Peace bond hearing for returning sex offender

Alexis Joseph Orlias, 30, was scheduled to appear in court in his home community of Fort Good Hope on March 23, after serving a six-year sentence for sexual assault.

A peace bond hearing sets out specific conditions to protect the safety of others if there is a reasonable fear a person will commit a sexual offence. It includes specific terms that could forbid a defendant from calling, contacting or visiting the victim's home or workplace. Orlias' hearing was adjourned to May 11.

- Samantha Stokell

Education Hall of Fame

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment will accept nominations until March 31 for the Education Hall of Fame which recognizes residents who support education, including teachers, coaches, custodians, volunteers, community businesses or sponsors.

The award recognizes one inductee from each region and one special Minister's Choice Award.

Nominees will be announced in April, with the winners announced on May 17.

- Samantha Stokell

Waste paper products initiative

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is accepting applications to the waste paper product initiative.

The grants provide financial assistance to NWT municipalities, organizations, businesses, and individuals to initiate and develop innovative ways to reuse waste paper and cardboards.

In previous years, funded projects included using paper as compost or making products such as insulation, fuel bricks or pallets, packing materials or animal bedding.

The deadline for applications is April 30, 2011. For more information no how to apply visit www.icarenwt.ca.

- Samantha Stokell

Ferry opening might be delayed

Low water levels in Great Slave Lake and fluctuating levels on the Mackenzie River might delay the opening of the Fort Providence ferry crossing.

The Department of Transportation has reported that, in the 30 days leading up to March 24, water levels at the crossing fluctuated between 149.5 and 150.5 metres above sea level. Over the same period last year, water levels rose from 150.55 to 150.68 metres, with only minor fluctuations.

The ferry requires consistent water levels of at least 150 metres before it can operate.

- Paul Bickford

Senior issues to be discussed

Hay River

A presentation on two issues affecting seniors will be held March 29 in Hay River.

It will deal with abuse of older adults and the Building Networks Project of the NWT Seniors' Society.

The guest speakers will be Angus Mackay, the society's director of educational programs for older adults, and Const. Josh Mackenzie of the Hay River RCMP.

The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on March 29 at the Supportive Living Day Program Building, 52 Woodland Drive.

- Paul Bickford

Learning on the land in Aklavik

Aklavik

Junior high school students at the Moose Kerr School in Aklavik will soon start a series of on-the-land workshops.

From March 29, students will learn about fish and rabbits, how to set traps and check nets, bag them and skin them, all right on the land. From April 4 to 13, they will catch muskrats, while near the end of the month, junior and high school students will go on a moose hunt.

On April 29, the school will host an elders celebration with the spoils of the hunts on the menu. The leftover meat will be put in a draw for the elders to take home.

- Samantha Stokell

New board for music society

Hay River

A new board - except for a president - has been elected for the Hay River Music, Arts and Culture Society.

In the March 2 election, two board members were returned to their same positions - James Constable as vice-president and Shirley King as treasurer.

The other board members are secretary Anne Boudreau, visual arts liaison Karen Gelderman, memberships co-ordinator Mark Lyon, public relations representative Edith Vachon-Raymond, volunteer co-ordinators Jayne Haywood and Susan Lalonde, and Francois Lamy, who will be responsible for fundraising.

Randy Randle, the society's founder and former president, resigned when he moved out of the NWT.

The position of president remains vacant, and the society would welcome interest from people willing to fill the role.

The society has officially existed since May 5, 2010, and last year presented the first annual Hay Days festival of music, arts and culture.

- Paul Bickford

Suicide prevention workshops wrap up

Beaufort Delta

The Department of Health and Social Services, along with the NWT Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, offered a suicide prevention training program to residents of the Beaufort Delta from March 19 to 28.

The course happened at the Gwich'in Wellness Camp outside of Inuvik and taught participants intervention skills to help others.

The curriculum consisted of three phases that had culturally relevant and community-based information that focused on grieving and healing work, community assets and how to help communities address the issue of suicide.

