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News Briefs: Monday, July 15, 2013
New NWT fires
Nine new fires occurred in the NWT over the weekend bringing the fire toll for 2013 to 208.
Seven of the fires were under 10 hectares in size and were being monitored by fire fighters. Fire crews were fighting another fire 65 km north of Lutsel K'e, which grew to 10 hectares. The largest fire currently burning in the NWT according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is 300 hectares in size and 115 km southwest of Wrigley.
Eight of the current fires were caused by lightning and one was a coal seam in the Sahtu region.
Fires close park roads
Pine Lake Road was temporarily closed last week by forest fires in Wood Buffalo National Park.
The road was reopened on the morning of July 12 following rain the previous night.
It had been closed at the Salt River day-use area - about 25 kilometres south of Fort Smith in northern Alberta - due to fires near the road. Pine Lake, about 60 kilometres from Fort Smith, is a popular recreational area for residents of the community.
In addition, Parsons Lake Road remained closed on July 12 from the Salt Plains Overlook access road to Pine Lake Road. In all, there were 28 fires throughout Wood Buffalo National Park as of July 11.
- Paul Bickford
Deh Cho earthquake
Residents in Fort Simpson might have felt a bit shaky on Friday afternoon just before 2:00 as an earthquake, measuring a 4.9 on the Richter scale, occurred 136km south of Wrigley.
Garry Rogers, an earthquake scientist with the Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey of Canada, said the Mackenzie mountains surrounding that area are sensitive to earthquakes. He said they experience dozens per year, including a historic earthquake in 1985 that measured a 6.0 on the Richter scale, the largest ever to occur in that area.
- Candace Thomson
Safety violation charges
The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission has laid 17 charges in territorial court under the NWT Safety Act and General Safety Regulations, according to a news release issued by the commission on July 12.
Grizzly Marine Services Ltd., the GNWT and supervisor Bill Prodromidis are charged in relation to alleged breaches stemming from the serious injury of a worker at the Abraham Francis ferry crossing at the Peel River near Fort McPherson on July 12, 2012.
The first court date is scheduled for Aug. 28 in Fort McPherson.
- NNSL staff
Paddlefest to return for sixth year
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Slave River Paddlefest will be returning for its sixth year in early August.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 2 to 5 on the rapids of the Slave River, just south of Fort Smith on the Alberta side of the border.
Last year, the festival attracted more than 225 paddlers, including 52 from out of town. Each year, the event also attracts between 300 and 500 spectators.
Among the various events, there will be kayaking, canoe races, voyageur canoe racing with teams of six, and a flatwater flotilla.
The event is presented by the Fort Smith Paddling Club.
On July 2, the council of the Town of Fort Smith voted to support Paddlefest with a donation of $5,000.
--Paul Bickford
Collapsed garage to be demolished
Enterprise
A municipal garage is to be demolished in Enterprise as a result of the roof collapsing under the weight of snow in January. The collapse occurred after a heavy snowfall.
At its meeting on July 2, the community council voted to award the demolition contract to EV Enterprises.
No one was injured in the collapse of the roof. However, two older vehicles - a 15-seat van and a pickup truck - were heavily damaged inside the galvanized steel garage, but kept the roof from hitting the cement floor.
- Paul Bickford
Society plans Dark Sky Festival
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The second annual Dark Sky Festival by the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society will be held from Aug. 23 to 25.
The festival will take place in Fort Smith and at Pine Lake, about 60 kilometres south of Fort Smith in the Alberta section of Wood Buffalo National Park.
The activities will include planetarium shows at the Fort Smith Recreation Centre on Aug. 23, a space and science fair at Pine Lake on Aug. 24, sky observation at Pine Lake on Aug. 24 and 25, and planetarium shows at the Fort Smith Recreation Centre on Aug. 25.
- Paul Bickford
Summer programs
Tetlit'Zeh/Fort McPherson
The recreation committee in Fort McPherson began its summer programs last week. Starting on July 8, the youth centre was open for youth to drop by and participate in games, workshops, or just to hang out, from 1 to 5 p.m.
The committee will also be running events in the evening with something different happening most nights of the week from 7 to 10 p.m.
The week starts with a youth softball program for six- to 10-year-olds, which be will running every second Tuesday for the next couple of months.
The recreation committee will also be running a canoeing program on every second Wednesday, as well an archery program, which will be offered for the first time, every second Thursday.
Both programs are for all ages, however, youth under the age of 15 are required to be accompanied by an adult during the canoeing program.
"It looks like there's a lot of interest so it should be a good summer program," said Jackie Pascal, chair of the recreation committee.
- Cody Punter
Day camps underway
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Sachs Harbour's recreation committee has just started up its summer day camp programs for youth.
The committee will be running two separate programs - one for younger children and one for older youth.
The parents and tots program will be running from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for children eight and under, while the gym program for the older youth aged nine to 16 will run from 6 to 9 p.m.
