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There won't be a Gateway Jamboree this year, but hamlet officials in Enterprise say they're eager to bring it back as soon as possible.

Evelyn Coleman, who coordinated the festival in past years, said the hamlet normally hires her over the winter to organize the annual celebration, but that didn't happen this year.

"It was a very trying time for council, residents and staff over the last year," she explained. "Planning and funding would have had to start in January or February.

"I think that with what has happened in the community with staffing, council and the aftermath of the [2023 wildfire], it was not on anyone's radar."

Enterprise has been on a political rollercoaster since a wildfire destroyed many of the community's homes. A February 2024 mayoral race was decided by just four votes and was followed by four councillors resigning before taking their oath of office. The mayor herself, Sandra McMaster, resigned just five months into her term, handing the reins to Barb Hart in July 2024. Mike St. Amour, who lost the mayor race to McMaster in February, was acclaimed as municipal leader in December 2024.

But on May 7, citing "governance, financial, and operational challenges," Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay announced that mayor and council were relieved of their duties. McKay appointed Grant Hood as hamlet administrator. McKay did not elaborate on what the issues were.

Hood, who previously served as senior administrative officer for the Town of Inuvik for over a decade, admitted he only recently was informed the hamlet hired a coordinator to oversee the jamboree, but added the best thing people can do is plan ahead for next year.

"Given the current circumstances regarding human resources and other internal challenges, to give the event the time it needs to be successful could not be accomplished," said Hood. "I can assure you that there will be efforts made to ensure that a jamboree will be held next year. It is recognized as an important event and will not be forgotten."

Coleman concurred, saying that based the number of inquiries she's received about what was going on, she's certain the interest is out there.

She added that the cancellation of the event was just a result of unfortunate circumstances and encouraged residents to start thinking about the 2026 jamboree instead.

"ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure it will come back," she said. "It's too much of an important and supported event not to."