Behind the Sports Den with Michael Jay

Everyone has seen his happy smile for months leading up to the Games, and for the past week, he has been the superstar 2026 AWG Mascot welcoming athletes and visitors in person and on his social media. He is MICHAEL JAY FOX—the furry puppet who also stars in Northern Tails, the hugely popular web series created by Whitehorse producer Kelly Milner.

Kelly grew up listening to her biologist father Bob Hayes telling stories about the interconnected world of animals, plants and people dwelling in the Boreal forests of the Circumpolar North. His passion for mixing silly humour and fascinating facts to illuminate this unique ecoregion inspired the puppet series, with the two of them imagining settings, dialogues and adventures for a group of northern furry creatures. Bob passed away before the stories came to life as a fully realized Yukon based production, but Kelly says he would have been delighted with the beautifully crafted puppets, and locally trained puppeteers, talented set designers and film crew.

Michael Jay Fox is based on the red foxes who co-habit urban and wild spaces around Whitehorse with local humans. He is cheeky, outgoing, friendly and very curious to see what the people are up to at the Arctic Winter Games! He broadcasts daily reports from the Michael Jay Fox Sports Den located in the Hyatt Hotel on Main Street. His team includes his voice “master”, puppeteer Adam MacDougall, who brings magical charm to Michael’s AWG commentaries. Other crew members include Sam Fleming, Camera A Operator and Technical Director; Thomas Bullen, Camera B Operator; Gabriel Bullen, Sound Technician; John Dagostin and Annie Johnsgaard, Production Assistants; Terrie Forrest, Puppet Wrangler; and Producer Kelly Milner of Shot in the Dark Productions. She says it’s been really inspiring to see how Michael Jay has become such a celebrity ambassador at the Games. Kids rush up to talk to him and everyone wants to snap a selfie with him!

You can follow Michael Jay on youtube@AWGSportsDen every day during the Games. The first series of the Northern Tails adventurers is available at youtube.com@NorthernTailsTV with their second series set to premiere at the Yukon Arts Centre on March 19 and a Family Fun Day planned with the whole crew in Whitehorse on March 21. Stay tuned for more fun and learning with the Northern Tails!

By Linda Johnson