Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Police issued a press release Aug. 25, stating that a six-year-old boy was reportedly assaulted by an adult male after entering a washroom at the library.
Three days later, however, the police issued another press release, stating the assault report was "unfounded." It remains unclear what police were told, but it now appears that the story told to the RCMP by the boy's mother was untrue. Police had little to go on to begin with, as the complaint was received two weeks after the assault reportedly took place.
RCMP spokesperson Colleen Werrell said last week that, "in hindsight, maybe we should've waited for more information (before issuing the initial press release."
We disagree. As the old adage goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Four years ago, police alerted the public to a scary incident where an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at knifepoint while walking on the Frame Lake Trail.
Rumours were rampant beforehand about a similar incident that had taken place two weeks prior. Yellowknifer attempted to confirm the rumour, but RCMP wouldn't verify it.
As it turned out, the rumour was true. Another young girl had been assaulted while walking home behind Sir John Franklin high school.
Police later arrested a 15-year-old male with a previous violent criminal history who was subsequently convicted of both assaults.
The second assault could have been prevented had police warned parents after the first assault.
The RCMP may have felt they were over a barrel after the library incident turned out to be "unfounded," but given the choice between holding off to verify it or reporting it immediately, they were on far less shaky ground to choose the latter.
One can only imagine the outcry had they not reported the incident, it turned out to be true, and another child was attacked.
Sexual assaults are a serious problem in the NWT. According to Statistics Canada, there are 72 sexual assaults per 100,000 people reported in Canada every year but a staggering 407 per 100,000 in this territory, with six out of 10 on average taking place against children and youth.
The RCMP have good reason to be vigilant in reporting such incidents to the public, and would be wise to continue doing so.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
With the start of a new hockey season only a month away, Kivalliq residents can prepare themselves to see a different brand of hockey being played at their arenas this year.
Hockey Canada passed a motion at its recent annual general meeting to adopt a stricter rules enforcement policy this year.
That means hockey at all levels across Canada (excluding outlaw leagues not under the Hockey Canada umbrella) will be officiated the same way - with tougher enforcement on hooking, holding and other restraining fouls that have slowed the game during the past decade.
The change is not being embraced with open arms in all quarters.
However, stricter enforcement will prove itself to be better for the game in the long run.
Those who watched the NHL this past year saw the changes the new enforcement standard brings to the game.
But the standards were not just adopted by the NHL.
The American Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League all played under the new standard this past season.
The Western Hockey League will be the last of the three major junior ‘A' leagues to adopt the raised standard of enforcement this year.
The changes are aimed at opening up the game, increasing its speed and allowing skilled players to dominate the action.
The idea is to eliminate the clutch-and-grab tactics of the past which allowed less-talented teams to slow the play and negate the skill and speed of their rivals.
The changes are not geared towards taking the physical aspects out of the game, as some fans fear.
Yes, just like you saw in the NHL last year, there will be an increase in penalties until the players adapt to the new standards.
And that's where the key to this new direction rests - in the hands of the players and the coaches.
Officials across the country are not being asked to impose the new standards, they're being told.
In fact, at higher levels of hockey, officials noted as not enforcing the new standards by roving Hockey Canada supervisors will not be assigned to games at high provincial or national levels.
For better or worse, this is the direction that has been chosen for our game.
If all works according to plan, hockey will become the spectacle it was in the days before the neutral-zone trap and weak offensive teams using illegal tactics to slow the flow of the game.
Having seen the writing on the wall before the 2005-06 season, officials in Rankin Inlet began imposing the new standards - to a bit of a lesser extent - this past year.
The results were, for the most part, positive, with only a handful of players in the adult recreation league refusing to adapt to the new standards.
Certain aspects of the game will have to be relearned by coaches and players alike, but the end result should prove itself to be worth the effort.
Let's be honest here. If you're a hockey fan and you have the choice between Detroit vs Colorado or New Jersey vs Minnesota, which channel would you watch?
Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
It all came to my attention some time last week. I was out throwing a football at the Boot Lake park when a stray pass flew wildly into the bush. I reached in and grabbed the ball, only to make the startling discovery of a yellow leaf.
