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News that the city has formed a subsidiary to operate its long touted district energy project is evidence the city may be once again putting the cart before the horse.

In announcing the subsidiary last month, Mayor Gord Van Tighem said its creation was necessary in order to prove to the federal government it was serious about going ahead with project. The city hopes to collect $14.1 million from the feds to put toward the geothermal portion, which won't get built - providing it works - until a number of other very expensive steps are completed first.

Last year, this money apparently hinged on the city getting voter approval so the city could borrow up to $49 million, which would have been poured into district energy if a private partner couldn't be found to cover the costs.

The $49 million would pay for the lion's share of the project, essentially a central boiler fuelled by diesel, wood pellets or whatever mainstream energy source worked, from which heated pipes would extend to 39 downtown buildings that would no longer require their own sources of heat.

This part seems logical enough, and doable providing a private partner believes there is a solid business case and is willing to put up the money and expertise to build it. The city has a tentative agreement with B.C.-based Corix Utilities which could be finalized as early as next month, Corix told Yellowknifer. This is welcome news.

Meanwhile, geothermal from the defunct Con Mine remains entirely hypothetical.

The city keeps insisting Con geothermal is feasible but to date no actual evidence has been offered to show it will work. Much faith by the city administration has been placed on recommendations made by Mory Ghomshei, a mining engineering professor from the University of British Columbia, who in 1986 found the temperature of rocks underground at Con Mine to reach 38 C. The mine's temperature - now filling with water - hasn't been verified since. An attempt to measure temperatures failed in 2009 when a city-hired probe got snagged underground and was lost.

A phase II report on district energy in 2009 questioned whether it would be more feasible to pursue district heating fuelled by wood pellets rather than geothermal. Yellowknifer asked the city for a copy of the report in the lead-up to the referendum vote last year but couldn't get one.

When voters rejected the city's borrowing request on March 14, 2011, they did it because they sensed the city didn't have its ducks in a row. They had a hard time swallowing the city's explanation for the necessity of the vote, which went something like this: The city needed the authority to borrow a lot of money so it could collect a smaller pot of free money to pay for an unproven portion of the project that wouldn't get built until after some unknown private partner tore up our streets to lay pipes for a district heating system that would only benefit downtown.

Geothermal may very well be a viable option; a district energy system for downtown - paid for by downtown property owners - seems to make more sense. But residents should be wary of how much the city commits while details of its yet unsigned contract with Corix remains a big unknown.

Let's see the contract for the district energy system first, how the city intends to manage what will amount to a municipal utility, and then we can start talking about what is and what isn't possible with geothermal.

I wasn't one of them, but, according to CBC, 1.05 million Canadians tuned in to watch the premiere of Arctic Air.

The new TV show, set in Yellowknife, is about an airline and the family that runs it. Apparently, people in a number of quarters are expecting the show to do great things for tourism in the NWT.

The theory being, of course, viewers will watch the show, get caught up in its version of the North or just in the landscape they see and then plan their next vacation so they can see it in real life. Yellowknife, however, is bound to get the bulk of this increased tourism because the fictional airline is based there.

This got me thinking.

Shows about the North seem to be popular these days. In addition to Arctic Air, there are a number of reality shows that take place in locations North of 60. An example is featured in this week's edition of Deh Cho Drum.

One of Fort Simpson's very own residents has seen minor fame for his part in the first two episodes of season two of Licence to Drill. The show follows the fortunes and misfortunes of two companies drilling for oil and gas wells, including one working near Tulita.

Also based in the North, although not in the territory, is Mounted in Alaska, following the challenges at Knight's Taxidermy in Anchorage, and Gold Rush Alaska where three crews race to find as much gold as possible during a short mining season.

It seems the TV-watching public – and there are a lot of them – can't get enough of shows based in the North and if such shows are actually going to result in boosted tourism numbers, the Deh Cho needs to jump onto this bandwagon. It seems all you need to get a reality TV show these days is to do something a little bit different and to have a lot of colourful characters around. The Deh Cho has plenty of both.