- Samantha Stokell

Council to meet ratepayers about taxation

Hay River

Hay River town council plans to invite the Corridor Ratepayers Association to an informal meeting within a month to discuss taxation.

Council made the decision at its March 21 meeting after receiving a letter from the association, which represents residents along the Highway 2 corridor.

The association wants to develop a formal agreement on taxation with the town based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tax levels between the town and the GNWT when the corridor area was annexed more than 20 years ago.

The ratepayers association claims historical documents show taxation for corridor residents was to be less than in the town proper.

However, councillors want more information on the MOU.

The suggestion of a formal taxation agreement concerns at least one council member.

"The idea of putting in a formal agreement scares the hell out of me," said Deputy Mayor Mike Maher, who said the MOU was a transitional agreement.

Taxation in the town is based on cost of service, he said, adding an agreement with the corridor association would be going down a dangerous road and segregating the community.

- Paul Bickford

New Community Centre for Ulukhaktok

Ulukhaktok/Holman

Ulukhaktok held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new community centre on March 18.

The Ulukhaktok Simon Katoyak Community Centre has a community hall, radio station, kitchen and youth centre inside. More than 200 people gathered to celebrate with a feast and drum dance afterwards.

Dignitaries flew in for the festivities, including Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Robert McLeod, Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Nellie Cournoyea.

The youth centre has computers, games, a television with a Wii and other games for youth to use.

- Samantha Stokell

Special occasion liquor permits centralized

All special occasion liquor permits will now be handled through the office of the chief liquor inspector in Iqaluit, a change the territorial government said will "streamline" the process and provide better customer service.

Chief liquor inspector Kenny Bell sent a letter in February to wet and controlled communities in Nunavut, stating Nunavut Liquor Management has created a central access point in Iqaluit to process all applications. From now on, the office of the chief liquor inspector will handle all applications and will require a minimum of seven days to process them.

"We think this way will get us better customer service," said Chris D'Arcy, assistant deputy minister, policy and planning in Nunavut's Department of Finance. "It will be streamlined and seamless for anybody whose applying."

Before the changes, there were three service points for such permits.

Special occasion liquor permits cost from $50 to $150 depending on the number of people attending a particular event.

- Jeanne Gagnon

GN donates $25,000 to Japan relief efforts

The territorial government has donated $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to assist with relief efforts in disaster-stricken Japan, it announced earlier this month.

Japan was hit with a magnitude 9.0 earthquake followed by a tsunami this past March 11.

"I was shocked and saddened by the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan," stated Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak in a press release. "I offer condolences to those who have lost loved ones - our thoughts and prayers are with you. Our hope for the people of Japan, including the victims' relatives and friends around the world, is for courage and resilience."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Chief medical officer steps down

Dr. Isaac Sobol, Nunavut's chief medical officer for the last seven years, has announced he is stepping down from the position and will not renew his contract which ends on April 10.

He said he made the decision about six months ago as he wants to spend more time with his family. Sobol took the position in October 2004 in a part-time capacity and then took it on full-time in April 2005.

One particular challenge he highlighted was the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.

"I was able to provide leadership for our department and we avoided a second wave in Nunavut."

He said he plans to take some time off and look for work opportunities.

Sobol worked for 12 years as a family doctor and medical officer of health in northwest British Columbia. Right before coming to Nunavut, he was the director of aboriginal peoples' health at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine.

Sobol had this advice for his successor: "Work hard but try to establish a good work-life balance."

The Department of Health and Social Services has yet to announce who the new chief medical officer will be.

- Emily Ridlington

Municipal byelection set for April 18

Qausuittuq/Resolute

Resolute residents will chose a mayor and three councillors when a municipal byelection is held April 18.

Senior administrative officer Martha Kalluk said the community has been without a mayor for a while as councillor and acting mayor Zipporah Aronsen was not re-elected on Dec. 13 and deputy mayor Tabitha Mullin resigned as a councillor to run as mayor.

"We're doing OK. We're still running the day-to-day operations," she said. "We were supposed to have our council meeting (March 7) but we don't have a quorum."

She added it's the first time this has happened.

