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News Briefs: Monday, September 2, 2013
Town manager's employment terminated
The Town of Norman Wells is looking for a new town manager to replace Christopher Parker, the town's mayor said.
Gregor Harold McGregor said councillors voted on Aug. 15 to terminate Parker's employment. McGregor would not give reasons for the decision.
"I really can't say a lot on it," he said.
McGregor said a consulting firm has been hired to evaluate applications.
- Kassina Ryder
Akaitcho assembly in Fort Resolution
The annual general assembly of the Akaitcho Territory Government is set to take place this week in Fort Resolution.
The assembly was planned to take place from Aug. 27 to 29.
The Akaitcho Territory Government is made up of Deninu Ku'e First Nation of Fort Resolution, Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, Smith's Landing First Nation of Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., and Yellowknives Dene First Nation of Yellowknife.
- Paul Bickford
Hay River wins seatbelt contest
Hay River was named the winner on Aug. 22 of the GNWT's Buckle Up NWT challenge after fending off four other communities.
The town won a free concert by Leela Gilday and the fire department received $5,000 by having the highest percentage of residents wearing seatbelts. Eighty-four per cent of community residents wore seatbelts in a recent survey by the Department of Transportation. The long-term target of Buckle Up NWT is to bring seatbelt usage in the NWT to above the Canadian national average of 95 per cent by 2017.
The four other communities that registered for the contest were Fort Resolution, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, and Tsiigehtchic.
-Paul Bickford
Bonnetrouge in court for dangerous offender hearing
Robert Bonnetrouge appeared in Yellowknife Supreme Court on Aug. 28, as crown prosecutors argued to keep him in custody.
Prosecutors want Bonnetrouge to be given dangerous offender status, meaning he won't be eligible for release until authorities think he's no longer a threat to the public.
Bonnetrouge was found guilty in September of forcible confinement and sexual assault against two teen girls in Fort Providence in July 2009.
He is scheduled to appear in Yellowknife Supreme Court on Nov. 18 for a decision on the matter.
- Daniel Campbell
Back to the books
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
Classes began at Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte on Aug. 28. On Aug. 26 and 27, staff at the school as well as the new Beaver volunteer Scott Luksys did cultural activities together.
There will be 10 students in the school this year in grades ranging from kindergarten to Grade 10. Renovations were done at the school during the summer so the students can look forward to new flooring and new bathroom facilities.
- Roxanna Thompson
Bon voyage to students
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Students from Sachs Harbour getting ready to go to Inuvik for the school year held a bonfire on the beach to celebrate.
The bonfire was organized by resident Doreen Carpenter, who has two children going to school.
Carpenter says the 10 youths in attendance bonded by cooking food, shooting off fireworks, and listening to music.
"They probably stayed up until 5 a.m. in the morning just telling each other stories," said Carpenter.
Carpenter's son Dustin Gully and daughter Cheyenne Gully will both be leaving for East Three Secondary School along with Alex Kudlak, Mariah Lucas, Shelby Lucas, Kirstyn Lucas, John Lucas, Candice Ash, Ashley Elanik and Leigha Keogak.
Albert Kaslak will also be going back to school but will be staying in Sachs Harbour and studying through an e-learning program.
- Cody Punter
End of summer programs
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Tsiigehtchic has ended its summer programs and summer students are returning back to school.
Jolene McCarthy, who made the schedule for the summer program, said the season went well.
"It was really successful," she said.
The program started on July 15 and ended on Aug. 23. Shavaugn Blake, Sylvia Norman, Angella Blake and Destiny Shea helped run the youth programs, organize canoe days and taught the children how to bake cookies.
They also helped teach youth about community politics by holding a scavenger hunt to introduce them to hamlet councillors.
McCarthy said the highlight of the summer was having Peter Ross teach the youth how to set fish nets while Irene Kendo taught them how to cut the fish.
Robert McLeod, Daryl McLeod, Davie Lenny Jr., Jacob Garl and Deron Stewart worked as summer students at the community shop.
