Dying man whose father built Wildcat Cafe visits Yellowknife

When William (Hark)Wyliewalked into Yellowknife's iconic Wildcat Cafe for the first time in more than 60 years, he said he crieda tear or two.

"It's so beautiful inside, I don't think it was like that a long time ago," the 69-year-old said."It was just amazing."

Visiting the popular seasonal restaurant in Yellowknife's Old Town was emotional for Wylie for a couple of reasons.

His father, Willie Wylie, built the Wildcat Cafe with Smokey Stout in 1937, when there were no other restaurants in town. Stout hired his sister to cook at the restaurant, and she became Wylie's mother. As a young boy, hespent the first years of his life in that cafe, on the road that now bears his family's name (although it's spelled Wiley).

The second reason his visit to the cafe was meaningfulis because he is dying.

Wylie, who lives in Vancouver, said heplanned to visit Yellowknife next year, but that schedule got moved up when he was diagnosed with a rare disease calledamyloidosis and told heonly hadabout one month to live.Against the recommendation of his doctor, Wylie and his best friend, Ray Duford,booked their flights to Yellowknife.

It's a decision Wyliedoesn't regret.

"One of the highlights of my life, it is," he said. "I was so happy to come up here and see these things. And meet the people, oh my God."

Although he was only threeyearsold when he left Yellowknife in 1949, Wylie has fond memories of his time in the community. He said one of his first memories is when a bush pilot gave him a banana.

"Oh, that was a treat I'm telling you."

Some of Wylie'sother memories come in the form of stories handed down to him, like the time his father was in a dog sled race.

"Dad had a real good dog team," he said.

But just before the finish line of oneparticular race, his fatherstopped and let another team passso he could finish insecond place.

"First guy got a trophy, second guy got a keg of beer,"Wylie laughed. "My mom was so mad, geez!"

Stories and memories like thosemade itimportant for Wylie to visit Yellowknife again. And it'sclear that he was touched by his visit.

"It's just unreal how friendly the people are here," he said. "And you remember that."

Wylie willspend his final days in Vancouver with family and friends.