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Monday, March 6, 2017
Job numbers drop
Northwest Territories
The number of employed people in the NWT dropped to the lowest number since 2010 last month, according to Statistics Canada.
Between December 2016 and January 2017, employment dropped by 700 people, the largest reduction in employment between those two months since 2001.
"There's 700 fewer people with jobs," said Jeff Barichello, an economic statistician with the NWT Bureau of Statistics.
He couldn't comment on where those people went, or if they left the territory.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Enbridge pipeline update
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Representatives of Enbridge Pipelines held an open house at Fort Simpson's recreation centre on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
The open house, which included a presentation, was intended to inform community members about a proposed plan to replace part of Line 21, which was shut down in November due to erosion on the bank of the Mackenzie River.
The plan is to use horizontal directional drilling technology to replace the affected pipeline segment.
- April Hudson
Charges laid after driver flees police
Hay River
A Yellowknife man is facing charges after allegedly fleeing police during a traffic stop in Hay River.
According to an RCMP news release, the incident began when officers initiated the traffic stop on Woodland Drive at about 1:45 p.m. on Feb. 23.
The driver turned into the North Mart parking lot and an officer approached the vehicle's window.
However, the driver fled at a high rate of speed down Woodland Drive. Officers were able to identify the driver before he fled and did not give chase. The driver was located later that evening at a residence in Hay River and was arrested.
Bruce Richardson, 47, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, flight from police and failing to comply with a probation order.
- Paul Bickford
New board at IRC
Inuvik
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation elected a new board at its meeting late February.
Gerald Inglangasuk was elected vice-chair under Duane Smith and Eddie Dillon was elected the new secretary/treasurer of the board.
Vernon Amos, Jordan McLeod, Jack Akhiaktak and Lawrence Ruben are directors.
- Stewart Burnett
Fishery nets strategy
Hay River
A strategy to revitalize the NWT's commercial fishery unveiled Feb. 27 in Hay River aims to triple lake production and infuse $1.4 million to revitalize the fishery.
The strategy describes steps, actions and investments to be implemented over five years to rebuild the once-powerful fishery on the lake.
However, on March 3, several indegenous leaders rejected the strategy, saying they hadn't been consulted.
- Paul Bickford,
James O'Connor
A bit of drilling at Pine Point
Hay River
The new owner of the Pine Point mine property is starting a drill program on the site east of Hay River.
"(We) will acquire samples to confirm previous metallurgical data," said John Key, chief operating officer of Darnley Bay Resources Ltd.
Pine Point was a productive zinc and lead mine for several decades. Cominco Ltd. commenced production in 1964 and the mine closed in 1987.
- Paul Bickford
Inuvik-Tuk road opens this fall
Inuvik
Tourists are looking for directions as to when the road to Tuktoyaktuk opens, says an official.
The road officially opens in November but GNWT marketing is using Summer 2018 as the target date to drive it, said tourism officer Anne Kokko.
- Stewart Burnett
Food security
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson has secured a commitment from Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses to review the food security situation for Jean Marie River and Nahanni Butte.
On Feb. 17, Thompson suggested the GNWT provide a subsidy to communities without stores.
- April Hudson
3,686 'conceptually' walked to Tuk
NWT
The NWT Recreation and Parks Association wants to congratulate all 3,686 participants for their efforts during Walk to Tuk 2017.
On average, each Walk to Tuk participant accumulated 320 minutes of weekly exercise, which is over double the 150 minutes recommended in the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, the parks and rec organization stated in a recent news release.
"We are thrilled with the response that we have received this year," Said Geoff Ray, NWTRPA executive director. "Not only in the numbers of people and teams that registered, but in the sheer volume of activity logged."
Walk to Tuk is the largest, longest and most effective physical activity event in the NWT.
This year 29 communities were represented in the walk. Of the 257 participating teams, 199 made it to Tuktoyaktuk logging a grand total of 659,708 kilometres, the release stated.
Calculated as hours of exercise, Walk to Tuk participants collectively spent over 157,248 hours walking.
Walk to Tuk is an annual event held during January and March.
Community members, schools, and workplaces are encouraged to form teams and conceptually walk the distance of the Mackenzie River from Fort Providence to Tuktoyaktuk, a total of 1,658 kilometres. This year teams were encouraged to Walk to Tuk and back, a distance of 3,316 km.
- James O'Connor
Go and be randomly kind
Hay River
Go Auto - the owners of Aurora Ford - surprised its full-time employees last week with $350 each to spend on a random act of kindness.