Awards, in the form of $100 cash prizes, were handed out for various categories of achievement to all the summer students.
McCarthy wished the students good luck and hoped to see them again next summer.
"It was a real joy having all of them," she said.
- Cody Punter
Blessing of the Backpacks
in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Smith has offered a prayer for those returning to school.
During the church's regular Sunday service on Aug. 25, there was also a Blessing of the Backpacks.
The backpacks of students and teachers were piled in front of the altar prior to the service. Later, 10 students and five teachers were called up, and the congregation prayed with them for a hopeful and positive focus for the upcoming school year.
This is the second year that a Blessing of the Backpacks has taken place at the church.
- Paul Bickford
Slo-pitch tournament
in Fort Resolution
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
A slo-pitch tournament is planned for this coming weekend in Fort Resolution.
Fast Eddy's Third Annual Invitational Slo-Pitch Tournament will be held Sept. 6 to 8.
The maximum number of teams will be six, and each team will consist of six men and four women. There is an entry fee per team. The tournament will feature cash prizes for the top three teams, trophies, base running and home run hitting contests, fun games and more.
- Paul Bickford
After-school events start
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Youth centre and gym programs are up and running again in Ulukhaktok. The programs started back up again on
Aug. 19.
The after-school program runs from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, while evening programs are held from Monday to Saturday, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The programs will include a variety of activities including, baking, computer programming, arts and crafts.
- Cody Punter
Rockin' Robins win tourney
Tuktoyaktuk
Tuktoyaktuk held an adult baseball tournament Aug. 24 to 25. The tournament featured four teams,
including the Rockin' Robins, NTPC, Fishes and Delicious, and RGs.
The teams played a double round-robin semi-final and a final to determine the champion of the tournament.
The Rockin' Robins defeated NTPC in the final and Fishes and Delicious finished third in the tournament.
Terri-Lee Kuptana said the weather was chilly but the tournament was still well-attended.
- Cody Punter
Free workshops in Fort Resolution
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
The NWT Literacy Council is planning to offer two free workshops in Fort Resolution.
The first workshop on Sept. 18 will focus on facilitation skills. Participants will learn how to lead a meeting or workshop, and how to overcome stage fright.
The second workshop on Sept. 19 and 20 will focus on how to plan and write a proposal for a community project.
Both workshops will be held at the Fort Resolution Community Learning Centre of Aurora College.
- Paul Bickford
A close look at country foods
Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa
A Return to Country Foods workshop was underway in Kakisa on Aug. 27.
The second-annual workshop was scheduled to continue until Aug. 29.
Some community members were planning to go
to the fiddling and jigging competition in Hay River this past weekend.
- Roxanna Thompson
Part of road to Apex closed for four days
The road to Apex will be closed between Water Booster Station No. 1 and the entry to the old hospital in Iqaluit from Sept. 4 to Sept. 8.
The time will be used to fix drainage and re-pave that part of Niaqunngsiag Road, stated a news release from the city of Iqaluit.
Traffic delays are expected in the area during the closure.
The city is asking residents to drive carefully and follow any temporary road signs near the site.
- Miranda Scotland
Legislative assembly back in session
Iqaluit
The final sitting of the third session of the legislative assembly is set to start at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 5.
Territorial MLAs and the premier are expected to deal with government business until the sitting comes to a close, currently scheduled to happen on Sept. 17.
- Miranda Scotland
Crew cleans up fuel leak in Iglulik
Iglulik
Work is being done to clean up a fuel leak outside the Tummivut government building in Iglulik.
The leak was noticed July 18 by an oil burner mechanic who was working on site, said Kristi Lowe, environmental compliance manager with the Department of Environment.
Lowe couldn't say when the leak occurred or exactly how it happened.
"All indications are that the tank was hit by a vehicle. It's dented and moved off the foundation," she said.
The source of the leak was a 90-degree elbow leading from the tank into the building.
