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Friday, January 6, 2017
Dettah ice road may open tomorrow
The ice road linking Yellowknife and Dettah across Yellowknife Bay could be open by tomorrow.
Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation, said construction got underway yesterday. He added a mild autumn led to thinner than usual ice across the bay and delayed the road's construction. The road usually opens before Christmas but this is the second year in a row that it has been delayed until January.
- John McFadden
Wolverine warning
Residents of Rock Hill Apartments on 54 Avenue received a notice Wednesday warning that a wolverine had been spotted in the area of the building's garbage bin.
The notice advised tenants to be vigilant. An official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the department has not received any recent reports about a wolverine in the city.
- John McFadden
Lloyd Thrasher charged with laptop theft
Lloyd Thrasher, 29, has been charged with theft in relation to laptops that were stolen from the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre last month, according to RCMP.
He faces two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and one count of breaching a probation order, an RCMP news release said. He is set to appear in court on Jan. 6. Thrasher was also charged just over a week ago in connection to two break and enters that occurred in Yellowknife around the holidays.
- Kirsten Fenn
Missing, murdered inquiry questioned
An inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls needs to improve its communication with families, a report by the Native Women's Association of Canada suggests.
The association on Thursday issued a "report card" on the inquiry launched by the federal government in September. Families have been "discouraged by the lack of communication" from the inquiry since it was established, stated association president Francyne Joe in a news release. "They deserved to have some communication about how and when they could expect to provide their testimonies."
- Shane Magee
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Hockey players hit the ice
This month marks the 30th anniversary for the Fort Simpson Men's Rec Hockey Tournament, and the team is celebrating in style.
The tournament will kick off Jan. 20 and run until Jan. 22. Over the weekend, celebrations will include a family and adult dance, awards and prizes for winning teams.
The tournament will be followed by the Moosehide Mammas' annual tournament, set to run from Jan. 27 to 29.
Students return to school
As the holiday season comes to a close, students across the Deh Cho filed back into the classroom on Jan. 3 to resume their studies.
Classes picked up after a two-week break for Christmas and the new year. Young students in Fort Providence's Aboriginal Head Start program headed back to school on Jan. 3 as well.
Impaired driving high in NWT
The Northwest Territories, Yukon and Saskatchewan have the highest impaired driving rates, according to a report from Statistics Canada, while Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba have the lowest rates.
However, the rate of impaired driving across Canada dropped by four per cent from 2014.
Impaired driving rates in the Northwest Territories and Yukon were more than double the rate elsewhere in Canada, at just over 1,200 violations per 100,000 people. The next highest was Saskatchewan at 575 per 100,000.
As for drug impairment in particular, the Yukon reported the highest rate, with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut not far behind. The majority of charges, 80 per cent, were laid against men. However, the proportion of women charged with impaired driving has been rising.
New Year's feast planned in Jean Marie
Jean Marie River First Nation will be ringing in the new year on Jan. 7 with a community feast and fireworks. The celebrations will feature Fort Providence drummers.
Low snowfall for region
There has been below-average precipitation in the Deh Cho region this winter.
According to Environment Canada, the Deh Cho region normally sees approximately 75 centimetres of snow by mid-December. However, the recorded precipitation this winter fell far short of that, with approximately 12 centimetres falling in November and melting off due to warmer-than-normal temperatures.
In December, Environment Canada recorded a total snowfall of 27.6 centimetres in Fort Simpson.
3-on-3 basketball tourney and clinic nears
Organizers are putting the final touches on this year’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament and clinic, set for the weekend of Jan. 20-21.
The biggest change this year is that the clinic will be only for U15 boys and girls including Grade 6 students.
The tournament will now be run in two sessions for different categories of players.
Last year, 110 people took part in the tournament, making up 29 teams and East Three School’s largest 3-on-3 tournament ever. The previous record was 20 teams and 70 participants.
Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson were all represented at last year’s event.
Sunrise this Friday
The return of the sun to Inuvik is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. The sun will be visible for about 42 minutes.
The annual Inuvik Sunrise Festival kicks off that same day until the end of Sunday, Jan. 8.
Inuvik’s last sunrise was Dec. 4, 2016.
Premier announces senior management appointments
Just before the holiday break, Premier Bob McLeod announced two appointments to the senior ranks of the territorial government.
Eleanor Young was appointed deputy minister of municipal and community affairs. She recently served as the assistant deputy minister for the department.
Dr. Joe Dragon, born in Fort Smith and a member of the Smith’s Landing First Nation, was appointed deputy minister of environment and natural resources.
Dragon held several management positions with the federal government.
Young’s appointment takes place immediately while Dragon’s will take place at the start of March.
Deputy ministers are the non-elected heads of GNWT departments.
Last year for ice road
It’s officially the last year of the ice road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.
The road traditionally opens in mid-December and closes near the end of April.
The $299 million Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk year-round highway is due to be completed this year.
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