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Hats off to city councillor Paul Falvo for taking the bus by the horns, so to speak.

He is asking for commuters who use public transit to tell him what's good and what's bad about the service, with an eye to finding improvements and for the city to consider taking over the service.

Falvo told Yellowknifer last week that he waited 27 minutes for a bus with his six-year-old daughter on Nov. 5 when the temperature hovered around -10 C. With the capital city plunged into a deep freeze this week, a person might resemble an icicle if that happened now.

"I'm trying to figure out what's going on with the buses because I get complaints time to time from people," Falvo said. There is logic to some of the options he is investigating, such as using smaller, shuttle buses on routes with low ridership, or using new technology like Global Positioning System (GPS) or electronic signage to let people know approximate arrival times.

The cost of transit in Yellowknife is substantial, estimated to be $1.083 million this year, offset by an expected $373,000 in revenue. It's not unusual for municipalities to subsidize the cost of transit, but we wonder if Yellowknife is getting value for its money, considering that only one per cent of commuters ride the bus. That's not one per cent of the population, but one per cent of commuters, which probably adds up to only a few hundred people, at best.

In looking at the numbers, we are against the city operating the transit system itself, especially considering that it would have to purchase buses and find a facility to house and maintain them.

Keeping in mind that the current five-year contract with private operator Cardinal Coachlines expires next September, Falvo's initiative to investigate the transit system's efficiency is timely and necessary. We're anxious to see what he brings to council during next week's budget discussions.

The faculty at St. Patrick High School has shown creative leadership on the issue of adolescent substance abuse and peer pressure.

Staff members volunteered their time to bring a new late-night drug- and alcohol-free social and recreational program to more than 50 of their students on Friday, Nov. 18.

Billed as Lights On night, the social and recreational event ran from 8 to 11 p.m. in various parts of the school. Many students played sports in the gym, while others competed via a video game system in a classroom or played board games in the library. Some students jammed in the music room. Pizza and fries were served, as well.

Alcohol and substance abuse, often pushed on students by peer pressure, exacts a heavy toll on youth, their families, schools, and the community. The more options students have to congregate in safe and fun environments, the easier it will be for youth to pursue healthy and fulfilling goals throughout adolescence and beyond.

The Lights On program is scheduled to run one Friday evening per month for St. Pat's students, however school staff aspire to expand the program to include other youth in the future.

While it is commendable that 15 faculty members have made this generous volunteer commitment of their time and energy, it should be up to other adults to support them by making a similar effort.

Any parents and responsible alumni willing to volunteer could take pressure off hardworking school staff and give this program a better chance of lasting.

It wasn't that long ago when the most disconcerting aspect of Christmas approaching for most folks was how often Canada Post employees seemed to use the holiday mail crunch as a, shall we say, bargaining chip in their contract negotiations.

Today, if the holidays are approaching, you can bet the debate is flaring over what rights Christians have in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

The answer to that is precious few, if any.

Forget the fact this great nation was founded on Christian fundamentals.

Forget the fact we don't issue threats, or worse, against those who disagree with the Bible.

In today's world, we're frowned upon by many for actually having the audacity to wish someone a merry Christmas.

The "happy holidays" greeting is the more politically correct and universally accepted standard these days.

Funny how that free speech thing only seems to travel in one direction at times.

Canadian Christians, it seems, are still allowed to exercise their right to religious freedom in their own country, as long as they do it quietly and out of sight of others.

So what if Christianity is the only religious faction to actually maintain a constant presence in a small Northern community, offer various outreach and youth programs, and even give back as much as it receives, if not more, to the people of the hamlet?

Does that give it the right to offer Bibles in the school to the community's youth?

Or, does offering a Bible to someone who may be interested in what it has to say -- and who always has the option of saying no thank you without any fear of persecution -- really amount to nothing more than a thinly-veiled attack on other forms of belief?

I am among those who try their best to be a good Christian, but have little use for the church, which, as an institution, has become so political and secretive during the past two centuries as to be almost a direct kin of the state.

And, at the risk of offending non-Christians everywhere, I am also among those who believe God is responsible for man.

I just happen to believe He did it through the process of evolution; not by being smart enough to create a fanciful garden, but not quite clever enough to figure a way to keep the snakes out.

I also know as all-powerful as He may be, God's not perfect.

If He were, He probably would have given a lot more thought to that whole free will notion.

Yes, He gave the vast majority of us the ability to know the difference between right and wrong, but free will often trumps common sense when it comes to doing things that can land us in hot water.

In this era of political correctness gone mad, common sense tells me it's far safer to wish everyone an early happy holidays and only have my conscience to deal with.

Yet, I choose to end this piece by wishing everyone an early merry Christmas.

Sometimes, you just have to follow your heart.

It's no secret that the wheels of government can, at times, move slowly. That statement is especially true in the NWT where government decisions must take into account different realities than in the south, especially when considering unsettled land claims and relations with First Nations.