Nunavut Construction Corp., which rents the building to the government, has hired a company to clean up the site.
The contaminated soil, said Lowe, will be put into bags and sent down south for remediation.
The leak doesn't pose a threat to the public or workers in the building, added Lowe.
"Once it's cleaned up there should be no impact" on the environment, she said.
"NCC did everything right. They contacted us as soon as they found out about it and we told them what they had to do."
- Miranda Scotland
Mountie acquitted of assaulting prisoner
Qanabittuaq/Baker Lake
An RCMP officer charged with sexually assaulting a female prisoner at the Baker Lake police detachment was found not guilty on Aug. 23.
The alleged incident took place in 2010.
Const. Justin Dickens had maintained his innocence since the charge was laid.
After finding Dickens not guilty, Justice Bonnie Tulloch did say the Nunavut officer ignored many RCMP policies adding she found it defied common sense that an officer would search someone of the opposite gender without another officer present.
- Darrell Greer
More money spent building homes
Nunavut
The amount of money being spent on the construction of new homes in Nunavut has increased by more than 20 per cent over last year, stated a news release from Statistics Canada.
Nearly $3.93 million was spent on the construction of new dwellings in the territory during June of this year. This is an increase from June 2012, when under $3.1 million was spent.
Nationwide, less is being spent on home building, with $3.78 billion being spent in June of this year across Canada, a decrease from $4.05 billion the previous year.
- Graeme McNaughton
Bright future for utility bill
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
The hamlet office in Pangnirtung has installed a series of efficient LED lights around the building.
The pilot evaluation of LED lighting in the North was launched in partnership with LED Canada and the University of Alberta's Engage North program, according to a news release on Aug. 29.
LED replacement tubes with the capacity to adjust the level of brightness were installed in council chambers, 200-watt LED high bay lights were installed in the arena and municipal garage and LED panels were put in municipal offices.
"Pangnirtung has some of the highest utility costs in Canada, and 10 per cent of its municipal budget is spent on energy. Like many communities; Pangnirtung would rather direct every available funding dollar to programs like recreation and social services," the news release stated.
- Myles Dolphin
Cleanup complete
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
The cleanup at the Cape Dyer DEW-Line site is finally complete.
The site, which operated between 1958 and 1992, was littered with waste material.
Qikitaaluk Logistics had been mandated with the cleanup for the past two years, taking over from
SNC-Lavalin.
Peter Keenainak, vice-president of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, said the waste material will be shipped to Quebec for disposal.
"Some waste water was treated and we also have to dispose of waste oil," he said.
Some material, such as old steel - not deemed hazardous - is buried on site between protective membranes to prevent it from spilling into the permafrost.
Keenainak said the site would be continuously monitored.
The Cape Dyer site is approximately a half-hour flight from the community of Qikiqtarjuaq.
- Myles Dolphin
Four hunters rescued
Iglulik
Four hunters had to be rescued last week after the engine on their vessel malfunctioned, leaving them stranded in the area of Fury and Hecla Strait near Iglulik.
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130 Hercules, already airborne for an unrelated exercise, was sent from Winnipeg, Man., to find the men on Aug. 24, the same day they were reported missing.
The crew searched for more than an hour in heavy fog before landing in Resolute Bay for the night, according to a news release from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The following day a second CC-130 Hercules was sent, this time from Trenton, Ont.
After three of hours of searching, the crew found the hunters and dropped a radio to establish verbal communications.
Community members then used a boat to attempt a surface rescue.
When the residents found the hunters, they learned the engine on the 24-foot freighter canoe had stopped working while they were travelling to a hunting camp.
The hunters were then taken to safety along with the canoe, which was towed behind the boat.
Iglulik RCMP assisted with the effort. No one was injured.
The hunters names have not been released but they are between age 11 and 40 years old, said Staff Sgt. Paul Solomon.
- Miranda Scotland
Community cleanup
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Nasivvik High School students and staff took part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup on Aug. 30.
