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We need a carnival committee Yellowknifer - Wednesday, March 30, 2011
One might be inclined to think the above statements refer to our much beleaguered Caribou Carnival, but in fact they point to the winter festival of our city sister Whitehorse - the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, which celebrated its 69th year in February. Some of the events at this year's four-day Rendezvous included the "Chainsaw Chuck," a beard and moustache growing competition, a flour packing contest and the one-dog pull. This year's budget was a very healthy $400,000, provided mainly through sponsors and fundraising. But it was a different story in the mid-1990s. Back then, the festival was $100,000 in debt, its celebrated dog races were in limbo and without funding, and CBC had withdrawn its support for the fiddle contest. The normally 14-day event was shortened to four and moved to Main Street. Clearly, like Caribou Carnival, the Rendezvous has had its share of troubles, yet Whitehorse's premier winter event has been revived while our winter festival routinely flounders. Why? Marj Eschak, the Rendezvous' president, who has lived in both cities, speculates that because Yellowknife is a more transient town it makes it harder to find dedicated volunteers. No doubt that's somewhat true, and the Rendezvous is fortunate to have someone like Eschak, who has stuck around long enough to steer the festival through the hard times of the mid-1990s to return it to its former glory. But not everyone on its board of directors has deep roots in the Yukon capital. Its secretary, for example, has only lived in Whitehorse for 18 months, according the festival's website. Perhaps Whitehorse has simply been luckier. The first time Caribou Carnival faltered in 2003 - much like what occurred when the Rendezvous was in trouble - residents and businesses rallied to make sure the 2004 carnival wasn't the scaled-down fiasco it was the year before - and it wasn't. But the goodwill was only temporary. The troubles with the carnival, unlike the Rendezvous, were never really remedied, and where sponsors and volunteers once stepped up, now they stay away. Thus the death watch mode we're in today, and not just for Caribou Carnival but our summer street party, Raven Mad Daze, as well. It too faces an uncertain future. This is all unfortunate because the health of a community is often judged by the level of its civic participation in community events. This is something city council seriously needs to consider. We can't have the city run everything but it's also unseemly for our civic leaders to be pushing big community projects like district energy and Smart Growth while important community events falter and die. Council must reconsider the hands-off approach it has exercised with Raven Mad Daze and the carnival to date. The establishment of an event committee made up of community members and councillors would be an important first step in reviving these festivals, at least until they are strong enough to continue on their own. Volunteers are staying away now but would be more easily swayed to come back on board if council leads the way. The city, with its more than 130 staff, could provide incentives for them to help out during the carnival and Raven Mad Daze. The municipality currently has 14 ad hoc committees, including a barely necessary boxing and wrestling commission and a committee to run the Wildcat Cafe, which is closed for renovations this year. An event committee would seem a higher priority at this point in time.
Outlaw events are a bad gamble Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, March 30, 2011 They're a very bad idea in a world run by lawyers, and the growing number being held in Kivalliq communities is a grave concern. Outlaw hockey tournaments are held without being sanctioned by the Hockey North Branch and, by extension, Hockey Canada. The perils of a hamlet hosting an outlaw tournament are many. And, make no mistake about it, communities hosting these events have been darn lucky so far. It's not a question of if something bad happens, but, rather, when it happens and in what community. And when it does, the odds are extremely high it's going to cost residents a great deal of money. The problem with outlaw tournaments is that a number of players take to the ice who aren't registered with Hockey Canada (HC) or the Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association (CARHA). In short, neither they, or the player they injure is insured. In the vast majority of cases stemming from these events, when people suffer a serious injury and are left to their own financial devices in dealing with the medical costs, a lawsuit is launched against almost everyone involved with the tournament. Ultimately, liability rests with the entity that rents the facility or gives permission for its use in holding the event. That, of course, is the hamlet, which usually also has the deepest pockets when lawyers target who can pay the most in damages. Another ingredient in this recipe for financial disaster waiting to happen, is the fact the vast majority of out law events can't attract certified officials, no matter how much is offered in game pay. That leads to the use of what hockey folks refer to as puck droppers: non-certified refs who lack in knowledge and experience and can easily lose control of a game. To be honest about it, many HC- or CARHA-certified officials would take the risk of no insurance because of the pay sometimes offered, but that's not the only risk they take, especially those who have officiated in an area for a number of years. Because these outlaw tournaments aren't sanctioned, players don't have to worry about suspensions being levied against them by hockey's governing bodies. So, a player could, conceivably, punch an official in the mouth in the heat of the moment and, unless the official goes to the police, have no worries about being penalized by their actions. True hockey people never want to see anyone seriously injured. But the longer hamlets get away with hosting these events, the more of them will happen in the Kivalliq. The majority of rec co-ordinators and SAOs in the region know the risk they're taking, but they bend to the pressure of those want the tournament in the community and look the other way. The sad part is; it's probably going to take a multi-million-dollar lawsuit being launched against a hamlet for the region to stop hosting these dangerous tournaments. When that day comes - and it will - everyone in the hamlet will pay the price when workers are laid off and services cut to cover the financial cost of the lawsuit. And, in this day and age, the cost of stupidity is high!
