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News Briefs: Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012
New place to play
Earlier this month the city removed the old playground equipment located in Somba K'e Park. Brand new equipment was added on the edge of Somba K'e Civic Plaza.
The new playground, located just behind the parking lot at the end of 52 Street, is more open and allows parents and guardians to enjoy the view of Frame Lake while still keeping an eye on their youngsters.
The $85,000 structure features swings, two slides, monkey bars and a make-believe concession stand with a built-in sand dispenser.
Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the project was part of the city's plan for the green space outside city hall.
- Miranda Scotland
Hot and dry July
July was one of the driest on record, according to Environment Canada. The month recorded just 34.2 millimetres of precipitation, the lowest amount since 2008. The mean temperature for July was 19.4 C, which was the highest recorded temperature since 1995.
- Sara Wilson
Scholarship winners flying high
Five Yellowknife students pursuing a career in the aviation industry have received a helping hand by way of scholarships from the Aviation Career Development Program.
Brittany Norris, Colby Wallis, Dylan Wheaton, Kylar Villebrun and Michael Gray each received a $5,000 scholarship provided by the GNWT's Department of Transportation in partnership with a number of Northern airlines.
"The future of the Northern aviation industry depends on young people from the North receiving the training and experience they need to play their role as pilots, maintenance engineers, operations specialists and aviation managers," stated Transportation Minister David Ramsay in a news release.
- Laura Busch
Meeting open to teleconference
The multiple sclerosis community group's meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the NWT Disabilities Council Boardroom. It is possible that not everyone taking part in the meeting will be in the building, however.
The group's meetings can now be attended by teleconference for those unable to attend a meeting in person. Laurie McLean, group facilitator, said she decided to make the addition in order to allow more people in the city who have MS to participate in the meetings.
- Lyndsay Herman
Students on Ice avoids near cancellation
Iqaluit
The Canadian Coast Guard intervened at the last moment to save a Students on Ice expedition, which includes Repulse Bay's Kelvin Ivalutanar, from being cancelled.
The team was stuck on the shore of Frobisher Bay, in Iqaluit, while the research vessel they planned to board, the MV Akademik Ioffe, waited on the other side of a seemingly-impassable field of sea ice. The team was supposed to leave on Aug. 1, but were still landlocked by the weekend.
On Aug. 4, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Des Groseilliers, under the command of Capt. Sylvain Bertrand, provided the safe transfer of the 76 students and 40 educators from Iqaluit to the MV Akademik Ioffe, so Students on Ice can continue its journey to Greenland.
School start-up dates
Kivalliq
Schools are set to begin across Rankin Inlet, if they haven't already. Below are the school start-up dates for the region:
Rankin Inlet
Leo Ussak School: Aug. 17
Simon Alaittuq School: Aug. 17
Maani Ulujuk School: Aug. 17
Arviat
Levi Angmak School: Aug. 15
Qitiqliq Middle School: Aug. 15
John Arnalukjuak High School: Aug. 28
Whale Cove
Inuglak School: Aug. 6
Chesterfield Inlet
Victor Sammurtok School: Aug. 15
Baker Lake
Rachel Arngnammaktiq School: Aug. 15
Jonah Amitnaaq High School: Aug. 15
Repulse Bay
Tusarvik School: Aug. 15
Coral Harbour
Sakku School: Aug. 16
Faster Internet speeds
Arviat/Baker Lake/Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Baker Lake now have access to faster Internet, according to a news release sent out by NorthwesTel last week.
The new package has speeds up to two megabits per second, up from one megabit per second, which was the top speed available before the new package was introduced.
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News desk 
