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News Briefs: Monday, Aug 27, 2012
Arsonist sentenced
A Fort Smith man was sentenced Aug. 22 on a charge of arson in connection with a New Year's Day fire.
Lyndon Tyrell McKay, 19, was handed five months in jail by Judge Garth Malakoe in Fort Smith Territorial Court.
That sentence was reduced by 94 days because of the time McKay spent in custody prior to being sentenced. He will also be on probation for a year upon his release.
McKay pleaded guilty in May to a charge of arson in connection with a fire that heavily damaged a building in Conibear Park on Jan. 1. The building was later removed from the municipal park after being deemed a safety hazard as a result of the fire.
- Paul Bickford
Nominations close
Nominations closed on Aug. 22 for the upcoming election at Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith.
However, electoral officer Lynda Martin said the names of the candidates won't be released until sometime this week after the eligibility to run is confirmed for each candidate.
The election, which is set for Sept. 24, is for a chief and six councillors.
- Paul Bickford
Farming online
Residents with a green thumb who are looking to learn more about growing in the NWT should check out the Territorial Farmers Association's new website, said executive director Andrew Cassidy.
Farmnwt.com contains a wealth of information on how to grow fruits and vegetables in the North. There is also a forum where people can ask questions and provide feedback on gardening and farming.
"We can grow quite of bit of stuff here, it's just a matter of kind of the how, the when, the where and some of those questions are addressed on that website," said Cassidy.
- Miranda Scotland
Mangoes recalled
Northerners are being warned not to eat mangoes bought between July and August because they may be contaminated with salmonella braenderup bacteria, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The affected fruits bear stickers with PLU# 4959 and were sold at various retail stores between July 12 and Aug. 14.
The CFIA said there have been several confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of these mangoes. The bacteria on the fruit could cause salmonellosis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Anyone with symptoms should contact a doctor.
- Miranda Scotland
Busy Days in Aklavik
Aklavik
A variety of games and activities will take place in Aklavik at the end of the month in celebration of the Labour Day weekend.
The annual Busy Days celebration is scheduled to start on Aug. 31 and run until Sept. 3, said Faith Gordon, administrative assistant at the hamlet.
At least eight game booths will be set up at the Sittichinli Recreational Complex for kids and adults. Bingo games and a casino will take place as well.
"It's a big event that everybody looks forward to," Gordon said.
- Kassina Ryder
Canoe Days coming up
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Residents of Tsiigehtchic were scheduled to celebrate the 21st annual Canoe Days last weekend.
In addition to canoe races, there were many other activities planned to entertain residents and visitors, said Bobbie Jean VanLoon, recreation co-ordinator.
Opening ceremonies were set to take place on Friday and were to be followed by a community feast and performances by the Fort Good Hope Drummers.
There was to be a pancake breakfast Saturday morning before the races and the evening was to include jigging contests for adults and youth. Raffle draws were to take place on the final day of the festivities, Aug. 26. Prizes included cash awards of up to $2,000, a trip from Inuvik to Edmonton for two people and a traditional men's vest and slippers.
VanLoon said the event took a lot of hard work from volunteers.
"Thanks to all the volunteer for helping out during the annual Canoe Days and all the sponsors also," she said.
- Kassina Ryder
Fall programming planned
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The Arctic Red Fox Youth Centre and the gym at Helen Kalvak School will have activities for all ages this fall, said Joanne Ogina, recreation co-ordinator.
The gym will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and will feature sports such as floor hockey and basketball.
The centre will have an after-school program from Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. An evening program will also be available Monday to Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.
- Kassina Ryder
DiscoverE workshops held in Tuk
Tuktoyaktuk
Kids in Tuktoyaktuk learned about science and engineering earlier in the month after the DiscoverE program came to town. The program is delivered through the University of Alberta and is a branch of Actua, an education program that promotes science, technology and math.
Kristen Carlson, a DiscoverE instructor, and a partner delivered the program in Tuk.
She said kids learned about gyroscopic motion by making their own yo-yos, as well as designing and building a catapult.
