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Here's what you need to know about the opening ceremony.

You can follow our live coverage here with updates from reporters on the ground, and watch a live stream of the ceremony above.

The athlete parade is set to begin at 7:15 p.m. YT. 

The parade will start at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, and travel along Front Street, down to Second Avenue, ending at Shipyards Park. 

People are being asked to plan their route accordingly and carpool or take transit. 

Front Street will be closed to traffic between Wood Street and Black Street from 5:30 p.m. To 7:30 p.m.

Second Avenue will be closed between Alexander Street and Third Avenue from 6:30 p.m. To 8 p.m.

After an Arctic Winter Games-themed rap song from Whitehorse hip-hop group Vision Quest, the official cauldron was lit. The games are on! 

Fireworks also erupted over Whitehorse just now — lighting up the sky downtown. 

I’m on the side of the stage between Team Nunavut and Nunavik, barricaded behind these giant flags by volunteers. 

But the stars of the show right now are definitely the wristbands. The bands pulse in time with the songs, glowing green and blue, synchronized with the performances on stage.

A volunteer told me she likes the glow up bands and they add a nice touch this year.

In another video message, Yukon Premier Currie Dixon welcomed all athletes, volunteers and visitors from across the North to the Yukon. 

Dixon says being at the games is an incredible achievement and athletes should be proud of themselves. 

"You represent the very best of your region," Dixon says. 

Adam Greenwood had his arms full and came out to the opening ceremony with his two kids Eloise and Lenny — aged five and seven. 

Greenwood says it’s exciting to see so many people in his city. 

Even though he doesn't know anyone competing in the games, he said it was important for them to come and support the visiting athletes. 

He says sports are a big part of his family life so coming out to the opening ceremony was an easy decision.

We're hearing several speeches between cultural performances. 

First up was Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini. 

She welcomed everyone to the traditional territories the games are on. 

She touches on how Whitehorse was ready to host the games in 2020 before COVID-19 cancelled them. 

Among other things, she says the games are about making friends and learning from each other.

In a recorded video message broadcast at the ceremony, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a message to the crowd at Shipyards Park.

The prime minister wished the athletes good luck and told them to have fun.

"I love this year's theme: what we’re made of," Carney said. "It speaks to the shared values that northerners hold close.

"Now let’s go, show the world what you’re made of."

I’m at the parade next to Team Nunavut’s cheer squad who have come all the way from Whale Cove. They’re dressed in Nunavut flags, and warm clothing. 

Pamela Arualakmckeen, from Rankin Inlet, is here to cheer on her niece who plays U16 futsal. 

"I'm here to support all the Nunavummiut and all the athletes from every place they come from," she said. 

She adds that she can't play soccer, but came to support them. 

There is a large crowd gathered at Shipyards Park as the athletes make their way in. 

Each team is getting a massive reception from the fans, who are still making their way in.

Other vehicles have filled up spots not occupied by athletes' buses.

I’m seeing kids sliding down the hill, right next to the parade, and people cheered as the jet flew overhead. 

Speeches are now just starting on the stage. 

The sun is starting to set, but it was sunny and bright at the start of the parade. 

I’ve been hanging out with Team Nunavut’s U18 hockey team. 

Blake Kusugak told me he’s ready to trade pins with other athletes. He even came prepared with his lanyard decked out in Team Nunavut’s pins. 

His favourite pin from Nunavut’s collection? 

"The one that moves," he says, which is the middle of the rope pin.

Fighter jets are a common site flying over football games, Formula One races and other major sporting events.

But such flyovers at sporting events in Whitehorse are unheard of. Yet, there was a CF-18 fighter jet out of Cold Lake, Alta., roaring over the crowd at Shipyards Park.

Zach Zimmermann, an Arctic security expert, says the jet's appearance suggests to him that Canada is trying to send a message about its military capabilities in the North.

He was born in Inuvik, N.W.T., and raised in Whitehorse. Zimmerman even won a bronze medal in doubles table tennis at the 2016 games in Nuuk, Greenland.

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