Staff and patients must be experiencing a big sigh of relief at the news that the surgical ward at Stanton Regional Hospital will re-open in September.

The hospital announced earlier this month its recruitment drive resulted in the hiring of six new nurses. The 14-bed ward will re-open Sept. 17.

Since June of 2000, surgical patients have been recovering in other units at the hospital, including the children's ward. Originally, the shutdown was a permanent one -- the hospital board claiming it had no choice because of its $1.6-million deficit.

But following an outpouring of outrage from doctors, nurses and staff at the thought of closing the ward, the board reconsidered the closure and found other ways to balance the books.

Re-opening the ward is a major accomplishment, considering the shortage of nurses throughout the country. Credit must also go to the staff and doctors at the hospital who stuck to their guns in demanding the ward be kept open.

What's troubling, though, is that the new nurses, who were offered a handsome salary plus a signing bonus, have only signed one-year contracts.

While this will offer an immediate solution to the shortage plaguing the hospital, Stanton could be in the dire straits once again when their contracts run out.

It will not create the staffing stability needed at Stanton.

Given the big bucks being paid to nurses in B.C., Alberta and other jurisdictions, these same nurses could be lured elsewhere a year from now.

Just as we're learning with the labour force in general, Northern wages, especially those in the health-care profession, must be considerably higher than anywhere else. Without that, health professionals won't be making the North their permanent home anytime soon.

When was the last time a Canadian prime minister visited Yellowknife? Well, officially, it was 1994, to accompany the Queen. But that hardly qualifies. A better question might be, when was the last time a Canadian prime minister took a strong interest in the NWT?

The best we can figure is it was Pierre Trudeau, who learned to love the North after paddling the Coppermine and Nahanni rivers in the 1960s and 70s.

Jean Chretien is be about make up for years of neglect Monday to attend a party caucus meeting. Unfortunately, he hasn't pencilled in any time to explore the city during his 18-hour stopover, leaving us with little chance to bring him up to speed on years worth of changes. Such a shame. Surely we're worth more than a whirlwind visit once every seven years.

Yellowknifers are tough, ready to tackle just-about-anything types. It's therefore surprising to what extent we like to indulge in trendy and often pampered lifestyles.

Last week, for instance, we enjoyed unclenching all our pent-up stress thanks to a touring breathing expert, and many embraced NIA, a flowing movement exercise that is presently the craze in every Vancouver spa.

Northerners love to indulge. They readily treat themselves to relaxing manicures and pampering pedicures. They rejuvenate their spirits with aromatherapy and de-stress through life-altering massages.

Maybe these "well beyond the basics" extravagances reflect a healthy economy. Could be, however, that Yellowknifers simply love their creature comforts. And hurray for that!

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

The numbers are already astounding and they just continue to grow.

Professionals in the Nunavut legal system estimate domestic violence has reached the point in our territory where assaults against one's spouse account for almost 60 per cent of the charges laid.

We applaud the efforts to launch Nunavut's first Spousal Abuse Counselling program in Rankin Inlet.

There are many dedicated players who came together behind the scenes to push this program forward -- lawyer Bonnie Tulloch, Community Justice Committee supervisor Valerie Stubbs, Myrna Michon of the Friendship Centre, former manager of Kivalliq Community Mobilization Page Burt, the list goes on.

The reasons behind our shameful rate of domestic violence are nothing new.

Boredom, drugs and alcohol, and too much free time have long been recognized as triggers for frustration and anger, which often lead to spousal abuse.

However, there are still many people who don't fully realize what bubbles beneath the surface of domestic violence and how deeply it can affect family members.

There is much more to spousal abuse than mere physical pain.

Those who abuse often lose their jobs, families lose their homes and children suffer immense emotional and psychological pain -- at school, within a family structure and, finally, within society in general.

There is no excuse for people not to know and understand these hideous ramifications to domestic violence.

Likewise, there are no excuses for those who continue to abuse and, like it or not, there are no valid excuses for those who continue to be abused and repeatedly return, with their children, into the same abusive environment.

However, the worst sin of all when it comes to domestic violence is acceptance by society -- any society!