Premier Bob McLeod started the 17th assembly on the right foot when he and other territorial legislators joined aboriginal leaders at a meeting in Dettah in late October. His attempt to mend the strained relations between First Nations groups and territorial leaders was a good first step to achieving goals that stalled during the previous assembly due to heated impasses between the parties.

Earlier this month, the 17th assembly announced its primary goals for the next four-year term. Those priorities include devolution, improving community employment rates, housing costs and infrastructure initiatives -- the Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk highway and the Mackenzie Valley fibre optic line would be examples.

A less vague description of the government's plans to achieve its goals is expected once it completes its comprehensive business plan. However, McLeod's comment that substantial change, in areas such as social programs, can take 10 to 15 years is concerning.

Unemployment in the communities, devolution and housing costs have been on the government agenda for decades already. There are many long-standing issues in the NWT that must be addressed soon, and addressed effectively.

Creating jobs -- assisted by working towards a revamp of the territory's regulatory system -- creating more affordable housing and forging a deal for devolution with the help of First Nation governments can't be volleyed about for years to come.

Our MLAs might have the luxury to discuss these issues for months and even years but community members without a good home, those without a stable job and the youth of the territory need more than reassuring words.

When the new Nutrition North program was rolled out on April 1 it was received with a storm of criticism. Many said the program failed to improve upon the old Food Mail program, the savings were negligible, the program was harder to access and the eligible items on the subsidy list did not reflect Northern needs.

In response, the federal government increased the subsidy levels and expanded the item list. The system still isn't perfect but reports of a 15.5 per cent reduction in costs and more nutritious foods being purchased in the communities is encouraging.

As the program continues to evolve over the coming months, we must remain vigilant and ensure the subsidy continues to help consumers, as it is intended. Reviewing the food list and pushing the government to include more staple products, such as rice, and essential non-food products such as diapers, would also help lessen the burden on Northern families.

It's essential that Northerners continue to pressure the government and the stores to ensure the subsidy is used to its full potential and savings are applied to products needed most by Northern families.

Businesses are supposed to make money -- ones with losses are failures.

That's a basic premise that does not always hold true.

The Nunavut Development Corporation would be a prime example of the exception to the rule. Seven of the corporation's nine subsidiaries wound up in the red during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Overall, they were short $3.2 million, which was covered by a subsidy paid for by the Government of Nunavut.

The development corporation backs companies involved in producing and marketing arts and crafts as well as meat and fish. It provided $4.6 million in employment and income to Nunavummiut during the past fiscal year, creating 126 jobs.

It also pumped a considerable amount of money into other established territorial businesses like airlines, utilities and other merchants and service providers.

When one factors in the $3.2 million subsidy, each job the corporation created cost taxpayers a little over $25,000.

Is that too much money to provide 126 people with work in traditional industries? Would we be better off if the money-losing corporations were just shut down and the products weren't sold commercially at all, or only sold in the south? No.

As Darrin Nicol, the corporation's president, pointed out, there are added expenses for operating in remote Nunavut communities, but that's the cost of developing a homegrown workforce.

We need the development corporation's training of skilled administrative workers, just like we needed the 11 lawyers produced through the Akitsiraq law program at a cost of nearly $5 million.

It is a price worth paying.

When the federal government announced its intentions on May 21, 2010, to replace Food Mail with a program called Nutrition North Canada, there was a mix of skepticism and relief.

Costs of products, primarily produce, had escalated substantially under Food Mail and deliveries often took longer than acceptable, resulting in wilted lettuce and soft tomatoes.

Some people insisted there wasn't enough accountability or transparency by the parties involved - stores, Canada Post and the airlines.

So Ottawa decided to phase in Nutrition North starting on April 1 of this year. Initially, there were few people who were happy. However, the government responded to concerns by expanding the list of items eligible through Nutrition North, higher subsidies were placed on fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and eggs. Traditional foods such as caribou, char and muskoxen are included.

Last week, shoppers in Iglulik, Clyde River and Cambridge Bay told Nunavut News/North they have noticed cheaper prices. Tony Jenkins of Clyde River said milk is now around $5 to $6 for two litres compared to $10 in the past.

It appears the kinks are being worked out. However, Nunavummiut should be on guard for any remaining glitches and prepare to protest loudly if the federal government begins to reduce the number of items covered by Nutrition North.

When Henry White felt forced to sell his barbershop last year he pointed the finger squarely at the city as the source of his woes.

The city's lack of support was driving him out of business, he said.

"People, businesspeople, are pissed off. It's too expensive to operate here and they aren't doing anything for us," said White in February 2010.

Fast forward to Nov. 8, 2011 and we are greeted with a picture of success in the same location: Ragged Ass Barbers, owned by James McGaughey, Steve Payne and Craig Zamonsky, was named this year's Business of the Year by the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation earlier this month.

The three partners bought Henry's Barbershop from White last year, and since then have attracted a regular client base of 1,500 customers.