"They wanted it to be a surprise to everybody and to be all announced to the group at the same time," said Lee Cawson, the vice-president of the Aurora Group, which includes the company's operations in Hay River, Yellowknife and at Ekati Mine.
The announcement took place at 2 p.m. on Feb. 21, he said. "It was co-ordinated across all of the Go Auto stores across Western Canada and the territories."
Cawson explained the basic idea is Go Auto gives money to its employees for them to donate to a person or group in genuine need.
"It didn't have to be a charity," he said. "You don't have to have proof of donation. You just have to take the cheque, and you have to spend it by the end of February. And by March 10 you have to give us just a little sheet on what you did. Just tell us how you spent the money."
One condition was that employees could not spend the money on themselves or immediate family members, or give it to a sports team or a social club.
"It had to be somebody that was genuinely in need," said Cawson.
Go Auto donated a total of $1 million to its roughly 2,800 employees in the NWT, Alberta, B.C. and Ontario. The $350 per employee was determined by dividing the number of workers into the $1 million.
With Go Auto's 88 employees in Hay River, the company donation meant $30,800 into the community.
Plus, the 89 employees in Yellowknife received $31,150 to distribute, and the 86 employees at Ekati Mine got $30,100 to do random acts of kindness.
- Paul Bickford
Sharing circles on midwifery
Hay River
Sharing circles are being held in eight NWT communities to seek public feedback about midwifery for the Department of Health and Social Services.
The focus group in Hay River will be held on March 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at NWT Centennial Library.
A focus group will also be held on the Hay River Reserve from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Elders' Centre.
The sharing circles are designed to hear from women and their family members who have or would like to receive maternity care in the NWT.
- Paul Bickford
Airshow organizers hope to inspire Northern youth
Inuvik
Inuvik will be treated to an airshow in June but the initiative has a bigger goal than a summer distraction.
"The approach to this project is it's really about what should be important to all Canadians," said Nancy McClure, executive director of the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour 2017.
"It's about heritage, culture, education, social justice and national pride, and we're just actually delivering it as these 97 airshow events."
A team of 15 aircraft will tour Canada's North over the summer, stopping in Inuvik on June 8. The event corresponds with Canada's 150th anniversary heritage celebrations.
McClure said the project recognizes that Canada's 150thanniversary might not mean a whole lot for some people in Northern Canada.
"It may also be something they don't want to celebrate because there's been some negative pieces to the confederation of Canada," she said.
"While we acknowledge that's part of this project, the big focus for this project is that we are talking about what role Northern Canadians have in the next 150 years of Canada's confederation.
"The way to do that is through the youth, certainly recognizing people of all ages because they're part of this, but recognizing youth for their hopes, dreams and possibilities."
The show will visit Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic June 7, with Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk on June 9, Aklavik on June 10 and Tuktoyaktuk June 11.
- Stewart Burnett
Mini day camp in Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Children and youth in Tsiigehtchic were kept busy the week of March 1 with a variety of games and activities, said recreation co-ordinator Ben Contenti.
Chief Paul Niditchie School teachers had a series of professional development days so Contenti and school staff organized games and crafts for students throughout the week.
March 1 was expected to feature an outdoor snowshoe basketball game followed by snacks in the afternoon. On March 2, students in Grades 5 to 9 were scheduled to bake Rice Krispies squares and cookies from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the school. Students in kindergarten to Grade 4 made crafts from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m.
On March 3, older students were expected to make pizzas together while younger students enjoyed a movie and snacks.
- Kassina Ryder
Sachs swimming trip a success
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Seven Sachs Harbour children now know how to swim, thanks to a special swimming trip to Inuvik, said recreation co-ordinator Doreen Carpenter.
The children, aged 6 to 14, spent the week of Feb. 13 at the Midnight Sun Complex in Inuvik doing swimming lessons.
All seven students earned certificates.
Though the goal was to teach the children to swim, they were also able to participate in other events taking place in Inuvik, Carpenter said.
The Gwich'in Cup hockey tournament also took place that week, so students were able to
"They got to see the IRC hockey tournament and do a lot of other stuff," Carpenter said.
The community hopes to send more children to the pool for swimming lessons this fall.
- Kassina Ryder
A place for tots in Paulatuk
Paulatuk
A new program for mothers and young children is being held every Monday and Tuesday in Paulatuk from 1:30 until about 4 p.m., said youth co-ordinator Angel Ruben.
The program is scheduled to run until March 31 and is open to children and babies up to five-years old. It focuses on safe and healthy ways to be active and children are given the opportunity to play and interact with each other.
