Editorial

This Saturday is the second anniversary of the deaths of firefighters Lieut. Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson, killed in a tragic accident that left the department shaken and residents wondering if they would recover.

After an almost two-year odyssey of morale-deflating investigations, court proceedings, and finger-pointing, the fire department seems to be finding its bearings again.

It's the rank-and-file among the firefighters themselves who are leading the way on their healing journey.

Last fall, Ian MacDonald and a couple others - as our firefighters often do -- were hashing around ideas for a fire department fundraiser.

The idea for a hockey game with firefighters versus the police came up, which the RCMP were only happy to oblige.

Firefighter Ian Whitford then took over the reins as the event organizer.

As they settled on dates, March 17 came up as a possibility - the same day as their memorial for their fallen colleagues.

It was decided that the memorial and the game would be rolled into one event.

Firefighters could raise money to build a cenotaph for Fyfe and Olson, and get the community involved with donations plus an enjoyable hockey game to watch. The RCMP, meanwhile, graciously declined from taking a cut out of the proceeds.

Needless to say, no matter what the scoreboard says after tomorrow's game, there will be no losers.

Tomorrow's game is good for the firefighters and the community.

The icing on the cake would be an announcement by City Hall that it will do its part and match money raised for the Fyfe/Olson tribute.

Gear up for great games

A year from today, Yellowknifers will be sitting back in their easy chairs, feet up after a hectic week of making sure the 2008 Arctic Winter Games went off without a hitch.

Yes, the AWG are just a year away, so it's time for the entire community to begin gearing up for this pan-Arctic event. We will host athletes from Russia, Greenland, the U.S., Yukon, Nunavut, Northern Quebec and Northern Alberta for seven days of sports, culture and friendship.

The organizing committee has been working hard for the past couple of years, getting financial sponsors and making plans to host more than 1,400 athletes, officials and others. They can't do it alone, however. An estimated 2,500 people are needed to volunteer in some form or another to make the event a success.

While we're all looking forward to enjoying the sports and cheering on team NWT, make sure you do your part and sign up.

A few hours of time will make all the difference.

Story lines forming as election looms

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

With another federal election not far in the future, three hats sit in the Liberal ring seeking the Nunavut nomination to run for Parliament Hill.

Unless you live in an iglu far, far on the land, you know Nancy Karetak-Lindell has announced she will not seek another term as Nunavut's member of Parliament (MP).

Lindell never faced any real challenges during the past two elections, neither during the nomination process nor the elections themselves.

That created quick interest in Nunavut as to who would seek the Liberal nomination, and how the successful candidate would fare when Nunavummiut head to the voting booths.

In fact, we would be surprised if the ranks of Nunavut's Liberal Party didn't swell to record numbers before the next election.

Would-be voters on Nunavut's Liberal candidate must join the political big red machine two weeks before a meeting is held to select the party's candidate.

While we do expect a few more candidates to come forward before the Liberals make their choice, we can't help but notice the eclectic mix of the three who have announced their intentions.

We have the old guard firmly represented in former Liberal MP Jack Anawak, the roll-up-the-sleeves-and-let's-get-to-it approach of Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusugak that's so appealing to the working class, and the ranks of the up-and-coming generation in Iqaluit's Kirt Ejesiak.

While the Kivalliq needs no introduction to either Anawak or Kusugak, Ejesiak is not a household name in this region, despite being the first Inuk to receive a post-secondary degree from Harvard University.

Ejesiak is also a former City of Iqaluit councillor and deputy mayor, and former principal secretary to Premier Paul Okalik.

He has already begun pounding the drum of youth, saying it's time for more youthful leaders to step up and take their place in Nunavut.

There's no doubt he's looking for Kusugak and Anawak to split the votes of long-time party members, and he's canvassing the under-30 crowd hard to join the Liberals and support his nomination.

It would be interesting, although highly unlikely, if these were the only three to seek the nomination.

The youth-versus-the-elders' vote has long been a topic of debate in Nunavut as to which group wields the most political clout.

During my time in Kivalliq since 1998, I would lean towards the elders being the more powerful of the two.

That's mainly due to the fact many young voters don't bother to cast their ballot.

Should Ejesiak prove charismatic enough to entice them to sign up and support his nomination, and then vote on election day, that power base could change in a split second.

So, we already have interesting story lines starting to develop and we still haven't heard much from the Tories or the NDP.

That could change quickly if the new federal budget is not supported when tabled this coming week.

