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News Briefs: Monday, July 18, 2011
Marian Lake tests positive for sewage
Test results from Behchoko's Marian Lake have come back positive for fecal coliforms.
Scott Stewart, water resource officer for the South Mackenzie district, said the levels are so low that they aren't harmful to residents or aquatic life.
He added it's even possible a dog or other animal, not the nearby sewage spill, could have caused the contamination.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Youth embark on Sahtu hike
Seven Sahtu youth, accompanied by seven adult leaders, were scheduled to leave Norman Wells for the annual Canol Trail youth leadership hike Saturday.
Although the federal government withdrew its funding for the project July 6, the group was able to secure funding from the GNWT and more than a dozen private sector companies to keep the plans alive.
Garth Wallbridge, one of the hike's organizers, said they will cover 80 km over four or five days.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Hay River airport considers new name
The Town of Hay River has requested that the name of the Hay River Airport be changed to the Merlyn Carter Memorial Airport in honour of one of the community's aviation pioneers who died in 2005.
The town made the request to Transportation Minister Michael McLeod in a June 28 letter.
In a letter in response, McLeod informed town council that the request requires a formal resolution of council recommending the name change.
Council will discuss such a resolution at its meeting on July 18.
- Paul Bickford
Drugs seized in Hay River
A 25-year-old man in Hay River has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking after the RCMP seized about 100 grams of marijuana in a July 9 search of a Riverview Drive residence.
The man was brought before a justice of the peace and released on conditions.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Hay River Territorial Court.
The search was conducted by members of the RCMP detachment in Hay River and 'G' Division's police dog services.
- Paul Bickford
Charity golf exceeds target
Hay River
The fourth annual De Beers Canada Charity Classic Golf Tournament in Hay River shattered its fundraising goal.
The July 8 and 9 event raised $50,919 - well over its goal of $35,000 - for the Hay River Hospital Foundation and junior golf in the town.
Of the money raised, $47,784 goes to the foundation and $3,135 to junior golf.
"We're thrilled by the amazing results of this year's tournament," said Cathie Bolstad, director of external and corporate affairs with De Beers Canada.
The event at the Hay River Golf Club featured 72 golfers on 18 teams. Players included Tony Guthrie, president and CEO of De Beers Canada; Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington; and Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Bob McLeod.
Fundraising was boosted by employees at the Snap Lake Mine, who took part in a Charity Classic mini putt. De Beers Canada doubled the amount raised by employees. Combined with proceeds from a closest-to-the-pin Diamond Shootout, the company and its employees helped raise $9,750.
Funds were also raised in a silent auction at the tournament in Hay River. Items were donated by tournament partners and local businesses.
A team from Kingland Group won the best-ball tournament for the second straight year.
Mark Harris of Hay River won the Snap Lake Diamond Shootout. His closest-to-the-pin shot earned him a diamond worth about $5,200.
Robert Bouchard of Hay River won a pair of airline tickets in the closest-to-the-pin First Air Drive & Fly to raise money for junior golf.
Thanks to this year's tournament, the Hay River Hospital Foundation has reached its goal of $56,000 for the Stand Up, Sit Down, Look All Around Campaign. It will fund a stand-up weigh scale, dining room chairs for long-term care, a geriatric chair, ultrasound stretcher, bladder scanner and video laryngoscope - a device used for examining and performing local diagnostic and surgical procedures on the larynx.
"The De Beers Charity Classic has become an important part of our fundraising every year," said Heather Coakwell, chair of the Hay River Hospital Foundation.
- Paul Bickford
Theatre workshop in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith will be offering a theatre basics workshop on July 23 and 24.
The workshop will be open to both adults and youth, who will learn to improve their improvisational skills through interactive exercises and instruction.
Actress Reneltta Arluk will lead the workshop, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Mission Park.
The fee is $50 per participant.
- Paul Bickford
Tubing down the Hay River
Hay River
The Town of Hay River will be hosting a 'Family Tubing Down the River Day' on July 23 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Participants will launch into the Hay River at the Pine Point Bridge and finish at Chamber Park, where they will be treated to hot dogs.
The town's recreation department is asking people to bring their own tubes and lifejackets. However, they will be
supplied, if needed.
There will be a shuttle bus running between the Pine Point Bridge and Chamber Park.
An RCMP boat will also be on the Hay River to ensure safety.
Anyone interested in participating is being asked to contact the recreation department.
- Paul Bickford
Parks Day in Tuktut Nogait
Paulatuk
Parks Canada held celebrations at the Tuktut Nogait National Park Interpretive Centre in Paulatuk June 9 to celebrate Parks Day and Parks Canada's centennial.
There was a community barbecue and games that quizzed people's knowledge on the park's animals and management.
There was also a puppet-making workshop for children, who designed their own caribou, foxes, birds and bears.
