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Monday, April 21 2014
Convocation set at Thebacha Campus
Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith will celebrate the success of 29 students at its annual convocation ceremony on April 25.
Degrees, diplomas and certificates will be awarded from the schools of education, business and leadership, and arts and science.
Among those to address the graduates will be NWT Commissioner George Tuccaro; Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty; and Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington.
The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the Fort Smith Rec Centre.
Other convocation ceremonies will be held on May 3 at the Yellowknife North Slave Campus on May 9 at the Aurora Campus in Inuvik.
- Paul Bickford
Behchoko motel rooms vandalized
The RCMP is investigating an incident at the Tlicho Motel in Behchoko in which an unknown number of persons forced their way into six unoccupied rooms.
The persons discharged multiple fire extinguishers inside the rooms andstole six televisions. According to a news release from the RCMP, it appears the culprits spent a large amount of time in the rooms drinking and doing extensivedamage during the early hours of April 12.
Police are conducting an investigation with the assistance of the RCMP'sforensic identification section.
- Paul Bickford
No impact from Heartbleed Bug in NWT
The Heartbleed Bug has not impacted any government departments in the Northwest Territories, says the GNWT's manager of information security.
"We currently are not susceptible to the Heartbleed vulnerability," Clinton Scott said.
The Heartbleed Bug affects OpenSSL cryptographic software, which is used by social media sites, government websites and a variety of other websites. The bug allows internet users to access data normally protected by the cryptographic software. Scott said the government was informed about the bug and performed checks to see if data had been compromised. He said checks were done internally before being performed by an external security firm, which confirmed no data breaches had taken place.
"Currently the Government of the Northwest Territories is not susceptible to the Heartbleed vulnerability, however we continue to actively monitor and review our environment and willapplying any mitigation measures needed to remain protected."
- Kassina Ryder
Aboriginal journalist internship
NWT
The Canadian Journalism Foundation is offering an early-career aboriginal journalist the chance to explore an issue of interest to First Nations, Metis or Inuit peoples.
The award aims to foster better comprehension of aboriginal issues in Canada's major media and community outlets.
"This is a very special new initiative for CJF," says Bob Lewis, chair of the CJF. "It aims in a small way to help bridge the yawning gap between traditional news media and the oft-ignored stories of Canada's aboriginal people. I hope it grows over the years as a significant platform for emerging aboriginal journalists."
Applications will be welcomed from aboriginal journalists - First Nations, Metis and Inuit - who for one to five years have been employed by, under contract to, or freelancing on the news and editorial side of regularly published newspapers and periodicals, television, radio, or online sites. The recipient will be selected by a jury.
The deadline is April 30, 2014, 5:00 p.m. EDT.
- NNSL staff
Fort Smith to Chip winter road closes
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The winter road connecting Fort Smith with Fort Chipewyan, Alta. closed for the season April 8.
The seasonal route runs 109 km from Peace Point, which is 120 km south of Fort Smith in Wood Buffalo National Park, to Fort Chipewyan.
The winter road is constructed and maintained by the park.
A day later, a second winter road south from Fort Chipewyan towards Fort McMurray also closed for the season. That route is constructed and maintained by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
- Paul Bickford
Spring meeting about Enterprise garden
Enterprise
A meeting will be held in Enterprise later this month to organize things for the spring planting season at the Enterprise Community Garden.
Would-be gardeners are being invited to attend the meeting set for 7 p.m. April 28 at the Enterprise Community Centre.
People will be able to choose a plot in the community garden and get seeds.
The community garden is a project of the Hamlet of Enterprise.
- Paul Bickford
Enterprise looks over applications
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise is looking over the 15 applications it received from people interested in becoming the senior administrative officer (SAO) for the community.
Mayor John Leskiw II said the applications will be presented to council to discuss, and a shortlist will be chosen for telephone interviews in the next week or two.
As for when a new SAO will be chosen, Leskiw said, "I'm really hoping, at the extreme latest, the end of this month, but I'm betting it probably won't be until the first week in May."
It is undetermined when a successful candidate would start working for the community of about 110 people.
Interim SAO John McKee will be working in the position until the end of May.
- Paul Bickford
Rendezvous in Aklavik
Aklavik
The Mad Trapper Rendezvous was scheduled to take place from April 17 to 19. The weekend was to begin with an opening prayer and a feast on the afternoon of April 17. This was to be followed by the crowning of the King and Queen of the Rendezvous and a drum dance/jam session at night.
On April 18, dog-sled and snowmobile races were scheduled throughout the day with a talent show and fiddling competition at Moose Kerr school at night.
The schedule for April 19 had a pancake breakfast scheduled at the Sittichinli Complex before games and events including foot races, egg and spoon races, toboggan pull, and nail driving kick of at the carnival site.
A bingo with a $10,000 prize was scheduled to follow in the evening, topped off by a jigging contest beginning at midnight.
The fun continued with a pancake breakfast on the mornings of April 19 and 20, with more games and races to follow in the afternoons, including the 75-mile men's open track snowshoe race, which comes with a $4,000 prize.
Closing ceremonies were to be held at the Sittichinli complex after the final events April 20, where all the prizes will be handed out for the major events.
- Cody Punter
Easter celebration
Paulatuk
This weekend was to be jam-packed with lots of great events as Paulatuk celebrated Easter with five days of celebration beginning with a casino night at Angik School April 16.
April 17 the James Ruben Coin toss, the mail bag race and adult archery were scheduled on the beach.
