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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As the flood levels return to normal in the community of Nahanni Butte, NDP Transport critic Olivia Chow and members of the NWT NDP party served up lunch at Sombe K'e Park in Yellowknife July 13 to help raise funds for families displaced by the disaster.

The fundraiser - which raised more than $500 - was in conjunction with Chow's visit to Yellowknife to discuss the state of national and Northern aviation.

Chow and her late husband, NDP leader Jack Layton, visited the community in the summer of 2006 and since then she's developed a deep connection to the community.

"It's a beautiful community and for the floods to happen ... it's tough and that's why it's important to pull together for each other," Chow said. "The spirit of generosity is quite amazing and Canadians are that way - especially Northerners."

Chow's star power was a welcome addition. People who came out to enjoy lunch had the opportunity to get up close with one the NDP's favourite representatives.

"Olivia is awesome. We've always enjoyed her visits. She's been in the North several times," said Shane Pike, Western Arctic Federal NDP Riding Association president.

"We've always connected well with her, she loves the North, its people and of course we decided to turn this into a relief effort for the Nahanni flooding, which Olivia has a really strong connection to."

Nahanni Butte residents returned home on June 29 after the community was evacuated on June 9.

Airplanes were used to return the majority of the residents home, said David Maguire, a communications and website adviser with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Maguire said the territorial government is continuing to offer support to the community, including assisting with remediation and mould abatement.

- with files from Roxanna Thompson

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