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News Briefs: Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday power outage unscheduled
Friday's power outages in Yellowknife were not scheduled, according to Northland Utilities.
"It was due to a lack of power generation from (the NWT Power Corporation)," said Lori Burrill, a customer service supervisor with Northland Utilities.
The power first went out for part of the downtown core for five minutes at approximately 11:35 a.m. and again at 11:50 a.m., with power restored by 12:02.
The capital endured a two-hour outage on Feb. 13 when a military helicopter damaged lines near Snare Hydro Station. Repairs after that incident have yet to be made.
- Kevin Allerston
Employees honoured
In celebration of its 25th anniversary as an independent company, The North West Company has recognized 17 employees - including two in the NWT - with its 2012 President's Awards.
The employees honoured in the NWT are Cheryl Bertrand of the Northern Store in Fort Liard and Tim Broadis of the Northern Store in Hay River. The awards honour employees who demonstrate excellence in the categories of leadership, teamwork, learning, enterprise, customer service, merchandising and community support. Bertrand was honoured in the learning category, while Broadis was honoured in the merchandising category.
- Paul Bickford
Tlicho roads open
The Gameti winter road opened for traffic weighing up to 10,000 kg on Feb. 15. The Department of Transportation is asking motorists to drive with caution and watch for construction crews.
The Whati winter road is open to traffic weighing up to 22,500 kg, although drivers may encounter rough sections.
Wekweeti's winter road is expected to be open for light traffic at the end of March, according to Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the North Slave region.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Bill C-19 passes
Bill C-19, the act to end the long-gun registry, passed its third reading in the House of Commons last Wednesday.
Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington didn't register a vote because he had yet to return from the Arctic Parliamentarians Conference in Sweden. Aside from two NDP representatives from Thunder Bay, the entire party voted against the bill.
"Perhaps now it will fall into the hands of provinces, territories, municipalities, whatever government agency decides it wants to provide a registry for guns," Bevington said in a the House of Commons on Feb. 7.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
A special delivery
Tuktoyaktuk
The student council at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk sold more than 190 candygrams during their annual Valentine's Day fundraiser.
The valentines, containing candy, chocolate, and a pencil and eraser, were delivered to their recipients at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The school's student council started selling the Valentine's Day treats on Feb. 6 and didn't stop until Feb. 13. It took the group nearly three hours after school on Monday to put them together.
All funds raised will go toward student council initiatives, including decorations, yearbooks and school sweaters.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Loppet planned from Fitz to Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Nordic Ski Club will hold its 36th annual Fitz-Smith Thebacha Loppet on March 3.
Participants will ski the historic and scenic trail between Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., and Fort Smith.
The event starts at 10 a.m. in Fort Fitzgerald and will feature three different distances from which skiers can choose - 30 km, 15 km and eight km.
- Paul Bickford
Igloos going up
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Ulukhaktok's igloo village is starting to take shape.
Students at Helen Kalvak School, under the guidance of elder Robert Kuptana, started work on the structures in early February, according to principal Chip Bryant.
As of Tuesday afternoon they had yet to build an igloo, but some of the ground work and block cutting was completed.
High school students will work on the village in groups, Bryant said, and help build it from scratch.
Once completed, students will meet there with elders from the community to share stories and drink tea.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Fire-damaged building still standing
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A building basically destroyed by a New Year's Day fire in Fort Smith's Conibear Park is still standing.
On Jan. 12, NWT fire marshal Stephen Moss sent an order to the Town of Fort Smith for the building to be either repaired or removed as a safety hazard.
The order had a Feb. 11 deadline for compliance.
However, Brenda Black, the senior administrative officer with the Town of Fort Smith, said a 30-day extension has been obtained for the removal order.
Black said the extension was requested so the building's owner, the currently inactive Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, can have an opportunity to have input into what will happen with the structure.
The seasonal-use building is known as the visitor information centre, although it had not been used for that purpose in a decade.
- Paul Bickford
Bonspiel and box social
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Six teams competed in Fort McPherson's Sweetheart Bonspiel Feb 11 to 12.
The competition was held at the community's curling club.
Stanley Snowshoe, Jennifer Greenland, William Koe and Louisa Kay formed the winning team.
On Tuesday a box social - Fort McPherson's annual Valentine's Day event - was scheduled for 6 p.m. at the recreation complex.
Residents were asked to bring in boxes filled with a meal for two.
A panel of judges were to name the top three boxes for both adults and youth, and then later the boxes were to be auctioned off.
Last year, more than 20 boxes were submitted for judging.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Sweet 'n' sour Valentine's
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The community of Tsiigehtchic was invited to a sweet and sour meatball dinner at Chief Paul Niditchie School in Tsiigehtchic for Valentine's Day.
The event served as a fundraiser for the school's Dene handgames team, which will compete in Fort Good Hope from Feb. 24 to 26.
