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News Briefs: Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Prime Minister to visit North
Mayor Gord Van Tighem confirmed Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be stopping in Yellowknife tomorrow although further details of the visit were unknown as of press time.
Harper paid a visit to the crash site of First Air Flight 6560 yesterday.
- Kevin Allerston
Cell service outage
Bell cell phone customers in Yellowknife on the code division multiple access (CDMA) network experienced a service interruption on Tuesday.
"We did receive calls for text and voice service in Yellowknife," said Emily Younker, manager of corporate communication for NorthwesTel.
She said the outage lasted from approximately 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CDMA network customers do not have a SIM card in their phone - a portable memory chip used in some models of cellular telephones, which holds user and network information. A customer can tell if they use CDMA if there is a "1X" speed rating at the top left of their cellphone screens.
- Kevin Allerston
General plan review goes to public
Yellowknife residents will soon get a chance to have their say on the direction of city planning for the next few years.
A review of the city's general plan, drafted by FoTenn Consulting of Ottawa, goes to public consultation Sept. 19 to 23 and will go to council in October.
The city's last general plan was published in 2004. The Planning Act requires the city to review its plan every five years, but the average time for plan revisits in Yellowknife grew to eight years in 1988 from six years in 1976.
- Casey Lessard
Abernethy is in
Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy has officially announced his intention to seek a second term.
The long-time Yellowknife resident was elected to the Yellowknife riding in 2007 after beating his closest challenger, Doug Ritchie, by 130 votes, with 336 cast in his favour.
Abernethy joins Bob Bromley, who is running for re-election in Weledeh, as the two Yellowknife incumbents to officially put their hats in the race. Shoppers Drug Mart owner Daryl Dolynny has also officially entered the election race in his bid to replace Sandy Lee in Range Lake.
- Mike W. Bryant
Family fun day
Rankin Inlet - Agnico-Eagle's family fun day takes place on Saturday in Rankin Inlet.
There will be music by 5 Miles Down, Powells, Charlie Panigoniak, Arviat Band, Shauna Seeteenak, Kulavak and the Jerry Cans. The tunes start at 1 p.m. at Singiittuq Complex, along with a barbecue. Kids' activities, including cupcake decorating, fire truck rides and a bouncy room start at 1:30 p.m. There will also be a square dance at 8:30 p.m.
Trained to intervene
Rankin Inlet - Ten people in Rankin Inlet completed the two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop earlier this month.
The workshop helps participants recognize the risks and learn how to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. It also prepares them with the skills to perform suicide first aid.
The workshop, held at the Sinikarvik Hotel and paid for by Areva, was completed by Rico Manitok, Hilary Jane Irwin, Annette Ray Boucher, Maani Brown, Jamie Maley, Kayla Bruce, Hakuluk Tracy Ford, Charlotte Kattegatsiak, Allysha Sateana and Uja Eno.
School's back
Kivalliq - With the exception of John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat, which opens Aug. 29, the new school year has begun in the Kivalliq region.
Whale Cove was back to school Aug. 5. Students in Repulse Bay were in the classroom Aug. 10. Levi Angmak Elementary School in Arviat was back in business Aug. 16.
Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet schools opened their doors Aug. 17.
Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School and Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School in Baker Lake were back on Monday.
With school starting, it's also time for graduations. The first will be Rankin Inlet on Aug. 20. Repulse Bay will hold its graduation Aug. 26. On Aug. 27, Arviat and Baker Lake will hold theirs and on Sept. 2, Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet will hold their ceremonies.
Whale Cove held its graduation in the spring.
Parks consultation dates
Kivalliq - There are two more Parks Canada consultations in the Kivalliq region. One is currently being held in Coral Harbour. There is an open house for the public from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening.
The last consultation will take place in Repulse Bay beginning tomorrow and wrapping up Aug. 27. A public meeting will be held Aug. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The meetings are being held to explain the proposed changes to existing park regulations, including those involving the use of firearms.
Boating safety
Nunavut - RCMP V Division is reminding all boaters to take the proper safety precautions while on the water.
Operators of pleasure crafts should review the safety information, including proper overboard recovery techniques and how to survive in cold water, found on the Transport Canada website, according to an RCMP boating safety bulletin.
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