"They play with each other run around," Ruben said.
There are also snacks and prizes during the afternoon.
- Kassina Ryder
FOXY and SMASH to visit Mangilaluk School
Tuktoyaktuk
Mangilaluk School students are signing up to participate in an upcoming FOXY and SMASH visits to Tuktoyaktuk on March 7, said principal Krista Cudmore.
Female students will participate in FOXY while male students participate in SMASH, but both programs are geared toward promoting health relationship and sexual
health education.
"The kids seem pretty excited about it," Cudmore said.
Students aged 12 to 17 were eligible to sign up for the workshops, which use skits and other art forms to help teach positive decision-making skills and empowerment.
The session will also include a component on responsibility when it comes to online activities, Cudmore said.
The workshops will take place throughout the school day and students and facilitators are expected to have lunch together at the school.
- Kassina Ryder
Arctic markets, food safety course
Inuvik
Vicky Gregoire-Tremblay, Inuvik's economic development and tourism manager, said the town received approval to hold an Arctic Market during the Muskrat Jamboree.
She was speaking at a tourism stakeholders meeting Feb. 15.
"We discussed having more of those events throughout the winter as well," she said.
The town also plans to set up a food safety course for vendors.
"Sometimes that's a concern that's brought to us or the public in general when organizing these food events," said Gregoire-Tremblay.
- Stewart Burnett
Searching for summer fun
Inuvik
The town is looking to hold more public events during summer so that tourists and locals have more things to do.
Vicky Gregoire-Tremblay, Inuvik's economic development and tourism manager, said visitors often want to experience cultural activities like drum dancing, Northern games or jigging, but those events are usually held only in conjunction with larger festivals.
She wants free events, maybe at Chief Jim Koe Park, running during summer so that people can check them out at their own leisure.
One idea mentioned in the room was a food fair with local fish and bannock.
Gregoire-Tremblay said the town would like to hold such an event once a week.
- Stewart Burnett
Gjoa Haven RCMP investigate fuel leak
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
RCMP are looking for information on a Feb. 25 fuel leak at the Gjoa Haven fuel station after finding suspicious damage.
"Investigation revealed that a fuel pump at the main tank farm had been vandalized and a significant amount of aviation fuel had spilled outside the farm," stated Sgt. David Lawson.
"It is currently unclear how much fuel had spilled or if aviation fuel is able to be provided at this time. The pumps for regular gasoline or home heating fuel were not affected."
Police are asking residents with any information to contact the Gjoa Haven RCMP or to provide anonymous information by calling Crimestoppers.
- Beth Brown
Remington rifles recalled
Nunavut
Remington Arms Company is voluntarily recalling Remington Model 700 and Model Seven rifles produced between May 1, 2006 and April 9, 2014 because of a defect with the X-Mark Pro trigger.
Those who have the affected rifles are asked to stop using them because the trigger issue could cause the weapon to unintentionally fire.
Those unsure if their rifle is affected can contact local wildlife offices or the Territorial Firearms Office at 867-975-4487 or 1-800-731-4000 ext. 8002.
More information about the recall and how to get the trigger replaced for free is on the company's website, xmprecall.remington.com.
- Shane Magee
$11,000 in goods aids fire victims
Iqaluit
Thousands of dollars in emergency aid were provided to victims of a Feb. 19 house fire in Iqaluit that left 21 homeless.
"Red Cross was able to provide immediate assistance for emergency toiletries, blankets, bedding and food vouchers of over $11,000," said Mayor Madeleine Redfern in a city council update on Feb. 28. At the time only one tenant was still waiting to be rehoused.
- Beth Brown
Naujaat principal one of the best
Naujaat
Education Minister Paul Quassa recognized a Nunavut educator in the legislative assembly last week.
"I would like to ask my fellow members to join me in congratulating Aubrey Bolt, a principal in Naujaat, who was selected as one of Canada's Outstanding Principals in 2017. He now joins the ranks of 400 members of the National Academy of Canada's Outstanding Principals," said Quassa.
"His commitment to improving school attendance is one of his greatest accomplishments. Mr. Bolt became the principal at Tusarvik School in Naujaat in 2009. Under his school leadership for the past seven years, attendance at Tusarvik School rose from 53 percent in 2009 to 81 percent in 2016."
Bolt is now the principal at the hamlet's new Tuugaalik High School. Quassa noted Bolt is "a strong advocate of the breakfast program, which he believes contributes to improved attendance."