Students in the school's Grade 4-6 class baked hundreds of heart-shaped sugar cookies to sell at the gymnasium, with all funds going to the handgames team.
Six youth from Tsiigehtchic, including Darius Andre, Robert Neyando, Dale Blake, Jared Blake and Lawrence Neyando, will compete.
Teacher Brandon Otway will chaperone.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
New principal at Angik School
Paulatuk
Russell Hancock, Angik School's new principal, is getting settled in after his first month on the job.
Hancock, who started in his position at the end of January, is originally from Newfoundland, although he's not new to the Darnley Bay community or his position - three years ago he acted as the school's principal.
Since then he has been teaching mathematics at Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Photos of grandmothers for exhibit
Thebacha/Fort Smith
In celebration of International Women's Day, Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith is looking for photos of grandmothers for a planned exhibit titled Honouring Our Grandmothers.
People are invited to bring framed photos of their grandmothers to the museum.
Anyone submitting a photo is also asked to explain - in 100 words or less - why his or her grandmother is special through a write-up about her life or strengths, or a special story.
The deadline for submitting a photo is March 1.
If enough submissions are received, the exhibit will open on March 5 and run throughout the month, which includes International Women's Day on March 8.
- Paul Bickford
Going bald for dollars
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
The student council at Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells was to host a hair auction and cancer fundraiser Saturday night.
Sarah Rose, a student who recently lost her grandfather to cancer, is organizing the event.
Approximately a dozen students and community members signed up to shave their hair off for a set price, and if that price was met with pledges during a live auction they promised to cut their locks in front of the crowd.
The event, which was scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m., was the first of its kind for the school.
The $5 admission price, as well as all funds raised from the auction, will go toward the Canadian Cancer Society.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Sewing for justice
Whati/Lac La Martre
On Wednesday, Whati's justice committee was set to host a women's group to discuss violence, crime, social issues and addictions in the region.
A sewing instructor was scheduled to be on hand to mix the discussion with hands-on instruction, according to justice co-ordinator Mary Ann Jeremick'ca. At the meeting the group would decide what sewing projects they wanted to work on and how often they hoped the group would meet. The event was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tlicho government chamber. Snacks, tea and coffee were to be served.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Breakfast for dinner
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
On Tuesday evening Sachs Harbour youth were invited to cook breakfast for dinner at the community complex.
The event, which was part of Valentine's Day programming, was set to feature waffles, eggs and pancakes, according to organizer Doreen Carpenter.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Drug charges laid in Cambridge Bay
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Two people face drug-related charges after marijuana and what appears to be crack cocaine was found in Cambridge Bay, according to police.
Cambridge Bay RCMP allege two residents were in possession of 98 grams of marijuana on Feb. 13, police stated in a press release. It alleges one of the residents also possessed one gram of what appeared to be crack cocaine.
"The estimated street value of the drugs seized was approximately $4,300 and could have done a lot of damage to the people of the community both physically and emotionally," stated Sgt. Jimmy Akavak in a press release.
Donna Evaglok, 31, and Johnny Kaosoni, 42, both of Cambridge Bay, are charged with one count of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Kaosoni also faces one count of possession of cocaine.
Evaglok and Kaosoni were released from custody on a promise to appear in court in Cambridge Bay on May 7.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Five candidates for byelection
Iglulik
Five candidates are vying for a vacant councillor position in Iglulik's by-election.
Councillor-elect Guy Makkik passed away on Dec. 25 before taking office, after being elected on Dec. 12, prompting the necessity of a Feb. 23 municipal byelection.
Celina Irngaut, Eric Nutarariaq, Neevee Uttak, Rhoda Qanatsiaq and Paul Quassa will have their names on the ballot on Feb. 23.
The councillor position is for a two-year term.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Man accused of molesting children
Iqaluit
A 21-year-old Iqaluit man is accused of a variety of sex offences against children aged 10 to 14, according to an RCMP statement.
Codie Rennie faces 15 criminal charges, including three counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference, inviting sexual touching, and procuring sex, as well as one count of using drugs to procure sex.
The charges relate to incidents alleged to have occurred in Iqaluit on or about Jan. 1, 2010.
Rennie remains in custody, and was set to appear in court Feb. 17.
- Casey Lessard
Standoff case goes to trial
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
The man accused in a 2010 standoff in Cape Dorset is going to be tried in relation to the incident, chief federal prosecutor Barry McLaren said after the accused's preliminary inquiry ended Feb. 15 in Iqaluit.
Elee Geetah faces 13 charges, including second-degree murder in connection with the death of his brother Jamesie Simigak, 23.
The police were called to a home Oct. 10 at 2:40 p.m. after shots were fired. They found an armed man barricaded inside, and more shots were fired from inside the house.
Negotiators and the Iqaluit emergency response team were called to the scene. The armed man surrendered three-and-a-half hours later, and police discovered Simigak's body in the house.
