 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Monday, November 12, 2012
Construction firm faces charges
Rowe's Construction is facing charges for allegedly dumping materials potentially harmful to the environment in Wood Buffalo National Park, according to Crown prosecutor Kindra Lakusta.
The Hay River-based company is charged under section 32(1) of the National Parks Act, which refers to the mitigation of environmental damage, specifically pollution clean-up.
Wayne Thompson, a foreman for Rowe's Construction, is co-accused in the matter. The case was before the court on Nov. 5 in Fort Smith. Proceedings were adjourned until February.
- Miranda Scotland
Teen health reportcalls for anti-bullying
A report on NWT student health, well-being and health behaviour recommended the implementation of initiatives to prevent bullying, improve student mental health, build interpersonal relations and increase physical activity inside and outside of school.
The report data was collected through the Canada-wide Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children study and released by the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment and the Department of Health and Social Services.
- Lyndsay Herman
Housing Corp. takes off pressure
Home ownership clients with mortgages and arrears may benefit from a recent decision to adjust historical client files to align with the NWT Housing Corporation's current homeownership support.
A news release from the corporation announcing the change states approximately 400 clients will have their mortgage balances reduced. Those affected will be notified in coming weeks.
Contact the NWT Housing Corp. for more information.
- Lyndsay Herman
Ambassadors chosen
Forty-seven youth have been selected to participate in the 2012 NWT Youth Ambassador Program.
Youth in the program are provided with a structured volunteer experience in which they can participate in major events to develop life and job skills.
"Youth have the opportunity to represent their communities and the NWT while gaining valuable skills," stated Robert McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Ambassadors are chosen based on community involvement, commitment to a healthy lifestyle and a personal reflection paper.
- Miranda Scotland
Preparing to deck the halls
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Ulukhaktok residents are using this week to recover from their candy hangovers and to gear up for the Christmas holidays.
On Oct. 30, residents flocked to the community centre to enjoy a haunted house. About 150 people came through the spooky setup, which ran from 7 to 9 p.m.
A costume contest was also held with Keiana Bernhardt, Keiran Notaina, Jacob Klengenberg, Justin Memogana and Mary Kudlak taking first in their respective age categories. Meanwhile, at the cake decorating contest, Denise Taptuna took first and second place and Natasha Olifie brought home third.
The district education authority was scheduled to hold its annual general meeting Nov. 7 at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School. Parents and guardians were invited to attend.
- Miranda Scotland
Things heat up
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Chief Paul Niditchie School was hopping on weekend of Nov. 3 with residents participating in a four-on-four volleyball tournament. Merrance Cardinal, Bobby Jean VanLoon, Darius Andre and Peter Clark reportedly took home the win. Each of the four teams that entered had to have one youth, one male, one female and an elder on the squad in order to play.
The competition continues Nov. 17 when floor hockey teams take each other on in a four-on-four tournament.
The following day there will be a church service at 3 p.m. on living the good life. Then on Nov. 19 there will be a lunch sponsored by the band council and the Tsiigehtchic charter. In the evening the church is having a family night and hot chocolate and hot dogs will be served.
- Miranda Scotland
Gross-out challenge
Aklavik
Moose Kerr School students in kindergarten to Grade 6 participated in a Halloween concert two weeks ago. The event featured recitals and plays, with a focus on literacy. The event was well attended by parents and community members.
Meanwhile, the older students competed for cash prizes in a Fear Factor-type challenge. The RCMP and Aklavik Mayor Arny Steinwand were also part of the gross-out event.
Later on Nov. 2 the Aklak assembly was held to acknowledge students for doing well.
Awards were given out for attendance, merit, sportsmanship and embodying school values.
Finally, the school is set to hold a remembrance day ceremony on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. There will be candle lighting, speeches and two minutes of silence, among other presentations. Community members are welcome to join the students in the gym for the ceremony.
- Miranda Scotland
On the hunt
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
The community is preparing for the muskox harvest, which is expected to start within the week. Students from Inualthuyak School are planning to watch the hunt as part of a field trip with their class.
Also, near the end of November, youth from the community will be travelling to Inuvik for swimming lessons.
- Miranda Scotland
Rising stars
Tetlit 'Zheh/Fort McPherson
The community will be hosting a number of events and activities Nov. 18 to 24 in order to raise awareness during Addictions Week.
Then, on Nov. 20, Chief Julius School is having its monthly awards ceremony. The school will be giving recognition to the student of the month and leader of the month. There will also be awards for perfect attendance and academics.
The following day, the school is holding parent-teacher interviews from 1 to 6 p.m.
- Miranda Scotland
Sudden death in Cambridge Bay
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
A man found unconscious outside died in Cambridge Bay last week.
Cambridge Bay RCMP performed CPR on a man found laying outside a residence in the community at about 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 7 as they transported him to the health centre, stated police. Efforts to revive the man at the local health centre proved unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead.
Police are not releasing the name of the man.
The RCMP is reminding everyone to dress for the weather and to notify family or friends if travelling.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Iqaluit fire a close call
Iqaluit
A fire Oct. 24 in duplex 151B in Iqaluit, was also a close call for residents at 151A who share the same wall.
