Wednesday, May 4, 2005
The hospitality sector is already served in one way or another by Northwest Territories Tourism, the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, the Hotel Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Conseil de developpement economiques des TNO.
These same organizations are behind the plan for a full-time convention bureau. They have $90,000 in funding for the next three years and have spent $50,000 to develop a business plan.
The group wants Indian Affairs and Northern Development to pay the $300,000 a year it will take to finance the office. That works out to a salary and office space with a little left over for promotion and advertising - not much different than the situation today.
The target market is conventions with 500-700 delegates. They would use existing facilities. If business warrants, the group raised the possibility of building a convention centre.
The group has the attention of First Air and Canadian North - a decided plus as the air carriers hold the key to success for the convention marketers.
Unless the airlines can be persuaded to lower fares, it will be a frosty Friday in July before convention planners take a serious look at Yellowknife.
The soccer invasion is over, at least for another year.
Super Soccer ended Sunday with a crowd of about 600 people on hand for the final game of the 155-team tournament.
It's quite a feat for organizers and a small bunch of volunteers to pull all this together over one weekend.
To say they did a good job would be an understatement.
It is the largest single-sport event in the North. And every year it gets bigger and better, attracting teams from all over the North. The athletes benefit from the competition and the chance to meet others from around the North, city businesses benefit from the influx of cash and the community benefits from the spirit and enthusiasm these youth bring.
To all the athletes, volunteers, coaches, referees, timekeepers, scorekeepers and organizers, well done and thank you for the super effort.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Full marks must be given to Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Jose Kusugak for not getting dragged into any of the silliness that surfaced after the unveiling of the "Inukshuk" logo that will fly over the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
While Okalik and Kusugak spoke with pride over the choice, mild controversy arose from former Nunavut commissioner Peter Irniq's complaints that an Inukshuk shouldn't have arms, legs and a smiling mouth.
Irniq informed the world there is a huge difference between an Inunguat (imitation of a man or person) and an Inukshuk.
The former commissioner also stated that the Olympic Committee should have consulted Nunavut elders before announcing the design.
Let's make one thing clear here right from the start.
Peter Irniq has long proven himself to be a class act and was a commissioner all of Nunavut should be proud of.
However, while we've long admired Irniq's knowledge of, and dedication to, almost everything traditional, this time around he's way off the mark.
The five-coloured Inukshuk logo has been named Ilanaaq (friendship) and is meant to symbolize friendship, hospitality and teamwork - three of the most positive and prevalent Inuit traits or characteristics.
Inuit should be bursting with pride to have their symbol and cultural characteristics linked to one of the world's most prestigious gatherings.
Unfortunately, Irniq's remarks are not all that far removed from those who claimed to be insulted by Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves and their infamous chop chant.
In fact, it draws an uneasy parallel to those voices of a decade ago who insinuated everyone involved with the Edmonton Eskimos were racist because of the Canadian football team's moniker or nickname.
There are far more pressing issues for our territory to be concerned with than the Inukshuk caricature that has become the Olympic logo.
If anything, we should be milking the choice, in a positive light, for all it's worth.
Even with their cartoonish little changes, the Olympic Committee selecting an Inukshuk for the 2010 logo is a momentous occasion for Inuit.
The spirit of the message it conveys and the cultural recognition it will spread across the globe are not to be taken lightly, let alone frowned upon.
In these tumultuous times of political unrest, armed aggression and rights suppression around the world, the Olympic Committee is holding up a symbol - forever associated with Inuit - as a shining beacon of everything good the Games are supposed to represent, and that society all too often forgets.
And, as far as we're concerned, Inuit around the world should be smiling just as proudly as Ilanaaq!
Editorial Comment
Chris Hunsley
Inuvik Drum
I'd have liked to learn more lessons earlier in life, such as work for what you want and don't forget: you can do anything you put your mind to.
But it's from this reflection that my usually cynical self was touched and inspired by the story of Inuvik's Youth Centre kids.
In a town where youngsters have often had a pretty bad rap, to hear they took the initiative, en masse, to go out and work for what they want is a lesson to us all.
Not only did they take the initiative, they grabbed it and ran in a way that's got the centre's co-ordinator dreaming up new ways to put the junior fundraisers into action more often.
"It was like a lightbulb went on in their heads," said Christina Chalupa of the fish tank collection.
After she informed the six- to 19-year-olds that the centre would struggle through the year due to funding cuts and couldn't afford to buy the aquarium and supplies they had hoped for, the kids and teens returned three days later with close to $500 gathered in loonies, toonies and other small denominations.
Each coin and bill came from a neighbour who's door they knocked on or from a stranger stopped on the street and asked for a pledge. All with the please and thank yous that go along with being respectful and gracious.
"It's almost like they accepted it as a challenge," said Chalupa. "And they succeeded."
The struggling organization, which recently changed its image from that of a drop-in centre for a few at-risk youth to a comfortable environment where more than 60 local youngsters do their homework and play games nightly, now has a team of eager workers ready for their next task.
"Now we're looking at helping with the spring cleanup and having a carwash," said Chalupa.
Spending Sundays at the airport helping elders with their luggage is another idea that's been thrown on the table.
"Right now they're just happy raising money, but it's important for us to move slowly," said Chalupa.
"This is a big step for them, but to tell the truth, I couldn't have asked for more."
Only three months ago, Chalupa feared the centre would have to close its doors.
The tough times are not over by any stretch of the imagination, but with enthusiasm, respect and the willingness to pitch in and help out being shown by the users, the future is definitely looking brighter.
It's not only about providing local kids with much needed supplies and tools, it's about the process of getting there, which is the best lesson of all.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
What happens when a fire occurs and there aren't enough trained volunteer firefighters to respond?
That scenario unfolded in Wrigley earlier this month.
Wrigley, a community of approximately 140 people, currently has one tried and true volunteer on the fire brigade.
Others apparently show up for training intermittently.
The low number has been an issue for years. Unfortunately that same situation exists in several Deh Cho communities at any given time.
Efforts to recruit more individuals have largely been futile. Is it time to pay residents to sign up for fire service? In Wrigley it seemed to have attracted some regular helping hands in the past.
Having more volunteers doesn't guarantee that every home can be saved - that was proven in Fort Simpson on April 22 when a call came in too late for firefighters to salvage a residence. Conversely, having too few volunteers almost guarantees a tragedy.
Firefighting is dangerous work. A stark reminder came last month when two members of Yellowknife's department perished while battling a blaze.
Two unequipped people who tried to help out with the Wrigley blaze suffered smoke inhalation.
Wrigley fire chief Wally Antoine said he's very thankful for the attempts to help with the fire. He certainly couldn't have battled the blaze successfully all by himself.
Yet the truth remains that some of the "helpers" were counterproductive, smashing windows and getting in the way. There's a reason that firefighters hold regular meetings: proper training is absolutely crucial.
It's a risky business, for sure. But life is even riskier without a trained and reliable fire corps.
Our new reporter
Hilda Day, an office administration student at Aurora College in Fort Simpson, is spending her practicum with the Deh Cho Drum. She has written a couple of stories for this edition and her work will be featured over the next few weeks. Welcome aboard, Hilda.
Your name please
There are some interesting letters that arrive in the Deh Cho Drum's mailbox. Some have names attached, others do not. Those that don't never see the light of day in the newspaper. The policy is firm: all letters must be signed (preferably with a contact number) before they are published.
Feel free to express your opinions, just let us know who you are if you want everyone else to read them as well.