The 2007 Canada Winter Games held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning to officially open ATCO Place.

Officials also released a partial list of the performers who will entertain Games participants and guests.

The tent on the Whitehorse waterfront, ATCO Place, is named for its sponsor, the ATCO Group.

It will be home to the opening and closing ceremonies and the cultural festival, all of which are sponsored by Northwestel Inc.

'ATCO Place will be a great hosting venue for the Canada Games,' said Nancy Southern, president and chief executive officer of the ATCO Group.

'We are pleased to have the opportunity to engage the people of our companies in the North to celebrate in this great sporting event.'

The cultural festival, which takes place from Feb. 28 to Mar. 6, will be offered to the public free of charge.

Performers and artists from the three territories will provide a mixture of music, dance and drumming, art demonstrations, workshops, artist's talks and gallery exhibits in a varied array of visual and performing acts.

'We have brought together a number of artists from across the North,' said Eric Epstein, the cultural festival's artistic director.

'Spectators will enjoy a festival showcasing our unique northern culture.'

In addition to cross-country skiing and the box office program, Northwestel is the presenting sponsor of the opening and closing ceremonies and the festival.

The company's contribution will be used to offset telecommunications costs during the Games.

'Northwestel is very pleased to be part of the outstanding group of companies, governments and volunteers who are all working together to make the 2007 Games the best Games ever,' said Paul Flaherty, Northwestel's president and chief executive officer.

'When the many exciting Games events begin to unfold at ATCO Place and all the other venues, no doubt all northerners, along with Northwestel and its employees, will feel truly proud.'

The following performers and artists will take part in the cultural festival, though the list is not yet finalized:

Aaron 'Godson' Hernandez (NWT), Amanda Leslie/Barbara Chamberlin Jazz Duo (YT), Arctic Bay Throat Singers (NU), Art Johns (YT), Arviat Inngitingit (NU), Audio Xport by Lisa Turner (YT), Barbara Chamberlin (with Yukon Women in Music) (YT), Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (ON), Boris Sichon (BC), BOY (YT/ON), Breakdance Yukon (YT), Buck 65 (ON), Calvin Cairns (BC), Caribou Records Pan Northern CD release (YT/NWT/NU), Colin Adjun (NU), Dakw‰k‰da Dancers (YT), Debbie Gordon-Ruben (NWT), Didier Delahaye (YT), Extremely Moving Youth Society (YT), Four Below Normal (YT), Gerald Antoine (NWT), Indio Saravanja (NWT), Jerry Alfred and Company (YT), Karen Zaiden (NWT), Kate Weekes (YT), KDFN Youth Drummers (YT), Kim Barlow (YT), Klondike Highland Dancers (YT), Kugluktuk Drummers (YT), Lana Rae (YT), Les Ceusses-qui-ont-du-fun-quand-y-chantent (YT), Licorice Whips (YT), Linnea (YT), Manfred Janssen (YT), Multiplex (YT), Natalie Edelson (YT), National Artists' Program (Canada), Nicole Edwards (YT), Nicole Edwards Sings Swing (YT), Northern Ballet Company (YT), Northern Lights School of Dance (YT), Oliver Schroer (ON), Persephone Singers (YT), Please have a coffee by Lisa Turner (YT), Raven Spirit Dance Company (BC/YT), Raw Element (YT), Rusty Reid (YT), Scotch (YT), Serena Ryder (ON), Simon Tookoomee (NWT), Soir de Semaine (YT), Steve Smith (NWT), Tanya Tagaq (NU), The Bleary Goodlings (YT), The Twisters (YT/BC), Urban North Project (presented by Frostbite Music Society) (YT/NU/NWT), Whitehorse Community Choir (YT), Yukon Educational Theatre Willow Project (YT), You Are Here (presented by Frostbite Music Society) (YT), Yukon Dance Ensemble (YT), Yukon Film Society (YT).