|
Features
|
Friday, April 27, 2007 Dent shows guts
It was a gutsy move by a politician who's better known for his indecision than standing up to a gymnasium full of upset parents and worried teachers.
Unfortunately, his message about fiscal responsibility and doing what's best for students is being lost in an ongoing turf war that's generating plenty of hysteria on both sides. Dent is caught in the middle of two boards, Yk No. 1 and Yellowknife Catholic Schools, both of which appear unwilling or unable to reach a compromise on how to accommodate the needs of Yellowknife's children.
So act he must, although it's coming at the 11th hour. This drastic action comes after two years of indecision that threatens to leave hundreds of students with nowhere to go when renovations start at St. Joseph's school.
A decision likely needs to be made by the end of June and that's not a lot of time.
It's also important to note that Dent is being true to his word, and has cut funding to Yk 1 over the board's refusal to close a school.
Faced with a $165,000 deficit, the public school board will dip into its reserve fund to maintain spending.
It would be very easy to blame Dent and the Catholics for this situation, however, taxpayers should be asking how Yk 1 got to the point where schools are running far below capacity, and what should be done about it.
In the good old days, whenever those were, you could leave your front door unlocked and go away for a month's vacation. At least that's what we like to believe.
While the amount of respect people have for one another and each other's property has eroded over the years, people who cry after having their unlocked vehicles broken into should be more angry at themselves for naively believing these are still the good old days.
In recent weeks, dozens of vehicles have been broken into by thieves who are after satellite radios, iPods and other expensive high-tech gear. Police have caught a pair of suspects, but the problem continues because people don't lock their cars.
These are crimes of opportunity and while you can't deter a determined thief armed with a crowbar or slim-jim, it only takes a second to lock your door and protect your investment. Better yet, take your satellite radio or music player out of your vehicle when you park, too.
One can never really know for sure why a voter casts their ballot for a particular candidate.
But, one thing we do know for certain, the one true bit of power everyone shares is contained in that small window of time when an X is marked next to the candidate of choice during elections.
We've written numerous times in this space that elections are when people truly get to voice their satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, with those in elected office.
The wheels of change are put in motion when the people of a community, territory, province or nation are unhappy with the decisions being made that affect their quality of life.
And, the decisions being made in a small Kivalliq community are every bit as important to its residents as those being made by the big city dwellers in the south.
There have been numerous times during my years in the Kivalliq that I've heard the power of the vote questioned by certain people, almost as if the democratic system works differently here than in the rest of the country.
It does not.
Unless our extra-sensory perception increases dramatically in the next little while, we'll never know for sure what turned the tide of voters in Arviat's 2006 municipal election.
But, the time leading up to the election and the actions of the current mayor and council in that community show the spirit of democracy is very much alive in the region.
Former mayor Elizabeth Copland was known as being fairly progressive and had a solid track record during her time in office.
In fact, a number of projects just now coming to fruition in Arviat were spearheaded by her.
Copland would have been viewed by many as a solid bet to be re-elected in the final few months leading up to December of 2006.
But then bingo, an important topic to Kivalliq residents, raised its head.
The council changed its way of administering bingo funds and a significant portion of Arviat's population, namely those involved with adult hockey, found themselves shut out from the proceeds of the then twice-a-week games.
While we admire Copland's decision to take a stand for what she perceived as the right direction for the hamlet to go with bingo revenues, as a politician seeking re-election, she should have seen trouble brewing.
Hockey players are like everyone else in that they have one vote per person.
But they're also like everyone else in that they have friends and family members who support them and they will naturally gravitate towards a leader who appears sympathetic to their plight.
Enter the new mayor and his promise to do all he could to get the adult players a slice of the bingo pie and bring artificial ice to his community.
Now, we're not suggesting everyone who voted for Johnny Mamgark did so because of this one issue.
But to think that issue didn't carry the voting day in Arviat is naive at best.
And, judging by the current council's decisions in the new year, they read the score sheet the same way.
Something to ponder the next time you think your vote can't make a difference.
Somewhere in between enjoying some beers on Friday night to eating some greasy take-out on Monday evening I found myself wondering if this life of excess will one day catch up with me.
Just as my brain was beginning to ponder that question, my hand had already pulled the fork closer to my mouth. By that point I had to give in.
I'm one of those people who chooses to live the fat life. Most of my entertainment can be found in close proximity to my couch.
I rarely cook for myself anymore. It seems like every time I open the drawer for a pot or pan, a take-out menu falls from heaven into my hand.
Now that we've established that I don't really care much for putting effort into a lot of extra-curricular things, I want to move onto the subject of healthy living.