Around 45 people attended between noon and 5 p.m., according to Annique Sanche, a member of Parks Canada's Western Arctic field unit.
Parks Day celebrations will also be held in Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Inuvik, Norman Wells and Fort Smith this coming Saturday.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Tuktoyaktuk flight delayed Friday morning
Tuktoyaktuk
Aklak Air's Friday morning flight from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk was delayed June 8 due to foggy conditions in the hamlet.
The flight, originally scheduled to take off at 9:30 a.m., was moved to 3 p.m., according to Ken Dalton, general manager at Aklak Air.
"This year's been pretty good," Dalton said of weather conditions. "It varies from year to year."
In the past, they have seen delays as often as every other day. Once, he said, they had to cancel flights for five straight days.
Aklak Air has 18 scheduled flights to Tuktoyaktuk every week, including flights at 9:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Oceans party in Ulukhaktok
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Friday is World Oceans Day in Ulukhaktok. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is scheduled to host a full day of events, including a community feast, relays, and arts and crafts in Jack's Bay - all to create awareness about the ocean and its creatures.
World Oceans Day took place June 8 in 70 countries across the world, but was held more than a month later in the North so that activities can take place after the sea ice has melted.
Opening ceremonies were scheduled to start at noon and be followed by canoe races, harpoon throwing and boat-making activities for adults. For children, there were nature call games, a scavenger hunt and face painting, as well as an opportunity to make sand castles.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Akaitcho Assembly held
Lutsel K'e/Snowdrift
Lutsel K'e played host to the Akaitcho Assembly from July 4 to 8, which included representatives from Lutsel K'e, Dettah, Ndilo and Fort Resolution.
At the assembly the Akaitcho Dene First Nations' chiefs signed a memorandum of understanding with the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines. They agreed to create a two-year plan to promote and enhance exploration in the region.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Residents discuss the future of offshore drilling
Aklavik
The National Energy Board held two meetings in Aklavik Monday to discuss Arctic offshore drilling with residents.
Seven residents showed up to voice their concerns and, according to Sarah Kiley, communications officer for the board, their main concerns were centred around the environment.
She said there were also concerns about how efficient and successful future Arctic drilling will be.
The board is holding meetings across the Beaufort Delta to update residents on the industry and get feedback. Kiley said these meetings will culminate in a roundtable discussion in Inuvik this September.
Information sessions were also held in Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok and Sachs Harbour last week.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Sahtu swim meet at Penguin Palace
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
Norman Wells was scheduled to host a Sahtu swim meet last weekend, with participants coming from Deline, Tulita, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells.
Races were held at the Penguin Palace Pool. Approximately 30 swimmers signed up for the event.
In addition, Keelan and Cassie Mooney from Yellowknife's Polar Bear swim club were scheduled to host swim clinics throughout the weekend.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Twelve nurses leave
The Qikiqtani General Hospital has had to bring in casual and agency nurses as 12 left in recent months for various reasons, said the hospital's executive director.
Bernie Schmidt said 12 nurses out of the 32 in the in-patient unit quit in the last five months which he said is "concerning."
"We need to have staff available on every shift to ensure we can provide the services that are required," he said.
A number of nurses left to go home down south, some wanted to work part time, others hadn't received the bonuses they were entitled to and two went on maternity leave, he added.
To rectify the situation, the recruitment process has been accelerated, said Schmidt. He added the hospital is working with the territory's human resources department to screen and interview applicants and make job offers.
In the meantime, the hospital has brought in casual and agency nurses, said Schmidt.
"I'm hoping for business as usual by the end of the summer."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Aglukkaq finished first almost everywhere in Nunavut
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq garnered more votes than her three opponents across the territory except in Clyde River and Grise Fiord, according to poll-by-poll results of the May 2 federal elections, which Elections Canada released earlier this month.
In Grise Fiord, Liberal candidate Paul Okalik garnered 21 votes compared to 13 for Aglukkaq and seven for NDP candidate Jack Hicks. In Clyde River, Okalik got 116 votes, Aglukkaq had 75 and Hicks tallied 12.
But Hicks managed to pull in more votes than Okalik in Chesterfield Inlet and Kugaaruk, and tied Okalik in Taloyoak.
Green Party candidate Scott MacCallum finished fourth in each riding across the territory.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Feds sued for grounded ship
The owner of a cruise ship that ran aground in the Northwest Passage last summer is suing the federal government in a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed in federal court.
Adventurer Owner Ltd. of the Bahamas, stated it is seeking $15 million U.S. for repairs, salvage costs as well as other expenses related to the grounding of the MV Clipper Adventurer on Aug. 27, 2010.
The cruise ship was travelling from Port Epworth to Kugluktuk when it ran aground on a rock in the Coronation Gulf, about 60 nautical miles from Kugluktuk. The ship was carrying 128 passengers and 69 crew. The cruise ship was dislodged on Sept. 14, 2010.
