 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Workers ratify collective agreement
Cargo staff and passenger service agents unanimously ratified a collective agreement with Canadian North late last week.
The 139 Unifor local 2002 union members, including nearly 40 workers based in Yellowknife, had been without a collective agreement since Dec. 31. The new agreement will apply retroactively from Jan. 1 and remain in place until Dec. 31, 2015.
The ratified agreement is being reviewed by the union and Canadian North before being printed and distributed, according to Unifor national representative Bruce Snow.
- Daron Letts
Bridge Closure
The Deh Cho Bridge will be closed tomorrow evening for the installation of a Texas gate, an installation that will prevent animals from getting onto the bridge, said Earl Blacklock, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation.
The closure will start at 10 p.m. on Thursday and is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on Friday.
- Graeme McNaughton
Community funding
Field Law, a Northern law firm, has announced the winners of its annual community fund. The firm donates $15,000 to be split among winners of the fund in the Northwest Territories.
This year, the Yellowknife Beavers, Cubs and Scouts won. They requested funding to upgrade their facilities at the Folk on the Rocks site, which they say pose health and safety risks.
Another Yellowknife winner, the Aurora Fiddle Society, won for their idea to fund "performance training," allowing their 30-40 fiddlers to travel and play at community events.
- Daniel Campbell
Annual food driver
The Salvation Army will be holding its annual food drive at the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers will be on hand to collect both food and monetary donations.
There will also be a free barbecue for those who attend.
The Salvation Army will also be hosting its Thanksgiving feast on Oct. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m.
- Cody Punter
Running for Terry
Rankin Inlet
Even though Mother Nature was in another of her foul moods on Sept. 27, hundreds of students and teachers from Leo Ussak Elementary, Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik and Simon Alaittuq schools took to the streets to raise funds in the annual Terry Fox Run in Rankin Inlet on Sept. 27.
The walkers were treated to hotdogs and refreshments at the community hall following the event, courtesy of the Rankin recreation department.
Designer show
Winnipeg/Rankin Inlet
Victoria Kakuktinnuq, 24, of Rankin Inlet unveiled her own fashion collection at MC College in Winnipeg, this past month.
Kakuktinnuq, who's only been sewing seriously for a little more than a year, held her Female Power Fall/Winter 2013 Collection show to complete her one-year program on fashion design at the college. The show featured designs in leather, sealskin, commander and fox fur. Kakuktinniq's designs are unique in that they feature embroidery on leather and sealskin, which is somewhat rare. Kakuktinnuq is expected to show her collection this week in Rankin in conjunction with the annual Kivalliq Trade Show.
Deadline passes
Kivalliq
The deadline for anyone to register to run for election in the upcoming Nunavut general election (Oct. 28) was this past Friday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. Please see the Oct. 9 edition of Kivalliq News for a complete list of the Kivalliq candidates.
Curtain call
Arviat
Members of Arviat's John Arnalukjuak High School Drama Club were pleased to hear they were commended by Premier Eva Aariak during the final sitting of the legislative assembly in Iqaluit this past month. Aariak congratulated the young thespians on their work with teacher/director Gord Billard to produce six short plays addressing the problem of bullying through the arts.
Honking news
Rankin Inlet
Canada Goose and First Air are teaming up to open two new Canada Goose resources centres in Rankin Inlet and Kujjuuaq, Que.
The resources centres provide Northern communities with access to free sewing materials, including zippers, fabrics, buttons and other supplies to craft their own traditional outerwear designs. A special grand opening was held yesterday, Oct. 1, at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin to celebrate the occasion.
Scholarship winner
Rankin Inlet
Krista Zawadski of Rankin Inlet was among the recipients of a $4,000 scholarship from the 2013 RBC Aboriginal Students Awards Program this past month.
Zawadski is currently enrolled in anthropology, archeology and museum studies at the University of British Columbia.
Her future goal is to open a territorial museum in Nunavut that would help educate everyone about the archeological history of the Arctic. Such a museum would also help ensure archeological artifacts are returned to Nunavut upon the creation of a proper facility to house and conserve them, as promised in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
| 
