Wednesday, January 5, 2000
It was a worldwide scare called the Y2K bug and today's children will chuckle about the folly of their parents for decades to come.
Ottawa alone spent $2.5 billion to ward off the impending doom while other countries spent far more billions, with matching mountains of money spent by business.
For every Yellowknifer who stocked up on batteries and extra food, there were 10 more who thought about it.
A large segment of the workforce forfeited their New Year's party to monitor heating, electrical and communication systems in the smallest communities and businesses as well as the largest centres and industrial complexes.
Even in Yellowknife the Canadian military was operating around the clock with over 100 additional personnel in case the worst happened.
But the big hand swept past midnight and continued to clock off the peaceful hours into Year 2000, signalling business as usual.
Now the price of security will be skepticism as armchair experts question the wisdom of spending the billions and fostering the tremendous Y2K hype, even fear mongering.
The truth is, humans rarely act unless fear is introduced into the equation and we were afraid.
Fear aside, there was a computer dating problem and as the financial foundation of the world is based upon dated transactions, it had to be fixed.
Those with non-Y2K compliant hard drives watched as their personal computer wrestled with the 2000 concept and threw in its own dates on to all those old files. A mess on a small scale that would have been catastrophic on a larger scale.
As much as we might have longed for the dramatic headlines, in the end no news was good news.
Dealing with Y2k was a success of global proportions.
An informal poll suggests most Yellowknife retailers rang in record sales over the holidays, whether it was art galleries selling Northern prints to Japanese tourists, or Yellowknifers buying locally.
One store in particular is proving that having a unique product goes a long way in attracting shoppers.
Sashas Jewellery reports that Northern diamonds with the polar bear emblem has been a big seller since last February.
This boost in retail sales in the city is a good indication that not only are people's pocketbooks healthy but buying North is alive and well.
Congratulation to the sailors of HMCS Yellowknife for trading the hair on their heads for a worthy Yellowknife cause.
Though they'd never be able to sail the city's namesake ship into Yellowknife Bay, the ship's crew decided to help raise money for the Salvation Army.
Taking the lead was Commanding Officer Lt.-Cmdr. Grant Bannister who announced that if the crew raised $600 for the Sally Ann, he would shave his head. Petty Officer Doug Holt offered to do the same and the pot swelled to $1,700.
While HMCS Yellowknife and her crew ply the waters off Canada's west coast, such a charitable gesture bridges the geographical gap. The spirit of Yellowknife now rides the high seas.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
It's hard not to feel somewhat optimistic as we bravely set forth into the 21st century.
Yes, the challenges awaiting us are plenty.
And yes, it will take every last drop of our internal fortitude and determination for some of these challenges to be overcome.
Yet, make no mistake about it, the challenges awaiting our region and Nunavut as a whole can be met and conquered.
The first steps towards meeting our housing crisis have been taken.
And although Minister Manitok Thompson's plan has its detractors who claim it does not go far enough, 100 units is a start.
The recent municipal elections across the Kivalliq have brought in some new faces with fresh ideas.
While each of our seven hamlets are unique in their own way, they also share many of the same problems and concerns.
Communication and co-operation among our elected officials are paramount to achieving success in making all our hamlets stronger and improving our everyday quality of life.
This message was sounded by our region's adult educators when they met recently in Rankin Inlet.
Their message of co-operation to ensure the best possible education is provided to the people of Nunavut is one easily adapted to a number of different issues facing our various levels of government.
For voters, the key to aiding that vision is to improve our knowledge and understanding.
With the legislative assembly convening next month in the Kivalliq, our region will get a first-hand look at the challenges facing our government and the steps it's taking to address those issues.
It will also provide another opportunity.
Those able to attend will see how the wheels of bureaucracy revolve and should leave with a better understanding of the process involved.
Too often Kivalliq voters perceive issues as being black and white in nature.
The sitting of the legislative assembly in Rankin Inlet should serve to illustrate just how complex many of these issues are.
This is not intended to cut our elected representatives a tonne of slack in making decisions that affect us all. But rather, to point out that what may seem like a simple decision to the uninitiated, often has ramifications and effects on other areas of government. Most often, departmental budgets.
Next month's sitting has its own place on the learning curve of our new territory.
This time, it's the voters' opportunity to learn about their government and the roles our elected officials play in making our system work effectively.
After all, the more we are informed and understand, the better our decision-making abilities come election time.