News that the Government of the Northwest Territories plans to release a breakdown of projected cancer cases this summer is both overdue and welcome.

The NWT has had a cancer registry since 1991 to track individual cases in the territory. Because the overall number of cases in a jurisdiction with a population of 37,360 is relatively small -- 95 new cases are projected to be diagnosed this year -- the data is reliable, says Dr. Andre Corriveau, the NWT's chief medical officer.

Every year since 1987, the National Cancer Institute (NCIC) of Canada, with funding provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, publishes and interprets current statistics about cancer in Canada.

Corriveau says the government had been trying to convince the Canadian Cancer Society, formed as a not-for-profit in 1938, to release the information for the NWT.

The society releases projections for the 10 provinces based on the number of new cases expected and a breakdown by gender on the types of cancer death rates likely to occur in the population.

It excludes the three territories precisely because they are small in population -- to protect patient confidentiality, it claims.

It's a reasonable position. But we entrust governments to lead, so if the GNWT believes the information should be released it must be the one to do it.

After all, the Cancer Society-funded NCIC draws its statistics in part from territorial and provincial cancer registries. Who releases the data is less important than it being released.

It will let people know what kinds of cancer are prevalent in the North. We can use that information as an educational tool to raise awareness about this killer disease and what we can do to protect ourselves.

They're usually the first health care professional who greets us when we wake up from surgery, there with a warm blanket and a smile.

They're also the first ones we see whenever we hit the emergency room in crisis or we've been wheeled onto a ward following an operation.

When you get told the good news, the bad news, the happy, the sad news, they are likely the one on hand to soothe our fears and tears or share our relief.

There's no doubt that nurses provide an essential service that is worth commending. Their job consists of long shifts, staff shortages, embracing new technology while always maintaining the same priority: taking care of people. This is nursing week throughout Canada. So, if you see a nurse, offer a salute and thank them for a job well done.

Anyone in the line up at Tim Hortons Saturday morning knows the impact Super Soccer has on Yellowknife.

It took 20 minutes to get a cup of coffee, but it wasn't the staff's fault. It was all they could do to keep up to the demand of having hundreds of youths and adults in town for the weekend.

Indeed, this year's tournament, with 150 teams and 1,500 participants lived up to its super billing.

Players, parents and coaches from across the North converged on our city for the annual sporting event. It's akin to packing the Arctic Winter Games into four days.

To all the dozens of Yellowknifers who put so much effort into hosting the tournament, we have to send congratulations.

The games were intense, the competition fun and rewarding.

It brought out the very best in our city and in the players who took part.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

More than a few people in Rankin Inlet noticed a stronger sense of community spirit at this year's Pakallak Tyme celebrations. It just seemed like people were having more fun at the community hall and on Williamson Lake than during years past. Smiling faces were everywhere as participants competed against each other in games and skill events.

So, what could be behind this sudden display of community spirit and good natured competition? The fact of the matter is, many of the games this year offered material prizes rather than cash awards. And, the events that did offer cash did not offer excessive amounts.

Like it or not, the absence of large cash prizes at most events makes Pakallak Tyme more enjoyable for everyone.

Let's be honest. It's difficult to cheer on your neighbour during the harpoon toss if you stand to lose $500 when they hit the target. It's simple human nature.

Large prizes ignite the super competitive powder kegs in all of us. The events lose their innocence when there's a large pot of gold waiting for the victor.

In such cases, families tend to become bitter rivals trying to outdo each other for the big bucks.

The sense of community spirit the games are intended to instill gets lost in the process.

Think about it. Put four families out on the ice playing a game for big money and watch the take-no-prisoners attitude that encompasses the event.

Pit those same four families against each other when the top prize is a four-slice toaster and the game becomes all about fun and friendly interaction.

There are plenty of top prizes available during Pakallak Tyme in the form of draws for free airline tickets, super giant bingos and the big money snowmobile races.

The snowmobile races are for a select group of superior drivers, while the random draws and bingo games are just plain luck.

Smaller prizes for the numerous games allows the participants to focus on simply having a great time. Not that there's anything wrong with a brand new four-slice toaster!!

If the organizers planned it that way for this year's Pakallak Tyme, they are to be commended.

If not, here's hoping they noticed the positive results of the way things turned out, and winning prizes forever takes a back seat to having a fun family outing.

