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Monday, December 7, 2015
Oil sheen in Tuk harbour a mystery
The oil sheen that appeared on Tuktoyaktuk harbour a few months ago wasn't caused by leaks at the North West Company fuel station, says the company's director of business development.
"We were contacted several months ago by the local hunters and trappers association (HTC) about the oil sheen," said Derek Reimer. "We immediately contacted our environmental advisor to review the matter. They worked with the store manager to perform an onsite inspection and based on results, no leak was found from our facility."
While the HTC in Tuk declined to comment on the story, Reimer said a representative from the committee met with North West Company representatives.
"They seemed satisfied there was no leak from our facility," said Reimer, adding the company's fuel manager had also performed a routine inspection in September and hadn't found any problems.
- Kassina Ryder
Operation Rednose a quick success
Minutes after the start of the Operation Rednose check stop the evening of Dec. 2, an impaired driver was apprehended, according to an RCMP news release.
As a result of the investigation, a male driver was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.
Operation Rednose is conducted in December each year across Canada to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.
- Meagan Leonard
Ecole Polytechnique victims honoured
NWT was set to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women Dec. 6, a day which also marks the 26th anniversary of when 14 women killed in a shooting at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.
Ceremonies were scheduled to be held in Inuvik and Yellowknife, where a vigil was set to place at Northern United Place and red lights were to be turned on at city hall.
- Meagan Leonard
Unemployment rises again
Employment dropped in the territory for the third straight month according to a November report released by Statistics Canada.
According to the report, the number of employed persons dropped by 400 between October and November. Year-over-year, employment fell by 1.4 per cent with 300 fewer people employed last month compared to November 2014.
- Meagan Leonard
Bring your bottles
Paulatuk
Fundraising continues for Paulatuk youth, with the bottle drive held on Dec. 3 and 4.
"Everyone brings bottles to the youth centre and we take the bottles," said recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben.
The group then collects the bottles and returns them for cash to go toward youth programming.
- Elaine Anselmi
Tuk gets festive
Tuktoyaktuk
Christmas crafts are on the schedule at they Kitty Hall this week in Tuktoyaktuk.
Ornament-making was schedule to take place on Dec. 4, said recreation co-ordinator Caroline Loreen.
Youth cere invited to come in, with the younger group running from 4 to 7 p.m. and the older crowd dropping in from 7 to 11 p.m.
- Elaine Anselmi
An early Christmas
Tsiigehtchic
Several groups have gotten together to get Christmas started in Tsiigehtchic.
An elder's Christmas party was held in the gym on Dec. 1, open to all elders in the community. The event including a big holiday meal for lunch as well as bingo, which has become an annual tradition said recreation co-ordinator Shelly Andre.
As well as the holiday, the group held a surprise celebration for elder Annie Norbert, who turned 95.
- Elaine Anselmi
A bazaar success
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The annual Christmas bazaar and craft sale in Ulukhaktok was a success last weekend said senior administrative officer Bill Bennett.
"There was probably 15 different tables with different arts and crafts, and a lot of people from the community went up there," Bennett said.
Now, before getting too far into the Christmas season, the hamlet is looking toward an election on Dec. 14.
"We have four council positions up for election this year," Bennett said.
In general, he said there is little campaigning done for council elections, with most people running on their reputations in the community.
"There's no signs up," Bennett said. "The last couple of years there haven't been active campaigns."
In this election, he said six people are running for four positions.
"I have three incumbents running, one person who used to be a councillor years ago and then I think I have two that this may be their first time," Bennett said. "It's kind of a good mix."
- Elaine Anselmi
School concert to kick off
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
On Dec. 17, Louie Norwegian School is scheduled to have its Christmas concert at 2 p.m.
On Dec. 14, Jean Marie River First Nation is slated to hold its open house from 1 to 3 p.m.
Chief Gladys Norwegian is scheduled to attend the AFN special assembly in Quebec from Dec. 7 to 10.
A band council meeting is to take place Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
- April Hudson
Obstacle course for everyone
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Residents were invited to take part in an Indoor Fun Day obstacle course on Dec. 5. The course was open to all ages.
On Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., Echo Dene School was scheduled to play the Minions movie at the gymnasium.
The event was open to everyone.
A flea market will be held at the community hall on Dec. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m.
- April Hudson
Hockey camp ready to go
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The Dehcho Regional Hockey Development Camp was planned to run from Dec. 4 to 6.
Fort Simpson was to hold public meetings with residents on Dec. 4 and 11.
The meetings both were scheduled to from 5 to 7 p.m.
On Dec. 5, Bompas Elementary School planned to hold a bazaar.
Open Doors is running Active After School programming Monday to Friday from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Alcoholics Anonymous has its regular meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Stanley Isaiah Building.
Liidlii Kue First Nation will be holding its Christmas open house on Dec. 8.
