It's no real surprise the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board is going to implement security checks for all adult school volunteers.

The board gave first reading to the plan at its April meeting.

Given the well-documented cases of sexual abuse of children and teenagers by adults in positions of authority, the school board would have been derelict in its duty to do less.

It was only this week, in fact, news of an out-of-court settlement in the Grollier Hall Residential School case was made public.

Four former supervisors in Inuvik were convicted of sex crimes committed between 1959 and 1979. The school closed in 1996.

Of key importance is that the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board intends to have volunteers "screened as appropriate for the activity and level of involvement."

In other words, it won't be a one-size-fits-all solution.

That's important because when the issue of screening coaches and other sports volunteers in Taloyoak surfaced in January during Nunavut's Arctic Winter Games trials, Rachel Corbett, managing director of the Centre for Sport and Law at Brock University, observed: "The problem is we do a check and we're not thinking beyond that. There are many criminal offences that are irrelevant to being a chaperon, trainer or volunteer."

It's advice the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board would do well to heed in striking a reasonable balance between protecting its students -- its first and primary obligation -- and allowing adults the opportunity to volunteer their services without automatically disqualifying them for some past transgression.

As long as the board keeps its first priority straight, it's on the right track.

Charity is a complicated business. Everyone wants money to further their cause and it is sometimes difficult to know where to give, let alone how much.

It seems though that publicity goes a long way to increasing donations.

The food bank for example doesn't advertise that it needs donations to feed about 300 people every two weeks. They often run low on supplies.

However, a story about an adorable dog needing surgery becomes news and we donate almost double the amount required to fix its limbs.

The public hears all about a glossy gala being held to raise money for cardiac equipment at the hospital. Our donations, which ran into the hundreds of thousands, exceed the expectations of the organizers.

Sept. 11: Pictures and stories everywhere. We raised close to $40,000 for victims' families, many of whom will receive U.S. federal or state financial assistance and private insurance.

No one could say that Yellowknifers are a greedy lot. They have donated thousands over the last several months. But giving to more causes means that a place like the Yellowknife Food Bank receives less.

And that's where things get complicated. There is nothing wrong with saving the dog, buying cardiac equipment or helping victims of a terrorist attack. But what is unfortunate is that people quickly identify with a compelling photo or tale of need, but don't always remember the serious but less visible situations that require our compassion. Both deserve our dollars.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Rachel Siusangnark's difficulties this past year in combining sports and school work is a common problem for many athletes across Canada. Top athletes often have to travel to tournaments and qualifying events. It's yet another example of the sacrifices they make in pursuit of excellence.

However, there are those who can give our athletes a helping hand, especially when it comes to keeping up their academic standing while pursuing sporting interests.

Parents have the job of doing what they can to ensure their children study and keep up with their assignments while travelling. Being aware of what's expected of your child, as far as their school curriculum goes, is the starting point.

Make a point of sitting down with your child's home-room teacher before they head out on the road.

Ask about where they are with their school work, and any projects, tests or exams which may be lurking on the scholastic horizon shortly after their return. Make sure they take any and all material that will enable them to devote time to studying and completing projects while they're travelling. And, upon their return, sit down and discuss what they did concerning their school work while on the road.

Teachers can also help athletes who have to travel during the school year. It's a tremendous boost to an athlete when their teacher takes the time for a little one-on-one conversation to ensure they're keeping up with the rest of their class.

Nunavut's school system is lagging behind the rest of the country when it comes to setting minimum academic standards athletes must meet before being given the OK to travel. In short, athletes not making the grade academically should not be permitted to take time away from school to pursue sporting interests.

It's a tough stance, and one that's not overly popular with athletes, parents and coaches -- but it invests in the student's future, which has to remain our top priority.

Coaches, such as Eddy Sandy in Rankin Inlet, have stood up to criticism in the past when they've refused athletes permission to travel who were not keeping up with their scholastic efforts.

Concerned coaches also help their athletes by taking the time to speak with their teachers. Coaches who find out what's expected of their athletes while on the road -- and ensure they spend the proper amount of time on their school work -- help them further develop both their personal and educational skills.

And that's the type of concern that's remembered for a lifetime.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The new turbine generators that are to be installed at the recreation complex represent some good forward thinking on the part of the power corporation and the town.

