 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Thursday, June 30, 2011
Fire ban lifted
The open air burning ban in Yellowknife has been temporarily lifted. Recent rain has lowered the fire hazard rating from extreme to low.
Judy McLinton, communications manager for Environment and Natural Resources, says people still need to be cautious. "The North Slave region is still under drought conditions," she said.
McLinton also said fire crews battled a man-made fire 30 km east of Yellowknife on Tuesday.
She added a fire near Highway 3, between Yellowknife and Fort Providence, is no longer a threat to the road.
- Sarah Ferguson
MOU on Northern U
The three territorial education ministers signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday concerning the development of university studies in the North.
They say they are committed to providing accessible post-secondary education and want to promote a balance of academic and traditional pursuits.
"Signing this MOU takes the first step to bring our governments' shared goal of university development in Canada's North to reality," said NWT Education Minister Jackson Lafferty.
The territories are forming a committee to advance discussions with Ottawa and develop options.
- Sarah Ferguson
Uptown power outage
An interruption in the power supply from the Bluefish hydro plant caused a 10 minute outage in Range Lake and Frame Lake South at 10:03 p.m. Monday.
Duane Morgan, manager of Northland Utilities, said between 600 and 700 customers were affected by the outage.
"We had an interruption of supply coming in from the Bluefish hydro, and what that caused was a slight dip in the frequency, and the protection system in that area opened up the breaker," said Morgan.
- Kevin Allerston
Missing picnic tables
Eight children's-sized picnic tables have gone missing from the Folk on the Rocks festival site at Long Lake.
The tables were noticed missing a couple of weeks ago. And festival organizers ask that anyone with information about the brightly coloured tables give them a call.
-Nicole Veerman
News Briefs: Thursday, June 30, 2011
Chief elected
Harry Deneron is the new chief of Acho Dene Koe First Nation.
Deneron received 110 votes during the election in Fort Liard on June 27. Incumbent Steve Kotchea had 74 votes while Julia Capot-Blanc had 39. None of the five elected councillors were on the previous council.
The new councillors include Stanley Bertrand with 117 votes, Jim Duntra with 114, Cheryl Bertrand with 113, Janna Deneron with 96 and Donald Lomen with 88. Fourteen candidates ran for council.
Of the 400 eligible voters, 224 band members voted during the election.
Former mayor to stand trial
Duncan Canvin, a retired RCMP officer and a former mayor of Fort Simpson, has been ordered to stand trial on four charges.
A preliminary inquiry on Canvin's case was held in territorial court in Yellowknife on June 27 and 28. Canvin was charged in October 2010. The charges, which relate to two male complainants, include two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation. The offences are alleged to have happened between 1993 and 1996.
Canvin has already elected to be tried by judge and jury in Supreme Court.
Fort Providence man stabbed in Yellowknife
A man from Fort Providence has suffered cuts from a broken bottle as a result of an altercation in Yellowknife.
The Fort Providence male, 31, and a 27-year-old male from Ndilo were found by the RCMP on June 25 in a Yellowknife residence following a call for assistance. The men, who appeared to be bleeding from stab wounds to various parts of their bodies, were taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital where they were treated and remained in stable condition as of June 27, according to a press release from the RCMP.
The RCMP has charged Eagle Quill Hunter, 27, of Yellowknife with two counts of aggravated assault.
Nominations opened for new cultural circle
The territorial government is accepting nominations for its inaugural Minister's Cultural Circle.
Sponsored by Jackson Lafferty, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the circle will recognize residents who contribute to preserving and promoting art, culture and heritage at local, regional and territorial levels. There are four categories of recognition: elder, youth, group and individual.
Nominations can be made up until Aug. 2. One successful candidate per category will be selected this fall.
New Chamber of Commerce website
The Inuvik Chamber of Commerce launched its new website on June 8.
The chamber is enjoying a revitalization, which includes a new board of directors, its first AGM, a newsletter and the website.
Programs and initiatives for 2011 include increasing the number of youth in the business community through apprentice and mentoring programs, supporting the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optics Link and lobbying for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk road and the Mackenzie Valley
The website has information on the chamber, how to become a member, events and news.
Summer camp to begin
Camp Kivumi, Inuvik's summer day camp, will start next week for children aged five to 12.
The camp runs Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will continue until Aug. 19. This year, the camp is offering something new, swimming lessons.
Each week has a theme, such as Wacky Scientists, Little Picassos, the Olympics, Around the World, emergency services and talent week.
The camp will be held at the Midnight Sun Complex.
Tea and quilts at the greenhouse
On Canada Day, the community greenhouse will hold an afternoon tea and quilt display.
The event is a fundraiser and will also showcase the greenhouse. Snacks will be offered, with some ingredients grown the greenhouse this season.
On July 6, the fifth annual Summer Quilt Show by the Inuvik Quilting Guild will kick off. It will be held in the greenhouse classroom and run until Oct. The theme for 2011 is Circling Around where artists will create pieces with circle or dots in their work.
Funding applications available
Applications are being accepted once again for the Aviva Community Fund.
Aviva, an insurance company, is offering $1 million for 11 different community projects. Last year's winners included funding for the creation of the NWT SPCA Northern Animal Shelter.
The winners are selected by members of the public and then chosen by a panel of judges.
Idea submissions start on Sept. 26, with voting commencing on Oct. 3. Start planning your submission now for a project that will improve Inuvik.
| 
News desk 
