Wednesday, October 18, 2006
In places like Yellowknife, councillors and trustees are never really off the job. Folks love to grab you on the street or in the store to press an issue or see where you stand. Heated criticism can leave you mentally battered and bruised.
It sometimes makes you wonder why anyone would want to seek public office. In any event, there were plenty of takers for City Council and Yellowknife Catholic Schools and we say thanks to every one of them, elected or not, because they helped further the democratic process.
Monday's election saw a changing of the guard of sorts for city council.
Two incumbents -- Blake Lyons and Doug Witty -- went down to defeat on city council, replaced by a green team of social and environmental activists.
Lyons has been on council for 19 years, while Witty was seeking his second term. Both deserve our thanks for their efforts.
The five newcomers to council face a steep learning curve to come to grips with the many issues and responsibilities.
First, we encourage them all to remember they've been elected to serve the public, not administration.
That may seem like a trite statement, but it's easy to become puppets where paid personnel with all the information pull the strings of well-intentioned but part-time politicians. Long-time elected officials even seem to become part of the bureaucracy, rather than leaders.
One way the new council can get started on the right foot, is by taking control of fire department safety. The city's response to the deaths of two firefighters last year was more about covering butts than fixing safety problems. Accidents do happen but ignoring how and avoiding hard questions merely sets the stage for a repetition of history.
Be true to the people who voted you in. Compromise may be the art of politics but principles must not be broken for the sake of making political points. A principled politician will always win support and all of city council was elected based upon their principles.
For Yellowknife Catholic Schools, the votes have been cast, but the future is anything but certain.
Newcomer Jennifer Debogorski topped the YCS election. The board lost a stalwart trustee when Jane Haley finished 10th of 11 candidates. She was the longest serving YCS trustee and has been on the board during the district's phenomenal growth.
Future makeup of the board remains unclear, however, as a legal challenge on whether trustees should be restricted to Catholics only remains unresolved.
Non-Catholic Amy Hacala won a second term, albeit with her support dropping by about 10 per cent compared to the votes she received three years ago. Her tenure may well be decided in the courts.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Hockey parents... we've all heard plenty about them because, unfortunately, of the few who get their names and stupid actions plastered all over the media when they erupt.
Some give their own kids a hard time, verbally berating them in an ill-advised attempt at making them perform better.
Those in this category are usually hypnotized by the thoughts of their child signing the dotted line on a multi-million dollar professional sports contract.
Others are trying to recapture the glory days of their youth, pushing their kids to perform at the same level they once did.
Then there are those who verbally abuse the coaches, rival players and game officials from the stands.
Their kids are easily identified as the ones who keep their heads low, staring at their feet while on the bench.
The worst of the bunch are those we hear about who physically assault minor-hockey coaches and officials.
We've all heard of the parent who tried to strangle his son's coach and the other who punched a young official because he didn't like the way he called the game.
In the past few years, we've seen the birth of yet another breed of this distasteful animal.
This one prefers lawyers and is known to sue if their kid is not played enough or given the top award in his or her area. They are hockey parents, but they are by a wide, wide margin, the exceptions to the rule.
Most hockey parents are some of the best people you ever want to meet.
They're the ones who get out of bed early, or give up their evening or weekend time, to drive their kids to the rink and stay to watch them play.
These hockey parents offer words of encouragement and provide opportunities for skill development without losing sight of the fact the game is meant to be fun.
Many true hockey parents are involved with their local hockey associations at some level, whether it be as a board member, attending meetings or simply helping out with tournaments and fundraising events.
In short, they give a lot of themselves and ask for precious little in return.
Unfortunately, such bland behaviour doesn't grab headlines and get the ink those who grab coaches by the throat in arena hallways often do.
But, in a few short weeks, there will be a chance to shine the spotlight brightly on our true hockey parents.
Hockey Canada Week runs Nov. 4-12. And, the week kicks off with National Hockey Parents Day on Nov. 4.
We here in the Kiv are well known for our love of Canada's national pastime.
And, we have our share of great hockey parents.