Parents and tots co-ordinator Sabrina Lucas said the children can expect to play games, spend time at the beach, and even do some painting.
"I think it's pretty good. It's something for the kids to do," said Lucas.
The programs are free and will run every day from Monday to Friday until the beginning of August.
- Cody Punter
Elders picnic planned in Ulukhaktok
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The Hamlet of Ulukhaktok was to sponsor an elders' picnic at Jack's Bay on July 12.
The picnic was to take place from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. where hot dogs, hamburgers and fish were to be served. People were invited to bring their own food to donate for the picnic.
- Cody Punter
On the land
Paulatuk
The recreation committee is currently planning a program for youth ages 15 to 30 who would like to learn how to live on the land.
Between 10 to 12 youth will be participating in the program, which was originally scheduled to take place on July 15. It is hoped that a new date will be set by the end of the week.
The youth will be led by an instructor, a wildlife monitor and a cook who will teach them how to set fish nets, prepare food, read weather conditions, use a gun safely, and use a boat safely.
The program will be taking place on Green's Island, commonly referred to as Egg Island, about 20 kilometres away from Paulatuk.
"It's our cultural way of living and it's important to have younger generations to know how to live on the land," said recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben, who took part in the program nearly 10 years ago.
- Cody Punter
Program starts in Tuk
Tuktoyaktuk
The youth centre started its outdoor softball program on July 8. Sophie Stefure, youth co-ordinator at the youth centre, said the children were happy that softball has finally started.
"It's good, we had a really good turnout," said Sophie Stefure, youth co-ordinator at the youth centre.
Stefure said the program is for youth of all ages. On July 8, the youngest youth was five and the oldest was 13.
Some of the older youth in the community who now play fastball in Alberta and British Columbia during the school year are helping teach the skills to the other children.
About 15 youths showed up on the first day, just enough to play a game.
The program will continue to run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. for the rest of the summer.
- Cody Punter
Cellphone service arrives in Wrigley
Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley
Northwestel has a launched its 4G wireless service in Wrigley.
This marks the first time the community has had cellphone service.
Wrigley is the 10th community in the NWT where Northwestel has launched its 4G service.
- Roxanna Thompson
Airport damage blamed on fence
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung airport is in dire need of a new fence, said Ron Mongeau, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, following two incidents in which aircraft were damaged.
A small plane was broken into on July 9 and a variety of equipment, including a GPS and safety flares, were stolen.
Mongeau said he's been asking for a new fence for a long time.
"We have been pointing this out to the government of Nunavut for years," he said. "It's one of many problems with the airport, the others being its location in the middle of town and the issues with landing because of wind conditions. There is totally inadequate fencing that is falling down and falling apart and I've indicated on many occasions, in writing, that we need a new fence."
Mongeau said the fence has numerous areas where people can get in and the hamlet doesn't have the proper funds to build a new, expensive fence. He estimates the cost at approximately $250,000.
"We need support from the government on this," he said. "We're looking at a fairly expensive proposition here and we need them to pitch in."
The hamlet is also considering security cameras, Mongeau added. Although cameras could allow them to catch culprits, it may not deter them from breaking in.
People aren't the only concern. Dogs have also been known to go through the fence as they please. It happened a month ago when a dog wandered onto the runway 20 minutes before an aircraft was scheduled to land.
"This goes beyond vandalism," Mongeau said.
"We can talk about this issue until we're blue in the face. We need an air strip where we can keep people and animals out of, and a fence that is secure, that will do the job it is designed to do."
On June 28, a 35-year-old man who was believed to have been intoxicated was charged with several offences after more than $5,000 worth of damage was done to a helicopter's window at the Pangnirtung Airport. The aircraft, which was set to bring scientists to Auyuittuq National Park, was out of service for several days.
- Myles Dolphin
Ship en route to Arviat
Kivalliq
Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. (NSSI) is gearing up for its barging season with ships bound for the Kivalliq region this month.
The company has planned trips to all of the communities in the Kivalliq and at this point the ships are on track for the first deliveries, said Waguih Rayes, general manager with Desgagnes Transarctik Inc. "The ships are proceeding and should be there around mid-July in the communities, such as Arviat," he said. "This year we're operating six cargo ships from the beginning of the season, all the way to the end. This requires lots of planning and cool heads and I believe we are on the right track."
The ship schedule can be found on NSSI's website and is expected to be updated frequently to ensure accuracy.
- Miranda Scotland
Youth preview RCMP training
Nunavut
Ten students from across the territory attended the Nunavut Police Experience Program in Iqaluit from June 24 to 28.
Sponsored by the RCMP, the program gives students the opportunity to learn about policing aspects such as self defence, forensics, drug-awareness and various procedures.
The students also participated in a community clean-up at the end of the week, clearing trash from Iqaluit playgrounds.
