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News Briefs: Friday, February 3, 2012
Arctic Cat recall
Arctic Cat has issued a recall on about 19,000 2012 F, XF, and M model snowmobiles due to a "crash hazard," according to the manufacturer's website.
The problem is a lower steering tie-rod attachment that can cause loss of steering control.
In Yellowknife, the only Arctic Cat retailer is Yellowknife Chrysler. Anyone who owns a machine affected by the recall, whether they purchased it in Yellowknife or not, can bring it to the dealership and have the alignment inspected.
"It's not a very large repair in any way but obviously it is a safety concern," said Mitch Dentinger, operations manager at Yellowknife Chrysler.
- Laura Busch
Top doc comes North
The president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is visiting the capital this week.
Dr. John Haggie and his family arrived in Yellowknife late Sunday night. The main purpose of his visit is to attend tonight's annual general meeting of the NWT Medical Association.
However, Dr. Haggie will also be fitting in several meetings, including some with area doctors, as well as some downtime to share with his family during his stay, said Lucie Boileau, manager of media relations for the CMA.
- Laura Busch
Premier in Ottawa
NWT Premier Bob McLeod was in Ottawa yesterday to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The two were scheduled to discuss Northern issues, including devolution, Northern economic development, the territory's borrowing limit and improvements to the Northern regulatory process.
- Laura Busch
NDP leadership candidate visits Yellowknife
NDP leadership candidate and Skeena-Bulkley Valley, B.C. MP Nathan Cullen will meet with Yellowknife residents and discuss his vision for the Arctic at Twist Resto-Lounge today from noon to 2 p.m.
"It's good to have somebody who wants to replace Jack Layton come to the North," said Josh Campbell, constituency assistant to Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington. "It bodes well for him and for people who get to meet him face to face."
- Kevin Allerston
News Briefs: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hockey clinics for three communities
Hockey players in three Deh Cho communities will have the opportunity to participate in two upcoming hockey clinics.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs' youth sport and recreation division has organized hockey clinics with Kevin Bathurst of Hockey Canada. The first clinic will be in Fort Simpson from Feb. 3 to 5. During the three days, athletes in minor hockey groups 1 and 2 and the Moosehide Mammas will be training with Bathurst.
The second clinic will be held in Fort Providence from Feb. 6 to 7. Students from Kakisa Lake School will travel to Fort Providence on Monday afternoon to participate in the clinic. Members of men's recreational hockey and students at Deh Gah School will also have sessions on the ice.
Bison Jamboree news
Two new events are being planed for this year's Bison Jamboree in Fort Providence.
One of the events is an upper making contest. Participants have to bring an upper with a design drawn on it to Alphonsine Gargan before Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. to register.
Participants will then have until March 22, the day the jamboree starts, to complete the beading or embroidery on their upper. The entries will be judged on the following day with prizes awarded for first, second and third place.
A youth handgames tournament, instead of the normal men's tournament, will also be part of the jamboree.
To register, each team needs six players and two subs between the ages of 13 and 18 and the entry fee of $300. The tournament will take place from March 23 to 25 and there will be prizes of $1,800, $1,200 and $600 for first, second and third place respectively based on registration.
Tournament postponed
The Scott McAdam Badminton Tournament scheduled for this weekend in Fort Simpson has been postponed.
The tournament has been rescheduled for March 23 to 25 with the registration deadline set for March 19. The dates for the tournament had to be moved because of a lack of response to the original dates.
Wolfpack competes in La Crete
The Thomas Simpson School Wolfpack is competing in the Northern Exposure Tournament in La Crete, Alta. from Feb. 3 to 4.
The Wolfpack's first basketball game will be against High Level in the single knock-out style event. The team is composed of nine students from Fort Simpson and three students who are being picked up from Hay River.
Lights go on again
Saturday will be Samuel Hearne Secondary School's first day of the Lights On program this year. High school students from the community and area are invited to the school from 7 to 10 p.m.
Heidi Bender, one of the organizers of the Lights On program, said the program started in Inuvik in April with about 40 participants and when it started up again in October, there were Saturday nights with more than 70 youths in attendance.
"The biggest, most popular event is open gym sports, intramural sports," she said, but the nights also include movies, board games and Nintendo Wii activities.
The program will run until the end of the school year.
Inuvik player signed to Western Hockey League
The Portland Winterhawks have signed Inuvik's Steven Alldridge.
The 15-year-old forward plays for Kelowna, B.C.'s Pursuit of Excellence AAA Midget U18 team, in the North American Prospects Hockey League. In 34 games this season, he has five goals and eight assists. Last season Alldridge played for the Notre Dame Bantam AA team in the Regina, Sask., Midget Tier 2 League.
"We believe he has the potential to be an excellent player in the WHL, and we're excited he's joining our organization," said Mike Johnston, Winterhawks general manager and head coach.
Alldridge is expected to join the Winterhawks next season.
Meeting on rec leases
The public is invited to provide input concerning the framework for recreational leasing that will apply to Commissioner's land in the NWT.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been working to develop criteria for identifying Commissioner's land for recreational use and to recommend the number and density of new recreational leasing sites should lots be found that could be developed without negatively impacting the environment.
The information session will be in the Mackenzie Hotel's Permafrost Room from 7 until 9 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Chopper braves the cold
German-based helicopter company Eurocopter is currently carrying out flight tests for its new model of helicopter.
The aircraft must be able to operate in temperatures down to -45 C, which it has seen a few times over the past few weeks.
"We had -40 C already twice in the last couple of weeks so were very happy about that," said flight test engineer Carl Ockier.
The company, made up of about 10 crew members, arrived in Inuvik on Jan. 3 and is scheduled to stay until the end of February.
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