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News Briefs: Friday, August 2, 2013
False alarm shuts down power
A false fire alarm at the Snare Rapids hydroelectric plant shut down power to parts of Yellowknife for 17 minutes on July 25, according to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
The automatic shut down occurred at 12:04 p.m.
Back-up diesel power was used to restore power until the system at Snare Rapids was restarted.
- Lyndsay Herman
MLA calls for fuel price regulation
Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins is again calling for the GNWT to start regulating the price of gas to help ensure a fair rate at the pumps.
In a Friday release, Hawkins cited statistics from Natural Resources Canada that found the price of gas in Yellowknife was more than 10 cents higher than the national average.
Hawkins is asking people to sign an online petition that calls on the GNWT to regulate gas prices for home heating and vehicles.
- Graeme McNaughton
Road work
The lane reductions on Franklin Avenue between Old Airport Road to Norseman Drive will begin early next week.
The reductions are being done to complete work on the sewage and water connection to the Northland Trailer Park.
Lane closures and traffic diversions will be changing over time as the project progresses.
Updates about what lanes will be closed will be posted regularly on the city's social media pages.
- Cody Punter
Gas and diesel consumption down
The average price for gasoline at Yellowknife filling stations has been $1.389 per litre for some time, but fuel consumption in the region is dropping.
People in the Northwest Territories consumed 11 per cent less diesel and four per cent less gasoline from 2011 to 2012, according to a Tuesday release from Statistics Canada.
Most of Canada's motor vehicle fuel sales dropped in 2012, but the average price at the pump rose by 3.2 per cent from 2011, with the average litre of gasoline in Canada costing $1.28.
- Daniel Campbell
News Briefs: Thursday, August 1, 2013
Public administrator appointed for health authority
A public administrator has taken over all duties and responsibilities formerly handled by the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority's board of management.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tom Beaulieu appointed Jim Antoine, a former premier of the NWT and former chief of Liidlii Kue First Nation, as the public administrator.
In a July 29 news release, Beaulieu stated he determined it was in the best interest of Deh Cho residents to appoint a public administrator as a result of ongoing concerns with the management of the authority.
Antoine's duties will include supporting the development and approval of strategic plans and polices, appointing medical staff, ensuring quality assurance, budget approval and management.
Call for action on education system
Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche is calling for the territorial government to address academic achievement.
In a news release, Menicoche stated he is concerned about the results of the 2012 Alberta Achievement Tests results showing the territorial government has failed to improve education achievement over time. There is little indication of improvement in student achievement over the past six years, he stated.
The necessary investments to ensure student success are not being made, Menicoche stated.
Annual camp concludes
The annual Dehcho Youth Ecology Camp wrapped up this week.
Fifteen youths from the ages of 12 to 18 from Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Trout Lake and Jean Marie River spent July 26 to Aug. 1 at Cli Lake for the camp. The camp exposes participants to environmental sciences as well as traditional knowledge.
Topics at this year's camp were set to include the Dehcho Land Use Plan, aquatic ecology, NWT species at risk, boat and wilderness safety and canoeing.
Long weekend golf tournament
Golfers can spend the final day of their long weekend on the Seven Spruce Golf Course.
The Nahendeh Classic golf tournament will be held on Aug. 5. Registration for teams of four will begin at 11 a.m. with tee-off taking place an hour later.
The tournament is open to all residents of Fort Simpson, regardless of their golfing skill level. Dinner and prizes will follow the 18 holes of golf.
Arson charges laid
The RCMP has charged two men after last week's fires near the Blueberry Patch.
The Inuvik RCMP responded to two reports of buildings on fire in the same multi-unit complex in the early morning of July 20 and in the evening of July 22.
RCMP Cpl. Barry Ledoux said Michael Patrick McLaughlin of Inuvik, 49, has been charged with arson for both incidents, as well as failing to comply with conditions. McLaughlin is in custody and is set to appear in territorial court in Yellowknife on Aug. 6.
John Wayne Kiktorak of Inuvik, 47 was arrested and charged with break and entering with intent to commit arson and attempted arson for the incident on July 20. Kiktorak was released on bail and is to appear in territorial court in Inuvik on Nov. 12.
Three other recent fires in Inuvik are under investigation.
Ten teams in tourney
The Midnight Sun Slo-Pitch Tournament is set for a long weekend's worth of softball fun.
Organizer Jeff Amos said 10 teams have now registered for the tournament and the final schedule is being worked out.
Most are teams from Inuvik, although Aklavik is sending a team to participate in the popular event.
The tournament is sponsored by the Inuvik Softball Association, which is also helping to run the Women's Territorial Championships in Inuvik from Aug. 9 to 11.
Media moguls sought
The Inuvialuit Communications Society is looking for the next generation of Inuvialuit media producers.
"We are now accepting applications for our media production internship and training program for Inuvialuit beneficiaries," spokesperson Tony Devlin said.
Devlin said the program is a "paid, hands-on training program which will cover all aspects of media production, including photography, videography, research and writing, on-air presentation, news gathering, documentary production, budgeting, digital video editing, publishing, marketing and use of social media."
The program will run in Inuvik from Sept. 9 until June 27.
Focus on stick work
Rose Constantineau of the Inuvik recreation department is encouraging residents to participate in a design contest for Nordic walking poles.
The competition is for youth aged 15 to 25 and is put on by the Urban Poling Organization and the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association.
Urban poles are better known as Nordic walking poles. It's a dryland variation derived from Nordic skiing that is reputed to provide a better total-body workout than either walking or hiking though use of the upper body.
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