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News Briefs: Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Beer Barge Bash sold out
The NWT Mining Heritage Society's fifth annual Beer Barge Bash, which celebrates the tradition of the first resupply barge arriving in town after the winter, has sold out for this weekend.
Event co-ordinator Tracey Breitbach said there may be tickets available at the door, and advises those looking for last-minute tickets to show up at the Max Ward dock between 7 and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
- Graeme McNaughton
Seeking input
A five-year economic development strategy for the city of Yellowknife is in the works and the city is seeking public input.
The city has hired Millier Dickinson Blais, a national economic development firm, that has paired with Yellowknife-based economist Graeme Clinton of Impact Economics to work on the strategy.
A community survey is available on the city website until Aug. 1.
- Candace Thomson
Happy birthday Canada
Canada 150/2017, a series of countrywide conferences, will be visiting Yellowknife on Thursday.
The event is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Explorer Hotel.
The aim of the meeting is to discuss the best way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. The conference will feature speakers such as Nunavut Commissioner Edna Ekhivalak Elias; Erin Freeland Ballantyne, director for the Dechinta Centre for research and learning; Mark Walker, vice-president of government and aboriginal affairs for Northwestel; and chief electoral officer for the NWT, David Brock.
- Graeme McNaughton
Changing of the guard
Joint Task Force North will be holding a change of command ceremony at the Ceremonial Circle behind the Royal Canadian Mounted Police building at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
During the ceremony, Brig.-Gen. Guy Hamel, who has been in the North since June 2010, will be relinquishing command of Joint Task Force North to Brig.-Gen. Greg Loos.
Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony, which will feature a presentation and a parade involving 100 Canadian Armed Forces personnel and civilians with the Department of National Defence.
- Cody Punter
Film recognized
Repulse Bay
Students and staff members at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay were thrilled by the news their film project earned national recognition earlier this month.
The script used for, A Smile to Die For - written, filmed, edited and produced at Tusarvik - was named the ninth place winner in the National Aboriginal Writing Challenge.
Nicole Nanordluk was recognized as the official scriptwriter.
Hero carver
Arviat
Arviat carver Thomas Nibgoarsi is being hailed as a hero in his community after saving the life of a drowning girl this past week.
Nibgoarsi was walking around the community selling his carvings when he saw a girl waving her arms in an agitated state.
A friend of the girl's ran up and told the carver her friend was in real trouble. Nibgoarsi raced to the ice, grabbed the girl and pulled her out of the water to safety. He then performed CPR until help arrived.
The girl was transported to Winnipeg for medical treatment. As of press time, she was recovering in a Winnipeg hospital.
Track meet
Baker Lake
The Kivalliq Outdoor Track and Field Meet will be held in Baker Lake during the month of September.
The announcement was made earlier this month, although an exact date has yet to be selected.
The event will be hosted by the Baker Lake Youth Athletics Association.
Man sentenced
Baker Lake
A Baker Lake man has been sentenced to 18 months for pointing a firearm at a RCMP officer.
Joseph Attutuvaa, 21, had broken into the cargo section of the Baker airport on March 17 and made off with six bottles of hard liquor.
Although intoxicated when apprehended, Attutuvaa still had three bottles of liquor remaining when arrested.
The liquor was confiscated, and Attutuvaa returned to the RCMP detachment three days later in an attempt to steal them back. His plan was foiled by a civilian guard.
He returned later that same afternoon in an intoxicated state and armed with a rifle.
A resident had warned RCMP Const. Jason Briggs of the events unfolding.
The officer confronted Attutuvaa and talked him into surrendering the rifle.
Briggs had raised his own weapon after Attutuvaa pointed his rifle at him, but remained calm and continued to order the man to drop his weapon until he finally complied a mere 25 metres from the officer.
Canadian cleanup
Repulse Bay
Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay has been awarded a grant to take part in the 20th anniversary of the Great Canadian Cleanup this coming September.
The Tusarvik students will be going to a number of traditional campingandfishing areas to clean the garbage and litter from the shoreline.
Presented by Loblaws Companies Ltd., the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a conservation initiative of the Vancouver Aquarium and the World Wildlife Federation.
The program aims to promote the understanding of shoreline-litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups.
During the 20year history of the event, the national conservation initiative has removed more than onemillion kilograms of litter from Canadian shorelines.
Bursaries offered
Kivalliq/Nunavut
The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council is offering six annual Qulliit Leadership Bursaries to support the development of leadership skills in Nunavut's young women.
The bursaries are open to young women aged 14 to 17, to support their participation in Encounters With Canada.
The weeklong program in Ottawa sees participants meet accomplished Canadians, explore career options, develop civic leadership skills and experience a week of living and interacting with youth from across Canada.
The $500 bursaries will be used to help with registration fees to the gathering, and will be awarded equally across the three regions of Nunavut.
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