That, after all, is the true spirit of Pakallak Tyme.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The new turbine generators that are to be installed at the recreation complex represent some good forward thinking on the part of the power corporation and the town.

We have some unique features in this town and the abundance of natural gas and the lack of heat are two that can work to cancel each other out.

As well as saving tens of thousands of tax dollars over the next years, we will also be getting a cleaner source of heat and electricity.

As accessibility to natural gas comes to communities up the valley they will be looking to tests like this one to plan for their futures.

The North can use more of this type of ingenuity and it seems like the power shift is finally coming from the top down.

Let's hope it doesn't stop here. Wind and solar energy are some other interesting alternatives to the dirty diesel power that's long ruled the North.

Dancing in the dark

The people who assembled for Monday's discussion on exotic dancing were a vociferous but, considerate crowd.

There were obviously some strong emotions felt in the room, but people pretty much kept their tongues civil and much was learned.

Bar manager Anna Mae Fairley learned that there was some firm and vocal opposition to exotic dancing in Inuvik.

The other 36 people there learned some new respect for Anna Mae -- she faced a lot of hard questions and had an answer for them all.

As a manager, she's managed to increase profit by 40 per cent in just two months.

She's employing a dozen people in town and the business thrives as the only pub outside the hotel group.

What we all learned, is that there are no laws to regulate the business.

I hate to see government trod on the free enterprise, but perhaps some form of regulation is in order.

Inuvik's gone from bingo games and bake sales to crack cocaine and wet wrestling in a just a few short years and it's come as a sudden shock to many people.

Every town that ever became a city has had to deal with these issues and I guess these things are all part of growing up too fast.

The transition could be made easier if there were some clear laws governing vice set out in the Municipalities Act.

In periods of boom, town councils don't have time and resources to examine and legislate over every business licence that's applied for. Council shouldn't have to drop what they're doing to appease anyone or any group who may opposed to a particular business.

Guidelines, rules or examples on how other municipalities have handled these situations would save towns thousands in legal fees and person hours.

As well, citizens and reporters of every burgeoning town wouldn't have to go to Monday night meetings when the Bruins-Habs' game six was 1-1 after two.

Editorial Comment
Mike W. Bryant
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Growing up in the North means never being surprised with the richness it has to offer.

I stepped off the plane last week, leaving the hustle and bustle of "big city" Yellowknife behind, where diamond dreams and government schemes abound, into the heart of the Deh Cho. A world, despite my aforementioned upbringing, I'm scarcely familiar with.

It only goes to show how vast this territory really is.

Attending last Monday's village council meeting, where Mayor Tom Wilson and council pointed out to Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine the disparity between Fort Simpson and that gilded castle built on bedrock on the shores of Great Slave Lake -- that little Camelot we call Yellowknife -- brings a now popular cinema quote to mind. Although, I must say, I'm loathe to give Hollywood credit for anything.

"Show me the money," Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character, Rod Tidwell, tells his agent in the film Jerry Maguire.

Earlier this year the territorial cabinet was in the throes of one big, happy love-in. And why not? The purse was full. The NWT thumped the rest of Canada last year with a 20 per cent GDP growth rate.

In Yellowknife, one school board is clamouring for a new school to be built. The chamber of commerce wants to see 600 new homes built to accommodate all the mining personnel expecting to arrive on the crest of good fortune the diamond industry promises to offer.

To top it off, a new twin pad arena -- to go along the other two already there -- is being constructed as we speak.

Yellowknife's a biiger town, of course, but from what I gather, Fort Simpson council would be happy to simply have some of their capital funding revamped -- after taking a $500,000 hit last year -- so they can fix the roads.

And of course, a few more government jobs in the area wouldn't hurt either.

Christmas may have past, but I am told it didn't come here this year. One has to wonder if Santa Claus is still licking his wounds after the mugging he suffered upon climbing down the chimney at Yellowknife City Hall.

Anyway, I am here for the rest of the month, and I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can while I am here. I am anxious to learn as much as I can about the Deh Cho, so drop me a line any time.

One more thing. My birthday was last Friday, and while goodwill may be in short supply in the territorial capital, it certainly wasn't here.

Thank you Randy, Stephanie, Glen, Sue, Janis, Tim, John, Arthur, Karen, Vera, Crystal and the kids for the party and your most gracious welcome.

I love moose steaks.