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News Briefs: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Drunk driving charges during traffic blitz
Three Yellowknife drivers were charged with impaired driving as police conducted patrols and put check-stops in place over the Thanksgiving weekend.
RCMP officers also laid other charges under the Criminal Code such as those relating to outstanding arrest warrants and failing to appear in court.
In Yellowknife, the RCMP were assisted by bylaw officers while conducting the annual traffic blitz, known as Operation Impact.
Across the territory, more than 75 charges were laid under the Motor Vehicle Act.
- Daron Letts
Brief e-mail outage
Users of SSI Micro's e-mail service were temporarily interrupted Tuesday morning as its server was shut down for repair and recovery issues.
By press deadline, SSI had not yet determined the cause of the outage. It affected only Yellowknife SSI users, however, it also affect businesses in other regions that are connected to Yellowknife networks.
The outage lasted only 30 minutes.
- Nicole Garbutt
Multimedia at the library
An ongoing series of free, hands-on computer literacy courses continues next week at the Yellowknife Public Library.
Participants can learn about e-mail basics at the library from 7 to 8 p.m on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Space is limited, so patrons are asked to register in advance at the circulation desk.
Other upcoming computer skills courses include subjects such as Facebook safety on Oct. 25 and information about accessing online health information on Nov. 1.
Tomorrow evening the library hosts a screening of the National Film Board documentary, Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie. The film runs from 7 until 8:30 p.m. in the library meeting room.
- Daron Letts
Fire Prevention Week ends Saturday
Fire Prevention Week wraps up Saturday.
Various events took place around the city, including a Fire Safety Day last Saturday at Canadian Tire. As well, a display was set up in Centre Square Mall Tuesday and one will be in place at Yk Centre on Thursday.
The week will wrap up with an open house at the fire hall Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be fire extinguisher demonstrations and training.
- Nicole Garbutt
Program promotion
Kivalliq - The Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) and Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) were promoted extensively in a number of Kivalliq hamlets this past month, including Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet.
Promoters used the opportunity to meet with students, explain the program and promote the positives of further education at NAC, while highlighting its partnership with the University of Regina.
The college announced this past week it will offer another four-year NTEP in September of 2012 at Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet.
Celebrity elder at festival
Arviat - The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Film Festival was a huge success in Arviat this past month.
Among the featured works of the evening were films by the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project and Zacharias Kunuk and Ian Mauro.
Festival-goers reported another highlight of the event was the appearance of elder Martha Okotak, who was featured in Jordan Konek's short video, Martha's Gang.
Okotak wore dark sunglasses with a red maple leaf in the middle of each lens, looking very much like the local celebrity she's become since the video received thousands of hits on YouTube.
Breastfeeding challenge
Rankin Inlet - Rankin Inlet will be holding a Breastfeeding Challenge for moms and babies on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The location was not known as of press time.
The event is held nationwide and Rankin has earned a gold certificate in each of the past two years for placing first in the 10,000-and-under category for having the most babies latching on at the same time. The event is sponsored by the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.
Anyone interested in information on the Breastfeeding Challenge, or who can donate any gifts or promotional items to the event, are asked to contact Bertha Nakoolak or Amy Ikakhik at the friendship centre.
Grad trip on the land
Arviat - A group of teachers and students returned to Arviat safe and sound this past week after spending three days and two nights on the land.
The trip was a special grad retreat for potential 2012 graduates in Arviat. A total of about 40 people took part in the retreat, including the students, four teachers, cooks, elders and special guests.
The group had its fair share of excitement during the final night on the land when gale force winds blew down five of the six tents in the middle of the night.
Application time
Kivalliq - Kivalliq youth between the ages of 15 to 20 (as of June 1, 2012) are reminded applications are now being accepted for the Northern Youth Abroad's (NYA) annual Canadian program.
All youth who apply to the program must be currently living in Nunavut or the NWT.
Applications must be received by Nov. 1 in Nunavut and by Nov. 7 in the NWT.
The program offers Northern youth an unique leadership opportunity, while earning high school credits through travel both in Canada and abroad.
Participants gain skills and work experience, and get the opportunity to share their culture while living and learning in another.
Interested youth can obtain their application online, or through a school or recreation co-ordinator in their community.
Tourney time
Rankin Inlet - Soccer fans in Rankin Inlet are reminded their community will play host to both the male and female junior territorial championships from Oct. 14-16, as well as the male and female juvenile championships from Oct. 28-30.
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