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Monday, April 14, 2014
Husky to drill, ConocoPhillips holding off
Husky Energy Inc. has made an application with the the Sahtu Land and Water Board (SLWB) to drill four exploratory wells approximately 40 kms southeast of Norman Wells in the Sahtu Canol shale formation.
Two wells are planned for one site this winter. Two more wells would be drilled at a second site in 2016. Husky Energy board approval will determine the extent of any eventual exploration related to this application.
ConocoPhillips has announced that it will not proceed with any drilling this season related to its Sahtu Canol shale exploration.
"We currently have no approved capital funding for the 2014-2015 season," said ConocoPhillips spokesperson Lauren Stewart. "At this time (we) do not anticipate any drilling or testing (flowback) work on EL470 for the upcoming winter season."
Stewart cited internal funding decisions for the suspension of exploration.
"A decision was made to allocate funds to other projects in ConocoPhillips' global portfolio for the 2014/2015 winter drilling season," Stewart said.
The company will proceed with its anticipated application to the SLWB to drill up to ten test wells over the next five years, in order to be in a regulatory position to proceed if the company green lights the work.
- Walter Strong
NWT parks website launched
The GNWT is launching a new user-friendly website to make it easier for people to make reservations at territorial campgrounds online.
The streamlined site includes more photos and details of individual campsites and will allow users to book multiple sites in different campgrounds at once which will ensure that friends and families can book sites side by side.
The new website will be open for reservations beginning April 15.
Most NWT parks will open on May 15.
- Cody Punter
Alcohol sales up across NWT
The sale of alcohol in the Northwest Territories went up by a total of 2.2 per cent between 2012 and 2013, according to new statistics from Stats Canada.
As a result the territory's liquor authority pulled in an additional 4.5 per cent in net income with a total of $26,043,000.
Wine accounted for the largest increase with a 5.4 per cent jump in sales, followed by spirits (2.4 per cent), and beer (0.8 per cent).
The sale of alcohol across Canada went up by a total of 3.2 per cent.
- Cody Punter
Smith students raise funds
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Students at Paul William Kaeser High School in Fort Smith recently held a fundraising event to help children in need in the African country of Kenya.
The event on the last weekend of March raised $5,800 to help care for orphans, street children and young people with HIV/AIDS in the slums of the capital city of Nairobi.
Thirty-six students and 12 teachers participated in the 24-hour famine fundraiser.
- Paul Bickford
Self-defence course for women in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Aurora College's continuing education program at Thebacha Campus will be offering a self-defence course for women next month in Fort Smith
The two-day course will run on the afternoons of May 3 and 4.
The workshop, which is specifically designed for women, will teach self-defence skills and tactics.
The registration deadline is April 25.
More information about the course, including the fee, can be obtained by contacting the continuing education program at Aurora College.
- Paul Bickford
Smith's Landing seeks to begin youth group
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Smith's Landing First Nation is collecting the names of band members with the goal of beginning a youth group.
The band is seeking the participation of members between ages 14 and 30.
Smith's Landing First Nation has its reserve land in northern Alberta, just across the border from Fort Smith. However, many members live in Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Celebrations begin
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Ulukhaktok will be holding a weekend-long celebration for Easter, April 18 to 20.
The weekend will begin with a mass at the Anglican church at 3 p.m. April 18.
"Everybody attends church," said acting recreation co-ordinator, Kassandra Ekpakohak.
After church there will be games on the ice at Queen's Bay sponsored by the elder and youth committee.
Later that night, there will be a drumdance and square dance at the school gym. Followed by a teen dance beginning at midnight.
Saturday will see more of the same with games on the ice during the day and dancing at the school from 8 p.m. onwards.
On Easter Sunday, the community is invited to go on the land at Okpilik for fishing, rabbit hunting and sliding, all of which will be followed by a large cook-off.
But the most interesting event of the day will likely be the "rabbit poop collecting competition," which is exactly what it sounds like.
"They do that every year. I'm not sure who came up with that," said Ekpakohak, adding jokingly, "It's a good thing that they're frozen."
The top three "poop collectors" will get gift certificates for the co-op.
The weekend will then wrap up with a hockey game at the local arena.
"It's always a fun weekend," said Ekpakohak.
- Cody Punter
Jamboree just around the corner
Tuktoyaktuk
Tuktoyaktuk's annual Spring Jamboree is set to take place Easter long weekend, April 18 to 21.
The weekend will kick off with drum dancing, square dancing, followed by opening ceremonies and crowning of the Jamboree King and Queen at Kitti Hall.
Traditional games are scheduled for Saturday, including harpoon throw on the ice in the harbour during the day and a jigging competition at Kitti Hall at night.
On Sunday, a talent show is planned, as well as snowmobile races, and more games down by the harbour with more of the same on Monday.