Carlson said the goal of the educational event is to give kids a summer program that also shows them possible options for post-secondary education.
"It's kind of a nice way to have a positive program for them and also make them aware of what else is out there," she said.
DiscoverE was scheduled to travel to Aklavik this week.
- Kassina Ryder
GNWT warns of bison on highways
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
The GNWT is advising drivers to use extra care on highways 3, 5 and 7 from mid-August to mid-December.
That's because more than 75 per cent of bison collisions in the NWT occur in that time period.
"Drivers in bison country must be particularly cautious at this time of the year because of the much higher rate of collisions," said Transportation Minister Dave Ramsay in an Aug. 15 news release. "We can all do more to avoid collisions and injuries on our roads and trails."
On average, 20 collisions with bison and two injuries to people are reported to police each year in the NWT.
The last fatality from a bison-vehicle collision was on Highway 3 in 2009. The victim in that accident was not wearing a seatbelt.
The GNWT's advice for avoiding collisions with bison and other animals include:
Watch for movement on the highway and in the right-of-way, and ask passengers to help watch for bison and other animals.
Drive at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions. Reduce speed at night.
Whenever possible, drive on highways 3, 5 and 7 during daylight hours only.
The GNWT also advises drivers to ensure everyone in a vehicle is using seatbelts at all times, and to carry a satellite phone or locator device in case of an accident.
- Paul Bickford
Mock disaster set for Enterprise
Enterprise
A simulated emergency - otherwise known as a mock disaster - will be held in Enterprise on Sept. 28.
The exercise will be part of a $27,000 contract the Hamlet of Enterprise awarded in June to the Genesis Group of Yellowknife.
The project, which included a tabletop exercise on Aug. 18, involves a review of the hamlet's emergency measures plan.
The review is expected to be completed by the fall.
- Paul Bickford
Labour Day barbecue in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A Labour Day barbecue will be held in Fort Smith on Sept. 3. The barbecue, sponsored by the Union of Northern Workers and the Northern Territories Federation of Labour, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Conibear Park.
Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the free food.
The annual barbecue has been held for more than10 years.
- Paul Bickford
Nunavut low credit risk
Nunavut
The Government of Nunavut received an inaugural credit rating of Aa1 with a stable outlook.
Moody's Investors Service announced on Aug. 21 it has assigned the GN an Aa1 credit rating, meaning lending to the territorial government carries a low credit risk. Only a Aaa rating is higher than the one the GN received. Aa ratings, according to the credit agency, are at the higher end of the investment grade.
"The presence of stable, federal transfers plays an important factor in the Aa1 rating," stated the credit rating agency in a press release.
Finance Minister Keith Peterson welcomed the territory's inaugural credit rating.
"Receiving this credit rating marks an important step in the GN's fiscal development," he stated. "Nunavummiut and outside investors can be confident we take our fiscal commitments seriously."
The credit rating of the provinces and other territories ranges from Aa2 to Aaa. Nunavut's rating of Aa1 is in the middle.
The territorial government stated the credit rating will allow them, amongst others, to borrow money more cheaply from financial markets as it indicates to investors they can be confident the GN will repay its debts.
The current rating is valid until Moody's changes the status or until the business relationship between the GN and Moody's ends.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Police calm distraught armed man
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Local RCMP officers and the Emergency Response Team from Iqaluit were able to calm a tense situation in Clyde River Aug. 20 after responding to a complaint about a distraught, armed man home alone, police stated in a release.
No specific threats were made, but the community's fire department blocked off the area to ensure no one got hurt.
Negotiators were able to secure the man's arrest without incident after more than 12 hours. A 41-year-old man, who police said had numerous weapons on site, was to be assessed by a doctor.
"We are fortunate that no-one was injured during this incident, which speaks to the professionalism and patience of (our) members," said V Division Supt. Hilton Smee. "We thank the people of Clyde River for their support and assistance during this incident and we are grateful that this has ended peacefully."
