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News Briefs: Monday, October 24, 2011
Flu season
The Department of Health and Social Services plans to kick off its annual flu shot campaign this week by reaching out to communities through a multi-media advertising blitz.
The government is reminding residents that people with a high risk for influenza-related complications include children between six months to five years of age, pregnant women, adults aged 65 or older, as well as individuals who are extremely overweight, individuals living in chronic care facilities regardless of age, or individuals with chronic medical conditions.
Information about accessing free vaccine shots at walk-in clinics throughout the territory is available on the department's website.
- Daron Letts
Social networking survey
A masters student in Yellowknife is asking NWT residents aged 19 and older to participate in an anonymous survey about their use of social networking technology.
Michel Adam, a database architect for the GNWT, is collecting the online responses as part of his distance education dissertation at the University of Liverpool in England.
"I'm aiming to get as many Northerners as possible to take the survey because that's the constituency of the GNWT," Adam said.
Adam plans to share his findings with the GNWT after his project is graded by his professors later this month. A link to the survey can be found in the Oct. 7 issue of the GNWT Bear Facts newsletter.
- Daron Letts
Yakeleya withdraws from leadership race
Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya announced on Oct. 20 that he will not run for the premiership of the NWT.
"After consulting with my wife and my advisors and my supporters. I feel very satisfied that the right decision was made," Yakeleya said.
Yakeleya was first elected MLA of the Sahtu in 2003.
The four remaining MLAs in the leadership are Kevin Menicoche (Nahendeh), Michael Miltenberger (Thebacha), Bob Bromley (Weledeh), and Bob McLeod (Yellowknife South). The assembly will elect a premier this week.
- Daron Letts
Anniversary coin for Smith
The Town of Fort Smith will be issuing a commemorative coin to mark the 45th anniversary of the town's incorporation. Mayor Janie Hobart said it is hoped the coin will be released at the end of this month.
The commemorative coin is part of a number of events throughout October to celebrate the town's incorporation on Oct. 1, 1966.
- Paul Bickford
Outdoor rink on the way
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Workers in Fort McPherson started installing an outdoor rink on Oct. 18. The rink will be at the baseball diamond, off the main road, near the middle of the hamlet.
The first stage of converting the ball diamond into a skating rink is constructing the boards, then the surface will need to be flooded multiple times before it is ready for skating.
"It's fenced in, which is good because there's a lot of Ski-Doos in that area," said recreation co-ordinator Joyce Storr. "We don't supervise it and kids could be on there until late at night, especially on the weekends."
Storr expects the outdoor rink to be ready by the end of the month.
"It's good because, the ice in our actual (indoor) rink is natural and it doesn't usually get in until the beginning of December," said Storr. "Usually it's the middle of December when they actually start using it."
- Laura Busch
Open mic poetry night
Thebacha/Fort Smith
An open mic poetry night has been launched in Fort Smith.
The weekly event - called Word Up Cafe - is held each Sunday beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Joan's Health & Fitness.
Poetry night, which began in early October, offers an opportunity for local poets of all ages and levels of experience to share their writing and receive feedback.
All aspiring writers, rappers and singers are welcomed to share their songs and words.
Participants are also encouraged to bring their favourite poems and books to share and discuss.
- Paul Bickford
Culinary classes
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The youth centre is hosting a weekly cooking class in Ulukhaktok.
The class is held on Wednesdays at the youth centre starting at 3:30 p.m. Ten to 15 youths are usually in attendance, recreation co-ordinator Joanne Ogina said. The program is made possible by a "healthy cooking" grant from Nutrition North, and aims to teach youth how to cook healthy food for themselves and their families.
Participants range in age from four years to their early-20s, says Ogina. Also, those who take part in the class are welcome to eat their weekly creations.
- Laura Busch
Family violence awareness
Paulatuk
During Family Violence Awareness Week from Oct. 3 to 7, the community of Paulatuk focused on educating youth about issues surrounding domestic violence, and creating open discussions.
Highlights from the week included a movie night for children, showing the movie Feeling Yes, Feeling No.
