Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Jan 06/03) - A new year means a chance to start over.

When the time comes to change calendars, it is also time to think of doing things differently in the coming year, whether in a person's own life or in society as a whole.

So News/North asked a sampling of people in the NWT the following question: If there was one thing you could change for 2003, what would it be?

The answers are as diverse as the people themselves. However, the one thing all the answers have in common is an apparent belief that things could indeed change for the better if people put their minds to it.

In Inuvik, Pastor Steve Donley of the First Bible Baptist Church noted it is not often that a person is asked such a "powerful" question. Yet, after some thought, he answered, "In respect to our community, I would like to erase the various abuses that go on, like alcohol abuse and physical abuse. Just erase them completely from our community."

Duncan Canvin, the president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce, quickly thought of the proposed gas pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley when asked about his wish for 2003. "It would be nice to see everyone embrace the pipeline and get behind that project."

Laura Rose of the Hay River Soup Kitchen responded, "It would really be nice to be able to eliminate the state of poverty in the North. That would be my wish. There's a lot of that around and it's getting worse."

In Fort Smith, well-known traditional carver Sonny MacDonald would like to see a change in attitude by government towards the arts. "As an artist, I would like to see more money for the art world in the NWT," said MacDonald, the chair of the Northwest Territories Arts Council, adding increased funding could be used to support artists, projects and festivals.

In Enterprise, Coun. Chaal Cadieux thinks people should take more time to enjoy the beauty of the Northwest Territories. "If anything I'd change for 2003, it would be a better place if people just stopped and looked at what we have, and took more time to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the North."

In Deline, Gina Dolphus, the president of the Native Women's Association of the NWT, would like to see more co-operation among the leadership of the Northwest Territories.

"There are lots of issues for 2003, but one of the first ones is to work together as leaders of the NWT -- chiefs, mayors, presidents of different organizations, the territorial government, everybody -- to encourage and support one another and work together for the betterment of our children's future."