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News Briefs: Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Mobile aquarium to visit
For the first time, the Vancouver Aquarium's AquaVan will be coming to Yellowknife to give residents a hands-on experience with sea life.
Visitors to the van will be able to learn about marine environments and animals through interacting with live invertebrate creatures, including sea urchins, sea anemones, crabs, sea snails and sea stars. The van will be at the Northern Skies Air show on July 14 and at the Elks Open House from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 16.
- Miranda Scotland
Devolution goes online
A new website detailing the devolution process for lands and resources is available to the public.
Launched June 22, the site contains a glossary, photos, minister statements regarding the process and a list of frequently asked questions.
The website is currently available only in English online. The devolution site, at www.devolution.gov.nt.ca, is separate from other territorial government websites so it is easier and faster to update. The government hopes to have a final devolution agreement, which transfers responsibilities to the territorial government from the federal government, signed by the end of 2012.
- Danielle Sachs
MacLean starts rally
Yellowknife adventurer Lachlan MacLean lifted off on the first leg of his daunting Mongol Rally Monday afternoon. MacLean is bound for Calgary and onwards to eastern Asia where he plans to drive a tiny subcompact car a third of the way around the world to raise money for the NWT Literacy Council. He is open to suggestions and challenges during the trip and, according to his Facebook page, MacLean has so far been challenged to make it in and out of Iran for $300. He will also earn $10 for every tire patched and $1 for every Facebook post written once the rally begins July 14 in West Sussex, UK.
- Jesse Winter
Traffic light disrupted
A traffic light at the intersection of Kam Lake Road and Woolgar Avenue is flashing yellow while city crews assess a problem with a ground rod.
"(The ground rod) was installed in the cabinet (and) heaved during the winter and pressed against some wiring, causing a short," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.
Four-way stop signs have been placed along Kam Lake Road before and after the intersection.
- Sara Wilson
Official training
Ottawa
Level 4 hockey official Max MacDonald of Rankin Inlet will be taking part in a Hockey Canada officiating program supervision seminar in Ottawa from July 20 to 22.
The Hockey North referee will receive advanced training on conducting official on-ice supervisions, as well as being engaged in strategies to ensure officials are receiving the support needed to properly enforce the head contact rule, and taking part in a review of the 2012-14 playing rule changes.
MacDonald will be accompanied on the training program by fellow Hockey North official Craig Hockridge of Yellowknife.
Arviamiut perform
Ottawa
A group of eight entertainers from Arviat performed at the Summer Solstice Aboriginal Festival in Ottawa this past month.
The eight perform with Qaggiqtiit in their home community, as well as the Tupiq cultural program associated with the Arviat Community Ecotourism Initiative.
The group who made the trip to Ottawa included Karen Panigoniak, Sylvia Suluk, Ernie Eetak, Elizabeth Nibgoarsi, Nancy Tassiuk, Louisa Gibbons, Eva Mukyungnik and Mary Anowtalik.
Junior Rangers gather
Whitehorse
A number of Junior Canadian Rangers from Kivalliq communities were among the 220 who attended an enhanced training session program in Whitehorse this past week.
Junior Rangers from across the three territories and Atlin, B.C., attended the event.
The camp allows Junior Canadian Rangers from 40 communities across the North to come together for seven days of diverse training and challenging activities in a fun and natural outdoor setting.
Program events included white-water rafting, zip lining, abseiling, rafting, marksmanship, swift-water rescue, trapping, woodsmanship, and a special Canada Day parade.
Youth abroad
Kivalliq
A total of eight Kivalliq youths are taking part in the Canadian and international phases of the Northern Youth Abroad program this month.
The youths will spend five weeks volunteering in southern communities for the Canadian phase and six weeks in Botswana, Africa, for the international phase.
The youths departed on June 27 to spend a week preparing for their assignments in Ottawa.
Taking part in the Canadian phase of the program are Anne Renee Angalik of Arviat, Bernard Angootealuk of Coral Harbour, Christopher Tootoo of Baker Lake and Hope Makpah of Rankin Inlet.
Participating in the international phase are Abraham Kadluk of Chesterfield Inlet, Jupie Angootealuk of Coral Harbour, Scott Sammurtok Walters of Chesterfield Inlet and Trina Qaqqaq of Baker Lake.
Artists nominated
Rankin Inlet
Two Rankin Inlet artists have been nominated for a pair of prestigious awards.
Veronique Nirlungayuk has been nominated for the 2012 Commissioner of Arts - Performing Arts award for her drum dancing at the 2008 opening of the touring exhibition of Inuit Dolls of the Kivalliq at the Burnaby Art Gallery in British Columbia, as well as at other events in Kivalliq since then.
Helen AbenReynen has been nominated for the 2012 Simon Fraser University Outstanding Alumni Awards in the categories of arts and culture and service to the community.
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