To get things rolling, I've come up with a few show ideas.

Following the popularity of Ice Road Truckers and IRT Deadliest Roads, I propose a show based on driving in the Deh Cho. If the Liard Highway stays true to form, this spring there should be lots of opportunities to catch footage of people battling muddy conditions.

If that show doesn't pan out, how about Man versus Insects? Crews could film residents of Nahanni Butte as they battle against mosquitoes and then switch to Fort Providence for the struggle against sandflies.

No takers?

It's already been done, but as a last resort the Deh Cho does have a number of airline companies that I'm sure could regale viewers with their adventures.

Yellowknife has Arctic Air, and to get some of the potential tourist benefits the Deh Cho needs to strike fast. All aspiring television producers, writers and reality show stars need to step forward and produce a hit for the region.

Inuvik was a ghost town Tuesday. The streets were deserted aside from a cab or two manoeuvring their way to continue offering transportation to those who needed it. The high winds were breaking records, flinging shingles off roofs, and keeping people at home -- safe indoors, if they could help it.

It is through surreal days like blizzards, when the world is turned on its side and shaken up a bit and the strict schedules of everyday life are altered, that the community comes together in interesting ways.

As snowplows pass by snow-frosted windows, one realizes that some people's jobs are to face the storm head-on and help the community shift back to normalcy.

Even on Monday, when the storm was just getting its bearings, there were sightings of the community rallying to assist others in need.

There were a handful of vehicles stuck on paths transformed into drifts of snow or driveways unplowed of barriers. In no time at all, passersby in trucks with tow ropes appeared on the scene to give a helping hand, taking time out of their day without reservation.

On otherwise drama-free days, people might pass each other without a word, going about their day with blinders on. Yet as bundled-up creatures stumble through a squall of snow and ice, they pass each other with a muffled chuckle under their scarves and a smile in the eyes, which are the only part of their bodies that are naked to the harsh elements.

When the weather outside is threatening, those living through it seem to band together: offering rides, picking up some ingredients at the grocery store for a neighbour, or simply taking a day to spend time with family and friends.

People flock to the Internet or the phone lines, keeping in touch with the community – giving advice when needed: "That street isn't plowed, you'll get stuck," or "I hear the corner store is open, if you need anything."

Big winter storms bring with them an array of challenges: from getting home safe, to finding someone to watch the children, to attempting to get to the store to put something together for dinner.

Mother Nature’s turn for the worse might be a pain, but it's these days of abnormal living that allow people to realize a warm place to call home, a helping hand and a brief smile are all anyone really needs.

The territorial government's proposal to add 35 cabin lots to cottage country around Walsh and Banting lakes is welcome news.

It takes the strain off an already tight cabin market and should help limit the squatter's dens popping up in the hidden corners of our countryside. It also sends a strong signal to Yellowknifers that the territorial government wants them to stay and make long-term investments.

It was a different signal sent when the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs issued a moratorium on cabin leases on the Ingraham Trail two years ago.

It told Yellowknife residents that their enjoyment of outdoor leisure pursuits wasn't a concern of theirs or a priority. This situation was further aggravated by a proposal in 2008 to cut four-month extended campsite stays at Prelude and Reid Lake to two months while keeping the fee at $500.

Many people, especially new residents who weren't around to take part in the cabin boom before Akaitcho land claim negotiations and corresponding restrictions on development put that to a halt, were left without an option. Not everyone is content to pitch a tent somewhere; they want established sites with amenities like running water and a gas stove.

South of the NWT border hundreds of thousands of Canadian take to their cottages every summer weekend. A 2003 Ipsos-Reid survey on behalf of Royal LePage Real Estate Services showed eight per cent of Canadian households owned vacation properties. Surely, the situation is not that different today.

New lots for Yellowknifers will anchor those who purchase them to the community, which is a good thing.

It's also encouraging to see other potential cabin sites identified for expansion around Walsh, Banting and Jackson lakes, which already have cabins on them and wouldn't be harmed by a few more.

Hopefully, the department won't take another two years to approve them.

