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Bogging down adoptions Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, October 15, 2010
It's understandable the hospital and its NWT SPCA partners would want to be as thorough as possible in their attempt to match abandoned dogs and cats with responsible pet owners. But after reviewing the five-page application form the hospital requires potential adopters to fill out before taking a pet home, we find ourselves sharing Dr. Tom Pisz's concerns. The longtime Yellowknife veterinarian acknowledges the form is time-consuming for both applicants and staff, and no matter how many questions it contains, it can't weed out the people who would write deceptive answers. In fact, we'd be surprised if anyone would truthfully answer questions about future job plans or whether they're having children. It's frankly none of the animal shelter's business anyway. The reality is that the shelter is in competition with, if not local breeders and giveaways, then those down south as well. Adopting a pet from the animal shelter can cost up to $500. The cost alone must be discouraging for those who aren't seriously committed to having a pet. And in all likelihood, it makes the idea of going down to Edmonton and purchasing a dog or cat no questions asked all the more attractive. No doubt it is frustrating for SPCA volunteers and animal hospital staff to deal with abandoned pets. That the SPCA is calling for a shelter of its own shows this is a real problem. But if the idea is to encourage more people to adopt from them and not from somewhere else it would seem a shorter, less intrusive application form would be better.
Enough with the non-answers, Your Worship Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, October 15, 2010 It's not unheard of for Mayor Gord Van Tighem to provide a rhetorical answer to a serious question but he ought to be less facetious when addressing the ongoing problems in Northland Trailer Park. City councillor Cory Vanthuyne asked the mayor last week what will happen if there is another sewer line failure in the trailer park during the upcoming winter, similar to what occurred last February when a sewer line collapsed and had to be re-routed above ground. Van Tighem's response was to suggest that residents would band together and come to their own aid. He offered no commitment from city hall. A warm comfort for Northland residents, we're sure. Northland trailer owners will ultimately be responsible for covering the costs of replacing the much needed water and sewer infrastructure, estimated at $18 million. That's because previous condominium boards that ran the park didn't put any money aside to pay for infrastructure replacements. Van Tighem suggests the focus should remain on findings ways to fund the repairs, but as long as Northland remains without a payment plan, it is at the mercy of time and the elements. Is Van Tighem suggesting the city will do nothing should Northland suffer a catastrophic failure between now and then? Since the city will undoubtedly have to cover the cost of any major repair in the meantime, it's not unreasonable to demand to know where the city is going to find the money. There are 1,100 residents in Northland; Van Tighem's choice to sidestep Vanthuyne's question assures Northland homeowners and renters that only uncertainty awaits them this winter.
A strong finish Editorial Comment Kassina Ryder Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, October 14, 2010
A lack of physical competence combined with a certain degree of laziness means I would much rather sit down somewhere comfy than chase a ball around. But there's no denying the places playing a sport can take a person, especially in small Northern communities. While the community I grew up in wasn't in the North, it certainly qualified as small. My elementary school had about 100 people including students and staff, which meant if some overly optimistic gym teacher decided we should have a girl's basketball team that year, everyone from Grade 6 and upwards had to play. This, unfortunately, included me. Maybe it was because I was afraid of the ball. Or maybe it was because I didn't bother to actually learn the rules. Either way, the mere thought of playing basketball in elementary school was enough to throw me into about 60 different kinds of panic. When some unsuspecting teammate passed me the ball, despite my wearing a facial expression that clearly read: "For the love of Pete, do not pass that ball to me," I never seemed to know what to do with it. Sports such as basketball and soccer can provide opportunities many young people wouldn't otherwise get to have. Not only do athletes get to compete against different and possibly more challenging opponents than can be found in their home communities, they also get the opportunity to travel to places they might not otherwise get to see. For example, a group of athletes from Fort Simpson will be travelling to Kugluktuk (formerly known as Coppermine), Nunavut to play soccer at the end of the month. In addition to being able to play against teams they've never played before, these athletes will get a chance to play soccer in a part of the world rarely seen. The most westerly community in Nunavut, Kugluktuk is known for its beautiful scenery and culture. During their visit, they will see things they've never seen before and hear a language they've never heard before. On a smaller scale, athletes from Kakisa Lake School recently visited Fort Providence to participate in the NWT School Cross Country Championship. It was still a great opportunity for the kids to leave their home community and experience a different place. Young athletes should take advantage of the experiences awarded to them. And if there is a member of the team looking absolutely terrified when the ball comes anywhere near them, remember a word of encouragement can go a long way. Kassina Ryder is the acting editor for Deh Cho Drum. Roxanna Thompson will return later this month.