We have some unique features in this town and the abundance of natural gas and the lack of heat are two that can work to cancel each other out.

As well as saving tens of thousands of tax dollars over the next years, we will also be getting a cleaner source of heat and electricity.

As accessibility to natural gas comes to communities up the valley they will be looking to tests like this one to plan for their futures.

The North can use more of this type of ingenuity and it seems like the power shift is finally coming from the top down.

Let's hope it doesn't stop here. Wind and solar energy are some other interesting alternatives to the dirty diesel power that's long ruled the North.

Dancing in the dark

The people who assembled for Monday's discussion on exotic dancing were a vociferous but, considerate crowd.

There were obviously some strong emotions felt in the room, but people pretty much kept their tongues civil and much was learned.

Bar manager Anna Mae Fairley learned that there was some firm and vocal opposition to exotic dancing in Inuvik.

The other 36 people there learned some new respect for Anna Mae -- she faced a lot of hard questions and had an answer for them all.

As a manager, she's managed to increase profit by 40 per cent in just two months.

She's employing a dozen people in town and the business thrives as the only pub outside the hotel group.

What we all learned, is that there are no laws to regulate the business.

I hate to see government trod on the free enterprise, but perhaps some form of regulation is in order.

Inuvik's gone from bingo games and bake sales to crack cocaine and wet wrestling in a just a few short years and it's come as a sudden shock to many people.

Every town that ever became a city has had to deal with these issues and I guess these things are all part of growing up too fast.

The transition could be made easier if there were some clear laws governing vice set out in the Municipalities Act.

In periods of boom, town councils don't have time and resources to examine and legislate over every business licence that's applied for. Council shouldn't have to drop what they're doing to appease anyone or any group who may opposed to a particular business.

Guidelines, rules or examples on how other municipalities have handled these situations would save towns thousands in legal fees and person hours.

As well, citizens and reporters of every burgeoning town wouldn't have to go to Monday night meetings when the Bruins-Habs' game six was 1-1 after two.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Warrant officer Floyd Powder's enlistment pitch to students at Thomas Simpson school last week came at a poignant time, on the heels of a tragic accident that killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

That misfortune seems to have galvanized the campaign to see improvements to the Canadian Armed Forces' budget. Reports in the national media Tuesday indicated that the federal government is planning to review the Canadian military, and will include public consultations in their assessment.

A recent Liberal decision to purchase two new government jets for $101 million to cater to the prime minister and Cabinet ministers has drawn harsh criticism. It's little wonder when the military is forced to use aging Sea King helicopters that are notorious for their mechanical problems. Add to that news that the federal government's investment in two used British submarines have been placed in dry dock for inspection for cracked hull valves. This amounts to a poor perception of the federal government's priorities.

When Canadian soldiers were being deployed to Afghanistan, word got out that they had to rely on American airlifts for transportation. Canada's limited Air Force couldn't get the job done.

It's been well documented that many soldiers have chosen to rejoin the ranks of civilians, putting their military-imparted trade skills to work for better salaries, higher wages. To counter that, the Forces have begun offering $10,000-$20,000 signing bonuses to specific tradespersons who enlist.

Over the past year, there has also been a renewed effort by the military to recruit new soldiers. Movie previews in theatres around the country have included a brief Canadian Armed Forces promotional video with all the glamour of a Hollywood trailer.

Despite the largely second-rate weaponry and equipment, there definitely seems to remain a strong sense of pride that comes with serving the country. It was evident in Warrant Officer Powder's presentation on Friday. It is palpable in military veteran Peter Dimaline's poem devoted to Canada's fallen servicemen.

Throwing money at the problem won't eliminate deaths -- not from combat, not even from friendly fire. War in our era is a different animal with all the technological gadgetry, but the bottom line is lives are still at stake.

When the federal government takes a look at what it all the roles it expects our nation's military to perform in the face of crises, it must dig a little deeper into its pockets. Even the most loyal soldiers can't persevere with so little at their disposal.

Mike's filling in

Mike Bryant will be taking over the reporting duties at the Deh Cho Drum for the next four weeks while Val and I are away on vacation. Mike, a long-time Yellowknife resident, is also known as the Fishin' Technician. You'll likely notice him carrying his rod and reel along with his notebook and camera.

We'll see you again in late May.