A week before the Canada Winter Games are in town, axes will be thrown, pounds upon pounds of flour will be carried and chainsaws will be chucked at Yukon's winter games, otherwise known as Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous.

The annual winter festival has taken on the theme of Rendezvous the Yukon's Winter Games for its two-day edition in February in honour of the Canada Winter Games being hosted in Whitehorse from Feb. 23 to March 10.

It marks the first time the Canada Games will be hosted North of 60.

'It's a little tongue-in-cheek,' Harold Sher, Rendezvous' executive director, said of the 2007 Rendezvous theme during a recent interview.

The festival's logo features Sourdough Sam standing on a podium, proudly displaying his '07 gold medal.

It was important to tie the national sporting event in with Rendezvous, Sher said.

The theme and logo were introduced and well-received at Rendezvous' annual general meeting last month to more than 50 people who attended.

While next year's two-day session is considerably scaled back from the usual approximately two weeks' worth of events, Sher pointed out it will feature many of the favourite features of Rendezvous. They include the one-dog pull, flour packing contest, axe throw and other events usually held in the Main Street tent during the festival's weekend.

There will also be entertainment in the main festival tent and the Rendezvous Review featuring many of the performers at the festival such as the Snowshoe Shufflers and can can dancers, among others.

The Queens contest will also be back, though the Sourdough Sam competition has been cancelled and likely won't be back even in 2008, when the festival returns in full-force.

In an earlier interview, Rendezvous president Marj Eschak explained some bars haven't been willing to sponsor a Sam competitor as they were in the past, or when they finally decide to, the deadline has passed.

Most of the sled dog races have also been cancelled for 2007 because of the huge number of volunteers needed.

Sher noted the festival is fortunate to have about a dozen loyal, dedicated volunteers who will be helping out, but it's expected some volunteers who might work on Rendezvous would also be helping out with the Canada Winter Games.

With that, the date for Rendezvous was pushed back by a week so potential volunteers for both events could help with each. It's still expected there could be fewer volunteers than usual though for Rendezvous as preparations for the Games get underway.

'We didn't want to detract from the Canada Winter Games,' said Sher.

He also mentioned Rendezvous' 'major loyal sponsors' are expected to stay on board for the 2007 edition.

Meanwhile, numerous local businesses are also acting as sponsors for the Games, but Sher said it's too early to tell if that will impact sponsorship for Rendezvous.

While work has begun on next year's events, those who have worked on Rendezvous in the past were acknowledged as well at the group's annual meeting.

Russ Ackland was named Volunteer of the Year for his help assisting the office, revitalizing the Rendezvous Parade, volunteering on all fundraisers and work parties and for assisting with the Main Street tent.

Sid Acton was named Board Member of the Year for his willingness to accept new projects and pitch in whenever needed.

Finally, Sheila Dodd was given the Honourary Lifetime Member Award for her years supporting the festival.

It was Dodd who helped bring the International Snowcarving Competition to the festival. She continues to advocate the value of the event and economic benefits to the tourism industry as well as to Whitehorse and the Yukon.

As preparations continue for the 2007 festival, anyone interested in running for Queen or volunteering can contact the Rendezvous office at 667-2148.

Sher is hoping to have a slate of about five to seven Queen candidates by late December.

Meanwhile, between now and the festival, work has to be done on co-ordinating the events and deciding where they will be held.

There's a possibility the events could be held in Shipyards Park or the former Motorways trucking yard off Second Avenue.

They could also remain in their traditional location at Main Street and Third Avenue, he said.