 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Friday, Oct 12, 2012
Investigation continues
Yellowknife RCMP continue to investigate a sexual assault that occurred on Franklin Avenue shortly after midnight on Sept. 19, according to Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding.
Based on tips received from the public in response to a sketch and description of the assailant released on Sept. 24, investigators have compiled a list of suspects, he said.
Police are still asking anyone who may have information about someone matching the suspect's description, or who may have seen the 15-year-old victim or the suspect around the time of the assault, to come forward with what they know.
- Laura Busch
Thanksgiving checkstop
Police officers were out in full force during the Thanksgiving long weekend, conducting Operation Impact, which aimed to ensure safety on Yellowknife roads over the holiday weekend.
Roughly 200 vehicles were checked in Yellowknife, said RCMP Const. Todd Scaplen, resulting in two impaired driving charges, one 24-hour suspension, one charge of marijuana possession and 40 tickets issued under the Motor Vehicle Act, .
- Laura Busch
Territorial government top employer
The GNWT was declared one of Canada's Top 100 Employers on Oct. 10 when Mediacorp Canada Inc. released it's annual list on Oct 10.
Of the eight categories companies were judged on, the GNWT received an A grade in financial benefits and compensation.
-Lyndsay Herman
Yk MLA questions costs for Inuvik school
Daryl Dolynny, MLA for Range Lake, is taking issue with the cost of Inuvik's new super school: East Three.
The estimated cost of the building is at more than $110 million, while seven years ago, the cost was set at $35.5 million. Dolynny said he expects the cost to balloon to more than $121 million after site remediation work at the two old schools is completed.
- Katherine Hudson
News Briefs: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012
MLA to visit Wrigley
Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche is expected to make a community visit to Wrigley today.
Menicoche will be meeting with the residents in the area. After that he is scheduled to head back to Yellowknife for the third session of the 17th legislative assembly, which will reconvene on Oct. 17.
Menicoche was also set to visit Nahanni Butte Oct. 10 and Trout Lake Oct. 9. However, his visit to Trout Lake was cancelled due to weather.
Cross-country event
Fort Simpson students will be running in the NWT Cross Country Running Championships that are being held tomorrow in Fort Smith.
The event will run from noon to 3 p.m. at the Fort Smith Ski Club, just south of the community.
First Nationsigns agreement
Acho Dene Koe First Nation (ADKFN) signed a foundational community agreement with Calgary-based company TransCanada.
A signing ceremony was held at the Fort Liard municipal council office. Chief Harry Deneron, Ernie McLeod, president of Fort Liard Metis Local, and council members Jim Duntra and Janna Deneron were present for the event.
The signed agreement ensures that funding will be provided to ADKFN for community driven capacity development initiatives.
Negotiations for the agreement were spurred by TransCanada plans to build a pipeline through part of the band's territory in British Columbia.
Time to vote
Fort Simpson residents will be heading to the polls Oct. 15 to vote in the municipal election.
Fifteen candidates are running for council positions while another seven are running to sit on the district education authority.
The polls will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the recreation centre.
Toy library opens
The Open Doors Society toy lending library program reopened last week.
The program faced difficulties this past summer when vandals broke into the society's space, which is located on the upper level of the recreation centre. The uninvited visitors splattered paint around the room, covering furniture and toys with the substance.
However, the mess has since been cleaned up and regular programming will be happening Monday to Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Final forum
The Inuvik Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates forum starting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the community hall at the Midnight Sun Complex.
All 15 candidates for eight positions on town council and two candidates for the position of mayor are expected to be at the forum, which will give members of the community a chance to ask questions and hear what from each of the hopefuls.
The forum is in advance of Monday's municipal election. Voting for a new town council starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Residents living on or west of Reliance Street can cast their ballots at the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre. Those living east of Reliance Street will be able to vote in the Community Hall at the Midnight Sun Complex.
Cultural celebrations
A meeting for everyone interested in hosting a booth and getting involved in the third annual Inuvik Heritage Festival – scheduled to be held Oct. 21 at the Midnight Sun Complex – is being held Thursday at 7 p.m. in a meeting room at the Midnight Sun Complex, during the same time as the all-candidates forum.
Once again, the festival will feature three hours of celebrating the various cultural groups found in Inuvik.
Food Bank drive
The Inuvik Food Bank will be collecting donations of food on Sunday during a door-to-door food drive through the streets of the town. Residents who wish to make a donation are invited to call the food bank and then wait for a driver to arrive to make the pickup.
Bags of non-perishable food items will be collected in order to restock the shelves of the food bank. Earlier in the summer the food bank was broken into and vandalized. A lot of the food supplies had to be thrown out. The food bank has been closed since then. For more information, contact Ashley Lennie.
Auction for art
The Royal Canadian Legion is hosting a Northern-themed dinner and art auction on Saturday.
Presented by the Great Northern Arts Society, the event is being held to raise money for youth programming at the 2013 Great Northern Arts Festival, which is the 25-year anniversary of the week-long event.
"This is the first time we've done it," said Sasha Webb, executive director of the Great Northern Arts Festival. "We ask for donations from artists and there are some truly fantastic pieces available."
This was the first year the festival held free daily workshops for youth and Webb wants to continue that tradition into the coming years.
"There are still tickets left. I'd encourage anyone who wants one to get them as soon as possible," said Webb.
| 
News desk 
