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News Briefs: Friday, June 15, 2012
Military cleans up
Joint Task Force North personnel were at the Sand Pits Wednesday morning cleaning up refuse they believe was left by the Canadian Armed Forces' Exercise: Arctic Ram contingent in February.
On Monday, Joint Task Force North was informed of the problem by Yellowknife resident Leona Massan, who walks her dog in the area.
Lt. Paul Pendergast said a team of 30 personnel were out cleaning up the area for about an hour early Wednesday morning.
"My first reaction was 'let's get this right' and to get guys on the ground to see what the situation is and then take immediate action to clean it up,'" said Pendergast.
Pendergast said the team picked up about 30 bags of garbage and some discarded appliances, though not all of it was from the military.
- Kevin Allerston
Aurora president resigns
After just under three years as president of Aurora College, Sarah Wright Cardinal is stepping down.
She resigned from the position Wednesday, after deciding to pursue a doctoral degree.
Education Minister Jackson Lafferty thanked the outgoing president on her contributions to Aurora College.
A new president has not yet been named.
- Danielle Sachs
Parking ticket fraud
The City of Yellowknife is warning the public about an incident in which a text message was sent to residents claiming to be collecting outstanding parking fines on behalf of the city. The message includes a phone number and an access code to call and pay the ticket.
Yellowknifers can only pay tickets in person, by calling the city's phone payment system or online on the city's website.
Residents are encouraged to call the city's municipal enforcement division if they have any information regarding similar texts received requesting payment.
- Katherine Hudson
Scholarships take off
Aviation students in Yellowknife looking for a career in the aviation industry now have access to 15 scholarships valued at $5, 000 each. Applications are due Friday, July 27.
The scholarships are funded by the territorial governments of NWT and Nunavut, First Air, Adlair Aviation, Discovery Air, Keewatin Air and North-Wright Airways.
- Danielle Sachs
News Briefs: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Former mayor's sex assault case underway
A former mayor of Fort Simpson is in court this week.
The Supreme Court is meeting in Fort Simpson for the trial of Duncan Canvin. He was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation in October 2010.
The trial started on June 11 and is scheduled to last until June 15.
Forest fire being monitored
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has pulled its resources off of a forest fire that was briefly responsible for highway and ferry closures.
The fire, located approximately 40 km west of Fort Simpson along the highway to Wrigley, was originally reported on June 3 when it covered 40 hectares. The fire expanded to cover 1,673 hectares, said Loyal Letcher, regional manager of forests.
On June 11, Letcher said the department feels the fire's perimeter is secure with three days of rain helping to control it. The fire will continue to be monitored, he said. Six fire crews worked on the fire along with three helicopters and DC-4 tankers. All of the equipment and personnel were pulled off on June 11.
The fire is the only one burning in the Deh Cho at this time.
Pool design moves forward
The Fort Simpson village council has chosen a design option for the new community swimming pool.
During a special meeting on June 7, council chose a design submitted by Sunshine Pool and Mechanical Contractors Ltd. of Edmonton. The new pool will be 15.2 metres by 7.9 metres.
After a firm price has been established for the entire project, financing options will be examined, said Sebastien Goyer, the village's senior administrative officer. The village has $700,000 budgeted for the project.
Chief elected
Keyna Norwegian was elected chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation with 61 votes in Monday's election.
Olinto Beaulieu received the second highest number of votes, 47, and was closely followed by Minnie Letcher who received 46. Cheryl Cli and Arnold Hope also ran for chief and received 41 and 33 votes respectively.
Council elections results were not available as of press time as some results required recounts.
– Lyndsay Herman
Show starts Tuesday
More than 500 delegates from various industries are set to descend on Inuvik next week for the 12th annual Inuvik Petroleum Show.
Events will be held at various locations around town, with most trade show activities taking place in the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.
"The Beaufort Sea Exploration Program Joint Venture (Imperial Oil) is generously sponsoring the public admission tickets for up to 500 participants over the two-day show," stated Heather Moses, tourism assistant for the Town of Inuvik.
Members of the public who wish to attend the trade show can do so on Tuesday, June 19 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, June 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. They are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Inuvik Food Bank as entrance to the event.
Details about other events surrounding the show – including a concert by Canadian rock legends Trooper on Friday night – can be found on the Inuvik Petroleum Show's website.
Wildlife Act seeks input
Officials from the GNWT's Department of Environment and Natural Resources were in Inuvik last Wednesday to discuss changes in the newly revised proposed Wildlife Act.
The act raised controversy among hunters in the territory when it was introduced and then retracted by Michael Miltenberger, minister of ENR for the territory, during the 16th Legislative Assembly.
The current proposed act includes changes stemming from public feedback during that time.
"We'd really like to get it passed, we can't keep working with the act we have now," said Lynda Yonge, director of the wildlife division for ENR, at the meeting.
The current draft is available on the NWT Wildlife Act website, and is open to public input until June 30. The act is expected to be tabled again in the legislature as early as this fall.
Pancakes for Aboriginal Day
Aboriginal Day will be celebrated in Inuvik next Thursday starting at 10 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre.
At 1 p.m., festivities are to begin at Jim Koe Park with a fish fry, fire truck rides, a bouncy house, aboriginal bingo, Northern games demonstrations, drum dancers and more.
A jigging contest is set for 6 p.m. and an old time dance is to get underway at 8 p.m.
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News desk 