- Casey Lessard
Parents attend court to support man accused of rape
Iqaluit
Given a few moments to speak with his parents after court proceedings Aug. 23, the young man accused of back-to-back sexual assaults on two women in one night hugged his mother and told her, "I love you," before returning to jail.
Lucassie Ipeelie, 24, was set to return to court the following day to discuss bail because Crown prosecutor Leah Winters was in a conflict of interest in the case and needed to be replaced.
Ipeelie faces six charges, including two counts of sexual assault, and one count each of forcible confinement, uttering threats, assault and breach of probation.
The charges stem from allegations from two complainants Aug. 14 in Iqaluit. RCMP received a call from one complainant that she had been attacked outside a home. Soon after, a resident called police to say a different woman was being attacked elsewhere, allegedly by the same man.
- Casey Lessard
More charges possible against teacher
Sanikiluaq
Police may bring more charges against former Sanikiluaq school teacher Johnny Meeko, 58, who currently faces 29 sex charges involving eight complainants.
Meeko, who is in custody, was upbeat and friendly with court staff when he made his first appearance at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on Aug. 20.
Defence lawyer Mark Christie told justice of the peace Alan Weeks that a bail hearing should wait a short while longer in anticipation of further charges. Meeko was set to return to court Aug. 24 for an update.
The charges against the retired teacher date from 1984 to 2006.
- Casey Lessard
Crown appeals ruling in Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. case
Nunavut
The federal government is appealing the court decision awarding Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. millions in damages for delays in making use of the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan.
Justice Earl Johnson of the Nunavut Court of Justice had granted NTI's motion for summary judgment and had ordered the federal government to pay $14.8 million in damages the Inuit land claim organization was seeking. In his June 27 ruling, Johnson wrote he accepted NTI's argument that the Crown's delay in implementing the plan is a breach of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
But the Crown filed an appeal of the decision at the Nunavut Court of Appeal on Aug. 16. It is arguing the court erred in finding the Crown had an obligation to act in NTI's best interest in the development and implementation of the plan, according to the appeal document.
It adds the court also erred in determining and calculating the damages.
NTI President Cathy Towtongie stated the appeal is "very disappointing."
"The Government of Canada continues to spend its resources on fighting NTI in court rather than focusing on fulfilling promises it made years ago in exchange for Inuit surrendering aboriginal title in the Arctic," she stated in a press release.
- Jeanne Gagnon
City election call goes out in capital
Iqaluit
Anyone considering running for Iqaluit city council has until Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. to submit their nomination form.
Mayor Madeleine Redfern has already said she will not run for re-election, meaning the city will have a new mayor after the Oct. 15 election.
There will also be at least one other new face on council to fill the vacancy left by the late deputy mayor David Ell.
Voters will choose eight councillors, five Iqaluit District Education Authority members, four Apex DEA members, and five members for Iqaluit's French school board.
- Casey Lessard
Memorial at crash site
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Some families of the victims of First Air flight 6560 gathered in Resolute to mark the one-year anniversary of the crash, which claimed 12 lives.
A plaque located slightly up the hill from where the plane crashed on Aug. 20, 2011, some 1.5 km short of the community's airstrip, was also unveiled, said Anne Akeeagok from Grise Fiord and friend of the owners of the South Camp Inn.
She added more than 50 people gathered at 11:42 a.m. on Aug. 20, the time of the fatal crash, for the site's blessing and to remember the 12 who perished and the three survivors. Akeeagok said in the evening, First Air staff from Yellowknife came in and went to the crash site. She said the memorial marks a new beginning.
"The mood, it was like sad but at the same time happy," she said. "Rather than mourning and grieving and all that, this is a turning point."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Acting mayor until byelection
Iglulik
Deputy mayor Peter Ivalu will assume mayoral responsibilities in Iglulik until a byelection is held this December to replace outgoing Mayor Nicolas Arnatsiaq.
Arnatsiaq had announced earlier this month he would step down from his mayoral position as the proposed Mary River iron mine project puts him in a conflict of interest. He is also Baffinland's community liaison in Iglulik. His resignation is to be effective at the end of the month.
