 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Bear sighting reported near school
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) officials responded to a call about a bear sighting near William McDonald School on Sunday night. Officers went to the location but were unable to find anything.
The bear was likely just passing through the area, according to Judy McLinton, communications manager at ENR.
- Candace Thomson
Sky high educational opportunity
Applications are being accepted for $5,000 Northern Aviation scholarships for 16 recipients, courtesy of the GNWT, the Government of Nunavut, Discovery Air, Keewatin Air, North-Wright Airways and First Air.
The scholarship helps cover costs for those interested in pursuing a career in aviation in the North. Past recipients pursued such careers as airport operations specialists, aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots and airport managers.
Applicants must be enrolled in full-time aviation-related secondary studies and must be residents of the NWT or Nunavut. They must provide references, academic records or letters of acceptance, and a completed application form.
The application deadline is July 26.
- Candace Thomson
Season for reading
The Yellowknife Public Library's Summer Reading Club for children will be opening for registration on June 10. Registration is free at the front desk and includes a free bookmark, a sticker, and a reading record to fill out.
Reading Club members are asked to mark down anything they read - including books, magazines, websites, even cereal boxes - on their reading record and bring it in to the library by Sept. 14 to be eligible for prizes.
- Candace Thomson
Saddle up and cycle
The 29th Annual Bike Rodeo hosted by the City of Yellowknife's Municipal Enforcement Division will be held on Sunday June 9 at the Multiplex between noon and 5 p.m. The event aims to promote and educate children about bike safety and road rules.
There will be gift bags, a free barbecue, helmet fittings and prize giveaways. Children from kindergarten to Grade 6 can win one of several prizes, including a new bicycle and a trip for two to Edmonton.
- Candace Thomson
Spirit campaigning
Chesterfield Inlet
The student body of Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet took part in the Drop The Pop campaign this past month.
The campaign ended with an afternoon of outdoor activities that involved all six of Victor Sammurtok's student spirit teams.
Teacher Glen Brocklebank said the event was held as an outside carnival.
He said people came in to help each spirit team build an iglu or an inuksuk.
"We had three groups at the iglu building, while the other three did inuksuk building," said Brocklebank.
"They were actually racing each other to see who could build the tallest inuksuk.
"Everyone had a great deal of fun and it was a nice end to the campaign."
Sentenced to six years
Arviat
An Arviat man has been sentenced to six years in prison for a series of violent acts against a woman.
Among the charges Jonathan Arloo, 26, was found guilty of were two of aggravated assault, one of sexual assault and one of counselling to commit suicide.
He was also convicted of one count of failing to comply with an undertaking, and one count of failing to comply with a recognizance.
In passing sentence, Justice Bonnie Tulloch described the details of the assaults as among the most disturbing she had ever heard.
"The Crown prosecutor (Amanda O'Leary), in her submissions, described this case as being one where the accused launched a campaign of terror and torture," said Tulloch in her judgment.
"I cannot describe it any better than that."
In one attack, Arloo put his index finger into the woman's mouth and tore the flesh off of her right cheek.
The wound took 10 stitches to close and left the woman with a permanent scar.
Arloo's actions during the sexual attack included a vile act that the woman described as "the worst pain she had ever felt."
The man's sentence was based on a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers.
Arloo, who has been in custody since December 2012, will serve five years and six-and-a-half months of his sentence. He will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
Technical meetings
Rankin Inlet/Baker Lake
A series of technical meetings on the Kiggavik uranium project near Baker Lake were held in Rankin Inlet this past week.
The meetings addressed any outstanding issues following the submittal of AREVA Resources Canada's Kiggavik project technical comment responses on May 8.
Facilitated by the Nunavut Impact Review Board, the meetings involved a team of AREVA representatives and several intervenor groups who have commented on the project.
AREVA will host a community roundtable in Baker Lake from June 4 to 6 to allow residents of the Kivalliq to discuss and comment on the company's draft environmental impact statement.
Following the roundtable discussions, a prehearing conference will be held on June 6 to discuss the results of the technical and community meetings, and the path forward for the Kiggavik environmental assessment.
| 
