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Friday, August 5, 2016
Hip concert to be shown in park
The Tragically Hip's final concert of its summer tour will be shown for free in Somba K'e Civic Plaza amphitheatre Aug. 20 starting at 6:30 p.m. according to the city's weekly newsletter.
The city encouraged residents to bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic to enjoy the concert.
CBC is carrying a live stream of the band's show in Kingston, Ont. The tour was announced after Gord Downie revealed he has an aggressive an incurable form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.
- Shane Magee
Former Dominion
Diamond head dies
Robert Gannicott, former chairman and chief executive officer of Dominion Diamond, died Wednesday morning after an extended battle with leukemia. The one-time Yellowknife resident was 69.
"Bob Gannicott was a visionary and a pillar of the Canadian diamond industry," stated Dominion CEO Brendan Bell in the news release. Gannicott led the company through the founding of Diavik Diamonds in the mid-1990s, the release states.
- John McFadden
Gahcho Kue gets going
Mountain Province Diamonds, co-owner of the Gahcho Kue diamond mine 280 km northeast of Yellowknife, announced the mine is producing diamonds ahead of schedule. According to a news release, the first diamonds came out on June 30. The company reports that two gem-quality special diamonds were already recovered - one is 24.65 carats - the other is 12.10 carats. Commercial production is set to begin during the first quarter of 2017.
- John McFadden
Trump Jr. comes to town
The son of controversial U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to have paid a visit to Yellowknife. Donald Trump Jr. posted a selfie to his Instagram account with his young son yesterday just before noon. The photo was geo-tagged as having been taken at the Yellowknife airport.
"Father son trip," the photo caption stated. "Taking my little man away for a few days. See you all soon. Applying no phone rule."
Yellowknifer could not independently confirm he was in the city.
- Shane Magee
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Fibre link problems persist
Issues continue to plague the installation of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Line.
Contractor Ledcor failed to properly restore lands in five out of seven recent inspection reports dated between May 25 and July 25. A sixth report showed unacceptable erosion and issues with wildlife and fisheries habitat.
Most of the concerns listed by inspectors relate to improperly covered handholes, which are boxes buried in the ground and covered by a lid, just big enough for a worker to reach into to access the line.
A June 14 inspection near the Liard ferry crossing revealed eight handholes sticking up above ground in violation of the project's land-use permit.
In two inspections dated June 15 and 16 between the ferry crossings at the Mackenzie and Liard rivers, inspectors noted holes and depressions in the ground.
One depression was 29 metres long. Rutting and pooling water were both listed as concerns, with one trench measured at 45.5 metres. Thirteen out of 15 handholes were flagged.
In a July 21 inspection report at the Ndulee crossing to Wrigley, nearly all of the 21 handholes inspected were flagged.
That inspection report also flagged the Willowlake River Hill as an area of major concern due to a trench forming on the upper section of the hill.
Inspectors have given contractor Ledcor a deadline of Aug. 10 to develop a work plan to address their concerns.
Second fall gathering moves forward
Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard will be holding its second annual fall gathering and handgames tournament from Aug. 26 to 28.
The band has put out a call for volunteers to help with cooking and other duties related to the event.
Nahanni Butte hosts multi-sport camp
Youth ages five to 18 in Nahanni Butte will have a chance for some extra summer fun this month, as the community prepares for a multi-sport camp.
The camp will be held Aug. 10 to 12 and will cover a range of sports from soccer to canoeing, swimming and field games, as well as a scavenger hunt.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own water and snacks.
The camp kicks off at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10 in the community gymnasium for floor hockey.
Fort Providence break-ins lead to arrests
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Two youths from Fort Providence have been charged for a total of five break-and-enters, according to Fort Providence RCMP.
RCMP stated in a July 29 news release four of the break-ins were in Fort Providence between July 13 and July 26.
The accused teenagers are between 13-and 15-years-old, said Const. Matt Halstead, a Hay River RCMP media relations officer.
The youths were also charged in relation to the theft of a Department of Highways truck, states the news release, which was recovered on July 19 in the community.
The charged individuals cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both appeared before a Justice of the Peace on July 29.
Health board takes over
Deh Cho
The Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority joined five other health authorities in the Northwest Territories on Aug. 1 in being amalgamated into one super board.
The new Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority began operating on Aug. 1 as part of what the Department of Health and Social Services states is a "transformation" of the territory's health and social services system.
A leadership council will head the new authority, chaired by members of each regional wellness council.
On June 24, the department announced the Deh Cho member of the leadership council will be
Ruby Simba. The council will be headed by Jim Antoine of Fort Simpson.
Community mourns former teacher
Sandra Ipana passed away July 28 in the morning, leaving behind masses of people who loved and admired her.
A teacher at East Three Elementary School, she was one of the first people the youngest students encountered there in kindergarten class. Several community members have taken to social media to express their sadness at the loss of such a respected woman. Funeral services are set for Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. in the Lighthouse Church in Inuvik.
Summer speaker series
The Aurora Research Institute's summer speaker series continues Aug. 5 with a presentation by Dustin Whalen, a physical scientist with Natural Resources Canada, on changing climate, changing coasts, and changing perspectives in the southeastern Beaufort Sea.
There will be a presentation on understanding the destruction of coastal archaeological sites in the Mackenzie Delta caused by modern climate change with Max Friesen, a professor at the University of Toronto.
As always, the session is free and open to the public, and will run from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Aurora Research Institute. Anyone looking for more information may contact Catarina Owen or consult the institute's website and Facebook page.
Yoga is back
Back by overwhelming popular demand, yoga at the greenhouse is back this month.
Classes will run every Monday and Thursday in August starting at 7 p.m. in the upstairs section of the Inuvik Community Greenhouse. There is a drop-in fee, and participants should bring their own mat, towel, and water bottle.
Walking for a cause
Carol Norwegian and her family plan to trek 125 kilometres to Inuvik from Tsiigehtichic this week in memory of Therese Remi-Norwegian and Claude Tom Sawyer, who passed away in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
They are also walking to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, which funds research for cures for cancer, but also developments in treatment that can make living with the disease more bearable. Donations can be made online through the Canadian Cancer Society website, or the Walk of Love's own website.
Learning on the land
The Nihtat Gwich'in Council is taking names for medicine and berry-picking classes this month.
They are offering three trips, with space for seven or eight people for each, that will help participants learn the Gwich'in names for plants and berries, as well as what they can be used for.
Anyone looking to sign up may contact Amanda Vittrekwa at the council's office.
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