 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Friday, June 7, 2013
Fuel spill shuts down 49 Street
Half of 49 Street was shut down at noon on Tuesday following a fuel spill from a truck.
Dennis Marchiori, Yellowknife's director of public safety, said fuel was leaking from a supplementary fuel tank on the vehicle.
The Yellowknife fire department was called to the scene to assist in cleaning up the fuel.
The street was shut down as a precaution, Marchiori said, with no reported injuries.
- Graeme McNaughton
Education negotiation
The Northwest Territories Teacher's Association and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 have postponed negotiations for collective bargaining until the fall of 2013.
Yk1 negotiations chair John Stephenson and the association's negotiations chair Al McDonald recently met to discuss options for rescheduling the bargaining sessions. The decision to postpone talks was made because information needed to effectively negotiate was not available, according to a news release issued by the association earlier this week.
- Candace Thomson
Social justice group likes poverty action framework
Alternatives North, a social justice coalition, said the Framework for Action on Poverty, released Thursday by the GNWT, is a step in the right direction towards eliminating poverty in the territory.
Julie Green, a spokesperson for the group, said 20 per cent of NWT residents live on a little more than $16,000 per year.
Green added the framework is not everything Alternatives North had asked for, but is a compromise between the GNWT, businesses and aboriginal governments.
- Graeme McNaughton
Former mayor lauded
Former Yellowknife mayor Gord Van Tighem was honoured by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities during its Awards of Excellence ceremony in Vancouver on June 3. Van Tighem was given the Roll of Honour award by the Federation for his commitment and dedication to bettering the lives of Northern people and communities during his time as mayor, as well as his seven-year tenure as the president of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and his role as chair of the Federation's Northern Forum.
- Graeme McNaughton
News Briefs: Thursday, June 6, 2013
Key debate on devolution unfolds
A debate on devolution was scheduled to take place in the legislative assembly on June 5.
On June 3, Premier Bob McLeod announced that on Wednesday he would present a motion asking the legislative assembly to express its support for the approval of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. According to a press release from the territorial government, the motion was expected to give MLAs an opportunity to clearly express their position on the agreement to the people they represent.
Fort Providence celebrates
Deh Gah Bridge Ltd. is organizing a day of events so the community of Fort Providence can celebrate the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge.
The events on June 7 will begin with a feeding of the water ceremony at 2 p.m. beside the bridge at the former ferry landing. There will also be a feeding of the fire ceremony at the arbour in the community at 4 p.m.
The celebrations will conclude with a community barbecue at 5 p.m. by the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre and a family talent show at the arena at 7 p.m.
Traditional spring gathering planned
Liidlii Kue First Nation is organizing its first traditional spring gathering.
The three-day event from June 21 to 23 will coincide with Aboriginal Day. Events throughout the weekend will include canoe races, Dene games, musical performances, a community feast and a drum dance.
There will also be a handgames tournament. Each team will need eight players and one alternate 16 years old or older. The teams must register and pay their entry fee by 11 a.m. on June 21.
The First Nation is planning to hold a second traditional gathering in the fall.
Double event for chamber
The Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce is holding a golf tournament at the Seven Spruce Golf Course to coincide with its annual general meeting.
The 18-hole tournament with categories for men's, ladies and juniors will follow a stroke-play format on June 8. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. followed by a shotgun start an hour later.
The chamber's annual general meeting, which will include a dinner, will take place later that night. Cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner at 7 p.m.
Arctic Foods closing
The Arctic Foods grocery store is closing.
While owner Joe Lavoie was away on business and unavailable for an interview, staff at the store confirmed over the weekend the store will shut down by approximately the end of June.
The news was first posted on Facebook and later corroborated by Inuvik Chamber of Commerce President Newton Grey.
Grey said he had been aware the store had been struggling for some time, despite a solid customer base. He said the grocery industry is one with a razor-sharp edge of profitability made more difficult by serving a Northern community.
Petroleum Show on tap
The annual Inuvik Petroleum Show is set to begin June 10.
Now in its second decade, the Inuvik Petroleum Show is expected to attract more than 500 participants including delegates and exhibitors from across Canada and beyond, this three-day trade show and conference is a must-attend event for the oil and gas sector, stated Jackie Challis on the event web page.
The petroleum show brings together industry, government, and regional stakeholders to discuss key issues and best practices relating to natural resource development in the Arctic. Attendees count on the opportunity for strategic networking, conference sessions, keynote presentations from leading political and media personalities.
Aklavik faces spring flooding
While water levels rose in Inuvik over the weekend, Aklavik was under a severe flood warning.
Photos posted to social media indicated some of the town was being flooded Saturday as ice jammed the Peel River.
By Sunday, the ice had shifted but water levels were still on the rise. Early this week the emergency watch was lifted.
No serious damage had been reported.
Grads honoured
The inaugural graduation ceremony from East Three Secondary School attracted a huge turnout June 1.
Thirty-four students were in the graduating class at the new school.
Caroline Kaufman was selected as the valedictorian. She was also the highest-ranking female student at the school, winning the Ladies Auxiliary Top Academic female student.
Also receiving awards: RCMP All Ranks Mess: Laura and Lydia O'Connor; Legion Top Academic Male: Roald Langford; Ladies Auxiliary Top Academic Female: Caroline Kaufman; Pat Petrie Bursary: Nicole Jacobson; Cliff King Memorial Award: Kaila Jefferd-Moore.
| 
