A year out from its start, the 2026 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Whitehorse has announced its official ambassador.
Michael Jay, the puppeteered red fox best known for his role in the Yukon-made Northern Tails TV nature program, will be acting as roving reporter for the games, sharing the behind-the-scenes story, according to a March 12 announcement. This is much the same role he serves in Northern Tails where he can be seen scampering around Whitehorse, microphone in paw, interviewing locals about the Yukon environment and life in its capital city.
"We are elated to have Michael Jay as the official ambassador for the Arctic Winter Games,” said Tracey Bilsky, president of the Whitehorse 2026 AWG Host Society, quoted in the March 12 announcement about the ambassador.
“Michael Jay brings a sense of fun and adventure that aligns perfectly with the spirit of the Games. A huge thank you to Kelly Milner and the talented team at Shot in the Dark Productions for bringing this to life — we can’t wait to see all the places Michael Jay will go.”
Kelly Milner of Shot in the Dark Productions, which produces Northern Tails, also expressed excitement about Michael Jay’s inclusion as games ambassador.
“Michael Jay and Northern Tails TV provide a way for children and families to explore the North in a fun, creative way,” said Milner. “In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more common in entertainment, this project reminds us of the magic of traditional storytelling, hands-on puppetry, and character-driven learning. It’s about celebrating real stories, real places, and real experiences — something that makes this collaboration with AWG so exciting,” Milner said.
The 2026 Arctic Winter Games are scheduled to run from March 8-15, 2026. More than 2,000 athletes, coaches and cultural performers are expected to participate. Along with Yukoners, visiting participants will come from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec, Northern Alberta, Alaska, Greenland and the Sápmi region of Northern Scandinavia.
2026 will be the seventh time Whitehorse has hosted the games, which were founded in 1969.
The games’ host society hosted a gathering on March 13 to recognize the more than 30 Yukon-based corporate sponsors getting behind the event. Along with the sponsors, volunteers will be important for the games’ success. Information for volunteers and registration is being hosted on www.awg2026.org.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
