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News Briefs: Friday, April 19, 2013
Festival lineup announced
The preliminary lineup for the 33rd annual Folk on the Rocks music festival has been released. The bill includes Toronto-based singer/songwriter Hayden, Vancouver-based indie band Hey Ocean! and The Grapes of Wrath. The B.C.-bred band last performed at the festival in 1990.
Yellowknife artists Diga (a.k.a. Jesse James Gon), Erebus and Terror, Natasha Duchene, Kelly Clark, the Borderless Art Movement and The Poor Choices are also on the program. The festival runs July 19 to 21.
- Nicole Garbutt
Academy closing
The Academy of Learning, a professional training institution in Yellowknife, is closing. Franco Buscemi, director of communications for Nunasi Corporation, which owns the Academy of Learning, said the company had been struggling to make the Yellowknife branch profitable for at least two years.
Students currently registered will complete their courses, but no new enrolments will be accepted.
- Sarah Ladik
NoPants Army drive
The NoPants Army is participating in the Relay for Life cancer-research fundraising event, but this year will be the first time the team will be without founding member Amanda Dei, fondly known as Mandy N. O'Pants.
Team members will be running in memory of Dei, who died of ovarian cancer in February. They will be holding bottle drives tomorrow and April 27 to raise funds.
Residents are encouraged to e-mail their addresses to thenopantsarmy@gmail.com to ensure pick-up.
- Sarah Ladik
Earth Day bonus
In an effort to encourage people to leave their cars and trucks at home on Earth Day Canada on Monday, the City of Yellowknife is offering free public transportation on its transit buses for the entire day.
- Danielle Sachs
News Briefs: Thursday, April 18, 2013
Chief resigns in Wrigley
Tim Lennie has resigned his position as chief of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation in Wrigley.
Lennie made the announcement through a letter to the band council. The council made a resolution to accept the resignation during a meeting on April 10.
The First Nation will be holding a byelection for the position of chief. The date for the election is expected to be chosen by the end of the week.
In the interim, George Moses is the acting chief.
Ice crossings near closure
Two ice crossings in the Deh Cho are nearing their final weeks of operation.
The closing dates of the crossings on the Liard River by Fort Simpson and the Mackenzie River at N'Dulee will be dependent on the weather, said Fred Lamb, GNWT regional manager of highway operations for the Deh Cho.
"We try to keep it open as long as possible," he said.
Both crossings are expected to remain open to all vehicles through this weekend. Following that, travel may be restricted to high-clearance vehicles, Lamb said. The crossings may close by April 26 or 27.
Lamb suggests motorists use the crossings in the mornings when the surface is still frozen.
Fire department recruitment drive
The Fort Simpson Volunteer Fire Department is looking for more volunteers to join its ranks.
The department will be holding a recruitment event on April 27 and 28 beginning at 10 a.m. at the fire hall. The weekend will include a general overview of the department's responsibilities related to ambulance calls, motor vehicle accidents and responses to fires, said Scott Whitmore, a member of the department.
Participants will also get an introduction to some of the equipment the department uses.
Students enter skills competition
Two students from Thomas Simpson School participated in the 15th annual Territorial Skills Competition.
Grade 10 student Ethan Moreau-Betsaka and Grade 12 student Kiyana Betsaka both competed in graphic design at the competition in Yellowknife on April 16. Skills Canada NWT, which runs the event, aims to promote careers in skilled trades and technology for youth in the North.
There are more than 15 different divisions in the one-day competition, open to secondary and post-secondary students, along with apprentices.
Chamber holds AGM
Newton Grey will be returning as the head of the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce.
The organization held its annual general meeting last week, and Grey agreed to another term as president.
However, Grey said he was only accepting the term on the basis that he wouldn't run again and that a succession plan be put in place.
Ski club hold races
The Inuvik Ski Club held its 45th annual Top of the World Ski Loppet April 14.
Forty-seven skiers took part, with Fraser Pearce nudging out a one-second win over Dave Halpine in the men's 10-kilometre race. Diane Wilson won the women's race.
Ice road closed
The ice roads from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik remained closed this week after a blizzard that started April 10.
Government sources said the road might open mid-week after reconstruction efforts.
It's the first blizzard of 2013 for the area, and one of the worst in years for the month of April.
Both hamlets were cut off from the rest of the NWT due to high winds and drifting snow.
Taxi rates causes consternation
The issue of cab fares in town continue to dog Inuvik council.
During the April 10 meeting, Coun. Kurt Wainman suggested the town should hold an in-camera meeting to discuss the rates.
There was little appetite for that suggestion, and senior administrative officer Grant Hood advised Wainman the council couldn't go in-camera without a satisfactory reason.
Hearings start on Wildlife Act
The Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure has begun its public hearings on a proposed new Wildlife Act.
The hearings began in Tsiigehtchic on April 10 and in Dettah April 17.
The upcoming hearings will be held in Hay River (April 18), Fort Simpson (May 13), Nahanni Butte (May 14), Fort Providence (May 15), Behchoko (May 16), Inuvik (June 10), Sachs Harbour (June 11), Yellowknife (June 12) and Fort Smith (June 13).
– Paul Bickford
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News desk 