Running for mayor are Mullin and Joadamee Amagualik. Running for one of the three councillor positions are Wayne Davidson, Murray Balsom, Tagga Manik, Sheeba Nangmalik and Brenda Eckalook.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Traditional learning

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Students at Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet were busy learning traditional skills with elders earlier this month.

A group of female students took part in traditional sewing classes, while the boys learned how to build a qamutiik during their time with the instructors.

The school is also taking part in the annual Drop The Pop campaign this month.

- Darrell Greer

Mayor resigns

Iglulik

Iglulik mayor Lucasie Ivvalu resigned on March 18 for health reasons, said the assistant senior administrative officer.

Celestino Uyarak said deputy mayor Paul Quassa will act as mayor until the December 2011 municipal election. Ivvalu's term was set to end in December.

"It was discussed and the councillors have accepted his resignation," he said.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Showing appreciation

Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

Students and staff at Nasivvik School hosted an feast for elders to show how much they are appreciated.

"It went well," said Julia Landry, teacher.

The feast was held on March 21.

Landry said about 30 elders came to the school gym for country food and a turkey dinner prepared by staff and students.

The feast was followed by traditional games.

- Emily Ridlington

Busy school

Salliq/Coral Harbour

Sakku School in Coral Harbour has been holding a number of special programs for its students this month.

The school participated in the annual Drop The Pop campaign, with prizes being awarded to the best posters created by elementary students. Sakku also took part in the I Love To Read campaign, with the school's Grade 4 class leading the way by reading 151 books.

- Darrell Greer

Fitness club for teachers and students

Kinngait/Cape Dorset

Sam Pudlat School was eagerly anticipating the arrival of its exercise equipment from the airport on March 21 to set up a fitness club for teachers and students.

Lisa Kelly, a K-6 teacher, said after spring break on April 25 the school will start an eight-week fitness club for kids, including running when the weather warms up in June. She added for instance, they will keep track how many times students run around the school, equating that to kilometres. The school will receive balls and elastic bands to help with the activities, which will include circle games, said Kelly.

"I've seen a real need for the kids just to be able play and be fit," she said. "To work it in at such a young age, so they can get used to physical activity and to start building these habits now so they can keep them as they grow older."

Kelly said teachers will also be able to relieve stress and keep fit before and after school in the new exercise room containing a treadmill, elliptical machine and stationary bike.

"I also think it's really important for the teachers because we are to model it for our students and if we aren't, we're lacking in that department, I think," she said. "And I just recognize the need to release stress because quite often, there's not many outlets so this is a great healthy outlet for the teachers."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Planning for an emergency

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

The Government of Nunavut and the hamlet organized a four-day long emergency planning workshop at the beginning of February to help members of the community be ready in case there is a disaster.

"Our instructor said we did the table top exercise better than any other community," said Ron Mongeau, senior administrative officer.

About 15 people including representatives from the hamlet, the RCMP, the health centre, the Canadian Rangers, the fire department, Parks Canada, Qulliq Energy, the schools and other groups learned how to organize, train and plan for emergencies.

Mongeau said they were given the "ultimate" scenario to try and plan for where there is a large blizzard, the Co-op catches on fire and a plane carrying dangerous chemicals has to do an emergency landing.

"It was one of the best put together workshops I've ever seen," he said.

Members of the committee who participating are working on finalizing the hamlet's emergency plan.

He said committee members will meet twice weekly until it is done.

- Emily Ridlington

Hamlet officials get sneak peek at Piqqusilirivvik

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Hamlet officials got to see inside the new Piqqusilirivvik cultural learning facility on March 17.

"It is an absolutely beautiful facility,' said Troy Jenkins, SAO.

The facility is set to officially open in May with the first group of students heading to class in September.

Jenkins said they also talked with GN officials about a couple of concerns they had including snow removal and increase demand of municipal services.

The building located on the airport road, has caused large snow drifts, Jenkins said.

And as for municipal services he said the hamlet would not have a problem.

"It is certainly going to benefit not only Clyde River but the entire territory as well."

- Emily Ridlington