"This film offers young people skills to help keep themselves safe," said Kathryn Boyd, a child, youth and family counsellor, who helped organize the week's events.
On Oct. 7, organizers gave presentations at Angik School. Presenters talked about healthy relationships, safe families and how to be safe when families are fighting. Students drew pictures representing their idea of a safe family that were later put together in a large Inukshuk.
The events were co-ordinated by Boyd, social worker Kouakou Pira, community health representative Lanita Thrasher and two RCMP officers.
- Laura Busch
Women's league to sponsor fall fair
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Catholic Women's League at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish in Fort Smith will host a fall fair on Oct. 29.
The fall fair will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in Charbonneau Hall in the basement of St. Joseph Cathedral.
The sale will feature baking, crafts, religious articles, children's toys and a white elephant table.
A raffle draw will feature three donated prizes - a trip for two to Yellowknife from Northwestern Air Lease Ltd., a stained glass snowshoe from Fort Smith artist Mike Labine, and a patio table and four chairs from Kaeser's Store.
All proceeds from the fall fair will be donated to members of the community in a number of ways.
- Paul Bickford
Open house at Moose Kerr
Aklavik
The district education authority sponsored an open house at Moose Kerr School on Friday, Oct. 14.
"It was a great event," said school secretary Bobbie Jo Greenland. "The idea was just to get people into the school, see what's happening at the school and meet the staff members."
There was a turkey and chili dinner, as well as a small ceremony that recognized the contributions of board member Mina McLeod, who recently resigned.
Also during the open house on Friday, the school held its monthly Aklak assembly for students in kindergarten through to Grade 8. At the assembly, teachers select students to receive awards for sportsmanship, respecting their peers, reflecting school values, attendance, and most improved student.
- Laura Busch
Band seeks impact benefits
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
Fort Resolution's Deninu Ku'e First Nation is in talks with two mining companies for impact benefit agreements.
"Things are starting to move," said Chief Louis Balsillie.
The talks involve Tamerlane Ventures, which is planning to open a test mine at Pine Point, and Avalon Rare Metals Inc., which has a project at Thor Lake.
Balsillie said the next round of talks with Tamerlane Ventures will take place in the first week of November.
The chief noted negotiations for an impact benefit agreement with Avalon are further ahead.
If the impact benefit agreements are reached, they would be the first for Deninu Ku'e First Nation.
- Paul Bickford
Face needed for Nunavut anti-smoking campaign
If cigarette smoking has had a negative effect on your life, you could be the face of a new government anti-smoking campaign.
The Tobacco Has No Place Here campaign is looking for Nunavummiut who have "stories that reflect the loss, suffering and hardship caused by tobacco use," according to a press release.
Submitted stories may be used in print, video and internet materials designed to encourage others to work toward a smoke-free Nunavut.
The submission deadline is Oct. 31, and the campaign will be launched in January 2012.
Information on how to get involved is available on the Department of Health and Social Services website.
- Casey Lessard
Expanded breakfast program
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
French toast, hard-boiled eggs and hot muffins are some foods Sam Pudlat School students are eating in the morning as the school upgraded its breakfast program.
Principal David Webber said they hired two community members to prepare the food and serve it to half the school on alternate days. The other half gets toast or cereal with juice, he added. The upgraded program started Oct. 11.
"This year, we've upgraded it to include things like bran muffins - baked here in the school - bannock, sausage and eggs, grilled-cheese sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs; those things were never available and, this year, they are part of the breakfast program," said Webber. "Every child will get one of those prepared meals every other day and, on alternate days they get cereal or toast."
The program's main priority is taking away the hunger so students can learn, said Webber. He added the school decided the food it feeds children should be nutritious and varied, so they developed nine to 12 menus.
"Every meal has to have at least three of the four food groups in it," he said. "I think the goals of the program are not only to provide a breakfast for those who didn't get it, but it's to provide a balanced, nutritious breakfast. It's also meant to expose students to a variety of foods maybe they hadn't experienced yet."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Kitchen table meetings
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Quqshuun Ilihakvik Elementary School staff, students, parents and Gjoa Haven residents recently met to find common solutions to improve the school environment and relationships, said principal Joanie Crandall - 80 to 90 people showed up.