Temporary repairs were done in Cambridge Bay and Nuuk, Greenland, before the cruise ship headed to Poland for permanent repairs in November and December 2010, states the claim.
Adventurer Owner Ltd. is alleging the federal government became aware in 2007 of a rocky shelf at or near the location of the cruise ship's grounding, states the claim. It adds the water depth there was about 3.3 metres while the chart stated a depth of 29 metres.
No statement of defence has been filed to date and none of the allegations have been proven in court. - Jeanne Gagnon
Clyde River enjoys Nunavut Day
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
With sunny skies, a feast of hamburgers and hotdogs and several games for the community, Nunavut Day couldn't have gone much better for Clyde River, said Clark Kalluk, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.
"It went really good, and everything went as we planned it," said Kalluk. "Everything went perfectly."
The July 9 festivities began with lunch at 1 p.m. and lasted until 2 a.m. The majority of the community participated in events such as a cake decorating contest and several games, including a version of the popular TV show A Minute to Win It, he said.
- Terrence McEachern
Sanikiluaq cleans up
Sanikiluaq
This year's community cleanup wrapped up in the hamlet of Sanikiluaq on June 24 with six residents winning prizes for having the cleanest yards, said Muhamud Hassan, senior administrative officer for the hamlet.
The two-week event began on June 13. Hassan said the municipality transported the residents' discarded materials to the nearby dump.
- Terrence McEachern
Drug program seeks facilitators
Iqaluit
The Iqaluit RCMP held a one-day information session for residents interested in participating in the program Kids and Drugs: A Parents' Guide to Prevention Information on July 12. Interested members of the communities can participate in training sessions and workshops to become facilitators in the program.
- Terrence McEachern
Nunavut Day celebrations
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Resolute celebrated Nunavut Day with a barbecue and community get-together.
Senior administrative officer Martha Kalluk said about 20 to 30 people, including herself, attended the picnic, which featured a hotdog and country food barbecue.
"The weather was nice and it was good to be outside. It's always nice to have a community get-together," Kalluk said.
- Jeanne Gagnon
One hundred fewer bags of litter
Iglulik
Almost 100 bags of litter were picked up on July 11 as Iglulik held its annual community cleanup.
Assistant senior administrative officer Celestino Uyarak said a little more than 100 people participated in the four-hour event.
"It helped a lot. The community is a lot cleaner," he said. "Just taking a look at (the garbage bags), it was more like a ton."
The litter situation was worse this year due to the amount of snow, he added.
"Every year, our workers pile up snow and pick up garbage as they go but when the snow is melting, we have a lot of pop cans, boxes, you name it, plastic. They're all over the place," said Uyarak.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Soon to be 'in the swim'
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Taloyoak's pool should reopen this week as only the pool liner remains to be installed, said the hamlet's senior administrative officer.
Chris Dickson said renovations to the above-ground, rectangular, shallow-water pool started just over a month ago. The entire facility was repainted and new plumbing, wiring and boilers installed.
It should be open by the week of July 18, he said.
"The kids use it most of the summer."
Taloyoak has had a pool for more than 10 years.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Time for pipsi
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A group of people were out on the land near Rankin Inlet for an iqalulirniq (fish camp) last week.
The camp, which ran from July 12 to 15, was offered by Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services through the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.
Camp participants learned to make pipsi, fishbone art, fish bags and chowder.
- Darrell Greer
Young travellers
Kivalliq
A total of 10 Kivalliq youth began their adventure with Northern Youth Abroad earlier this month.
Eight Kivalliq youth are taking part in the Canadian program, while two are participating in the international segment.
A total of 45 youth from Nunavut and the NWT are involved in the program, with 34 involved in a five-week volunteer work placement in southern Canada, and 11 more in Botswana, Africa, where they're living in two groups in the communities of Ramotswa and Shakawe.
Kivalliq youth selected to take part in the Canadian segment are Melissa Ulayok and James Koomak of Arviat, Jupie Angootealuk of Coral Harbour, Lorane Siusangnark of Repulse Bay, Malachi Kashla and Rahabi Angoyuaq of Baker Lake and Theresa Niakrok of Rankin Inlet.
Selected for the international phase are Alannah Ikinilik of Baker Lake and Brian Sulurayok of Arviat.
- Darrell Greer
Fighting suicide
Kivalliq
Residents of all seven Kivalliq communities are invited to participate in a Kivalliq suicide prevention walk and camp in Rankin Inlet from Aug. 5 to 7.
Camping activities will include selfesteem building, counselling and healing services, as well as a number of funfilled events.
The gathering is being delivered by Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services through the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.
First Air has offered an 85 per cent discount on tickets for anyone in the Kivalliq region who is attending the event.
- Darrell Greer
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