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Friday, April 21, 2017
Medical calls nearing four-digit number
The city's fire department responded to 921 medical calls during the first three months of the year, above the five-year average of 750.
The number of medical calls was down two per cent from the final three months of 2016.
The fire department had 1,101 calls overall during the first quarter of the year, a figure that includes fires, traffic crashes and other responses. An increasing number of medical calls in recent years has largely been attributed to firefighters called to help intoxicated people. The increase prompted council to budget $222,000 to add four full-time firefighters to the department's ranks.
- Shane Magee
High demand for park reservations
The NWT Parks online reservation system opened on April 12 to 13, with 1,458 reservations. The system allows people to book their spots at territorial parks early and online, to avoid disappointment later in the season. According to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, about 71 per cent of the site visitors were Canadian, with another 27 per cent from the United States. Californians made up 80 per cent of the American views. Fred Henne Territorial Park was the most popular campground, with 587 bookings.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Outdoor rinks closed for season
It's time to put your ice skates away. The City of Yellowknife says its skating oval and outdoor rink on Frame Lake are now closed for the season. The announcement was made over Twitter on Wednesday.
All other outdoor rinks run by the city are also closed, according to the city's website.
- Kirsten Fenn
Student summit coming in May
Yellowknife Catholic Schools is planning a student summit for May.
The one-day event will get students involved in activities like coding, Minecraft and other challenges related to the STEM curriculum.
Simone Gessler, associate assistant superintendent, said the aim of the summit is student-centred learning. An exact date and time has yet to be determined for the event, she said.
- Kirsten Fenn
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Sharon Firth to receive honorary law degree
Olympian cross-country skier Sharon Firth, from Aklavik, will receive an honourary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta.
Firth, a member of the Gwich'in First Nation, was the first indigenous woman elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. She competed in the Olympics four times between 1972 and 1984.
She was also recently in Inuvik promoting cross-country skiing.
"Honorary degrees are intended to recognize individuals whose character and whose extraordinary intellectual, artistic or athletic achievements or service to society set a standard of excellence that merits the university's highest honour," stated U of A chancellor Doug Stollery in a news release.
RCMP warn about spring conditions
Following an incident with a missing child on a lake near Yellowknife, the Yellowknife RCMP issued a notice about spring conditions.
"This event reminds us how quickly situations can change, especially in the warming temperatures by day and challenging conditions of our ice and snow packed lakes," stated Marie York-Condon, media relations officer, in a news release.
She went on to advise citizens be careful during the spring thaw with changing conditions on rivers and lakes.
Mr. McDonald goes to Washington
Mayor Jim McDonald attended a half-day conference in Washington, D.C., recently, where he said representatives from the North all had similar sentiments to share.
Speaking about the Alaska representative's keynote speech, McDonald said, "She could have been speaking about the Northwest Territories."
He said he raised Inuvik's concerns about the moratorium on Arctic gas exploration.
McDonald also joked that United States President Donald Trump wanted to meet but McDonald couldn't find the time.
Land claim agreement celebrated
The Gwich'in Tribal Council will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement this Saturday, April 22.
The event, held at the Midnight Sun Complex, will begin with a treaty payout from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by speeches, a feast and an old time dance starting 5 p.m.
Similar events are being held in the other Gwich'in communities.
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