Keep the momentum going Editorial Comment Andrew Rankin Inuvik Drum - Thursday, October 14, 2010
One of the older students I spoke to afterwards said she was encouraged by the event because when she was in her 20s the issue of violence, especially in group settings, was a taboo subject. A similar discussion should take place at Samuel Hearne Secondary School. So it's a step in the right direction. There are many women in abusive relationships in Inuvik. Discussing the definition of harassment and abuse and providing ways for women to protect themselves against it are useful. But there should be more talk and emphasis on ways abused women can find professional help and start the process of getting out of abusive relationships. There's not much in the way of safe havens for abused woman in this town. But there's a small women's shelter here, which is vastly underfunded, and there are counselling professionals at Aurora College and the Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority ready to help. Perhaps it's time a coalition involving working professionals and concerned citizens team up to help these women at risk, even if it's just a weekly supper gathering or support group assembly. These women might not come regularly but at least they have the option to visit a safe, supportive place. The law is limited in the extent it can help abused women. If the victim doesn't press charges then nothing can be done. The cycle continues. I learned this point last year after adding the police assault a domestic assault which I witnessed outside my apartment. I offered to even identify the offender but was told my effort would be futile without a complainant. There's very little we in Inuvik can do to change the criminal code. But it would be useful for a support group to be established and seen year around and not just during Family Violence Awareness Week. Diavik's hands are tied Yellowknifer - Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Since Diavik stopped flying up workers from Edmonton in November 2009, more and more prospective southern employees were turning down employment offers, according to a spokesperson with the diamond mine. With the Canadian economy having largely recovered from the recession, skilled workers are again flocking to the oilsands in Alberta. Competition for certified tradespeople is again becoming fierce. Eliminating Edmonton as a pick-up point was a good attempt by Diavik to get people to move to the NWT if they're going to work here. However, the high cost of living and almost zero vacancy rate in the city, which potential hires said were the main reasons for turning down work in the territory, is something out of Diavik's control. Dettah Chief Ed Sangris criticized Diavik for the move, saying "our people are going to lose because jobs are being taken up by southerners." If Sangris doesn't want to see jobs lost to southern hires, the Yellowknives must continue to encourage band members to complete training programs through the Mine Training Society. If qualified Northern workers were available to fill the jobs necessary for the mine, Diavik wouldn't have to resort to reopening the Edmonton pick-up point. The territorial government and the City of Yellowknife need to find ways to make the cost of living less of a burden to potential hires and find incentives to get residential development moving. Until then, our growth will surely remain stagnant.
Bylaw officers keep our roads safe Yellowknifer - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Last week the owner of Yk Motors complained that a driver being pulled over by a bylaw officer parked in his lot, and the bylaw vehicle followed, blocking the entrance to his gas station and thus costing him business. Two years ago this was happening so often he complained to the manager of the municipal enforcement division. On the other side of town, a woman who is responsible for getting her younger siblings safely to and from school wants more enforcement and harsher punishments for drivers who speed in school zones. Bylaw officers have given out 78 tickets for speeding in school zones since Aug. 25 - an average of 13 a week. It's safe to say that, as in most professions, bylaw officers get more complaints than pats on the back. It must be especially frustrating when one person complains there's not enough traffic enforcement, and another complains about where bylaw chooses to pull people over. It's the job of bylaw officers to enforce the rules of the road, and we're sure pedestrians and the majority of drivers who operate their vehicles safely appreciate the work they do, even if they don't take the time to say so. As for the drivers who don't slow down in school zones, you deserve whatever fine is coming your way.
Small walk can lead to big thoughts Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, October 13, 2010 The walk against violence in Coral Harbour stirred a host of emotions in me this past week. It took me back almost two decades, to when I was attending Holland College in Charlottetown, P.E.I. I had the opportunity to take part in a workshop being given by a university professor who I admired greatly and, along with about 25 other aspiring journalists, I jumped at the chance. The associate professor was the University of Regina's Nick Russell, who wrote Morales and the Media - a must read for anyone who envisions themselves one day making decisions in a newsroom. While the entire workshop was completely captivating and incredibly informative, one section will always stay with me. It dealt with a photo published in reports of the female massacre at the University of Montreal (Ecole Polytechnique) in the aftermath of Marc Lepine's rampage that left 14 women dead on Dec. 6, 1989. The photo showed a dead woman slumped in a chair in the foreground, with a plainclothes policeman in the background taking down a holiday banner that read Bonne Annee (Happy New Year). The photo was taken through a window by a Montreal photographer. The section was a debate on whether the photo should have run, followed by an illuminating talk by Russell on the decision-making process that takes place in a newsroom when such incidents arise. To cut to the chase; the proper decision was made to run the photo. It was a striking photograph that vividly displayed the multitude of emotions the tragedy invoked. The horror, grief, pain and sadness, as well as the grim irony the officer may have felt in that situation, were all perfectly encapsulated in that one picture. Today's newspapers are often accused of being overly sensationalist and, truth be told, there are grounds for that accusation with a number of publications. However, readers rarely, if ever, get to see the emotional and often heated discussions that take place in a newsroom when such decisions must be made. That's especially true with publications that try to adhere to high moral standards. And that, in itself, is yet another example of the far-reaching effects violence has on our society. Few things elicit such a maelstrom of emotion as senseless acts of violence, especially when directed at women and children. That's why the media needs to report on such incidents, and report hard on them, to unleash those emotions and compel people to take action against such acts. Coral Mayor Dorothy Ningeocheak was bang on when she said the worst thing people can do is pretend such things don't happen. And, although it isn't always immediately obvious, she's also correct in her assertion that every little bit helps when it comes to keeping people's attention on the problem, even if it is often painful to do so. Even a short walk by a group of women in a small Northern community can get the wheels turning in a person's mind.