A dog and raven were shot in the incident, and one police officer later found a bullet lodged in the bathtub of his home.
The incident, and a string of others in the community around the same time, forced the RCMP to give all four officers at the detachment time off for a "health services debriefing," Nunavut News/North reported Oct. 18, 2010.
In addition to the murder charge, Geetah, who was 19 at the time, faces seven counts of discharging a weapon with reckless disregard for life, three counts of mischief, one weapons possession charge, and a count of injuring or endangering animals.
A trial date is to be set in March.
- Casey Lessard
Pang puts its heart into Valentine's Day
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Visitors to Pangnirtung's breakfast program ate their hearts out Tuesday morning as cooks served up heart-shaped pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries for Valentine's Day.
"I just thought we could make them into hearts for Valentine's Day," youth outreach worker Naomi Corder said. "It's pretty easy. I use a cake-decorating bag and a tip to shape the pancakes, and everyone's loving them."
Between 25 and 35 people take advantage of the breakfast program, which runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, with eat-in and take-out options available.
Breakfast is offered by donation. Carnations and chocolate hearts were being given away by donation.
The hamlet also held a dinner for more than 30 people, dances for elementary and high school students, and a showing of a romantic movie.
"We pretty much have programming going throughout the day because the kids have the week off," Corder said.
National Crime Prevention funding kick-started the breakfast program, which now sustains itself by the donations it collects.
- Casey Lessard
Exchange trip
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
A group of Grade 7 students at Netsilik School in Taloyoak will host students from Toronto as part of an exchange.
The group of 15 students from Taloyoak will welcome 15 youths from Riverside Public School in Toronto from March 21 to 29, as part of their involvement in the YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada Program. The reciprocal home-stay program is geared towards youth aged 12 to 17 and funded by the federal government through Exchanges Canada.
The students will ice fish, build an iglu, hunt seal and learn about daily life in Nunavut.
Netsilik School Grade 7 teacher Shawna Thomson, one of three chaperons, said it's "extremely important" the students participate in the exchange.
"It gives them a chance to show off their culture to people who might not be so aware of it. We're really excited," she said.
The Taloyoak students will head to Toronto from April 19 to 29.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Clyde River focuses on recreation
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Clyde River is putting its focus on youth, expanding its recreation department and hiring two new staff to serve the community, a Feb. 13 hamlet release said.
Former lands administrator Nina Qillaq switched roles Jan. 22 to become director of recreation and community services.
"It is important for us as a community to do all that we can to serve the needs of all our residents," chief administrative officer Troy Jenkins said. "An improved and expanded recreation department will go a long way in accomplishing this."
A recreation programmer is also being hired to co-ordinate events and programs at the community hall.
- Casey Lessard
Draw for last polar bear tags
Sanikiluaq
Hunters in Sanikiluaq have killed 22 of the tagged quota of 25 polar bears this season, and the final three hunters will be chosen by a draw, senior administrative officer Andre Larabie said Feb. 14.
"It's been very successful," Larabie said. "The last one was caught in the last 48 hours. I visited the school this morning and there were five or six ladies removing the fat from the fur (of the latest one) to be treated."
The polar bear season started Jan. 23, and 12 were killed by Jan. 30, Mayor Elijassie Sala said that day.
- Casey Lessard
Cultural activities
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Hall Beach students spent a Friday afternoon participating in cultural activities earlier this month.
Arnaqjuaq School Principal Michael Westley said the kindergarten to Grade 12 students played games and took part in various activities, such as making posters, on Feb. 10, as the school celebrated Inuktitut. He added all the events were related to culture and language.
"It's always important to promote culture and language. Language and culture go hand in hand," said Westley. "(Inuktitut) is a language that needs to be promoted and celebrated and encouraged, so that's why we have these activities."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Blizzard woes
Kivalliq
A fourday winter storm blasted the Kivalliq region earlier this month, bringing blizzard or nearblizzard conditions to every community for more than two days.
A number of minor sports teams in the region that were scheduled to travel to tournaments outside the Kivalliq had their plans thwarted by the storm.
As of press time, a female hockey team from Iqaluit that was originally scheduled to play five exhibition games against the Rankin females this past weekend had rescheduled their flight to arrive in Rankin Sunday afternoon.
The team was looking for enough ice time in Rankin to make up for as many of their five scheduled games as they possibly could between Sunday and Tuesday evenings.
- Darrell Greer
Tourney winners
Baker Lake
The Kivalliq region managed to capture two medals in the territorial volleyball championships held in Baker Lake from Feb. 3 to 5.
Both Kivalliq medals came courtesy of male teams.
Iqaluit mined gold in the boys division, while Rankin Inlet captured silver and the hometown Baker Lake squad earned bronze.
On the girls side of the court, Gjoa Haven took top spot, while Panniqtuuq took silver and Iqaluit won bronze.
- Darrell Greer
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News desk 
