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News Briefs: Friday, February 15, 2013
City honoured for compost project
The City of Yellowknife was among a dozen municipalities given a Sustainability Communities Award for its centralized composting pilot project by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities this week.
Mayor Mark Heyck was the only council member to attend the federation's Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show held in Windsor this week. He received a trophy on behalf of the city for its work with Ecology North for the three-year project, which composted household organics.
- Simon Whitehouse
NDP leader to visit city
Thomas Mulcair, leader of the NDP and the official opposition in Canada, will touch down in Yellowknife on Monday.
"There's going to be a public gathering at the Explorer Hotel with (Western Arctic MP) Dennis Bevington at 4:30 p.m.," said Mulcair's spokesperson George Smith.
Mulcair will finish his visit by meeting with Premier Bob McLeod in the evening before leaving Yellowknife early on Tuesday.
- Katherine Hudson
Conservative caucus visiting city
Members of the Northern Conservative caucus are scheduled to be in Yellowknife on Monday and Tuesday to meet with government leaders and gather insight into issues that affect the territory, according to Northern caucus chair Dennis Patterson, senator for Nunavut.
The Northern Conservative caucus is comprised of Patterson, Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, Yukon MP Ryan Leef and Yukon Senator Dan Lang. Because no federally elected politicians from the NWT are members of the Conservative party, the territory is not represented on the caucus.
All four members of the caucus will be in Yellowknife and will host a meet and greet with the public at 5 p.m. on Monday at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre.
- Laura Busch
Grits gather at Mackenzie Lounge
Anyone interested in catching the Liberal Leadership Debate can head to the Mackenzie Lounge tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The event is being hosted by the Western Arctic Liberal Association. A light lunch will be provided.
- Katherine Hudson
News Briefs: Thursday, February 14, 2013
Award for principal
The principal of Deh Gah School in Fort Providence will be receiving an award for her work.
Lois Philipp is one of 51 principals from across the country who have been chosen to receive Canada's Outstanding Principals awards. The awards, in their ninth year, are given by The Learning Partnership.
The awards are presented to administrators who have made unique and crucial contributions in public schools. This year's awards will be presented at a ceremony in Toronto on Feb. 26.
Society seeks input
The Heritage Centre Society in Fort Simpson is looking for public input.
The society will be holding two workshops to gather ideas from residents on how to preserve and promote heritage and culture in the Deh Cho. The ideas provided could be the basis for future projects undertaken by the society.
The first workshop will be held on Feb. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. followed by one on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon. Both events will be held at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's training room.
Economic input sought from Deh Cho residents
Public input is being sought for the Economic Opportunities Strategy for the NWT.
The Economic Opportunities Strategy Advisory Panel will be holding a public forum in Fort Simpson on Feb. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the recreation centre. The panel is also expected to meet with the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.
The strategy is examining, in part, the issues, challenges and opportunities that exist related to resource development and regional diversification projects in the territory. The completed strategy will also include input from industry and economic experts, as well as insight from the panel members.
Open Sky elects new board
Following its annual general meeting, which was held on Feb. 5, the Open Sky Creative Society in Fort Simpson has elected a new board.
Michael Blyth will be continuing his role as the society's president. He is joined by vice-president Lindsay Waugh and treasurer Jackie Zinger.
The society currently has the exhibition Animal Matter on display in its gallery. The exhibition comprised of works by Yellowknife artist Marcus Jackson is in its final weeks and will close on Feb. 22. The gallery is open on weekdays from 1 to 5 p.m.
25 years of IRC hockey
The IRC Cup will bring hockey fans flocking to Inuvik this weekend for the 25th anniversary tournament.
Organizer Donald Hendrick said 11 teams have entered the tournament from around the Mackenzie Delta region. As normal, two division champions will be crowned by Sunday afternoon. Hendrick said both divisions are likely to be fiercely contested, with the A division sure to be the most intense.
Trades and technology competition
East 3 Secondary School in Inuvik is hosting the fifth annual NWT-North Regional Skills Competition on Feb. 22.
Youth from around the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu will converge in Inuvik for this competition organized by Skills Canada NWT and sponsored by a range of partners including Service Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Participants will compete in nine trade and technology contests from cooking to carpentry to hairstyling and more.
Top medal winners at the competition may advance to the Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife on April 16. Along with the competition, there will also be a Career Expo at East 3 Secondary School.
Music in the church
The Gryphon Trio is coming to Inuvik on Feb. 20.
The group will perform at Our Lady of Victory Church at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for seniors and youths. The musicians perform mainly piano-based music.
New president of medical association
The Northwest Territories Medical Association has appointed Yellowknife Dr. David Pontin its new president. The emergency room physician succeeds Dr. Peter McArthur, who marked the end of his two-year term as president at Pontin's inauguration on Feb. 1, at the association's annual meeting in Yellowknife.
McArthur, president of medical staff at Stanton Territorial Hospital, said he's "excited" about Pontin taking the helm of the physician's group.
Pontin, 40, started his career as a rural family physician in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Born in Calgary, he lived in a number of cities across the country including Edmonton, Victoria, and Ottawa, before going to medical school at the University of British Columbia.
The other board members are Dr. Suraiya Naidoo, secretary; Dr. Robert Krushel, treasurer; Dr. Ewan Affleck, Canadian Medical Association board member; and Dr. Maria Pelova, member at large.
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