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News Briefs: Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Man charged with assaulting police
A 29-year-old B.C. man was charged last week with assault causing bodily harm, assault to a police officer and assault and resisting arrest after a paramedic and two RCMP officers were attacked. RCMP received a call for assistance from fire department emergency medical services personnel Thursday afternoon near the Air Tindi Float Base on Mitchell Drive, according to an RCMP news release.
When police arrived, the man was being treated for an injury after a paramedic had been assaulted. A police officer was allegedly assaulted while trying to apprehend the man. Police accuse the man of assaulting another officer while exiting the police vehicle at the RCMP detachment.
Only one of the victims was taken to hospital, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The man is set to appear in territorial court at 9:30 a.m. June 5.
- Simon Whitehouse
City seeks new deputy fire chief
The City of Yellowknife is looking for a replacement for former deputy fire chief Jason Davidson.
Davidson stole more than $100,000 from the Vancouver Firefighters Concert and Marching Band Society. He was given a one-year conditional sentence and began his house arrest yesterday. He resigned from the fire department last month. Applicants must submit their resumes by April 20.
- Galit Rodan
Snow clearing this week
City snow-clearing efforts will concentrate on downtown and Old Town this week. On Wednesday, crews will be behind Mildred Hall School and in the area of 46, 47, 51 and 52 streets from 52 to 53 avenues. On Thursday, efforts head to Hamilton Drive, School Draw Avenue, and 53 and 54 streets from 52 to 53 avenues.
Fisher in court
A man charged with eight counts under the Fisheries Act was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to enter his plea. Brian Abbott, owner of Great Slave Fish Products, is instead scheduled to enter a plea at 9:30 a.m. April 24.
The case was delayed to allow Abbott's attorney time to respond to a Crown proposal sent April 4.
- Galit Rodan
Rock take bantam crown
Coral Harbour
The Rankin Rock defeated Iqaluit 4-2 to claim the Nunavut bantam tournament championship in Coral Harbour this past week.
Players from eight communities competed at the event.
For the complete story on the tournament and all the award winners, please see the April 18 edition of Kivalliq News.
Hunters proven right
Kivalliq
The latest survey released on the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population shows the number of bears has increased during the past eight years.
The survey, conducted with spotters in planes and helicopters, showed the population has grown to more than 1,000 bears.
A number of concerns had been raised during the past few years due to climate change, and western science had predicted numerous times the Western Hudson Bay population was sure to decline.
The predictions were strongly contested by Inuit hunters who repeatedly reported the population to be strong, healthy and growing.
The Government of Nunavut had announced an increase in the polar bear quota for the Western Hudson Bay this past October, raising the quota to 21 from the eight-bear quota set in 2008.
Nickel hunters
Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay may be the next Kivalliq community poised on the brink of an economic boost from the mining industry.
One of the biggest nickel-producing companies in the world, Vale, announced it will begin looking for nickel this year on the Melville Peninsula near Repulse.
Vale is looking at implementing a five-year program of prospecting and drilling in the area with a camp of 30 people.
Work is expected to begin later this spring if the company's plans are approved by the Government of Nunavut and its various regulators.
Northern summit
Churchill/Kivalliq
More than 100 representatives from the public and private sector joined mayors and municipal officials from a number of Nunavut communities, including the Kivalliq's Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour, in Churchill, Man., this past month for a three-day discussion on moving forward in partnership to strengthen Canada's North.
A number of specialized workshops were held during the event, which featured discussions surrounding the high cost of living, food security, health, employment, training, infrastructure and transportation.
Quota drop
Repulse Bay
The community of Repulse Bay could see its narwhal quota cut in half this coming summer.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans informed the community this past month that it wants to drop the number of narwhals harvested to 57 from its current 102.
Many Repulse residents are strongly opposed to the reduction in harvesting the narwhal, which could soon find itself protected by the Species At Risk Act.
Penny sale
Rankin Inlet
Organizers of the annual Laura Gauthier Memorial (LGM) volleyball tournament are holding a penny sale at the Rankin Inlet Community Hall this coming Saturday, April 14, to raise funds for this year's event.
The sale will run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The 2012 LGM tournament is scheduled to take place in Rankin from May 3 to 6.
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News desk 
