Willows no longer with NTPC

Brian Willows is no longer the chief operating officer for the NWT Power Corporation.

Mike Bradshaw, spokesperson for the power corp., said he couldn't say whether Willows resigned or was relieved of his position, but confirmed Friday was Willows' last day.

According to his biography on the NTPC website, Willows was first employed by the corporation as a lineman in 1976, and became chief operating officer in 2008.

- Nicole Veerman

Pedophile back in court

A dangerous offender application against convicted pedophile John Murray Melanson was back in Supreme Court on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned to April 27 for final submissions.

Originally from Saint John, N.B., Melanson, 48, pleaded guilty on Feb. 8, 2010, to sexually assaulting two boys under the age of 16, possession of child pornography and breaking his probation conditions.

The offences happened in Hay River in 2006.

- Terrence McEachern

Yk pubs punished

Two Yellowknife pubs were punished last week for allowing an intoxicated person to enter or remain on the premises.

The NWT Liquor Licensing Board fined the Raven Pub $1,500 for a Feb. 5, 2011 offence. The pub has until May 9, 2011 to pay the fine, according to an April 14 press release. Sam's Monkey Tree Pub was fined $3,000 and had its liquor licence suspended for two days beginning on May 13 at 10 a.m. It has until May 16 to pay the fine. The hearings were held in Yellowknife on April 11 and 12.

- Terrence McEachern

Sir John Franklin principal resigns

Patricia Teskey resigned as principal of Sir John Franklin High for personal reasons on April 15, after three years on the job.

Yk1 superintendent Metro Huculak said he appreciates Teskey's work, especially in trying to limit student absenteeism and implementing programs to help struggling students.

She is being replaced in the meantime by assistant principals Al McDonald and Ed Lippert.

- Terrence McEachern

Helping others

Ottawa/Nunavut - A group of Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) performed at a major fundraiser in Ottawa earlier this month in support of a group of Ethiopian immigrants known as the Afar: an indigenous nomadic people who live on the margins of Ethiopian society, with little recognition of any land rights or support for their way of life.

NS instructor Morley Hanson said the images of famine in Ethiopia in 1984 prompted Inuit of Nunavut to respond with donations of more money per capita than any other group in Canada.

He said the Can-Go Afar Foundation - established to assist the Afar people with basic needs such as wells, schools, etc. - invited the NS students to meet with the Afar and perform at their fundraiser.

"It was a wonderful cultural-exchange evening of learning dances, singing and sharing food," said Hanson.

"It was also a very symbolic one in that many of the Afar could recall the conditions and events of '84, and were very happy to be meeting with young Inuit and learning of the support their communities had provided."

B-ball tourney

Rankin Inlet - The deadline is drawing near to register for the Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Basketball League tournament from April 29 to May 1.

Event organizers have invited communities from across Nunavut to come to Rankin to participate in the tournament, community gatherings, games and other activities.

Teams are allowed a maximum of nine players and a nominal entrance fee is charged on a per-player basis.

Calm Air is offering support to teams travelling to the Rankin tournament from across the Kivalliq.

Bible conference

Rankin Inlet - The Next Generation Bible Conference gets underway in Rankin Inlet tomorrow, April 21.

The event runs until April 26 and all youth are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Race time

Arviat - The Arviat Bravo Racing Club is hosting the eighth annual Xtreme Bravo Challenge in Arviat this week.

The event runs on April 23 and 24, and features cash prizes for the top five finishers in the men's (18 and older), women's (18 and older) and master's (40 and older) divisions.

The final heats will be held on Sunday, April 24, beginning at 1 p.m.

Tourism planning

Kivalliq - Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin Inlet played host to a series of community consultation meetings on the creation of the Government of Nunavut's tourism sector development strategy earlier this month.

Feedback from the meetings will be used to develop a strategy that includes outfitters, airlines, hotel operators and community commitment to tourism development.

Baker B-ball

Baker Lake - The annual Kemp Angoyuaq Memorial basketball tournament is set to be held in Baker Lake on May 14-15.

Action will be featured in both a men's and women's division, with a maximum of 10 players per team.

The age limit for the event is 18 and older for males and 16 and older for females, with team shirts with numbers being required.

Those interested in competing are asked to contact Steve Paterson on the Kemp Angoyuaq Memorial tournament page of Facebook.

It's magic

Kivalliq - Manitoba-based magician Brian Glow is scheduled to be touring the Kivalliq region this week.

Glow is making stops in every community, beginning today, April 20, in Arviat and wrapping up on April 29 in Baker Lake.

Glow's jaunt across the Kivalliq is sponsored by Keewatin Air.

Residents of each community are asked to check local venues for the time and location of Glow's performance in their hamlet.