Produced and mounted on the Parnaivik building by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the clock shows how many days are left to division.

Shortly after being mounted, July 9, the clock started shutting itself down.

"It took us a couple of days for us to figure it out," said NTI's Bill Sackett.

Since no Northern firm produced the lighted type of sign, NTI had a Toronto firm build it. But it had a southern glitch -- it was designed to run on big-city electricity.

Iqaluit, like most places in the North, runs on generators, which provide a less stable flow of power. Whenever a surge occurred the sign shut down. The problem was solved by the installation of a surge protector.

Baffin leaders

Municipal and territorial leaders from around the Baffin region met in Iqaluit last week to discuss a number of important topics. In addition to presentations on air traffic, the carving industry, decentralization and the new hospital in Iqaluit, the leaders got an update on the Nunavut government and division during the four day meeting.

Boat builders

The Youth Department of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association is doing everything it can to prepare youth for Nunavut. As well as running the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program and a university orientation program, they're hosting a six-week boat-building course in Pangnirtung called Umiaq.

Including youth and elders from all Baffin communities, the course is designed to give them the opportunity to learn how to build their own boats and run their own small business. Participants will be able to teach their new skills in their own communities when they return home in August.

Ledge in a box

A barge containing Nunvut's new legislative assembly arrived in the future capital last week.

One local wit quipped, "It was like they came here and said, 'Here's your legislative assembly, where would you like it?"

The structure will be erected on piles over the winter.