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Friday, July 11, 2014
WSCC probes death of two-year-old boy
The death of a toddler at a Kam Lake industrial yard in May is now being investigated by the NWT Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC).
Sana'a Michael Christensen-Blondin, 2, was killed May 17 when he was struck by a company truck at Paul Brothers Welding.
He was playing in the yard at the time.
RCMP investigated the incident and did not lay any charges.
Kim MacEachern, WSCC's manager of communications, said safety act charges are always a possibility in any case it looks into.
- John McFadden
Municipal enforcement officers now on bicycles
Municipal enforcement officers are now patrolling city streets and trails on two wheels.
Two officers have completed four days of bicycle training led by an RCMP instructor. A news release from the city said the training included low speed precision riding, crowd control techniques, road safety, trail riding and self-defence tactics.
Dennis Marchiori, the city's director of public safety, said municipal officers will partner with RCMP when possible to increase public presence.
- John McFadden
Get that lawn in shape...
Judging for the annual lawn and landscape competition takes place from July 22 to 25.
Residents are encouraged to contact the city to enter in one of six categories. They are residential landscaping, lawn, vegetable garden, specialized garden, flower garden or greenhouse.
A news release from the city states gardens/properties may only win in one category each year.
Details are available from the city.
- John McFadden
Blinded by science
Students will get a hands-on chance to discover the wonders of science at a summer camp being held at William MacDonald School from July 14 to 16.
The DiscoverE summer camp is put on by engineering students from the University of Alberta.
More details are available on the camp's website.
- John McFadden
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Arctic expedition upcoming for grad
A recent high school graduate from Fort Simpson has been chosen for a program that will take her to Nunavut and Greenland.
Janelle Bruneau is one of 13 students – seven from the North and six from the south – selected by Parks Canada to be part of this year's Students on Ice expedition. The organization offers educational trips in the Arctic and Antarctic.
The students will be together from July 9 to 24 for the expedition that will take them through the eastern Canadian Arctic and on to Greenland. Following the trip Bruneau will work at the Nahanni National Park Reserve for the rest of the summer.
Through a three-year agreement, Parks Canada is using approximately $150,000 a year to sponsor 13 students to participate in the program and to afterward work in a park. This is the only year the park reserve will have one of these positions.
Science and sports for youth in Fort Simpson
There are a number of upcoming activities in Fort Simpson to keep youth occupied.
Liidlii Kue First Nation's Brighter Futures program is sponsoring a science camp that will be run by Elephant Thoughts, the same organization that ran a popular camp in the village last year. The camp will be held in the recreation centre from July 14 to 18.
Interested youth ages six to 13 are asked to sign up in advance with the First Nation because there are limited spaces available.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will be running a multi-sports camp in the village the following week from July 21 to 25.
Forest fire numbers remain low in Deh Cho
The Deh Cho has remained one of the regions in the NWT least affected by forest fires.
As of July 7 the region had 13 fires, eight of which were still burning, covering 46.28 square kilometres. In comparison the North Slave, the most affected region, had 62 fires covering more than 2,100 square kilometres followed by the South Slave with 64 fires covering more than 1,100 square kilometres.
Across the territory, 135 fires were burning as of Monday.
A full weekend of golf
The Seven Spruce Golf Course is hosting its first two-day tournament of the summer this weekend.
The Seven Spruce Scramble is set to take place from July 12 to 13. Teams of four will play 18 holes on both days.
Teams can register in advance for 9 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. tee-offs at the clubhouse.
Donation jar stolen
The disappearance of a donation box has Margaret Miller of the Inuvik Food Bank board of directors more than a little upset.
Miller said the box went missing sometime before July 2 from the News Stand store near the food bank, but it's impossible to pin down when it was taken. Miller said the box has been located there for about 10 years without a problem. It usually holds about $180 when it's collected monthly. She said the theft hadn't been reported to the RCMP.
Changes at East Three
With the departure of East Three Elementary School principal Janette Vlanich at the end of this year, East Three Secondary School principal Deb Maguire will run both schools in the next academic year starting in September.
The Beaufort Delta Education Council announced the changes in a media release June 24. East Three Elementary School is also losing long-time vice-principal Jason Dayman, while long-serving secondary school vice-principal Lorne Guy is taking a year's leave. Chauna MacNeil will be the new vice principal and program support teacher at the elementary school and Jill Nugent will be the new vice-principal at the secondary school.
Youth Centre receives donation
The Inuvik Youth Centre has received a $5,000 donation.
The money comes from Clearview Grinding Ltd. The firm did the asbestos abatement at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, said Ali McConnell, the executive director of the youth centre.
"To thank the community and show their support, they donated $5,000 to the Inuvik Youth Centre. We would like to thank them for their generous donation and the support they have shown Inuvik."
McConnell said the money will be used to provide youth programming at the centre.
RCMP raid Inuvik business
On July 4 Inuvik RCMP raided and searched an Inuvik business under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. As a result of the search, the RCMP seized "340 grams of marijuana, firearms, drug paraphernalia and a sizable amount of cash."
Sgt. Barry Ledoux stated in a media release that a 48-year-old male and a 25-year-old male, both from Inuvik, were arrested and will be charged with offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. They have not been identified, nor has the business.
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