 |
Make no mistake: Wal-Mart and other discount department stores have a role in the new retail economy of Yellowknife and thousands of other small towns. That's the reality of retailing to price-conscious consumers in the 21st Century.
But price and volume have never been the only factors in defining a successful merchant-customer relationship, especially in remote Northern communities, including Yellowknife, though we become less remote every year.
Weaver and Devore Trading Store, started by two American entrepreneurial fur traders, Harry Weaver and Bud Devore, in 1936, has long been Yellowknife's premier outfitter, specializing in the ability to get orders into the bush, be it for fur trading in the old days or diamond mines today.
Sutherland's Drugs, which expanded here in 1938 after being founded by Angus Sutherland in Fort McMurray, Alta., through early bush orders to reading-starved men working in camps, also carved out a niche which remains to this day -- an outstanding selection of magazine titles to pass long Northern nights and create a bridge of the mind to the rest of the world.
Likewise, Johnson's Building Supplies, dating back to 1945, and Yellowknife Hardware, founded in 1945, carved out their own niches.
Yellowknife's retail "survivors," some of whom have been here almost as long as Old Town, have always known their keys to success lie in superb customer service, offering unique products or services and treating employees well. They have also practiced conservative growth policies, expanding but always living within their means.
The coroner who investigated the death of biathlete Mary Beth Miller will never know who she really was.
All he knows is that she was killed by a bear while training on the Valcartier military base northwest of Quebec City in July 2000.
To characterize her as careless in going jogging, alone, in the woods of the Myriam Bedard training camp seems to tarnish her memory.
To those who knew her, however, Miller is remembered as a talented, dedicated athlete, who was committed to excellence. She remains a role model to Yellowknifers who dream to excel.
It must be remembered that her death was a freak attack. The coroner wrote that more people are injured by wasps than are attacked by bears in Quebec, that more people are killed when their vehicles collide with deer or moose on Quebec highways.
But the coroner is right that Miller's death is a reminder that one should always go into the woods with a healthy respect for nature's power.
Birchwood Gallery should be commended for keeping its finger on the pulse of our emerging art scene.
Tonight, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. a collection of works by St. Patrick high school art students will be exhibited at the downtown art gallery.
The collection includes everything from converted refrigerator doors to framed pieces and sculptures to stained glass and pottery.
This is the second year Birchwood has offered up its retail gallery for the school.
This gesture is noteworthy.
It's one thing to create a work of art in the classroom, but a whole other experience to have it scrutinized in the public eye.
So, if you're not busy you may want to check it out.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
There are many teams around the world that are, no doubt, happy the government of Nunavut has very little to do with the rules governing international amateur sporting events
Now, we agree with Minister Manitok Thompson in that you just can't accept anybody who submits an application to attend the Arctic Winter Games. But what is Sport Nunavut doing to tell the difference?
We simply can't buy into the argument that getting defeated by a lopsided margin always destroys an athlete's or a team's desire to excel.
In fact, when you look at scores from early Russian and American hockey teams that went up against Canada in the Olympics and other international events, the logic behind that argument is almost laughable.
By Sport Nunavut's logic, there's an awful lot of female hockey teams around the world who may as well just give it up now.
There's a much bigger issue here than Sport Nunavut's fear of being embarrassed at the international level by someone getting a good old fashioned butt-kicking. It's the mental health of our region's youth!
We applaud Thompson's acknowledgement that the two situations in Coral Harbour (Please see special report on page 9) could have been handled better.
In a region with precious little to offer our youth -- and where the battle against teenage suicide still rages on -- we have to have people on the frontlines sensitive to how they handle certain situations.
It can be a terrible blow to the most emotionally stable among us to walk around with joyous expectations concerning an event and then have the rug ripped out from under your feet so late in the game.
It's never easy weeding out the pretenders from the contenders. But frontline staff should have a strong enough understanding of policies, rules and regulations to be able to address any questionable attempts to attend the AWG when the athletes register, not months later.