"We were particularly looking at ways the school and the community can work together to improve the school environment and improve attendance," she said. "We had really good turnout and lots of good feedback and some very interesting and thought-provoking statements made by the student participants."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Haunted house
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Students at Kugaaruk School may be afraid to show up for classes on Halloween -- principal Michael Bartley said the teachers plan to set up a haunted house in a long hallway to give the kids a good-natured fright as they walk through.
The kids loved it last year, he added, and treats will be given out at the end.
"Stick your hand in here. Hide under a table and grab a leg. Scary music and lights," said Bartley. "We try to make it as much fun as possible for everybody, teachers too."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Two new teachers
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Arnaqjuaq School is welcoming two new teachers this month.
A new female teacher from Nova Scotia arrived Thanksgiving week to teach Grade 4 and Grade 1 second language English, said principal Michael Westley. He said they are expecting a new male teacher from Ontario in the week of Oct. 17, who will teach a number of courses at the junior and senior high school levels, including physical education, English/language arts and fine arts.
An ill teacher at the start of the school year and a rescheduling of courses meant the school had to hire two new teachers, said Westley.
"It's just one of the those things that came up," said Westley. "It's not the best when you have to start hiring teachers right at the beginning of the (school) year, because there are often delays."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Roast beef dinner
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
Almost the entire community of Grise Fiord took part in a hot roast beef dinner cooked by students and staff at Umimmak School on Oct. 7. Food was offered on an eat-in or take-out basis, and each classroom was decorated in restaurant style. The dinner raised $850; the students are hoping it can go toward the purchase of a $10,000 laser tag system for the school. The turnout was about 100 of the 141 (2006 census) residents of the community.
- Casey Lessard
New Junior Rangers squad in Pond Inlet
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
The new Junior Rangers squad in Pond Inlet drew great interest from youth, with recruiters signing up 83 members between Oct. 14 and 19, Sgt. David Suqslak said. Most are students at Nasivvik High School, which has an enrolment of more than 270, according to principal Meeka Qamaniq.
The recruitment drive started with the arrival of instructors from Yellowknife and member registration Oct. 14, and ended Oct. 19 with a ceremony involving Joint Task Force North Brig.-Gen. Guy Hamel, who stopped by the community as part of a cross-territory visit he made last week.
"We lined them up, taught them drills and talked to them about being fair to each other, being honest and good, and helping elders if they need help," Suqslak said.
The Junior Rangers will meet every Wednesday, he said.
- Casey Lessard
Young family hunkers down near Grise Fiord
South Cape Fiord
A young family of four from France sailing the Arctic Ocean is locked in near Grise Fiord, where they are staying until at least July 2012. Eric Brossier, France Pinczon du Sel, and their pre-school-aged daughters Leonie and Aurore left Brest, France in May aboard the polar yacht Vagabond, travelled along the west coast of Greenland and settled in at South Cape Fiord, 50 km west of Grise Fiord, according to the family's expedition blog.
The family spent much of their time over the last month in Grise Fiord, according to resident Jimmie Qaapik, due to high winds and choppy waters that prevented them from heading to their winter destination.
The parents are doing scientific research on sea ice for universities in Canada and France.
- Casey Lessard
Radio out in Pangnirtung
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
A vital communications tool in Pangnirtung, the hamlet-owned radio station, has been down for over a month, economic development officer Madeleine Qumuatuq said.
"We're waiting for a technician to come in, but we've been waiting a long time now," Qumuatuq said. "I'm looking into a new radio now to see how much that would cost."
Allaniq broadcasts 90 per cent in Inuktitut, and broadcasts community bingo, local events and a variety of shows. While running, the station broadcasts from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4 to 5:30 p.m., and then again in the evening.
The broadcast system has no computers and has been used since at least the 1970s, she said.
"It's a very old system that needs replacing all the time, so (the outage) has really hindered a community in sharing their community items and what-not."
- Casey Lessard
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