I know, practise what you preach. I'm still planning on using that gym card I bought. Some day I'll brave my way into that fitness centre and won't look back, once I beat the final level of this video game I'm into right now. I swear.
After spending my Sunday watching some intense soccer at Samuel Hearne, I was motivated to do something physical.
Seeing those people running and being passionate about their sport made me feel like I'm missing something in my great existence.
Maybe I should go join a local club, like the boxing group or the running club. I'm sure there are other people out there who want to leave the couch, too.
Inuvik is great place for healthy living. With the many active organizations around, the full service fitness centre with swimming lanes and the Boot Lake trail, there really is no reason to keep on this path of destruction I call comfortable living.
Even thinking of dusting off my Nike cross trainers had me sweating bullets.
I know that some activity is inevitable. The snow is clearing out and it's nearly time to start riding a bicycle. The Boot Lake trails are melting now, too. Always fun times watching your friends fall off the walkway into deep snow.
As most of you health-wise people know, being active is not the only key to a fit lifestyle. Eating right and maintaining a sense of moderation is also needed.
As I previously stated, I am not a poster boy for anything but a relaxed lifestyle. These are only ideas of mine and should not be taken as promises.
Finding the right foods is easy in Inuvik. The fruit man has produce, the NorthMart has meats and there are plenty of grocery choices in town.
I don't know of any health food places in town because, like I said, the only vegetables I encounter end up on the side of my plate.
I take motivation from others in the community who have healthy lifestyles; people who are at the pool multiple times a week and are seen running during their lunch hour.
Kudos to you, my active friends. You're showing me a life I can only dream of for now.
The main point of all this is that there are many options for people of Inuvik to choose from.
The warm weather brings in more activities for us to indulge in. I want the new concrete skate park to pop up so the youth will have even more options. Who do I have to talk to about that?
Until the next time I get the urge for physical activity, I'll just be looking out from my window, wondering what awaits me on the outside.
Interesting and unexpected things often arise in the most unusual places.
On April 22 I was invited to visit the Fort Simpson airport to meet some of the soldiers involved in Operation Narwhal.
Driving out to the airport I was pretty sure I knew what to expect. Having written a few articles about the operation I knew all about troop numbers, the scenario, the types of aircraft that were in use and the history of the exercise. It was all information that I thought would serve me well.
Even with all my prep work, after being escorted to the maintenance garage at the airport where the soldiers are sleeping and eating, I was still amazed. This was still the Fort Simpson airport but it was filled with a different sense of purpose.
By treating the scenario as something that is happening in real life all the young soldiers were moving around with a sense of purpose. All the soldiers were in their uniforms and carrying a variety of interesting things like unloaded guns and radio equipment.
The surreal nature of the scene was added to by the Griffon helicopters, which definitely don't look like the helicopters normally seen in the area. They flew overhead continuously, slinging fuel from across the river.
And in the midst of the sea of green colored uniforms a few red sweaters stuck out like bright flags.
Although the soldiers and the helicopters were exciting, the most interesting part of the whole exercise was the interaction between the 10 local Canadian Rangers and the soldiers.
The Rangers were completely integrated into the scenario with three Rangers assigned to each of the three sections at the airport.
Although their primary duty was to provide protection from wildlife like bears, the Rangers have really been acting as ambassadors for the Deh Cho and the territory.
For many of the reservist soldiers from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia this is their first trip to the Northwest Territories. The Rangers have been showing them what life in the North is about.
The Rangers have shared a variety of local traditions with the soldiers including hunting with snares, bannock, some medicines, and how to collect dry wood. Some have even taught a few words of Slavey to the soldiers.
The soldiers I talked to all commented on how much they've been able to learn from the Rangers and how great they've been. Interestingly, the compliment also worked in reverse with many of the Rangers noting how great the soldiers have been and all the new things they've learned from them.
Cultural exchanges and increased levels of understanding can happen in the most unusual places, even during a Canadian Forces exercises.
Kevin Anavilok-Roche's last name was shortened in the April 19 issue of the Deh Cho Drum. The Drum apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment this may have caused.
In the April 12 edition of the Inuvik Drum, Lulu Loreen was incorrectly identified on the cover page as Mabel Irish. The Drum apologizes for this mistake and for any embarrassment or cofusion it may have caused.
Errors appeared in Wednesday's Yellowknifer ("Finning Canada recruiting," April 25). Finning Canada does not recruit heavy equipment operators as previously reported. Also, Natalie Esquibel is a recruiter for Finning and Norby Gerstel is Finning's Ekati branch operations manager. Additionally, in the Coffee Break "Get them while they're young," Allyson Stroeder, former director of the Kimberlite Career Technical Centre, was misidentified. Yellowknifer apologizes for any embarrassment or confusion caused by these errors.
|