If that's the case, it could be the first step in a parade of out with the old and in with the new reaching from Ottawa all the way to Nunavut.

Live performances good for community

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Friday, March 16, 2007

So there I was, sitting at my desk about to read the latest celebrity gossip, when Sandy Turner walks in the door.

Turner has been working hard with a theatre group he started a few months ago. He had an excited tone to his voice and a smile that reached about halfway to Tuk. Apparently he had some good news for me.

Good news indeed! It seems the theatre group, now dubbed the North of Normal Players, is putting on its first show next weekend. The production is called Catnip and Bananas.

With three performances over three nights, there is enough space for everyone in town to check it out. This seems like the perfect remedy to a relatively quiet season, as far as live performances go.

I remember watching a group of similar performers on stage for the East Three productions that took place years ago.

Dare I say that Inuvik is once again flashing its classy side? Could this be the beginning of another era in our lives? Time will tell.

Maybe after watching the performance of these aspiring thespians, you might be inclined to join their club. I'm sure Sandy and the gang would love more people to act with.

I watched the first scene of Act 1 during their Monday night rehearsal. I caught myself laughing at their jokes and enjoying their stage presence. The writing seems like it would fit the tastes of the boob tube generation: all of us who enjoy sitting and laughing at relevant jokes that make you think.

What people might not think about is the time and effort that go into each production. These people started practising months ago and have nearly perfected their play.

Seeing them in the front of the room on the mock stage reminded me of my glory days back at Samuel Hearne. I was a part of the drama class offered to senior high students.

I wish there was more interest in improv-style acts in town. I'm sure a weekly show would sell enough tickets to warrant the production.

I still can't get over the fact that Inuvik has a theatre troupe once again!

I was talking with someone the other night about how an evening at the theatre would be a great date for couples who have been together for a long time, or for a few friends looking for a night out.

I thought Inuvik's only "classy" event was the annual Duck's Unlimited ball. But I'd rather wear my cut-off khakis and a loose T-shirt than stuff myself into a penguin suit.

The good thing about the theatre performances next weekend is that you do not need to dress formally. Show up in your pyjamas. I might.

Maybe I'm too young or just not attentive enough, but I think we are on the verge of gluing together Inuvik's broken social scene.

This might be the highlight of a long winter season, just before the Muskrat Jamboree talent show brightens the town with its live acts.

So how about next weekend, we all gather round and catch some live entertainment? Curtains up!

Pipeline gets a reality check

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Friday, March 16, 2007

Imperial Oil likely provided a workout for the hearts of many northern business people and the general public this week.

There must have been a few heart palpitations and maybe even a few sinking stomachs as the latest cost estimate of $16.2 billion for the Mackenzie natural gas pipeline project was made public.

This is a large jump from the estimated cost of $7.5 billion back in October 2004 when the project was first submitted for regulatory approval. It is an even bigger jump from the $4 billion that was thrown around in the very early stages of the project.

The concept of having $16.2 billion to invest in a project is hard to comprehend.

For perspective, with $16.2 billion you could match the gross national product of the Central American country El Salvador, which made a total of $15.8 billion in 2004. With that kind of money you would have more funds than other countries like Cuba, Iceland or Ethiopia make in a year.

No matter how you look at it, $16.2 billion is a lot of money.

The question that remains is whether or not the proponents, including Imperial Oil, are still willing to move forward with a project that carries such a hefty price tag.

A spokesperson for Imperial said that the company will not be ready to make a final decision until after the National Energy Board and the Joint Review Panel make decisions on its application. That means that everyone will have to wait until sometime next year.

Meanwhile the cost of the project is sure to creep steadily upwards to provide even more of a shock if a new total has to be worked out.

Despite the increased cost and the delayed schedule, however, those associated with the pipeline seem to be presenting a positive demeanor.

Imperial is still hopeful that the project will move forward and other associated groups are echoing that sentiment.

Of course, you don't really expect a member of one of these associations to publicly gnash their teeth, tear at their hair and announce the end has arrived. Whether or not they do this in private is hard to say.

Some people may still believe that Imperial and the other proponents will push forward because they are already invested in the project. Others who heard the news may have had their hopes crushed, while for some it will just confirm what they have always claimed to know -- there won't be a pipeline this time around.

Now is probably the time to put into practice the old saying about not putting all your eggs in one basket. The pipeline might still go forward yet, but everyone who is basing future plans around it had best come up with a secondary plan.