Hopefully, the pilot project in Rankin Inlet will be successful and help sway the ever-increasing tide of domestic violence in our territory.

It is not enough for us to be simply aware, we must be able to offer help and the spousal abuse counselling program may be the first step in that direction.

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Proper training is key in today's workplace. Getting access to desired training can be a challenge, especially in the North.

A good example is floorhand training. Up to now those wanting such training had to leave the NWT.

But that's changed. After not much lead time, and a lot of work and co-operation, the floorhand training program is up and running in Inuvik. Before it wraps up later this month, people from virtually every region in the NWT and the Yukon will have taken the 12-day course.

Aurora College officials, realizing that there's no substitute for practice, have had the program here lengthened from what's offered down south. Students will have more time to study material, and more time to practise what they've learned on the drill rig.

Adding an even more real-life aspect to the entire experience is that the students are living on a camp right on the site, where those on day and night shifts have to accommodate each other's needs.

Plus, in keeping with industry standards a zero-tolerance policy applies to students and management alike. Several students and one instructor have already been sent home for returning to the camp after having consumed alcohol.

All in all, graduates will emerge with a well-rounded introduction into their chosen profession. They should enjoy success at landing, and keeping, employment.

The program is a great example of what can happen when the college and industry representatives get together, identify a need for a certain type of training, and then work together to make it happen.

Fun for all

Congratulations are due members of the Northwind team. Over the weekend they won the Midnight Sun slo-pitch tournament. The final, featuring Northwind and Arctic Oil and Gas, was quite entertaining. Ball diamonds and summer go hand in hand.

Lots of people hit the field over the weekend, and anytime I swung by a good crowd was on hand to cheer on the players.This despite the fact that it was cloudy and rainy for parts of the tournament.

Great adventure

Five teens from England completed a grand adventure last week. They arrived in Inuvik Friday, after having canoed the Mackenzie River.

One of the teens, Michael Faulkner, noted the great scenery and wilderness within the NWT. Interestingly, however, he said it was the friendly and interesting people he met along the way that he will remember most.

That's certainly a good testimonial for Northern hospitality.

Editorial Comment
Dave Sullivan
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Word that efforts are still underway to establish a Dene language school are encouraging. Elders say the language is a crucial part of the culture. If the spoken tongue is not preserved, traditions will eventually follow the lost language into obscurity.

To see how language can save a culture, one has only to look as far as Quebec. For the past 40 years leaders there were fanatical about the French language, and it worked.

There is a long way to go before the Dene language will be off life support, and there will never be a time when English signs are banned in Deh Cho.

School authorities must be wary of the careful balance needed. Children are caught in a struggle that's very personal and individual -- deciding which things to choose from the menu of modern ways and which traditional ways to maintain.

If Dene is taught at the expense of English, then choices from the modern menu, like higher education, could be missed.

Even if a balance point is found, there is a risk that some young people could grow up learning neither language well.

A challenging region

It's been a slice.

Covering the Deh Cho region has been a valuable experience, and confirms the wisdom behind my employer's policy of sending new reporters away from Yellowknife, to experience the true North.

While Yellowknife is certainly unique in many ways, it is also in many ways just like any other small city (or large town).

My apologies to readers who did not see too much Drum presence outside of Fort Simpson while Derek was on vacation. It's difficult using up a whole day for travel when you're filling in. I got paranoid about getting enough information to fill the pages. Before he left, I forgot to ask Derek how he manages to do that well and still have time to travel.

While Deh Cho politics helps provide enough news copy, it would be preferable if some of the obstacles facing the region were resolved.

This won't be my last trip here. If for no other reason, I'll be back to go on a week-long trip down the Nahanni, or maybe even two weeks.

I interviewed a lot of tourists who visited this summer. Their perspective is refreshing and hopefully reminds residents how fortunate they are having such a vast, unspoiled backyard to play in.

Many have saved for years and come from all over the world just to be here for a vacation.

I wish to extend thanks to everyone who helped me with stories, pictures, and everything else. If I said people here are the friendliest in Canada that would be a conflict, because folks from the east coast, where I'm from, pride themselves on being friendly too. We'll call it a draw.

Until next time.