So, if your local recreation department doesn't have any official events scheduled for the day (lack of ice could be a huge problem), take a few moments to acknowledge a hockey parent you know.
The glamour and excitement may be on the ice, but the true backbone of the game can found cheering in the stands.
Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Be heard in the community, no matter what it takes
We live in a fortunate time and age. In modern society, anyone with an opinion can stand tall on a soap box and preach their ideas.
If you have a problem with the way things are, remember you can always make a difference. I don't necessarily mean by voting in a municipal election either.
Recently, a meeting was held at Samuel Hearne school to start up a youth newspaper/magazine. A large number of interested students attended the meeting last week and planned another for this week.
I have no doubt that the community will see positive results from the new school paper.
Back in my days at Samuel Hearne, I would have loved to had a vessel to spread my ideas in the community.
Imagine a way for your children or friends to finally express themselves through their writing or art - a new way of sharing information within the school.
School spirit is another aspect of the project that would also be affected in a positive way.
While the students are getting their first taste of journalism, a group of adults met last week to discuss matters concerning youth vandalism.
The meeting was attended by local leaders and members of committees who wished to share their thoughts about possible solutions for vandalism.
RCMP made presentations to the group and outlined problems facing the community.
The RCMP officers said there are a few young adults who work closely with youth in committing some of the graffiti and break-ins.
Many people said that parents should be more accountable for their children and know where they are at all times.
Social problems like youth acting out with violence and vandalism are not just the responsibility of the parent. The task of straightening out young people is a community effort.
Role models and educators are needed to herd the youth into the valley of righteousness and away from temptation.
As long as everyone in the community is ready to accept the good and bad of raising youth in a proper environment, the future of Inuvik could be a bright one.
I hope you all used this past weekend to re-affirm your connection to your family and friends.
The snow has fallen once again, which means that Halloween is only just around the corner. Let's all make sure it is as safe as possible.
Editorial Comment
Jessica Gray
Deh Cho Drum
I would like to start by commending all of those who attended the National Energy Board hearings held Oct. 4 and 5 here in Fort Simpson.
But more importantly, I'd like to say bravo to those brave enough to speak their minds at the evening session after the dinner made by Thomas Simpson high school students.
You don't have to be a politician or a well-known member of the community to participate in a process like this.
Some of the most powerful words spoken that night came not from pretense but from the heart.
If the Mackenzie Gas Project is approved, it will have an enormous impact on our communities.
All you need do is listen closely in a coffee shop or even around a campfire in the bush to hear what people have to say about the proposed pipeline's potential effects on the communities.
And those affected have every right to question the necessity and scope of the project, as well as ask who benefits.
I think I was most affected by the words from Eric Menicoche that night.
Before he spoke, Menicoche said he wasn't representing anyone, only himself, and that he was there because he had missed an opportunity to speak out so long ago.
"One regret I had from the past," he said, "is I never really spoke at the last hearings about the Mackenzie Gas Project." He was talking about the Berger Inquiry.
Imagine, regretting a decision to speak your mind for more than 25 years.
Perhaps one opinion, comment, worry, or statement might not make a huge difference in the end.
But what if there were many who refused to speak?
What if your voice could encourage not only those around you to speak, but set the example for youth in the communities and make use of an opportunity when it presents itself.
It took great courage for those people to speak in front of members of their communities and representatives from various companies and organizations.
They're all here to talk about something that has undoubtedly put the Northwest Territories on the world map, but it's not just them it will affect.
Speaking in front of an audience when you might be the dissenting voice can be even more difficult for many, as some residents made clear when telling the board many didn't feel they have been consulted enough or in the right way.
But it's those people who need to speak, because the voice of one is amplified tenfold when others add their voices too. And if you don't decide to speak now and if you refuse to participate, you might just lose the chance.
And when it comes to life, there are few second chances.
- Jessica Gray will be covering for Roxanna Thompson until the end of October.
Harji Sidhu's name was incorrectly spelled in last Wednesday's South of 20 column ("Students weigh in on school board vote, Oct. 11). Yellowknifer apologizes for any embarrassment or confusion caused by the error.