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News Briefs: Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Arrest made in boating death
A Yellowknife man wanted for his alleged involvement in the 2010 boating and drowning death of Colin Lafferty turned himself in to police in Edmonton on Sunday, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Friday.
Last Friday, Yellowknife RCMP announced a warrant had been issued for Henry Basil's arrest. Basil, 64, was charged on May 27, 2011, with both impaired operation of a vessel and impaired operation of a vessel causing death a year ago. Basil was in a boat with Lafferty and Chris Burke on July 1, 2010, which capsized. in Akaitcho Bay. Basil and Burke were rescued. Lafferty, also known as Colin King, drowned when he tried to swim to shore.
- Terrence McEachern
New candidates announced
Duff Spence announced on Sept. 2 he will be running as for the Frame Lake seat in the upcoming Oct. 3 territorial election.
Spence, 46, came to Yellowknife in 1964 and is currently on leave from his job at the GNWT. Yellowknife resident Arlene Hache has indicated on her twitter account that she is running as an MLA for Yellowknife Centre. Calls to Hache on Tuesday were not returned.
Bob McLeod also announced on Sept. 2 he is running again as MLA for Yellowknife South.
- Terrence McEachern
City offers emergency response course
The Yellowknife Fire Department will be hosting an emergency response course beginning on Sept. 19 and ending on Dec. 16, according to a City of Yellowknife press release.
The course is being offered jointly with Medic North and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
- Terrence McEachern
Fall harvest fair
A fall harvest fair will be held at Northern United Place this Friday and Saturday.
Discussions with culinary journalist and blogger Jennifer Cockrall will kick off the event on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday there will be seminars with the Urban Farmer and there will be a rosehip syrup workshop at 2 p.m. for which participants are asked to bring a couple cups of rosehips.
Potluck and harvest competition are at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and the Territorial Farmers Association is having its AGM from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday.
- Nicole Garbutt
Training society seeks funding
Kivalliq - While in Baker Lake last month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made no mention of continued funding for the Kivalliq Mine Training Society, whose federal funding will run out in 2012.
In hopes of continuing its work, the society, whose goal is to provide Inuit in the Kivalliq with skills, knowledge and experience in every level of mining, is seeking meetings with Nunavut's MP and senator, according to a statement released last week.
The society launched in January 2010 and at that time, the federal government invested $2.5 million in the training program through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program.
In the year and a half the society has been operating, more than 680 Inuit have been trained, 350 of which have gained meaningful employment in mine-related jobs.
"A renewal of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program or the development of a program of similar nature is an essential step in protecting that training," stated Geoffrey Qilak Kusugak, the mine training society's chair person
Sending support to Resolute
Rankin Inlet - The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet sent caribou meat to the families affected by the Aug. 20 plane crash outside of Resolute that took the lives of 12 people.
Meat was donated by Paul Anawak, Mary Anawak, Willie Adams, Nellie Kusugak, Jackson Lindell and the Hunters and Trappers Organization, and First Air shipped the cargo free of charge.
Also sent was $250 to the Hamlet of Resolute.
Possible telephone scam
Rankin Inlet - Nellie Kusugak is warning the public of a possible telephone scam.
She received a strange phone call last week, warning her that her computer had a virus that put her personal information at risk.
The man on the other end of the call said he was calling from Internet Disaster Management of Canada.
He told Kusugak she had 48 hours before her computer would crash, and he said the only way to stop it was to check the computer while they were on the phone.
The man referred to Kusugak by her maiden name. She said she isn't sure how he would have that information or her phone number.
Water talks
Kivalliq - A public hearing to discuss proposed Nunavut water regulations will be held in Rankin Inlet next week.
The meeting will be held at Siniktarvik Hotel at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15. It is one of three public hearings taking place in the territory.
A greener land
Arviat - Arviat Recreation has partnered up with the Co-op to clean up the land through a recycling program.
Last month, Arviat Recreation equipped all of its facilities with recycling bins to collect pop cans.
"We love our pop," said Abraham Eetak, recreation co-ordinator. "So, pop cans are really something to start off with.
"We want a greener community."
The cans will be collected and then put into a sea can. Eetak said about 40,000 pop cans can fit into one sea can. The Co-op has said they will give the recreation organization $1,500 for every 40,000 cans it collects. That money will then go toward recreation events and equipment.
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