s famous “Priscilla’s Revenge” will delight us with their repertoire of dance music.

Although the last buses depart at 23:00, the party does not have to stop! For those who would like to continue, the buses to the hotels will also drop off at the legendary Gold Range Bar.

Many lasting memories will be created, and new stories will undoubtedly be written as attendees bid au revoir to 12 IKC having also celebrated 50 Years of International Kimberlite Conferences.

Farewell Dinner Sponsored by

Poster Session Bars

All posters will be on display for the entire week of the conference (Monday to Friday noon) with dedicated poster sessions Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 16:00.