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News Briefs: Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sliding hill open
As of Friday, 51A Avenue between 55 Street and 56 Street will be closed to all traffic for the creation of a recreational toboggan hill, according to a statement by the City of Yellowknife.
The section of 51A Avenue will be closed for the winter season.
- Katherine Hudson
Mishap for Buffalo Airways
Yellowknife Airport was closed for about one hour on Friday after the landing gear on a Buffalo Airways Curtiss C-46 Commando slowly collapsed into the wheel well at 12:18 p.m. as the aircraft was taxiing after landing from a test flight, said Buffalo's Mikey McBryan. There were no injuries, the pilot shut off the engines during the incident and there was minor damage to the right-side engine and wing tip when the wing tip hit a taxi-lane light. A crane was used to move the aircraft into a hangar and sheet-metal repairs are underway, McBryan said. "That aircraft is tough as nails and it's a minor hiccup in its long luscious life," he said.
- Glenn Werkman
$8.6M for adult literacy
The federal government is investing $8.6 million over four years in programs aimed at improving adult literacy and basic education in the territory with an eye to helping more people join the workforce, said Leona Aglukkaq, minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, in a news release on Tuesday.
The adult education programming will be delivered by Aurora College, which has prioritized a number of initiatives, including hiring part-time and full-time adult literacy and basic education instructors in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Inuvik and other communities.
- Miranda Scotland
Deadline for student funding
NWT students heading into a post-secondary program in January have until tomorrow to hand in their applications for financial assistance through the NWT Student Financial Assistance Program.
Late applications are accepted, however payment is not guaranteed for the start date of winter classes.
For more information or to acquire an application, call NWT Student Financial Assistance or visit its website.
- Katherine Hudson
Time to dance
Chesterfield Inlet
The community of Chesterfield Inlet was scheduled to host the sixth annual Marcel Maktar Memorial square dance this past weekend.
The event traditionally attracts dancers and musicians from across the Kivalliq region.
Dancing against suicide
Repulse Bay
The community of Repulse Bay was scheduled to host a six-day suicide-prevention square dance this week from Nov. 1217.
A number of Kivalliq communities have been holding antisuicide events since a number of sudden deaths among youths rocked the region this past month.
Chairperson announced
Rankin Inlet
Suzanne Misheralak of Rankin Inlet has been announced as the new chairperson for the Nunavut Arctic College board of governors.
Misheralak was selected to the position by board members during a meeting held in Iqaluit on Oct. 26.
She had been appointed to the board as the Rankin member by the Minister Responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Daniel Shewchuk, in August of 2011.
Misheralak is a graduate of the management studies diploma program at Arctic College and is the assistant manager of the Rankin Inlet Housing Association.
The primary responsibility of the board of governors is to give the college a sense of purpose and direction.
Community mourns
Arviat
The community of Arviat is mourning the death of elder Eva (Ookanaaq) Mukyungnik, who passed away this past week after a short illness.
Mukyungnik was wellknown and highlyrespected in the community, and was involved in a number of programs and projects, especially with youth.
She recently was among the elders who accompanied this year's potential graduates at John Arnalukjuak High School during their leadership retreat on the land.
Arctic Circle turkeys
Repulse Bay
Calm Air is busy making preparations for its 11th annual Christmas dinner for Nunavut schools, which will be held on Dec. 6 at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay.
The event moves between Kivalliq communities each Christmas season.
The highly anticipated feast will feature a turkey dinner with all the trimmings prepared for, and served to, Tusarvik students and staff at the school, as well as a number of special guests from the community.
Awaiting sentence
Repulse Bay/Iqaluit
Joyce Kringuk, 32, of Repulse Bay is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty on Nov. 5 in Iqaluit to the seconddegree murder of her common-law partner, Joani Kringayark, 47, in Repulse in August of 2008.
Kringuk shot Kringayark in the head during an alcoholfuelled argument.
The guilty plea carries with it a mandatory life sentence, but Justice Robert Kilpatrick will decide within the next few weeks how many years Kringuk must serve before being allowed to apply for parole.
Both the Crown and defence attorneys agreed 10 years before being able to apply for parole would be fitting in the case.
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News desk 