Elders vital to education NWT News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011
Academic learning is, unquestionably, vital to our future success, regardless of the paths we choose. Yet there is another kind of teaching that is equally important: cultural lessons. In many aboriginal communities across the North, traditional knowledge has largely become fragmented. Residential schools created a cultural rift between parents and grandparents and subsequently that gap has widened to the point that the next generation is at risk of losing touch with their heritage completely. The void created by residential schools means aboriginal communities are a generation -- nearing two - behind in passing down many teachings of the past. For that reason, including elders in our schools is imperative to the success of aboriginal students, not only academically but as individuals as well. There has always been a link between a strong sense of identity and self-esteem and from there to both academic and personal achievement. At the foundation, however, there must be strong families with roots in their values and culture. Putting elders in schools accomplishes two important goals -- it rebuilds the lost trust in the school system and it provides a cultural link to the territory's rich aboriginal heritage. Teaching extracurricular programs on cultural skills, advising and helping in aboriginal language classes, giving presentations during studies concerning local culture and history and speaking with students one-on-one are roles elders can take on. An official with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment told News/North the department "supports elders in the school programs as experts." We think that is an essential policy. However, although Yakeleya's heart is in the right place, we don't agree elders need teaching certification to legitimize their skills. There is a possibility this initiative could backfire and prove to exclude other elders who may wish to share their knowledge, but do not want to go through a formal certification process. We do, however, agree with Yakeleya's intent. The GNWT should find more ways to make use of elders' skills in territorial schools. Compensating those elders - some of whom are too modest to ever ask for anything in return - should not be forgotten. Whether it's money, or having students devote time in return to cook or clean for an elder, their generosity should be returned in kind.
Bonuses need transparency Nunavut News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011 The Government of Nunavut paid out nearly $873,000 in merit salary increases and performance bonuses in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. That's hard to stomach for those who aren't senior government managers but whose lives are affected daily by their decisions - people whose enormous electricity bills are piling up, who are struggling to afford to feed their kids and keep them in school, and don't know if their health centre will deliver proper care for sick infants. Does the Nunavut government need to award performance bonuses to its employees? With close to one-third of GN jobs going unfilled and qualified bilingual personnel in high demand by both public and private employers, the GN says it has to pay out merit increases and performance bonuses to retain employees. The rewards are not automatic. It's worth noting that senior managers in the Nunavut Housing Corporation in 2009-2010 received $0 in performance bonuses. That's reflective of the housing corp's $100 million in cost overruns due to flawed management, which has strained the budgets of every other department. It can also be argued that the poorer the performance of a given department, the more valuable the carrot of performance bonuses ought to become in order to lure and retain the best candidates to get things running the way they should. However, in the current fiscal climate of restraint, these bonuses were supposed to be capped at four per cent. It was for senior managers, but it is not clear whether this was also supposed to apply to deputy ministers. As Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliot pointed out, it should have, if only for fairness' sake. If merit salary increases and performance bonuses are necessary, as the government argues, how they are earned, applied and capped should be made crystal clear to regular MLAs and the public.
Uranium a hot topic Nunavut News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011 The fact that the recent community forum in Iqaluit on uranium mining in the territory lasted five-and-a-half hours shows the issue is a hot and contentious topic even more than a thousand kilometres from where the exploration is taking place. The Government of Nunavut is in the process of holding community uranium forums to collect input for the establishment of a policy on uranium mining. The next one will be in Baker Lake March 30 to 31 and in Cambridge Bay April 12 to 13. At the forum in Iqaluit, there were speakers from all sides of the issue, whose concerns ranged from jobs to health to the environment to world peace. Many good points were raised, showing how difficult it will be to establish a policy that satisfies everyone's concerns. That's illustrated by the criticism of Nunavut Tunngavik's forum for its uranium policy, which many considered to be pro-mining. The day after the Iqaluit forum, NTI issued a press release stating it was reviewing its uranium policy, and was seeking input from beneficiaries. Because the issue is so divisive, it's even more imperative that everyone speak and be heard so that the forthcoming policy accurately represent the wishes of Nunavummiut.
Don't burn families financially Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 25, 2011Friday, March 25, 2011
The Westman family experienced tragedy just before Christmas last year when their Latham Island home was badly damaged in a fire. The family received a second shock a couple months later when the city sent them a bill for $12,354.54 to recoup the costs of fighting the fire, stating they had 30 days to pay it.
The bill included a $500 minimum charge for the first two hours firefighters were on scene, $1,200 for additional hours, and $10,654.54 in overtime paid to the firefighters. Mayor Gord Van Tighem previously stated that the city made a decision 20 years ago to start charging victims for the cost of fighting fires in response to community pressure for more fee-for-services instead of hiking property taxes. That's fair enough. But Dan Westman made some valid observations during his presentation to city council last week. The order to pay within 30 days, the 25 per cent annual interest rate for late payments, the overtime charged for firefighters who are not even at the scene - all of those terms seem like overly harsh demands on families left traumatized and without a home. Most homeowners have insurance, but as Westman points out, that often takes months to collect. It would be a sensible gesture for council to review the city's fees and charges bylaw and revise its more uncharitable contents so those who have suffered a devastating loss aren't quickly facing further undue hardship.