"Good service" is the key to their success, says McGaughey, adding business is so good they're planning to either move to a larger location downtown or ask their landlord to expand their current space.

All the businesses recognized by the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation deserve praise: Didehcho Gas and Diesel Services for the Aboriginal Business Award; Old Town Glassworks, which took the Environmental Business Award; and McKenna Funeral Home, awarded the Business of Excellence Award.

But Ragged Ass Barbers stands out for making a success out of a business its predecessor said was too expensive to operate. Its owners show us that business success doesn't necessarily rest on what's going on at city hall. It's a winning strategy that matters most.

The future of Tin Can Hill, an expansive greenspace and popular dogwalking area, has been "dogging" council for a long time, Coun. David Wind said on Nov. 14.

The two-year-old debate about whether or not to open portions of the area to development essentially lost its bite that day when council passed second reading of a bylaw to rezone a 33-hectare parcel of Tin Can Hill to parks and recreation from growth management. The bylaw now must proceed to third reading and meet ministerial approval before passing into law.

In making this move, council is acting on the repeated expressions of public support for protection of the area.

Yellowknifer has argued for partial development of Tin Can Hill in the past, however, we agree that public opinion should guide council's conscience on this issue. If public consensus shifts in the future, the issue may be revisited by council.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said there's potential for it to return to the agenda someday. For the time being, council should let sleeping dogs lie and move on to other priorities.

For this year's National Child Day Celebration in Fort Simpson the Open Doors Society decided to follow a theme of celebrating children's talents and abilities.

The door prizes given away at the event and the activities held during it were all based around the theme of supporting children to foster their talents.

Anyone who attended the John Tsetso Memorial Library's annual Christmas bazaar the day before in the village and who took a close look around would realize exceptional talent is expressed through many different media in all age groups in the Deh Cho.

Christmas bazaars are a tradition in many of the communities in the Deh Cho. They are a signal that the holiday season is on its way and offer a chance to indulge in a little retail therapy and pick up some items not otherwise widely available in the communities.

What many people miss, however, as they jump from table to table ensuring they get everything on their list and try all of the food they had been anticipating, is just how talented the people with tables at the bazaars are.

For example, it's easy to spot vendors at the bazaars who are particularly gifted in photography, painting or drawing. Most people have standards they have learned to gauge those artistic endeavors against.

In the Deh Cho it's also easy to pick out people who are skilled in traditional art forms.

One area that doesn't get the due it deserves is talent in the kitchen. There is never a shortage of baked goods and other savory items for sale, although you might have to arrive early to get your favourite treat.

Sometimes by sight, and always by taste, people can identify delicious items. They don't, however, always translate that goodness into a recognition of the talent of the person who made it. Excellence in the culinary arts is a talent just as being able to paint a beautiful picture or turn some hide, beads, fur and stroud into a well-crafted moccasin.

Christmas bazaars in the Deh Cho are so much more than a chance to buy and sell items. They showcase the talents of your neighbours.

So, the next time you're in one of the bazaars, remember to stop in between your purchases and appreciate the talents on display.

If there's one thing I feel deprived of in Inuvik, it's not the lack of shopping malls, anonymity or cheap groceries. It's hearing live music, meeting musicians and listening to something for the first time that cuts right through to the soul.

Musicians have so much courage to just put it all out there – heartbreak, anger, happiness, confusion or even political sentiments -- and that's why I like them so much.

There's a quote by Victor Hugo which I love: "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. Music provides a venue, for listeners and creators, to express themself when words alone are not enough; when writing and speaking can not do justice to the feelings bubbling that demand to be shared."

Inuvik was lucky enough last week to have two nights of live music. The French-Canadian traditional folk band De Temps Antan played at the Iglu Church on Nov. 15. The foot-stomping good time was presented by the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. The church floor was bumping and babies bouncing as the trio took the audience on a trip to old-time Quebec and Louisiana. Despite the hard pews, the evening was almost like a kitchen party with old friends.

On Thursday, Yellowknife's Leela Gilday and Ontario's Rick Fines wowed a crowd at the Cafe Gallery with a free show. The two were in town for the Blues in the Schools program and took the opportunity to sing for a crowd.

These two artists are indescribably good. Gilday's vocals are unbelievable and the truth and passion she displays are the reason she recently won best aboriginal performer at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards last month. Hearing her in such an intimate setting will be a favourite memory of many people in Invuik for a long time to come.

Fines, too, impressed the crowd with his simple blues songs, which highlighted human truths in a thoughtful and often humorous manner. His rich voice, witty lyrics, quick fingers and introduction to each song gave the audience a personal experience with a national musician.

It all came together when Gilday and Fines played Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah together. Always a beautiful song, it reached another level in the tiny cafe with Gilday's perfect voice and Fines picking on the guitar. It was a perfect moment in time with great musicians when a tiny community on a cold night came together because of music.

So, musicians, thank you for being brave and sharing so much through your music. It inspires.

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