The national event is one of the largest environmental events in Canada and the third largest cleanup in the world, according to its website.
Participants were assigned various zones in the community to cleanup.
Nasivvik teacher Jaclyn MacAdam said while the cleanup typically happens in September, the event was held earlier because of colder weather.
- Myles Dolphin
Monumental vandalism
Iqaluit
Vandals recently targeted more than 30 small lights around the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. monument in Iqaluit, located in front of the Igluvut Building.
The damage was done over the Aug. 24-25 weekend.
Peter Keenainak, vice-president of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, said it would take up to two months to repair the lights.
"These light systems aren't off the shelf," he said. "We have to make a special order to get them from the south."
Keenainak said signage would be put up to warn people not to play in the area. Security cameras might be installed in the near future.
- Myles Dolphin
Lone graduate celebrated
Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet
Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet hosted a graduation ceremony for its lone member of the Class of 2013 on Aug. 23.
Vanessa Mimialik was the lone Chester student to receive her Grade 12 diploma this year.
In other Victor Sammurtok news, the school has a new principal.
Jay Boucher of Ontario is now the school's top administrator.
- Darrell Greer
Great expectations
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Students at Quqshuun School are getting back into the swings of things and that means relearning the school-wide expectations.
Last year, staff at the institution came to an agreement about what was expected from everyone while in the hallway, bathroom, gym or the breakfast areas.
While in the hallway everyone is expected to respect one another and each others property, have a hall pass during class time, walk quietly, remember to smile and greet others, line up when entering and leaving the building and hang up coats.
Staff have been handing out "Caught following the expectations" slips to help encourage students to follow the rules, according to principal Margaret Joyce.
The slips go into a bucket in the office for a draw where students can win a free small slush from the Co-op store.
"This has really helped us reinforce our expectations," stated Joyce.
- Miranda Scotland
Personal invitation
Arviat
An Arviat elder who fell through the cracks when a special trip was planned will now be going back to her original home.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada had readied charter flights to take Arviatmiut who had lived at Ennadai Lake, or had relatives who had lived there, to view the area where Inuit (Ahiarmiut) were taken from to be relocated at Nueltin Lake, Henik Lake and Arviat.
Elder Mary Anowtalik was overlooked during the process and not included among the passenger list.
Once the oversight was brought to its attention, the department corrected the situation by sending personnel to Anowtalik's home to issue a personal invitation to join the trip, which the elder gratefully accepted.
The trip gives the Arviatmiut the chance to see the area one last time before its buildings are demolished due to contaminants.
- Darrell Greer
Tundra fire
Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet
Folks in Chesterfield Inlet were keeping an eye on the land as a tundra fire burned about eight km outside of the community late last month. High wind kept the flames burning hot for a few days, but the community was not threatened.
- Darrell Greer
Community feast
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) held its annual general meeting in Arctic Bay from Aug. 27 to 29.
The company held a community feast on Aug. 28 at the Inuujaq School gymnasium.
Frozen caribou, stew, Arctic char and muktuk were served, said recreation co-ordinator Thomas Levi.
- Myles Dolphin
Improving learning in Gjoa Haven
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Elementary teachers in Gjoa Haven have kick-started this year's homework program with the hopes of improving students in-class performance.
Each child was sent home with a sheet filled with activities to compliment what they're learning at school, stated Quqshuun School principal Margaret Joyce.
For example, the document may contain words the students are learning in English and Inuktitut, along with an idea of how to use the language at home.
"The sheet was also to show parents what their children are learning and to involve them through discussions on the themes the children are covering in class," Joyce added in an e-mail to News/North.
Students are expected to return the sheet on Friday with their signature and their parents' signatures on the bottom.
Those who brought back the sheet on the first round were rewarded with a banana, a peach and an apple while every parent received a $10 gift card to the Northern store.
There was also a draw where parents could win a $25 gift certificate. Joyce said she will be tracking who brings the sheets back and how the program is affecting students' learning.
- Miranda Scotland
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