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Friday, July 15, 2016
Snare fire continues to grow
A fire near the Snare Hydro Dam continues to burn out of control, covering an area more than 27 square kilometres, according to an update yesterday from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The department has an incident management team, three fire crews and heavy equipment in the area to fight the fire. A burnout - an intentionally started fire used to deprive the main fire of fuel - was underway yesterday to protect property.
The department reported four new fires had started in the North Slave in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon.
- Shane Magee
Gold exploration starts
Vancouver-based exploration company Silver Range Resources Ltd. has started a summer gold exploration project about five kilometres north of downtown on six mineral claims covering 32.67 square kilometres.
Its Up Town Gold Project is in an area near the former Giant Mine in an area and type of rock not previously subject to extensive exploration, according to a company news release. The company plans to carry out mapping, prospecting two gold veins not systematically sampled previously and surveys of the area this summer.
- Shane Magee
Weather in Calgary disrupts Yk flights
Air Canada flights to and from Yellowknife were disrupted by weather in Calgary on Monday and Tuesday. According to Air Canada spokesperson Debra Williams, the Calgary airport experienced significant thunderstorms and a number of flights were either cancelled or delayed. Williams would not say how many passengers were affected by the cancellations.
- John McFadden
Funding given to indigenous businesses
The Yellowknife-based NWT Metis-Dene Development Fund Ltd. recently received more than $2 million in funding from the federal government to finance indigenous businesses in the Northwest Territories.
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, or CanNor, is contributing a total of $2,599,998 over three years to eligible entrepreneurs and businesses.
- Robin Grant
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Darling Lake outdoor program held
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is planning a summer outdoor environmental education program for high school students and teachers in the Northwest Territories.
The program will run from July 25 to Aug. 3 at Darling Lake.
A release from the government says students will work closely with "scientists, environmental educators, on-site researchers and Tlicho elders."
The focus is to learn about the land from both scientific and aboriginal perspectives.
Preference is given to students who have completed Science 10 or its equivalence.
LKFN annual general meeting held
The Liidlii Kue First Nation will be holding its annual general meeting July 14.
At 4 p.m. there will be a ceremonious feeding of the fire ceremony, at 5 p.m. will be a potluck dinner and the actual meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
First Aid training offered
Standard First Aid training will be taught July 19 and July 20 at the Fort Simpson Community Learning Centre.
This is for applicants who require the training to work and participants must be eligible for employment insurance. Enrolment is limited.
Friendship centre hosts handgames program
The Deh Cho Friendship Centre in Fort Simpson will be hosting a youth handgame program during the month of July.
This program will run on Monday and Thursdays behind the friendship centre at 5:30 p.m.
Snacks are provided and the games run until 7:30 p.m.
Youth field trip sets sail
A fishing trip hosted by the Deh Cho Friendship Centre in Fort Simpson for youth is set to take place July 14 between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Travel waiver forms will be needed to attend the trip and can be picked up during the business hours of the friendship centre.
The point of the trip is to get the youth to enjoy time on the land.
Canoe club meeting
The East Three Canoe Club will host its annual general meeting July 18 at 7 p.m. at the Inuvik Centennial Library meeting room.
The meeting is open to all and paddlers interested in sprinting and marathons – as well as parents – are encouraged to attend. Anyone looking for more information may contact Shona Barbour.
RCMP call attention to telephone trouble
In a news release issued July 11, the territory's RCMP are asking anyone seeking to contact their local detachment to go there in person after phone troubles have been identified in the Beaufort Delta region.
"Both landlines and cell service are being intermittently affected," the release stated. "This is primarily in the Beaufort Delta region and is concentrated in the communities of Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik."
In the meantime, residents are being asked to present themselves physically at their detachment if they are unable to reach police by phone.
The release also said Northwestel is aware of the problem and is working to find a solution.
Canada Post lockout called off
Canada Post has withdrawn the announcement of a lockout planned for this week, according to a news release on the corporation's website issued July 8.
"Canada Post has informed the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that what our employees and our customers need is long-term certainty in the postal system," it read. "Therefore, we are fully prepared to negotiate intensively for the next 30 days under an extended 'cooling off period' to reach negotiated settlements. However, if the parties are unable to successfully conclude negotiations within that period, both parties must agree to binding arbitration."
The union representing postal workers has agreed to continue negotiations, according to a press release on its own website, dated July 11.
"The parties are working long hours to achieve this goal," it reads. "We remain committed to negotiating fair collective agreements, as we have since the beginning of this process. We're encouraged that Canada Post now shares that perspective. We have no plans to issue a 72-hour notice."
Canada Post does not anticipate any gap in service or mail stoppages while negotiations move forward.
Library goes 'wild'
The Inuvik Centennial Library is once again hosting the TD Summer Reading Club for children aged four through 12.
Sessions begin July 13 and will run every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. until Aug. 24.
Children and families do not need to pre-register, just drop in for lots of literary fun.
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