The skating rink is open on the Snye.
- April Hudson
Tournament date set
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
On Dec. 5, Fort Providence was scheduled to host family floor hockey at noon as well as an adult hockey tournament kicking off at 3 p.m.
The adult tournament is planned to be a three-on-three tournament with one substitution per team.
On Dec. 1, Deh Gah School held a bake sale to support the Library Club. On Dec. 12, Deh Gah School will hold its annual Christmas bazaar at the school gymnasium.
Deh Gah School's Christmas concert is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
The community will have a pancake breakfast on Dec. 17 from 7 to 10 a.m.
The afternoon of Dec. 17, Deh Gah School will hold its annual Santa Luncheon. Santa will visit the school later that day.
- April Hudson
Tree lighting ceremony coming
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The annual lighting of a community Christmas tree was scheduled to take place in Fort Smith on Dec. 6.
Each Christmas, the so-called Schaefer tree, which towers over McDougal Road, is decorated in what has become a tradition in the community. The lighting ceremony will be presented by the Town of Fort Smith in partnership with Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Christmas concert planned for St. Joseph Cathedral
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A Community Christmas Choral-Fest is set for Dec. 16 in Fort Smith.
The tradition, which features a choir made up of community residents, will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral, beginning at 7 p.m.
Change will be collected, with all proceeds going to the Fort Smith Food Bank.
- Paul Bickford
Volleyball tournament draws crowd
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung held its second annual volleyball tournament in late November, organized by Jenna Kilabuk.
Three women's teams and five men's teams competed through the weekend.
The teams saw a wide mix of ages and a full crowd came out in cheering support of the competitors.
- Stewart Burnett
Babies walk the red carpet
Sanikiluaq
Nurses in Sanikiluaq held their appreciation night for mothers of the community's 2015 babies on Dec. 1 at Patsalli School.
The event raised money for the mothers through sales of a baby calendar.
Local nurse Manya Quinn told Nunavut News/North previously that the babies of Sanikiluaq this year have been some of the healthiest she's ever seen.
- Stewart Burnett
Warning issued over contaminated polar bear meat
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Polar bear meat distributed in Clyde River during October may have been contaminated with trichinella, warns the Department of Health.
"Meat must be thoroughly cooked before eating so you don't get sick," stated the department in a news release.
"Freezing or fermenting does not kill trichinella. Do not eat or feed infected meat to animals as they can also get sick."
Trichinella can cause trichinosis, which has symptoms of fever, muscle pain, discomfort and swelling.
- Stewart Burnett
Trapped narwhals to be harvested
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board confirmed Thursday, Dec. 3, that a group of narwhals was trapped in the ice outside the community of Pond Inlet.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans told Nunavut News/North last month it was investigating the claim.
Because the whales have no prospect for escape and will not survive, the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization has developed a harvesting plan to safely conduct a humane and efficient harvest.
New Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo approved of the harvesting plan, which is endorsed by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board and the Government of Nunavut.
The entrapment occurred naturally during ice formation.
- Stewart Burnett
All That Glam held in Ottawa
Coral Harbour/Ottawa
The third annual All That Glam charity fundraiser of lightlyused jewellery was held late last month in Ottawa.
Proceeds from the event go towards helping the breakfast program at Sakku School in Coral Harbour.
For the first time this year, in addition to jewellery, artwork done by Sakku School students was also up for sale.
The event was started three years ago by Eva von Jagow, who was a Grade 12 student at the time.
Jagow has kept the fundraiser going since graduating and has raised at least $20,000 from the event for the Sakku breakfast program each year.
- Darrell Greer
Clothing donations appreciated by school
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
For any children in need of winter wear, it might be worth checking at the Kattivik office at the Quluaq School.
The school has been collecting used, clean winter wear, including hats, scarves, mitts, wind pants and jackets to give to people in need.
Anyone who has extra clothing is also encouraged to donate to the school, which is much appreciated.
- Stewart Burnett
Resident steps into new role in Kimmirut
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Petanie Pitsiulak is Kimmirut's new community health representative.
Her role is to promote healthy activities and evaluate their results. She will be delivering health information through radio shows, group meetings, presentations, workshops and one-on-one teaching.
She identified quitting smoking, safe sex, healthy pregnancy and childcare as examples of health promotion.
Pitsiulak can be reached online at ppitsiulak@gov.nu.ca.
- Stewart Burnett
Food bank looks for donations in Resolute
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Sarah Salluviniq is looking for donations for her community food bank, which services 25 houses in town regularly.
People will be relying on the food bank a little more than usual in the Christmas month, she said, and the food bank is getting low. There will be a box at the local grocery store for people to donate.
Salluviniq plans to hand out turkey for Christmas with the money made from a mock jail event.
- Stewart Burnett
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