I was shocked and amazed at how fast time had gone by. It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that I braved the trails of Boot Lake in knee deep slush and water. Spring had sprung and summer was was blooming.
Now, the lush greenery of the bush surrounding Inuvik is quietly making way for a tinge of yellow and orange. Autumn has begun.
Here in Inuvik, the seasons fly by so quickly I'll bet it's only six weeks before we see snow.
This past summer was a good one in many different respects. The weather seemed to hold up long enough for people to get out on the land and for the people in town to enjoy the events that were scattered throughout our calendars.
Aboriginal Day celebrations, Canada Day, Great Northern Arts Festival and the End of the Road music festival are only a few of the events that come to mind when I look back over the past few months.
Gatherings that encourage friendly interaction in the community are good for morale and make the town a better place.
This past weekend should have reminded us all about the benefits of community gatherings. End of the Road is planned and run solely by volunteers. After months of work, the music festival seemed to go off without much of a hitch.
Kudos to the society for hosting a music festival that appealed to music lovers of almost every age in Inuvik. I had a good time and I'm sure I wasn't alone.
Our various youth day camps and programs offered by the youth centre have been beneficial to the younger generation.
I am taking some time off for a nice vacation next month. I've decided that after such a busy summer and hearing about all my friends going on road trips, I am going to take an adventure or two myself on a bicycle trip down the Dempster.
I will be back in town for most of the month of September and will return to the Drum office in October.
Taking my place temporarily will be News/North reporter Phil Morin. He has been in Inuvik since the beginning of summer. Maybe some of you already know him or have seen him walking around town.
With another busy month of back-to-school events I'm sure he will have no problem getting right into the swing of things. Introduce yourself to him. I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture.
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Congratulations are in order for the graduating class of Deh Gah school in Fort Providence.
As one of the few schools to hold its graduation ceremony in the late summer, all of the students in caps and gowns can be sure they've officially earned their diploma.
The students who filed into the school gym on Aug. 25 had a lot to be proud of.
Night classes helped produce the class of eight graduates. In fact, all the grads except for one used evening classes to work towards their diploma.
Before night classes, an average grad class at the school numbered four or five. Last year, thanks to night classes, there was a bumper crop of 13 graduates.
Many of this year's graduates needed the opportunity to take night classes because they were returning to school after a long absence.
During her speech at the ceremony Lois Philipp, who is taking this year off as school principal to further her own education, made light of the fact that she entered Grade 1 37 years ago with Nellie Norwegian, one of this year's graduates. Robert Tanche, another successful student, was already a year ahead of them in school.
Philipp congratulated the graduates for the example they've set.
The example is an important one. The graduates have shown that no matter how old you are it's never too late to go back to school if you have the determination.
The desire to finish school can come from many places.
Robert Tanche admitted that it was watching his wife work towards her Grade 12 that drove him back to school the following year. He also wanted to graduate close to the same time as his children. To accomplish this Tanche finished an impressive number of credits in just one year.
Nellie Norwegian wanted to provide a good example for both her own children and other youth in the community.
She puts herself forward as living proof that if you set your mind to something you can accomplish it even if it takes more than 20 years.
Some of the graduates probably also wanted to complete their high school diploma because it's almost a necessity.
In today's world it's getting harder and harder to find jobs with healthy salaries unless you have some form of higher education.
That doesn't mean you need to hurry off to university and get a PhD. Even a high school diploma helps.
But for those who want to go further there is a world of opportunities available in higher education. Many of Fort Providence's graduates are already setting their sights on further education.
One is already in an apprenticeship program working towards becoming a heavy-equipment mechanic. Another is considering a business administrative program in Grande Prairie. One is looking at a career in journalism and yet another is thinking about a career working as either a nurse or an early childhood educator.
If finishing your education is something you have long considered you need look no farther than this graduating class to realize it's possible.
Whether you are already employed, have young children or just have a busy schedule, there is still time to complete unfinished education.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
City councillor Kevin O'Reilly has not said whether he will seek re-election. Incorrect information appeared in Yellowknifer Aug. 30. Yellowknifer apologizes for any embarrassment or confusion caused by the error.