Excitement is building in the aviation community about a mammoth journey of discovery for pilots from California, Texas and all across North America with next summer's huge fly-in to Yellowknife.

The Century Flight Club of Canada's event this coming July, to be held following the Yellowknife Air Show, is all about promoting the discovery of Canada by private airplane.

And pilots are pumped about seeing the North firsthand with 86 already signed up, 200 per cent more than for the club's 2011 event.

"Everyone wants to get up there and there's a real mystique about flying up into the North and the old bush pilot heritage that you guys have," said John Lovelace, chairman of the club and the producer and host of Wings Over Canada television series for 13 years.

There are lots of attractions to entice pilots to the capital city. The view from Bush Pilot's Monument is simply spectacular, especially when there is float plane activity on Yellowknife Bay. The dock used by Max Ward in Old Town before Wardair was acquired by Canadian North in 1989 still exists. And there are numerous float plane docks around the city, with more potentially on the way as the city drafts a harbour plan.

Perhaps this is an example of the fruit produced by exposure of Yellowknife by Ice Pilots NWT which has been popular among audiences foreign and domestic. Now the new television show Arctic Air can only add to our high-flying aviation reputation.

At least 200 tourists are expected to land in the city for six days in the summer, July 15-20.

Although some events are already being planned, including a banquet at the Old Town docks and visits to nearby communities, we suggest extraordinary efforts be made to make the pilots and their passengers feel welcome.

Let's help them discover what makes Yellowknife and Northern Canada special and unique.

When it comes right down to it, one can look at the media-driven kerfuffle on the Montreal Canadiens and anglophone head coach Randy Cunneyworth and see a number of pratfalls that come with an almost militant approach to language issues.

While life in the NHL can hardly be described as a window to the world, what we saw and heard over the airwaves and read in print about the issue can easily be applied to normal life.

The first was the illusion created in some media circles on how many Montreal residents were outraged by the appointment of an English-speaking coach.

Much of what was said came from politicians trying to score points or, in some cases, justify their crumbling platforms.

The promised outpouring of discontent at the Bell Centre resulted in all of 150 protesters in a city of almost two million.

But, just as they do in many avenues of today's society, the minority who did oppose the move spoke the most and the loudest, creating the illusion of mass outrage and prompting an apology, of sorts, from the hockey club.

And, as always, other veins of the media were quick to jump on the hubbub, including the CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos of George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight fame, who suggested children at the Montreal Children's and SainteJustine hospitals want to hear the coach speak French during the annual Canadiens visit in December.

George should probably stick to playing nicey-nice with celebrities in his lightweight style, as the coach doesn't go with the players on the hospital visits.

One would think a group of struggling kids would enjoy time with their favourite NHL stars no matter what language they spoke.

The magic those encounters create certainly isn't dependant on diction.

Another problem that arises when an entity gets too hung up on race, creed or language is how dramatically it shallows the talent pool.

When people are given positions based primarily on such shortsighted attributes, organizational skill levels and competency -- let alone talking about success -- take a big hit.

"I'm in over my head" is the same in any language.

There are positions that demand mastery of the dominant language in some areas, but, the truth of the matter is, they're not nearly as common as some would have you believe.

And, an argument can be made that many of those positions are in the blue-collar world, where not being able to interact with co-workers can mean long days indeed.

Yet, even then, with assembly lines and automated industries, it's an isolation of one's humanity, not the ability to perform a job.

True Canadiens fans want to celebrate success, and most couldn't care less if you refer to it as the Stanley Cup or la Coupe Stanley.

Whether Cunneyworth is the answer or just a stepping stone to St. Patrick's return to Montreal next year really doesn't matter.

What does matter is that any entity in our country should have the freedom to hire the best person for the job.

Truth be told, most people like to look in the mirror and know they have their position because they earned it, not because someone gave it to them.

To accept anything less is just plain silly in any language.

Forest resources in the NWT comprise approximately 330,000 square kilometres of land -- a little more than twice the size of Newfoundland. Despite that bounty, logging in the territory is not a thriving industry. Currently, only one commercial sawmill operates in the territory and logs on a relatively minuscule 5,000 cubic metres of forest.

