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News Briefs: Monday, March 26, 2012
Yellowknife deputy fire Chief reported to have pled guilty
The national media reported Friday that Yellowknife deputy fire Chief Jason Davidson pled guilty to multiple criminal charges in British Columbia for stealing over $100,000.
Davidson was charged in February with one count of theft over $5,000, one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of using a forged document. The acts took place when he was treasurer of the Vancouver Fire Fighters Concert and Marching Band Society.
Davidson is to be sentenced April 3.
- Simon Whitehouse
Board legislation soon
Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington expects the public will soon get a look at how the Conservative federal government is planning to change the regulatory board structure in the NWT.
"Everything seems to be moving towards board amalgamation," Bevington said.
The New Democrat MP noted John Duncan, the minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, appeared before a parliamentary committee two weeks ago and indicated legislative changes to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act will be coming forward as soon as the end of March.
- Paul Bickford
Man sentenced for drug trafficking
A man charged with having more than seven kilograms of marijuana last August has been sentenced in NWT Supreme Court.
Inuvik resident Matthew Hicks, who is in his mid-30s, was handed a 26-month jail term by Justice Karan Shaner in Yellowknife on Monday. He was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from a police raid on Aug. 24 when in excess of seven kilograms of marijuana was seized, along with $20,000 in cash and various drug paraphernalia.
- Laura Busch
Snow sculpture contest
An annual snow sculpture contest is underway in Enterprise.
Participants must have their creations completed before March 31.
Once a sculpture is all done, the artist can contact the organizing committee and digital pictures will be taken of the finished work.
The pictures of the sculptures will be posted in the community hall, where they will be judged.
- Paul Bickford
Many activities for youth
Aklavik
Students in Aklavik had numerous opportunities this month to take part in traditional activities.
Every Monday and Wednesday, a cooking class for youth was held at the Sam Arey Curling Club at 6 p.m.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, youth drum dancing classes were offered, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays Arctic Sports were held at the school.
In addition, a youth parka making workshop was held for 16 students from March 5 to 23, said Dean McLeod, recreation co-ordinator with the hamlet.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Top marks for science projects
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Three students at Chief Paul Niditchie School in Tsiigehtchic received special recognition for their science fair projects on March 14.
Robert Neyando, a Grade 6 student, made a miniature electric motor with a D-cell battery; Christopher Groom, a Grade 4 student, examined how safe firefighters gloves are; and Jessica VanLoon, a Grade 5 student, showed how heat affects cookie dough.
Judges Charlene Blake and Bobbie Jean Andre gave the three top marks for their projects, based on their use of the scientific method, their written work and their ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of their project.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
College graduations set
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The spring convocation ceremonies are set for the three campuses of Aurora College.
At Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith, the graduation will be held on April 20.
The two other campuses in the NWT will hold graduations the following month - May 5 at the Yellowknife/North Slave Campus and May 11 at the Aurora Campus in Inuvik.
Paul Bickford
Enterprise spring carnival returns
Enterprise
The Enterprise Spring Carnival is set for March 31.
Most events, which will include such favourites as log-sawing and egg toss, will be located outside the Enterprise Community Centre. The annual event was not held last year because of a shortage of volunteers.
- Paul Bickford
Branding to be officially launched
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Town of Fort Smith's new branding will be officially launched at the community's annual trade show on April 28.
The town's new logo and slogan were first unveiled at a workshop in November.
The slogan is "Unexpected. Unforgettable."
The green-and-blue logo features a bison, a whooping crane, the rapids on the Slave River and the aurora borealis. It will be the image that will be used for future promotional items and tourism advertisements.
The Town of Fort Smith is targeting five categories of visitors: tourists, friends and families of residents, business travellers, sports and recreational visitors, and potential residents.
- Paul Bickford
Gwich'in council turns 20
Mackenzie Delta
The Gwich'in Tribal Council is planning celebrations in Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik to commemorate its 20th anniversary.
All-day festivities will begin on April 19 in Aklavik and end with a special celebration on April 22 in Inuvik. Events are set to include dancing, games and community feasts.
The anniversary events are meant to commemorate the council's achievements, values and progress, and reaffirm its commitment to social and economic justice, said president Richard Nerysoo. All community members
are welcome to attend.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A brutal lateseason blizzard that swept across the vast majority of the Kivalliq region this past week claimed a life in Rankin Inlet.
Bill Taparti, 48, was reported overdue at about 7:10 p.m. on March 20, hours after the blizzard had struck the community.
At the time Taparti was reported overdue, the community was enveloped in complete whiteout conditions with wind topping 90 km/h.
Members of the RCMP detachment began making numerous snowmobile patrols throughout the community once the weather began subsiding, but with no success.
Taparti's body was discovered near the pump house on the outskirts of town by a community member at about 8:48 a.m. on March 22, the day after the blizzard finally subsided.
The RCMP said there was no evidence of foul play at the scene, and Taparti is believed to have become disorientated in the blizzard and succumbed to the weather conditions at the time.
- Darrell Greer
Land use plan under federal review
Nunavut
The federal government has undertaken an independent review of the Nunavut Draft Land Use Plan and its process to date, a spokesperson from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development confirmed.
The land use plan will determine how land outside the communities will be used and what is protected. It covers land use planning in the Nunavut Settlement Area and in the Outer Land Fast Ice Zone.
