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News Briefs: Friday, Aug 31, 2012
Military to pay $1.8 million for powerlines
The Department of National Defence has agreed to pay the Northwest Territories Power Corporation $1.8 million for the expense it incurred when a Griffon helicopter knocked out power to Yellowknife in February.
The military helicopter clipped a Snare Hydro transmission line Feb. 13 while the Canadian Forces were conducting operations near Yellowknife. It took power corp. 10 days to fix the problem. On May 31, the power corp. submitted the claim to cover the cost of repairing three high-voltage transmission lines and providing the city power through diesel generators from the Jackfish Lake power plant for the 10 days.
At $100,000 a day for fuel the generator was the company's greatest expense.
- Miranda Scotland
City election update
Nominations for mayoral and city council candidates will open on Tuesday and will close Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. Eligible voters have until Oct. 5 to update their information with city hall or be added to the list. Three more candidates, Linda Bussey, Rebecca Alty and Daniel Wong, have announced to Yellowknifer they will be running for city council.
- Lyndsay Herman
Lucky Yellowknifer
Yellowknife lotto players should check their tickets because one lucky soul may be holding a winning Lotto 6/49 ticket. The owner of a ticket purchased in Yellowknife won in Wednesday's bonus category and will take home $34,212.90.
The winner has not yet been identified, according to a spokesperson from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The night's big prize - $6,673,245 - was shared by two tickets purchased in Ontario.
- Miranda Scotland
Cause of power outage undetermined
Workers at the Northwest Territories Power Corporation are unsure what caused Wednesday's hour-long, city-wide power outage.
The outage lasted from 4:08 p.m. until 5:07 p.m. and was the result of an issue on the Bluefish line.
"On the Bluefish line, crews are actually walking that 30-km line today to actually determine the cause," said power corp. spokesperson Bob Kelly.
- Miranda Scotland
News Briefs: Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012
Singing finals approach
Musical and performance talent will be highlighted in Fort Providence on Sept. 8.
The finals for season five of the Snowshoe Idol will be held at the Snowshoe Lounge in the hamlet. Twenty-three finalists have been chosen throughout the summer and 20 are expected to participate in the finals.
Beginning at 2 p.m., each finalist will sing three songs that will be graded by a panel of judges. The judges will then deliberate and choose the top five final contestants.
The final contestants will sing two more songs before everyone in the lounge has a chance to vote for the winner. This year, each judge's vote will be weighted as 20 votes. People can also vote online on Facebook.
The Snowshoe Idol will win $1,000 as well as a number of other prizes. There will also be door prizes drawn for people in the audience.
Graduation ceremony at Deh Gah School
Deh Gah School in Fort Providence is having its graduation ceremony on Aug. 30.
Approximately 13 graduates are expected to received their scrolls. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m.
Later in the evening, there will be a grand march by the graduates and a celebratory dinner.
Agreement signed
Canadian Zinc Corporation and the territorial Department of Transportation have signed a collaboration agreement.
The agreement is designed to ensure effective co-operation between the department and the company related to the public transportation infrastructure that will support the Prairie Creek Mine. According to a press release, the department has agreed to work with the company to ensure public safety by identifying areas on Highway 7 and the Nahanni Butte access road that require upgrades.
Canadian Zinc plans to use the highway system to bring fuel, equipment and goods to the mine and to transport its mineral products. For its part, the company will provide reports to the department about its anticipated road-use requirements.
Fiddler appeals for votes
Deh Cho residents have less than a week left to help a local musician make it on to the stage at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
Fort Simpson fiddler Wesley Hardisty has been nominated for an award in the category of Best Fiddle CD. People can vote online for Hardisty by going to the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards' webpage.
The deadline to vote is Sept. 3.
Be bear aware
The Inuvik Youth Centre is partnering with Parks Canada to deliver a bear safety course on Aug. 30.
Samantha Stokell, the centre's executive director, said the course will take place along the ski trails outside of town from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is available to everyone in the community.
"It's just good information to have," Stokell said.
Stokell said the youth centre opened this summer for the first time in two years and organizers are trying to partner with organizations in the community.
The centre is now open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- Kassina Ryder
Community report coming
A community report on Inuvialuit language and identity will be presented Sept. 5 at the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre from 7 until 8 p.m. and Sept. 6 at the Aurora Research Institute from noon until 1 p.m.
Alexander Oehler is presenting research and data gathered between Aug. 1 and Dec. 20, 2011.
The purpose of the study was to examine how Inuvialuit beneficiaries feel about the importance of Inuvialuktun in relation to their own cultural identity, said Oehler.
The study consulted 45 Inuvialuit beneficiaries and involved interviews, group meetings and surveys.
Construction moves ahead
A council meeting was called last Thursday to provide an update on the Children First Building.
Ninety per cent of the steel work has been installed, said Peter Clarkson of the construction committee.
The floors and walls are expected to be in by the end of September.
Some of the building materials have been moved off-site into storage for safety reasons, according to Clarkson.
"We moved all the insulation into the warehouse because kids or teenagers were jumping on it," he said.
The wrapping around the insulation could tear letting moisture get in and ruining the insulation, said Clarkson.
Greenhouse volunteer night
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is holding a volunteer appreciation night in the Greenhouse classroom at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The highlight is the premiere of the 2012 Inuvik Greenhouse DVD - a 10-minute documentary of the growing season.
There are also door prizes planned, including a donated silver fox fur.
The entire community is welcome to attend.
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News desk 