Chosen principals - who are nominated by their peers, school staff, and community members - participate in an executive leadership training program at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
- Michele LeTourneau
Youth train on heavy equipment simulators
Kitikmeot
Eight young men from the Kitikmeot region are participating in a youth heavy equipment operator training course in Cambridge Bay.
The course, running from Feb. 20 to March 21, provides training on four machines, articulated truck, truck-type excavator and tractor-and-wheel loader.
"This program is all simulator based," said KIA's manager of Inuit employment and training Michelle Buchan.
The four simulators were flown in from Saskatchewan and assembled in the Kitikmeot Inuit Association board room.
"We need to get a new generation of operators going ... and we need to build up the youth with those skills because they need experience as well," Buchan said.
There is a demand for machine operators with the mine newly opened at Hope Bay, as well as ongoing projects by Nuna Logistics, she said. The program will close with a firearm safety course, which she said the students are excited for because they are all hunters.
- Beth Brown
Three youth win QIA contest
Qikiqtaaluk
Arctic Bay's Leetia Kalluk, Jerry Laisa, originally from Pangnirtung, and Ben Qaqqasiq of Pangnirtung are the three winners of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's (QIA) Inuktitut song/poem contest.
According to QIA, entries came in from all over the region.
Kalluk, 18, is currently studying at Nunavut Sivuniksavut. She won the $400 first prize with "her sweet song about love and longing made a huge impression on our selection committee," according to a news release. Laisa, 21, ranked second and won $300 for "his song of heartbreak." The young singer works as a security guard at the Mary River mine.
Fourteen-year-old high school student Qaqqasiq came in third place to win $200 with a poem. "An accomplished accordion and piano player," Qaqqasiq performed Alianait Arts Festival in Iqaluit last year.
The winning submissions can be viewed on all of QIA's social media platforms.
- Michele LeTourneau
New plants at Kugluk Park
Kugluktuk
As many as 14 new plant species have been recorded in Nunavut, thanks to a study released by the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Data for the study was collected in the summer of 2014 in Kugluk Territorial Park, known previously as Bloody Falls.
Chives and Western Birch were two of the new species. These plants are commonly found below the treeline.
Over 300 vascular plants were recorded, marking a 36 per cent increase in available data from previous naturalists and explorers. The new plant knowledge will be added to an online database run by the Canadian Museum of Nature of over 800 plant species known in the Canadian Arctic and Northern Alaska.
Research was done around the Coppermine River to see how species were migrating past the treeline and into the tundra.
- Beth Brown
Pond Inlet youth recognized
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Tununiq MLA Joe Enook has been taking every opportunity in the legislative assembly to encourage the youth in his community of Pond Inlet.
Enook previously spoke of appointee to the Prime Minister's Youth Council Rachel Smale and young entrepreneur Michael Milton.
On Feb. 27, addressing his fellow members, he said, "Today I recognize Patricia Kunilusie. Patricia is another young resident who has taken part in the Inspire Nunavut Program."
Enook described Kunilusie's initiative.
"Patricia's challenges trying to find affordable clothing for her children inspired her to start the Annuraaqtaarvik, a thrift store in Pond Inlet. Patricia is filling a large gap in the Pond Inlet clothing market as there are currently very limited clothing options available. The store carries new and second-hand inventory. Part of the profits are donated to the local food bank."
Enook then noted the territory "needs the energy and enthusiasm of young people like Patricia, Michael, and Rachel. I am very proud to call them my constituents."
- Michele LeTourneau
Funding for child programming
Nunavut
Community programs that target children aged infant to six years can apply for funding through the GN's Healthy Children Initiative Program, run through the Department of Education.
"The goal of this initiative is to have healthy children growing up with strong, supportive families in caring communities," according to a March 1 public service announcement.
Competitive applications will highlight early intervention and support services.
Applications will be accepted until March 15.
- Beth Brown
Workshops are all about money
Qikiqtaaluk
Learning about finances will be the focus of workshops to be held in four Baffin communities through-out March.
Two workshops will be held in each of Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Iglulik and Hall Beach.
The first workshop will focus on financial services in the community, reviewing bank statements, earning income, social benefits, taxation, credit bureau and managing finances. The second workshop will focus on how to make decisions related to saving, spending, investing and borrowing.
The workshops are free and open to all community members, who can register with the QIA community liaison officer.
Locations and times will be announced, but are scheduled to take place on the following days: in Pond Inlet from March 20 to 22, in Arctic Bay from March 23 to 24, in Iglulik from March 27 to 28, and Hall Beach from March 29 to 30.
- Michele LeTourneau
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