The independent review, done in agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the territorial government and the Nunavut Planning Commission, started in February and is anticipated to be completed this summer, said the spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous. She added the independent review will make recommendations on the best way to successfully conclude the process.
The Nunavut Planning Commission did not respond to a request for comment.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Territorial commissioners to meet yearly
Nunavut
Canada's three territorial commissioners signed an accord to meet annually to discuss matters of mutual interest, in Whitehorse on March 8.
The Commissioners' Co-operation Accord commits the commissioners of Nunavut, the NWT and the Yukon to meet yearly - outside their annual meeting with the province's lieutenant governors - to discuss topics affecting them and their regions. The three commissioners had their first meeting when they signed the accord in the Yukon capital.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Iqaluit lounge's liquor licence suspended
Iqaluit
An Iqaluit bar was fined and lost its liquor licence for two days for allowing intoxicated individuals to remain on its premises on Feb. 3, 6 and 14 - illegal under the Nunavut Liquor Act and Liquor Regulations.
The Kickin' Caribou Cocktail Lounge, inside Hotel Arctic, was issued the liquor licence suspension and a $5,000 fine by the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board following a March 22 hearing.
The lounge has appointed new management and is trying to better train its staff, licensing board chairman David Wilman stated in a press release.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Science fair in Taloyoak
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Diabetes, prostate cancer, schizophrenia and the sound of human voices were some of the projects students of all ages in Taloyoak prepared for the science fair.
Eighty-nine projects were presented during the annual event at Netsilik School, this year held on March 15. Twenty-five residents judged the projects, talking to the students about it and giving a mark worth 50 per cent, said Netsilik School Principal Gina Pizzo. She added the other half of the mark was based on the oral presentation and the student's ability to answer questions about the project.
"We are quite happy with the results and the number of projects that were produced," said Pizzo.
The top winners from the junior, junior high and senior high divisions will competed at the regional level on March 21 to earn a spot on the Kitikmeot team, which will compete at nationals. Taloyoak students each took first place in their divisions: Kathy Lyall, senior high; Nee Kavavau, junior high; and Twyla Dutz, junior.
The Canada-wide science fair is scheduled from May 12 to 19 at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
- Jeanne Gagnon
New hamlet building
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Taloyoak's new hamlet building is open with staff moving in the week of Feb. 6.
The two-storey, 748-square-metre building has 16 offices, a council chamber, meeting room and a lobby, said Elissa McKinnon, spokeswoman for the department of community and government services. She added the project cost about $7 million, including the design and construction, Foundations were poured in September 2010 and the building was substantially completed on Oct. 28, 2011, said McKinnon. She added adverse weather and delays in the delivery of materials and equipment pushed the move-in date.
Assistant senior administrative officer David Irkiut said staff started moving into the new building the week of Feb. 6.
"It's great. It's nice," he said. "It's good to be in a brand new office."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Commissioner in Arctic Bay
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Commissioner Edna Elias is in Arctic Bay this week to meet with community organizations and hand out awards, including one Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The initial reason for the trip was to do the annual cadet review on March 28, but Elias will also visit the hamlet, the hunters and trappers organization, schools, and host both a tea and bannock with elders as well as a community feast.
"We will be giving out our first Diamond Jubilee Award," executive assistant Marie Fortier said. "There is more than one nomination in Arctic Bay, but they're not yet processed, so we'll do that another time. We have to nominate and they come in the mail."
The recipient's name is meant to be a surprise and will be announced at the ceremony, Fortier said.
Thirteen Commissioner's Awards will also be given out during the trip.
- Casey Lessard
March lightning storm
Sanikiluaq
Sanikiluaq is getting an early thaw, with thunder and lightning being seen for the first time in March, Nuiyak School principal Lisi Kavik said.
"First time in March we've ever experienced it," she said March 20. "We had thunder and lightning last night (March 19), and on Saturday night (March 17). We had showers the day before."
For now, the community still has plenty of snow, but "we have a thin layer of ice on top of the snow," she said.
The mild weather means students missed out on iglu building.
"The elders told us we started too late," she said, noting classes lost time due to the territorial teachers' conference.
- Casey Lessard
Youth spend week on the land
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Eight youth from Pangnirtung spent last week on the land as part of what may be the hamlet's first youth winter camp.
"We wanted the youth that really don't go out on the land or who don't know how to go out on the land," youth centre manager Gina Mary Akulukjuk said. "The drivers are the ones who are going to show them how to do it."
Youth aged 13 to 30 took part, and the group included three girls. The group left Monday and returned Friday, overnighting at the spring camp just outside the hamlet, Akulukjuk said.
- Casey Lessard
Environmental award
Kivalliq
The Kivalliq Inuit Association presented its 2012 Environmental Excellence Award to the Kivalliq Energy Corp. during the annual Prospectors and Developers of Canada Association Conference in Toronto, Ont., earlier this month.
The award was given to the Kivalliq Energy Corp. for its outstanding environmental stewardship at its Angilak property (Baker Lake Uranium Project).
It was the second year in a row the company earned the KIA's Environmental Excellence Award.
The Kivalliq Energy Corp., a uranium exploration and development company, is the first company in Canada to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuitowned lands in Nunavut.
Its 252,830acre Angilak property hosts the highgrade Lac Cinquante deposit, which is Canada's highest grade uranium deposit outside of the Athabasca Basin.
Kivalliq has invested about $30 million in the Angilak property since acquiring it 2008.
- Darrell Greer
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