Raffle tickets will be drawn at the closing ceremonies and prizes include a snowmobile, round-trip Canadian North flight to Edmonton, as well as cash prizes. It will take place Monday afternoon at Kitti Hall.
Acting recreation co-ordinator, Caroline Loreen, said raffle tickets will be available for purchase right up until the time of the draw on April 21.
- Cody Punter
Students off to Europe
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Eleven students from Chief Julius School made their way on a 10-day trip to Europe on April 11. The students, who are from Grades 9 to 12, designed the trip themselves and are making stops in France, Austria, and Italy.
Throughout the trip they will get to learn leather making in Innsbruck Austria, glassblowing in Florence, Juliet's balcony in Venice and the Louvre and the Eifel tower in Paris.
Teacher Brandi Hehn will be accompanying the students
She said students are most excited about going to Paris.
"I think it's because it's the one they're most familiar with," she said.
The students have been fundraising for more than 18 months and have raised close to $75,000 to pay for it. In order to be eligible to go, each student has had to maintain a high level of academics, attendance and behaviour.
"It's been an extra initiative for them," said Hehn. They plan to put on a thank-you presentation for the community when they return.
- Cody Punter
Ready for the Easter bunny
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The Open Doors Society will be holding its annual Easter egg hunt April 21 at noon at the Fort Simpson territorial campground.
The Fort Simpson Community Garden Society is holding its annual general meeting April 15 at 6 p.m.
The Seven Spruce Golf Course has scheduled its annual general meeting for the end of the month, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the Nahanni Inn's boardroom.
Bompas Elementary School started practices this week for athletes who will be competing at the soccer tournament in Grande Prairie from May 1 to 5.
The school is collecting old telephone books as part of a fundraising opportunity with Northwestel.
- Roxanna Thompson
Call for wolf carcasses
Akalvik
The Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee will be closed April 11 to 16 as the representative will be on annual leave. Hunters who want to sign out tags for bear hunting during that time should contact Faye Gordon at the hamlet office.
Local Environment and Natural Resource offices have also announced that they will be collecting wolf carcasses from hunters up until April 14.
Hunters who return a carcass along with the completed kit, which can be picked up from the ENR office, are eligible for a $200 payout.
Carcasses brought in after April 14 will not be accepted.
- Cody Punter
Drive safe during this Tyme
Iqaluit
Toonik Tyme is here and the City of Iqaluit is asking motorists to be cautious while driving downtown and around the court house, Iqaluit Square and Nakasuk School.
Residents are also reminded not to park on the side of the road, walk ways or city trails.
"The Iqaluit municipal enforcement department will be out during these events and will be monitoring traffic for any violations," states a news release from the city.
Iqalummiut can be fined between $50 to $150 for parking in an unauthorized area. Speeding can land you a fine of $100 to $250. The price of failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk is $75 and failing to stop at a stop sign is $150.
- Miranda Scotland
School screening starts
Iqaluit
Parents whose children are starting kindergarten in September are encouraged to book a health assessment.
Iqaluit Public Health is offering appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays from April 28 to June 24.
"A public health appointment for school screening includes dental, hearing, vision and developmental screening, along with immunizations," states a government news release. "Pre-kindergarten health assessment is not the same as registering a student to attend school. Please call your school directly for student registration dates."
- Miranda Scotland
United in pink
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
All students and staff at Netsilik School in Taloyoak marked the International Day of Pink April 9.
The day celebrates those who work against bullying in all its forms and, to commemorate, everyone at the school wore pink T-shirts throughout the day.
"This was a huge success and one could really sense the spirit behind the message among the staff and students," stated principal Gina Pizzo. "Having everyone don the pink shirts was a real unifier for our school population."
- Laura Busch
Baking for passports
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
Students at Ummimak School connected with elders this week to learn about sewing, throatsinging, linocut printmaking and qamutiik building.
The school has been bringing in culture instructors every Wednesday and Friday since March as part of its culture programming.
On April 11, elders taught students to make bannock. The youth also made other treats to sell at a bake sale fundraiser.
'There are always opportunities given to (students) and they never have passports to take these adventures so we're trying to raise some money to get the high school kids passports," said principal Cara Cormier. "It's so hard up here to get passports. It takes months and months and months."
- Miranda Scotland
More booze purchased
Nunavut
Nunavummiut spent roughly one-fifth more buying alcohol in Nunavut in 2013 than in the previous year, according to new statistics released by Statistics Canada on April 10.
The Nunavut Liquor Commission sold $2,092,000 in wine, beer and spirits in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, up from $1,749,000 during the previous fiscal year. Nunavut's liquor commission's net sales were the lowest by far of any Canadian jurisdiction. The Yukon's liquor authority brought in the second lowest total in 2013 with $12,704,000 in sales.
