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News Briefs: Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Celebrating Mickey Beauchamp
A celebration of life will be held Thursday for Mickey Beauchamp, Yellowknife's former fire chief, at the Shorty Brown Arena.
The celebration will begin at 2:30 p.m. and friends and family are invited to attend.
Beauchamp died July 30 at the age of 66. He was the city's longest-serving fire chief and helped to build the Yellowknife Fire Division over a span of more than 30 years.
- Candace Thomson
Plane landed due to oil smell
A Canadian North plane returned to the Yellowknife airport after departing for Kugluktuk because of a strong oil smell in the cockpit, according to Earl Blacklock, communications manager for the Department of Transportation.
The plane, a Boeing 737, was inspected and determined to be safe for flight before continuing.
Blacklock said airport firefighters responded to the call and the plane was decontaminated before flight.
- Candace Thomson
Smoky skies
Yellowknifers may have noticed a smokey horizon the past few days as forest fires continue to spread across the NWT.
There are currently 76 fires continuing to burn and, as the wind shifts, smoke can be carried from any number of these fires into the community, according to Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief public health officer for the Department of Health and Social Services.
"The amount of smoke isn't so much about fires being close or far, but depends on where the wind is blowing and how it's bringing smoke in," Corriveau said.
Judy McLinton, communications manager for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said smoke is likely coming from fires south of Great Slave Lake.
- Candace Thomson
Harper in Hay River
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit Hay River on Aug. 20 and members of the public are invited to the Don Stewart Recreation Centre at 9:15 a.m. for an event set to commence at 9:45 a.m., Hay River mayor Andrew Cassidy said at a town council meeting Aug. 12.
The public event will be followed by a Conservative party luncheon at the Hay River Golf Course.
- Sarah Ladik
Bike safety
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
More than 30 youths received some great tips on how to stay safe while having fun on their bikes during the summer months in Rankin Inlet this past week.
The bike rodeo was jointly sponsored by the Rankin detachment of the RCMP and the local Department of Public Health. The children received a safety presentation and video display inside the public health office before getting additional pointers while riding their bikes in the safety of the parking lot in front of the public health building.
The youths also received some cool prizes and were treated to a special barbecue for the occasion, cooked and prepared by health staff workers, at the end of the rodeo.
Photo workshop
Arviat
Members of Arviat's youth media and research team were treated to a special workshop delivered by two professional photographers this past week.
Louise Abbott and Niels Jensen were in Arviat to work on Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s Cultural Resources Inventory Project documenting historical and archaeological sites.
Nunavut Arctic College's Jamie Bell said the two photographers were gracious enough to find the time to deliver the workshop during their stay. He said Abbott taught the youths about photography, its role in society, its use as a communication tool and how art can be interpreted.
Bell added Jensen and Abbot later spoke with Sony and were able to secure a donation of four cameras and various lenses.
Cans for the cure
Rankin Inlet
Cancer survivor Veronica Tattuinee is calling on Rankin residents to bring all their empty pop and beer cans her way.
Tattuinee will turn the cans over to the Kissarvik Coop and use the funds she receives to put towards the CIBC's Run For The Cure. Anyone interested in helping out can give Tattuinee a call, or, if interested in making a straight donation, look up the V Team on the Run For The Cure website.
The CIBC's Run For The Cure is scheduled to be held on Oct. 8.
Top athletes
Chesterfield Inlet
Kivalliq athletes stole the show at a 2014 Arctic Winter Games Arctic sports-selection meet in Chesterfield Inlet earlier this month by placing first in 19 of the meet's 22 events.
Leading the way with victories in three categories were Shirley Nakoolak of Baker Lake, Andrew Bell of Arviat and Blair Tautu of Chesterfield Inlet. Benjamin Sewoee of Arviat claimed two categories, while single titles went to William Angotingoar (Chester), Loranda Ekwalak (Whale Cove), Sarah Nakoolak (Baker), Courtney Samok (Chester), Miranda Uqayuittuq (Baker), Ralph King (Arviat), Jordon B. Okalik (Whale) and Adam Ussak of Chester.
Special delivery
Whale Cove/Rankin Inlet
Three brothers from Chevery, Que., sailed about 2,700 km to deliver a boat purchased by Louis Voisey of Whale Cove to Rankin Inlet earlier this month.
The fibreglass boat was refurbished by the brothers and was used for the first time in a decade when it set sail for Rankin.
It took the brothers 20 days to make the trip to Rankin in the 33-year-old boat.
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