A tax is a tax NWT News/North - Monday, October 11, 2010
Both Minister Michael Miltenberger and Doug Ritchie, program director of Yellowknife-based Ecology North, insist on calling the carbon tax cost neutral. To struggling families in small communities, cost neutral is a made-up bureaucratic term. In practise, the tax will significantly increase the cost of living. Once the tax is applied, NWT families will not magically consume less energy to heat their homes, nor will the cost of healthy food suddenly drop to affordable levels. It will not be cheaper to fly out of our many communities cut off from road access. In fact, businesses have already stated they will have to pass increased fuel costs to their customers -- meaning food, flights and everyday goods and services will cost more. Ritchie, who lives in Yellowknife, stated in a letter to the editor once the tax is implemented people can use tax rebates for energy retrofits to their homes, which will decrease energy costs. That is an easy statement for someone living in Yellowknife where employment is abundant, milk costs $5 instead of $12 and people aren't crammed into deteriorating homes like sardines. In reality, tax rebate dollars will likely go to groceries, clothing and other daily expenses, all of which will cost more due to the tax increase. Evidence has shown households in the communities are already energy conscientious -- they have to be. The NWT power corp. has repeatedly stated that a vast majority -- around 80 per cent -- of homes in the communities limit their power consumption in an effort to keep their rates within the subsidized consumption limit, a conservation measure that works. Without serious improvements to housing, transportation networks and food costs, the carbon tax will not mean less energy consumption, it will merely mean higher costs to families, especially those living outside the major urban centres.
New Mosque a welcome addition NWT News/North - Monday, October 11, 2010 At the end of September, Inuvik welcomed Canada's Northern-most mosque. The structure, shipped from Winnipeg, underwent a harrowing journey, one followed closely by national media. Delayed by road construction, the building almost ended up in the river on at least one occasion. When it finally arrived, it was greeted on the banks of the Mackenzie by Inuvik's Muslim community with an Islamic song of praise. Diversity is one of the defining characteristics of Canada. To see multiple cultures and religions from coast to coast to coast is a testament to our nation's tolerance and acceptance. Aside from a place of worship, Inuvik's mosque serves as an example to other nations and other communities in our country that people of different races and creeds can live in harmony.
Don't penalize Inuit language Nunavut News/North - Monday, October 11, 2010 The Inuit language has a couple of major disadvantages. One can be solved by the government, the other can be solved by the will of Nunavummiut. The first challenge is the expense. The Government of Nunavut passed the Inuit Language Protection Act on Sept. 18, 2008. Among the aims of that legislation is to make the Inuit language more prominent in the territory. That is to be accomplished, in part, by forcing businesses and organizations to post signs in an Inuit language and to serve the public in an Inuit language. These are admirable goals - currently without deadlines, however - to preserve the language. The problem is those objectives will come at great expense to businesses and organizations. Nunavut doesn't have enough qualified interpreters and translators, and the existing ones deserve whatever they can command in compensation for their valuable services. Yet when faced with budgeting for translations, most businesses choose instead to use English, which costs them nothing. Even the government is guilty. Languages commissioner Alexina Kublu chided the GN on Sept. 29 for neglecting Inuit languages. Her report showed that government voicemails, websites and press releases used English foremost while including Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and French only a fraction of the time. To avoid having the same situation occur among territorial businesses in the future, especially small operators with small profit margins, the government ought to cover the bulk of the cost of providing interpretation and translation services. If the GN's funds are too tight, then a strong case should be presented to the federal Canadian Heritage department. The other major issue that hinders Inuit language is the great divide between the use of syllabics (symbols) and Roman orthography - the letters that English-speaking individuals recognize as A to Z. There have been numerous calls for standardization of the way the language is written to help it grow. That would make sense. Roman orthography is the way to go. It's what the younger generation identifies with, and they are the future of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. The common use of letters would allow Inuit across Nunavut to better communicate with each other as well as with the broader Inuit community around the world. An estimated two-thirds of Nunavut's population speaks an Inuit dialect as a first language, a number that is suspected to be in decline. The GN is fostering Inuit language lessons at the elementary school level and is planning to expand that to Grade 12 by 2017. That's a date that some argue is too late, and they're right. Although there is a shortage of Inuit language teachers at the high school level, schools that are able to offer such classes sooner should certainly do so. In the meantime, Kublu, like languages commissioners before her, has urged families to use Inuit languages at home. In a race to shore up a mother tongue that is being jostled by politics and high costs, that is the best advice of all.
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