After seizing first place in the Win Your Space YK contest last year, which earned him a free one-year lease in downtown Yellowknife, business owner Seiji Suzuki expects his Japanese-style bakery Ja-Pain to open by the end of April.
Despite early challenges with permitting, Suzuki is going ahead with his new bakery, set to open in Centre Square Mall, a short jaunt from Suzuki's other enterprise, Sushi North.
Patrons will be able to purchase Japanese-style goods, including fresh bread, curry buns and melon buns.
"It's basic things like baked bread in a Japanese style," said Suzuki.
"Melon buns, not many people know about them in town, but the young kids will recognize it from Japanese cartoons."
Born and raised in Tokyo, Suzuki has been a Yellowknifer for 25 years. He learned to bake in Japan and plans to bring his own brand of natural and additive-free baked goods to the subarctic, he said.
"If you go to Japan, many tourists are surprised to find fantastic Japanese foods. Bakeries are one of those things," he said.
When construction is finished, Suzuki's ten-year old idea to start up a Japanese bakery will be a reality.
As his business opens, this year's Win Your Space contest will be close to kicking off, with a few changes.
The city is revisiting its contest rules ahead of the 2018 Win Your Space YK competition, said Richard McIntosh, the city's communications and economic development officer.
"What happened in 2017 is that the winner encountered some challenges around permits and it took much longer than anticipated," he said.
"We realize that some of the rules in place in 2017 did not work as intended."
The competition rules dictated that the winner needed to hold a grand opening by Dec. 1, 2017.
Suzuki, who won the prize in August last year, missed the deadline but he will still keep his prize.
The city is changing the rules to acknowledge that delays are reflective of the, "true business environment" in Yellowknife, said McIntosh.
Sarah Kalnay-Watson who owns and operates Let Me Knot took second place in last year's contest and won space at CloudWorks with significant lease-hold improvements.
Her business has since taken off from a home-based business into a full bridal, floral and event shop.
Winning the second-place prize was a "great contribution" to her success, she said.
"It was by no means the amount of a whole year's rent free space, but it was enough for me to get my lease-hold improvements," she said.
"I think its a great idea that the city and chamber put this on and help small businesses start up."
The city is working to secure its prizes for this year's competition and hopes to offer similar lease-prizes and opportunities for prospective business owners, said McIntosh.
The goal of Win Your Space YK is downtown revitalization and enhancing the downtown business community, he said.