Politicians can spout wherever they like Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 25, 2011 In a democracy we expect our elected officials to air their views publicly and often; we also expect politicians to be biased toward positions they'd be naturally inclined to support. Yellowknife resident David Prichard was at city hall last week to complain about city councillors and staff posting comments on a Facebook page called "Yes We Con." The page was created in support of the city's bid to build a district energy system using geothermal heat from Con Mine. While we agree it may be inappropriate for city employees to express opinions publicly on city projects, particularly when it's coming from senior level managers, it's hard to support Prichard's demand that councillors be prohibited from commenting on third-party websites. He argued that because comments from city officials on the Facebook page were universally in favour of district energy even while the web page administrator was allegedly deleting dissenting posts from others, it made it look like the city itself had something to hide. A real tragedy would have been had city council remained absolutely mum on the Con energy project, and left it to administration to advance it. Thankfully, most city councillors had plenty to say: on air, in print, and on web forums like the one Yellowknifer created, which featured views from all sides. Whether the politicians' comments were right or wrong is something for the voters to decide in the next election.
The case for growing your own Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, March 24, 2011
Approximately 33 community members attended the afternoon session, which focused on creating organic soils, choosing the right plants and storing them afterward. The recreation centre was even more crowded in the morning when approximately 50 students were brought by their teachers to learn about gardening. Watching participants leave after the sessions had finished with information packages and even packets of seeds in hand there was a sense that they were all ready to plant a seed, any kind of seed, in some soil and see what happened. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment organized the workshop under part of its mandate to promote and support community self-sufficiency and reduce the cost of living in the territory. The department should be thanked for its initiative. Every Deh Cho community could benefit if its residents gardened a bit more. The arguments in support of gardening are diverse. In these economic times the lure of saving money is a powerful motivator and it applies to gardening. Some of the shock people experience when they look at the price of produce in their local stores could be lessened if they grew some of their own vegetables. According to Jackie Milne, the president of the Territorial Farmers Association, $100 worth of seeds and transplants can produce $2,000 worth of food. Some gardeners in Fort Simpson already grow enough of certain vegetables including potatoes and carrots to last into the spring. Not only can gardeners save money, they can also promote their health. If you grow your own vegetables you know exactly where they came from and what fertilizers or pesticides, if any, were used on them. Anyone who has hoed weeds also knows the act of gardening itself is good physical exercise. Other arguments for gardening include that it's better for the environment, considering fossil fuels associated with transportation used to ship produce, and it's a safeguard in the event of a disruption of the food supply network. Residents of the Deh Cho have an adequate growing season, good soil and few pests to deal with. It's a gardener's paradise and there's no excuse not to take advantage of it. Residents should press local and territorial governments to support gardening in any way possible including more workshops and access to high-grade soil so gardening efforts in the region can be as successful as possible.
Subsidy extension a waste of money Editorial Comment Kira Curtis Inuvik Drum - Thursday, March 24, 2011
Though we all groan over cuts, especially in government-funded programs, on some level we know we must slim down. Now, something that should not be cut and should remain as a staple in government funding is health. Not just fix-a-broken-leg health, long-term health, too - that's only logical as the results of our society's increasingly unhealthy lifestyle are higher costs to the next generation of taxpayers, plus the heartbreak of sick and dying people. In an attempt to keep affordable and healthy foods and necessities reaching families in the North, the Government of Canada is going to replace the Food Mail program with a newer and hopefully better alternative. Nutrition North Canada starts April 1, 2011, and will cost around $60 million per year. But earlier this month, after complaints from Northerners on the increase of prices of some foods, the Government of Canada reinstated some less healthy foods it had dropped from the shipping subsidy list last October. These foods will continue to be subsidized until October 2012. This is great that they are putting money into the affordability of healthy foods to people in the North, but the glitch here is that this reinstatement is estimated to cost an extra $1 million per month, according to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. That's right, in a time of recession the government's second-guessing will cost taxpayers an extra $18 million by October 2012. Think of what $18 million could buy. You could feed whole communities healthy food for a year on that. The removal of subsidies from certain products last October did cause a bit of outrage among some Northerners and caused a media stir that led to this re-evaluation. And honestly, some complaints were not that justified. Bacon was one item to be stripped of its subsidization and made some Northerners angry. This, I think, is plain foolish. I mean bacon should not be considered a necessity of one's diet. It does nothing beneficial in the long run. But this backpedalling of a program seems like another bureaucratic disorganized waste of money. Studies have been done, current information gathered, why the delay? This is not a time in our economy for weak leaders and indecision that wastes what little money we have. I suppose that's foolish of me to hope for as when do we ever need indecisive, weak leadership?
Corrections Incorrect information appeared in Friday's Yellowknifer ("Cop needs new lawyer," March 25). Larry Edward O'Brien is no longer employed with the RCMP, having left his position last fall. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion caused by the error.
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