There are social implications to almost everything that happens in the Kivalliq, not the least of which are sports.
In closing, some of our sports leaders may want to pay extra attention during the next few major international sporting events to some of the athletes and teams who don't leave with medals.
You may notice some other benefits they take away from the competition -- pride in representing whatever locale they call home, a better understanding of what it takes to be successful and a sense of belonging.
The list of benefits they receive goes on and on. Even the ones who get their butts kicked.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
The Beaufort Delta Education Council's decision to try to hire up to 15 teachers early this year is a good move.
In the past the board has not made any offers before March 15, the deadline for teachers within the region to forward transfer and promotion requests.
The problem with this approach is that by March 15 many potential candidates, especially university students polishing off their teaching certificates, have already been approached by other school boards and may even have job offers.
BDEC is competing with school boards across the country and has problems enough luring teachers up to the Delta, what with its high cost of living and other factors which candidates might consider drawbacks.
Making some offers early will make it a little easier for BDEC to cope with its high teacher turnover rate, which last year was about 50 per cent.
Starting hiring earlier might also make a difference as summer approaches. When the idea of the recruitment drive was brought up last October, one issue mentioned was that a lot of hiring takes place in the summer.
It was pointed out this is inconvenient for district education authorities to form interview teams, plus not filling key positions until early or even late summer makes it hard on officials and candidates alike.
Starting early could well save a lot of time and aggravation down the road. This time saved can be better used in ways that fulfill the board's mandate, namely providing quality education to its students.
Curling up a storm
The Dave McLeod rink out of Aklavik swept to success over the weekend, winning the "A" qualifier in the NWT Curling Association's Men's Playdowns. Now they'll see if they can advance to the national championships.
Curling can provide plenty of exercise and enjoyment. This is true whether it's a low-key game between friends or a truly competitive match.
Congratulations are extended to the McLeod rink, as well as the best of luck as they seek to advance further.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Revitalizing the Dene language is of utmost importance to some Deh Cho residents.
There will come a day when it's evident how many or how few people are willing to send their young children to an isolated location to learn the Dene language and aboriginal traditions and customs.
In forging ahead with seasonal Dene language camps and a Dene immersion school, we must be careful not to create a cultural divide. Some would argue it already exists, but it could be exacerbated by separating students, sending some to camps while others remain in a classroom setting.
This is, obviously, a very delicate issue.
Tolerance of others' culture and traditions is vital if we are to go on living together. The school system has been trying to integrate Dene programming over the years, through cultural camps and Slavey language classes. While the existing approach may be lacking in the eyes of some, it is attempting to bridge the gaps.
If a more concerted effort is to be taken on, it must also involve a commitment to speak Slavey in the home and in public.
A real challenge lies ahead in trying to reinforce the Dene language. It's a question of whether the will truly exists to turn things around.
A balanced view
Fort Liard's oil and gas review, after repeated delay, is expected to be released next month. That study will help piece together all of the good, the bad and the ugly that has come with industry. Of course, it will be more comprehensive than any single article about Fort Liard, such as the one that has angered Chief Judy Kotchea and honorary chief Harry Deneron.
It seems development has given rise to some insidious problems, but to what extent it's really unknown.
In last week's Deh Cho Drum, Shane Parrish and Al Harris, both managers with Beaver Enterprises, reflected on some of the drug and alcohol problems that exist in the oil and gas camps and in the community. The same problems are occurring in the Beaufort Delta, where oil and gas is also flourishing. However, cocaine has also made its way to Fort Simpson, where development has not yet been welcomed.
In some communities, home brew is the drink of choice. In extreme cases, such as the remote Newfoundland communities of David Inlet and Sheshatsheits, gas and glue sniffing is rampant.
Social problems are deep-rooted. We must examine them carefully, offer support and work together to stave them off.
The wrong headline was published in the Jan. 25 Yellowknifer. The headline on the story about city taxes should have read "City to repossess land in arrears." We apologize for any confusion or embarrassment this error may have caused.