"It was pretty harrowing," said Peter Casey, who lives in the duplex with partner Valerie Idlout. "We returned home to see flashing lights, ambulance and fire trucks so we sped up. Initially we thought it was our place."
Luckily the fire was limited to just the one building; only residual smoke made it through the cracks.
While the couple had to leave their house, the Red Cross put them up at the Frobisher Inn and gave them a food voucher for Arctic Ventures.
Similarly, for the couples' dog, municipal enforcement put him up in a "fine suite" so he wouldn't have to stay at the pound.
"We just want to say thank you publicly to the Iqaluit fire department for quickly extinguishing the fire before it caused further damage, the Red Cross and city bylaw," said Casey.
According to a city of Iqaluit press release, the building on fire was unoccupied when the fire department arrived, and no injuries have been reported
- Peter Worden
Remembrance Day breakfast
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
A breakfast to remember veterans was scheduled as part of Peter Pitseolak School's Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 9.
Principal Mike Soares said staff planned to serve food to the students, who in turn prepared speeches related to Remembrance Day.
"Because of the freedom that is won for us by veterans, we're able to do things like this," he said. "It's always good to remember people when you're sitting and having a meal."
Later that day, the high school scheduled a formal ceremony to remember veterans, which included laying wreaths.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Mud into ice
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
It's been a slow, sticky start to the skating season in Pangnirtung with higher-than-usual temperatures turning the arena's ice into a muddy mess this past week.
The rink is now expected to open by early- to mid-December. In the meantime, it has again raised hopes for more advanced ice-making equipment.
Pangnirtung MLA Hezakiah Oshutapik suggested in the legislature last week that as an alternative to a costly artificial ice arena, the community might look into a thermosyphon system in the near future.
Arena maintainer Samson Kilabuk, who has been making ice at the arena for many years, recommended replacing old materials in the facility, such as the wood under the ice which has begun to rot.
"That would be great. It would be very beneficial for a lot of people," he said.
- Peter Worden
Anti-bullying campaign
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
The importance of working together instead of working against each other was raised during a recent anti-bullying campaign in Hall Beach.
Arnaqjuaq School principal John Sarapnickas said the awareness campaign for students included classroom-specific activities and two assemblies, including the viewing of a video with a community counsellor. He said the school participated in an anti-bullying campaign to stop problems before they happen.
"We don't have any major issues here in school more than any other school, I don't think. Maybe less. We just want to keep it that way," said Sarapnickas. "We want to make sure the kids are always help each other rather than try to compete or hurt against each other. More preventative than anything."
- Jeanne Gagnon
A snapshot of Nunavut's coasts
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
Marty Kuluguqtuq and the local hunters and trappers organization were happy to lend their expertise to the Department of Environment in its "coastal inventory" last week.
The GN-initiated project is gathering a collection of information on coastal resources and activities from all across the territory through community interviews, such as with Kuluguqtuq.
"Hunters in town were given a map of Grise Fiord hunting area, which is a pretty big area, and we go through what they see out on the sea over last few years," he said.
The interview team - consisting of an interviewer, translator, recorder and observer - showed the hunters a map and a binder with different species of animals.
The final report aims to give an accurate, current snapshot of all animal and plant life on land, on sea ice and at the flow edge.
Conclusions from a previous report, filed in Iglulik five years ago, stated, "The Inuit can expect significant environmental changes to occur in sea ice, fast ice, coastal erosion, animal behaviour and population abundances, to mention but a few."
One particular case in point concerns polar bear abundance, which has been linked to changes in sea ice, which in turn has been tied to global warming.
- Peter Worden
New school in the planning
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
The Government of Nunavut has announced it will invest $50,000 this year on the planning and design for a new middle school in Baker Lake.
- Darrell Greer
Land trip for junior high students
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Kugaaruk's junior high students were out on the land last week to learn from elders.
Kugaaruk School Principal Michael Bartley said 10 students from grades 7, 8 and 9 spent the week of Nov. 5 on the land with elders about 30 km outside the community. High school students usually go for land trips but they wanted to give those in junior high a chance to travel with elders, he added.
"They try to do a lot of things, mostly talking about stories and how to do things. They'll be fishing. They'll be hunting," said Bartley. "A lot of that time is so elders can share how they live, how to treat others, what things are important in life, help them deal with any issues they're going through. Wonderful times when you get a chance."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Trade show in Rankin Inlet
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet will be a busy place from Nov. 19 to 22 when the community hosts the third annual Kivalliq Trade Show.
This year's event is sponsored by Sakku First Aviation.
In addition to the main show held at the Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik gym on Nov. 20, there will be an arts market at the Leo Ussak Elementary School gym and a community entertainment evening at the community hall featuring the Rankin Inlet Adult and Youth Square Dancers with fiddler Patrick Kabluitok.
There will also be a full day of small business presentations on the 21st. For a complete listing of the presentations go to http://www.kivalliqtradeshow.ca/schedule/.
- Darrell Greer
| 
News desk 