Daniel Patterson, whose family owns the aforementioned Patterson Sawmill, says logging is a tough business in the NWT.

As with most industries in the North, the cost of doing business is high and going head to head with larger southern operations is almost impossible without tapping a niche market. Patterson has been able to accomplish the latter by milling lumber for products such as rig or crane mats. Unfortunately, slow land claim negotiations and land withdrawals have limited the amount of logging land available to his operation.

The combination of challenges has Patterson worried about the future of his business but the key to his salvation might not be in the product he sells but in what he throws away. Patterson says he produces about $100,000 worth of waste wood each year -- money he could salvage if there was a wood pellet production facility in the NWT. Selling the waste to southern pellet manufacturing facilities isn't an option due to the cost of shipping.

Presently, pellets used for heating in the territory are purchased in the south. In 2010, a biomass action plan put out by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources identified wood pellets production as an item for action.

Tom Lakusta, manager of forest resources for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said a lot of work has been done to determine the economic and product viability of wood pellet manufacturing in the NWT using Northern-sourced materials.

A project in Checkpoint is examining the viability of producing wood pellets from NWT-sourced material -- paper and cardboard from the dump in Yellowknife, grass, sawdust from Patterson Sawmill in Hay River and clearing residue from the NWT Power Corp. and Department of Transportation projects.

However, back in October, Bryan Pelkey, an alternative energy specialist with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, told the Deh Cho Drum the demonstration project focuses on research and development and, as of yet, there are no plans to open a production plant.

Lakusta said although the government encourages utilizing biomass to help replace fossil fuel he said it will be the job of private business to establish facilities such as wood pellet manufacturing plants.

He added, enough work has been done to determine producing and selling wood pellets in the North is economically viable and that has generated interest with local entrepreneurs. News/North tried to contact one such businessman but he did not return calls by press time. However, Lakusta said the best-case scenario could see a wood pellet manufacturing facility begin production in the territory by next winter.

The territory needs to capitalize on its forest resources. With the abundance of loggable land not only could we produce our own wood pellets but open up much-needed employment opportunities.

As for barriers such as unsettled land claims, Lakusta said they can be overcome with the proper consultation, land protection and employment benefits for NWT communities.

We agree, so let's do it.

The City of Iqaluit is looking at finally enforcing an existing law requiring residents to wear seatbelts, and it has to happen sooner than later.

In the eyes of many Iqalummiut, wearing a seatbelt is a red flag that a person is from the south, or at least not from Iqaluit. That is a stigma that goes with wearing one.

This is, however, setting the city up for a tragedy. Sooner or later, someone is going to get hurt, and that stigma is going to seem pretty silly and may properly go the other way where people not buckling up are seen as putting themselves or, more importantly, their passengers at risk.

Many may argue there isn't any need for the law, especially when the speed limit throughout most of the city is 30 km/h. People can still be badly injured at those speeds.

More and more, Iqaluit is becoming a venue for conferences, and if it wants to become even more of a tourist destination, road safety has to be taken more seriously.

While Iqaluit is the capital of the territory and the largest community, perhaps its time to start enforcing this law across the territory.

As a huge employer of people in the communities, the Government of Nunavut should enforce the policy that requires adherence to all the territories' traffic laws, which includes buckling up. Often government vehicles dominate traffic in smaller communities and these employees should be setting an example.

Buckling up can hardly be argued to be an inconvenience and it's a good habit to get into. Youth who plan to venture down south for school or to live should be in the habit of wearing seatbelts not only for their own safety but to avoid fines southern police will hand out to people who they see aren't strapped in.

It should not be a sudden crackdown. There needs to be a huge public education campaign, involving government and police, to accompany the drive for enforcement. But it needs to happen as soon as possible.

All it takes is for a patch of ice, a distraction, or a drunk driver, to cause a collision. If no one is wearing a seatbelt, the results are going to be dire and then every one will see clearly why the law should be enforced.

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