The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous will go ahead next year after all.

Rendezvous president Marj Eschak announced today the annual festival will be held from Feb. 16-18, 2007.

The news follows months of speculation the winter festivities would be cancelled due to the Canada Winter Games coming to the city at the same time.

'It will be a scaled back' version featuring many of our traditional Rendezvous events and contests; however, due to shortages of resources and volunteers (by necessity) some events will be sidelined until 2008,' Eschak explained.

The society's board voted unanimously to go ahead with the festival.

'We had hoped to make this announcement sooner as many of our stakeholders, sponsors, event co-ordinators and volunteers have been in a holding pattern since YSR (Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous) entered into discussions with Canada Winter Games,' said Eschak.

The festival will wrap up about five days prior to the Games' opening ceremonies on Feb. 24.

The group met with the territorial Department of Tourism and Culture and the City of Whitehorse to review funding and logistical support for the plans for a streamlined Rendezvous event in 2007.

'It is fair to say that YSR was initially disappointed that we were not engaged by CWG to play a more significant role in providing our unique Yukon brand of culture and entertainment; however, we accept that their ideas, processes and limitations did not fit with our needs,' said Harold Sher, Rendezvous' executive director.

Staging Rendezvous at the same time as the Games would be like 'living next door to an elephant,' said Sher, adding it serves the interest of both events to move the Rendezvous date up from the traditional last weekend in February to the middle of the month.

The date change allowed for hotel rooms booked by festival air show participants and space at the Whitehorse airport tarmac to open up for those involved with the Games.

It also allows Rendezvous volunteers to extend their services to the Games and will be less taxing on city resources that provide in-kind support to Rendezvous.

'Shortages of volunteers, venues and sponsorship concerns will necessitate a downsizing of Rendezvous 2007, but the YSR Board was determined to carry on a tradition spanning over 40 years,' said board member Sid Acton. 'Opting out for a year was just not a viable option from our perspective.

'The community would be the long-term losers if we dropped the ball at this point and with the commitment of our board and key event organizers, we intend to stage a great weekend of entertainment and family-oriented activities.'

The society went on to thank its sponsors, including the Hougen Group of Companies, White Pass and Yukon Route, Bell Canada, Northwestel Inc., the City of Whitehorse and YTG Tourism and Culture for their continued support to ensure festival continues in 2007 and in future years.