 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Friday, January 25, 2013
Inquest called in shooting death
NWT chief coroner Cathy Menard has formally called for an inquest into the 2012 shooting death of 42-year-old Karen Lander.
Lander was shot by police in Yellowknife on March 14, 2012. Medicine Hat Police Services conducted an external investigation and decided no charges were to be laid against the Yellowknife RCMP officers.
- Danielle Sachs
Soccer player gets tryout
Yellowknife athlete Dillon Torindo is auditioning for what could be a shot at playing professional soccer.
Torindo is training with FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League after travelling to the city on his own dime and apparently impressing the coaching staff enough they let him stick around.
- James McCarthy
Don't be a butthead
The GNWT's anti-smoking campaign for youth, titled Don't Be a Butthead, is back in action, delivering information and educational programming to all schools in the territory with the aim of preventing youth from smoking, the Department of Health and Social Services announced Monday in a news release.
- Laura Busch
Cancer Society fundraiser kicks off
The Canadian Cancer Society is hosting a volunteer appreciation event from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow in the lower section of the Centre Square Mall.
Teams, volunteers and cancer survivors are encouraged to attend the event, which will officially launch registrations for the 10th anniversary of Relay for Life in Yellowknife.
- Thandiwe Vela
News Briefs: Thursday, January 24, 2013
Delays on winter road
A 24-hour delay was expected on the Mackenzie Valley winter road between Wrigley and Tulita on Jan. 22 due to three vehicle incidents.
A wrecked vehicle was partially blocking Bob's Canyon at kilometre 753 causing traffic delays while another vehicle was stalled in the middle of the road blocking all traffic at Four Mile Creek, six kilometres south of Tulita.
And a loaded tanker was jackknifed across the Selene River Hill. The truck caused a backlog of approximately 100 vehicles, according to the Department of Transportation.
The department said the incidents reinforce the need to drive with caution at an appropriate speed for road and weather conditions. Drivers should also be sure their vehicle is in top condition before going on to the winter road.
Public hearing on Prairie Creek Mine
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board will be holding public hearings in two Deh Cho communities concerning Canadian Zinc.
The hearings will take place in Fort Simpson from Jan. 29 to 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the recreation centre and in Nahanni Butte on Feb. 1 in the community gymnasium. The board will be listening to concerns and comments on the two type-A land use permits and the type-A water licence that will cover all of the water use, waste disposal and other activities associated with mining and milling at the Prairie Creek Mine.
After the hearing, board staff will develop draft terms and conditions for the permits and licence, that will be distributed for review before being finalized.
Deh Cho participation in walking challenge
Six teams from the Deh Cho are among 75 from 21 communities participating in the third annual Mackenzie River Walking Challenge.
Teams have from Jan. 7 to March 4 to collectively walk 1,658 km, the equivalent distance along the Mackenzie River from Fort Providence to Tuktoyaktuk. In the Deh Cho, there are two teams in both Fort Simpson and Fort Providence and one each in Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard.
The community team, headed by Diana Gargan, has walked the farthest of any Deh Cho team so far with 960 km reported by Jan. 22, putting them between Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope on the virtual map.
Bonspiel in Fort Simpson
The Fort Simpson Curling Club will be holding its annual Merchants' Mixed Bonpiel this weekend.
Games will be held on Jan. 25 at 7 and 9 p.m. and will then continue throughout the weekend.
Early NWT commissioner dies
One of the first commissioners of the Northwest Territories, Gordon Robertson, has died.
A long-serving civil servant with the federal government, Robertson rose to the ranks of Clerk of the Privy Council Office and Secretary to the Cabinet, and served as commissioner of the NWT from 1953 to 1963.
Robertson died on Jan. 15 at the age 95, after a battle with Alzheimer's.
In a statement of condolence to Robertson's family, Premier Bob McLeod said he was saddened to hear of Robertson's passing.
"It was during his 10 years as commissioner that the current borders of the Northwest Territories were recommended, and our strong, unified territory owes its beginnings to his leadership," McLeod stated.
– Thandiwe Vela
Tournament registration opens
Registration is open for a five-on-five basketball tournament taking place at East 3 School on Feb. 1 and 2.
Participants can join one of four categories: boys and girls 12 and under, boys and girls under 15, boys and girls 19 and under, and adult.
Tournament organizer Lorne Guy said the region is already buzzing about the event. Teachers in Tuktoyaktuk and Fort McPherson have sent him e-mails saying they can't wait for the tournament, he said.
Interested residents should contact East 3 high school for more information.
Walk for literacy
Residents are invited to celebrate Family Literacy Day Jan. 27 with the town’s library.
The day is expected to kick off with a walk for literacy at 1 p.m. The march is tentatively set to leave from the Midnight Sun Complex and conclude at the Inuvik Centennial Library. At that point participants will be invited in for hot beverages and snacks.
At 2 p.m. families can enjoy a special story-telling session featuring puppets and toys from one of the library’s new programs.
Dart to the heart
The Inuvik Dart Association is raffling off tickets to a Valentine's night out on the town.
The winner will get a romantic dinner for two at Andre's Place, a one-night stay at the Mackenzie Hotel in a room with a Jacuzzi tub, a basket with goodies and free babysitting if required.
The winning ticket will be drawn at 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Legion.
| 
News desk 