- Myles Dolphin
Fire at townhouses
Iqaluit
A fire that broke out in Iqaluit on the evening of July 10 was at the same location in the White Row townhouses as a fire that claimed the lives of two people last year in March.
At approximately 7 p.m. the Iqaluit Fire Department responded to a call about a stack of plywood that had caught on fire. More than a dozen firefighters were at the scene to put out the flames.
No charges have been laid and the fire is still under investigation, said RCMP Cpl. Yvonne Niego.
- Myles Dolphin
Gas used to start church fire
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A fire broke out at Holy Comforter Anglican Church in Rankin Inlet on the June 29-30 weekend after youths got in and splashed some gas in a corner of the building, said Reverend Canon Paul Williams.
The fire, which happened in the evening, caused damage to part of the church floor and sub-flooring, he said.
Neither Williams or Ambrose Karlik, Rankin Inlet fire chief, had an estimate for the damage.
"(The incident) is under investigation now," said Karlik.
The church is planning to get a quote from a local company to find out what it would cost to fix the scorched area, said Williams. If the price is too high, the congregation may decide to do the work instead.
In the meantime, Williams is asking parents to keep an eye on their children.
"I know that building sites tend to be a tremendous draw for children, but they're also very dangerous, so I would just really invite people to be aware where their kids are," Williams said.
- Miranda Scotland
Games on Nunavut Day
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
Nearly 300 residents attended Nunavut Day celebrations in Qikiqtarjuaq on July 9.
Traditional games such as kukuutaq, a Marco Polo-type game of tag, were played and a community feast was also held, said recreation co-ordinator Eena Kooneeliusie.
Gift certificates and cash prizes were given out. Children aged one to four took part in a traditional clothing contest and participants had a chance to enter a draw to win other prizes.
- Myles Dolphin
MP flight diverted to Whale Cove
Tikirarjuaq/Whale Cove
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq made an unexpected visit to Whale Cove July 3 after her plane was unable to land in Chesterfield Inlet due to weather.
When she arrived, she met with council to discuss community projects and future plans for Whale Cove, said Paul Kaludjak, the hamlet's senior administrative officer. They talked about infrastructure programs, road development and marine infrastructure, such as a docking facility.
The community also expressed interest in seeing a drop-in youth centre constructed in the community, added Kaludjak.
On July 4, Aglukkaq headed to Baker Lake and in the evening returned to Whale Cove for some festivities.
"We had hot dogs and burgers for everybody, including her," said Kaludjak. "She was able to meet with people on a casual basis, one-on-one sometimes, and talk about things."
The community also held a square dance for Aglukkaq and she saved a dance for the hamlet's mayor.
- Miranda Scotland
Athletes trying out for Games
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Two Arctic Bay residents are heading to Chesterfield Inlet next month for territorial try-outs and a chance to earn a spot on Team Nunavut. Gideon Allurut and Robert Barnabus, both Inuit games athletes, are vying for a spot on the team that will go to the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska, next March. The athletes in the Inuit games competition compete in one-foot high kick, two-foot high kick, Alaskan high kick, kneel jump, sledge jump and triple jump.
- Myles Dolphin
Division discussion remembered
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Nunavut Day in Kugluktuk was celebrated with an open house and talk at the Elders Centre on July 9. The topic? Whether to join Nunavut or stay with the Northwest Territories.
Commissioner Edna Elias and former MLA Red Pedersen hosted the open house, which was about the great debate on whether to join Nunavut or remain with the west, pre-Nunavut days.
- Danielle Sachs
Consultation on coal exploration
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
A public consultation meeting was held in Grise Fiord last week and residents were given more information on possible coal exploration aspirations in the region.
Representatives from Canada Coal Inc., a company that has 75 active licences on Ellesmere Island and Axel Heiberg Island, were in the community on July 10 to speak to the community as part of the consultation process.
Some of the explorations would take place on nearby caribou and polar bear hunting grounds, causing opposition in Grise Fiord, said Marty Kuluguqtuq, the assistant senior administrative officer.
- Myles Dolphin
Research on killer whales
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is conducting research on killer whales in and around Pond Inlet with the help of the local Hunters and Trappers Organization, according to Dr. Steve Ferguson.
"The main goal is to get better information on killer whales and the impact they have on their prey," he said. "They may potentially be eating more prey than usual and we want to study the impact on various populations."
A crew is currently doing research in nearby Eclipse Sound, tagging dorsal fins and photographing whales for identification purposes.
- Myles Dolphin
Live through dancing
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Three days of dancing are coming to Cambridge Bay in August. Live. Love. Dance. is a celebration of life through dance. It kicks off Aug. 5 with a jigging and square dance competition. It's open to people from other communities and subsidized travel is available, said Sarah Lynn Olayok Jancke, co-ordinator of the event.
- Danielle Sachs
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