In terms of how much the average person spent on liquor sales, Nunavummiut and residents of the Northwest Territories were lumped together, and spent an average of $408.60 on beer, $146 on wine and $399.80 on spirits in 2013. This average of $954.4 per person was the third highest in Canada, after the Yukon ($1,332.10 per person) and Newfoundland and Labrador ($981.40), respectively.
- Laura Busch
Co-op changes name
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The Kissarvik Coop in Rankin Inlet has announced the adoption of a new name for the organization.
It is now known as the Kissarvik Cooperative Association.
Store general manager Walter Morey stated in a news release that the goal of the change is to recognize the organization as an autonomous and independent cooperative enterprise.
Morey said Kissarvik's identity is clearly distinguished from other businesses and organizations as a democratically memberowned and communitycentric organization.
- Darrell Greer
School closed due to polar bears
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
A mother bear and her cub wandering through the community briefly kept students at home the morning of April 7.
Although word of the bears' presence had spread among most of the community, principal Mike Soares said he and another school teacher had "marched off to school" before they realized they had been sharing the streets with a pair of polar bears.
"They were healthy looking bears. They weren't here because they were starving," he said.
Peter Pitseolak School was closed until 10 a.m.
The bear and cub were chased out of the hamlet and had not been seen again by press time.
- Laura Busch
#Sealfies gain support
Iqaluit
Nunavummiut continued to show their pride this month by posting "#sealfies" - photos of themselves wearing sealskin clothing - on social media.
The trend also caught the attention of Inuit leaders, with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) vice president James Eetoolook applauding the movement in a news release April 7.
"Their ignorance is appalling," he stated of southerners who campaign against the seal hunt. "Seals in Canada are harvested humanely, and to tell people otherwise is a complete lie. NTI fully supports the #sealfie movement and will continue to help build momentum and educate people about the reality of our seal harvest."
On April 10, NTI invited Iqalummiut to have their photo taken at a sealfie photo booth in the lobby of the Igluvut Building. The following day, the organization spearheaded a group photo at the curling rink, just before the opening ceremonies for Toonik Tyme.
- Laura Busch
Celebrating Cape Dorset
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Hundreds of Cape Dorset residents celebrated their community April 4 with Hamlet Days.
"It's basically just to celebrate when the hamlet became a hamlet and a community," said recreation co-ordinator William Sandoval.
The roughly 400 participants enjoyed a parade, a country food feast and Inuit games, followed by radio games later in the evening.
- Laura Busch
School likes green eggs and ham
Iqaluit
Grade 1 students at Nakasuk School wrapped up a special literacy study on Dr. Seuss with a celebration last week.
Family members were invited to read, play games and even eat green eggs and ham. They were also treated to a Dr. Seuss cake.
"The Dr. Seuss Family Fun Night did much to enhance our curriculum and literacy initiatives and to promote the pursuit of a positive reading environment," stated principal Tracey MacMillan in an e-mail.
- Miranda Scotland
Hamlet Days a hit
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung residents had a blast April 7 as they celebrated Hamlet Days.
"It was one of the best hamlet days that Pang has had in a while," said hamlet employee Jenna Kilabuk. "We had about 12 to 14 hours of activities on Monday."
About 100 people turned out for radio games and sledding while 200 to 300 residents participated in the candy toss, outdoor games, the feast, the concert and Inuktitut dance.
About 10 performers took the stage during the concert.
"The music fest committee was organizing that and they were trying to get people who ... have hidden talents and I think that turned out well," said Kilabuk. "We've heard good things from young people, the elders in town and they keep coming to us and saying how much they enjoyed the activities."
- Miranda Scotland
Choral music shared
Iqaluit
Iqaluit choirs got the chance to work with Lori-Anne Dolloff, a choral conductor from Toronto, earlier this month.
Dolloff held workshops with the Iqaluit community choir and choirs from Nakasuk, Joamie, Aqsarniit and Inuksuk schools. The groups showed what they learned during a performance at Inuksuk High School.
The Iqaluit Music Society sponsored the workshop and concert.
- Miranda Scotland
Sea ice maximum creeps up
Nunavut
The annual sea ice maximum reached March 21 was the fifth smallest in recorded history.
The National Snow and Ice Data Centre released an updated sea ice extent for the winter of 2014 April 2.
While the centre had previously reported a maximum sea ice extent of 14.44 million square km of ice, the fourth lowest on record, the middle of March saw rapid ice buildup in the Arctic, resulting in a maximum average of 14.8 million square km. This is 330,000 square km above the record low recorded in March 2006, and 730,000 square km less than the average sea ice extent from 1981 to 2010.
More multi-year ice was recorded this winter than last, due largely to the fact that much of the first-year ice created during the winter of 2013 lasted through the summer. In 2014, multi-year ice made up about 43 per cent of the ice pack, compared with 30 per cent in 2013.
However, the portion of the Arctic Ocean covered by multi-year ice remains below what it was in the spring of 2007, when 46 per cent of the ocean was covered by multi-year ice.
- Laura Busch
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