Ivalu said council made the decision during the Aug. 20 meeting.
"There will be a byelection in December so I'll just be acting mayor until (an) election is held," said Ivalu.
He added he hasn't decided on whether he will run as mayor.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Scholarship deadlines
Kivalliq
Inuit students have until Sept. 1 to apply for the Kivalliq Inuit Association's Ukkusiksalik National Parks Scholarship Trust, and its Meadowbank Project Scholarship Fund.
The national parks scholarships are available to those pursuing training or education in traditional ecological knowledge, archeology, anthropology, history, sociology or other social sciences, biology, geography, geology or other natural sciences, renewable resource management, or administration, including business management, financial management, accounting, bookkeeping and human resource management.
The Meadowbank scholarship is available to full-time students who are Nunavut Land Claims Agreement beneficiaries, and a preference is given to those in mine-related fields of study.
- Tim Edwards
One day blowout in Pond Inlet
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Shoppers in Pond Inlet got a big bonus Aug. 21 when they visited the Tununiq Sauniq Co-op. Everything in the store - except groceries and cigarettes - was 44 per cent off to celebrate the co-op's 44th anniversary.
"Anything in the store, such as camping gear, housewares, clothing," said relief manager Brett Homer.
The co-op's board of directors made the sale decision the night before, Homer said.
The store was also holding draws for gift certificates ranging in value from $100 to $500.
Comments on a community Facebook forum anticipating the 100th anniversary - and the prospect of 100 per cent off - caused Homer to chuckle.
"I don't know about that," he said. "I'm sure we'll do something different when that time comes."
- Casey Lessard
How to run a small business
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A small-business seminar is being held in Rankin Inlet from Sept. 5 to 7 at the Rankin Inlet Fire Hall.
Aimed at those running small businesses or considering starting one, the seminar will cover how to register the business, credit, financing, marketing and branding.
Registration is free but space is limited.
The contact for the seminar is Evan Morrison, the community economic development officer.
- Tim Edwards
Drivers get training in Arctic Bay
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Instead of having to send drivers out for training, Arctic Bay has brought trainers into the community to teach heavy equipment operator and Class 3 air brake courses.
"Generally, people go out for this training, to Morrisburg (Ont.,) or places like that," said economic development officer Clare Kines. "Then we have to search for funding for that. This is new for us in terms of holding the training here. We bring in instructors using the equipment that is found here."
The hamlet has three pieces of heavy equipment, so three people can take that training at one time. Eight people can take the air brake course. Some trainees are hamlet employees, while others are unemployed or underemployed.
The training can help the hamlet increase capacity for future driver needs, and trainees get skills that can be used to get work at mines and other locations, Kines said. The training is funded by the hamlet, the Government of Nunavut, and Kakivak.
- Casey Lessard
Navy ship visits Qikiqtarjuaq
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
On Aug. 13 and 14, Qikiqtarjuaq hosted a visiting navy ship's crew of 42, who were in the area exercising Canada's sovereignty over Arctic waters.
Crew from HMCS Goose Bay, based in Halifax, brought food for a community barbecue. The hamlet offered country food.
"They brought hamburgers, hot dogs and pop," said hamlet finance director Rikki Butt. "We put on a traditional feast for them, with clams, maktak, char. We had a great visit with them."
Community members had the chance to tour the ship Aug. 13, and the crew took on local children in a soccer match the following day, Butt said.
- Casey Lessard
Two extra weeks of vacation
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Two extra weeks of summer vacation is what Kugluktuk High School students got as the first day of school was pushed to Aug. 17.
Kugluktuk High School principal Gary Kennedy said the district education authority decided to push the school year start date by two weeks for the calendar to fall closer to departmental exams for senior high students.
He added 123 students from grades 7 to 12 are enrolled this year. The school also welcomed one new teacher for senior high social studies and English.
"They (students) were very eager to get back to school. Parents were very eager to have them come back," said Kennedy.
- Jeanne Gagnon
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News desk 