"Every year people look forward to coin tosses, Ski-Doo races, jigging," said recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben when asked what some of the highlights of the weekend might be.
There were to be more games April 18, taking place both at the beach and Angik School gym where a drum dance and old-time dance were to be held.
That gave people just enough time to brush up on their skills before the old time dance and jigging competition which was scheduled for the next night, with the winner taking home a $300 prize.
April 20 will see the Easter Parade making its way through town at 1 p.m., with an Easter egg hunt and snowmobile races to follow.
The weekend will wrap up with men and women's ice chiseling down on the Beach April 20 followed by closing ceremonies at the Angik School at 6 p.m.
There will also be masses throughout the weekend at the church.
- Cody Punter
Fun fishing derby wrapping up
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
A "fun fishing derby" being held in Sachs Harbour wrapped up today. The derby, which began April 11 was open to the whole community and focused on categories other than weight, which is normally used to determine the winner.
Doreen Carpenter, recreation co-ordinator, said there are categories for longest fish, most colourful fish and weirdest looking fish.
"It's Easter and it's spring so we try to have fun," said Carpenter.
There have not been many entries yet, but Carpenter said that will likely change in the next few days.
"It's long weekend so everyone's going fishing," she said.
The community was scheduled to hold a traditional feast at the community gym on the night of April 16.
There was also to be a scavenger hunt for youth April 17 at 6 p.m. beginning at the community centre before heading out all over town.
- Cody Punter
Missionaries make a visit
Aklavik
A group of American missionaries who were involved in relief efforts in the wake of the 2011 earthquake in Japan were up in Aklavik last week. Steve and Kimyo Canter studied with local pastor Larry Noland at Bible college in Florida but moved to Japan 10 years ago to help build churches there. After the tsunami struck they mobilized to help organize relief efforts there.
Noland explained that the church in Aklavik invites missionaries up to a conference in the community once a year.
While they were there, the Canters helped preach at the church and they gave a presentation about the work they were doing in Japan.
"There was a lot interest and a lot of good questions," said Noland.
The Canters also got the chance to do a bit of exploring during their stay, including a snowmobile ride out on the land over the weekend.
"So they got to experience some Arctic wind," joked Noland. "They really loved it here and they loved getting to meet the people."
- Cody Punter
Fire causes damage to middle school
Iqaluit
A small fire at the Aqsarniit Middle School has caused roughly $50,000 in damage, said Iqaluit Fire Chief Luc Grandmaison.
The incident took place around 7 a.m. April 10.
"We received the fire alarm and about 20 firemen made their way to the scene," Grandmaison said.
"When we arrived at the school, we could smell smoke but couldn't locate the fire. The gymnasium was very smoky and the sprinklers had been activated, so water was quickly spreading everywhere."
Firefighters spent some time searching the building for the origin of the fire until they finally located it, contained in a hard-to-reach crawl space next to the engine room.
It had spread across the floor to the heating room but the sprinkler system put most of it out.
"The sprinklers saved a big part of the school," he said.
"The fire in the crawl space wasn't really accessible to us. We're happy they were functional."
After that, firefighters had to keep searching the entire school to make sure no other areas were affected.
In the end, water actually caused more damage to the building than the fire did.
Grandmaison said the firemen had to tear away some of the ceiling but the damage is mostly superficial.
Students and staff were on spring break from April 14 to 17.
Taylor LaVallee, an administrator with the Iqaluit District Education Authority, said the school is slated to re-open on schedule, April 22.
- Myles Dolphin
Rotary Club pitches in
Iqaluit
The Rotary Club of Iqaluit announced it was pledging $100,000 as part of the REACH campaign towards the building of the city's future aquatic centre.
The announcement was made by club president Peter Tumilty at a ground-breaking ceremony next to Iqaluit's corporate offices April 16.
"We believe the goal of REACH and the aquatic centre - to build healthy communities - aligns nicely with the goals of the projects Rotary chooses to support," he said in a statement.
"Our investment today will hopefully now open the door for financial support from other Rotary Clubs.
We also hope it will open the door for other companies and service organizations to show community leadership and support the project."
- Myles Dolphin
Iglulik resident arrested for trafficking
Iglulik
A resident in Iglulik has been charged with trafficking marijuana.
The individual, who RCMP aren't naming, was found with more than 140 grams of cannabis April 8.
Iglulik RCMP arrested the resident who was brought before a Justice of the Peace. The individual is expected to appear in Nunavut court June 4 in the hamlet.
- Miranda Scotland
Sudden death in Baker Lake
Qamani'tuaq/ Bake Lake
RCMP are investigating the death of a woman in Baker lake.
The woman, whose name has not been released, was found dead at a local residence.
The RCMP Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Services is working with the local detachment and the office of the chief coroner on the investigation, which started April 16.
- Miranda Scotland
Goodbye plastic bags
Nunavut and Nunavik
A initiative led by Northern and Northmart stores is reducing the number of plastic bags that end up in landfills in Nunavut and Nunavik.
The Greener Tomorrow initiative was launched in 2011 to reduce plastic bag consumption by providing households with two free reusable bags.
"To date, the stores participating in the program have eliminated over 8.3 million retail plastic bags from the community," reads a release from the North West Company.
Northern and Northmart stores also charge 25 cents per plastic bag to deter customers from using them. Proceeds from plastic bag sales - over $1 million to date - are reinvested in the community.
Funds have gone to the hamlets, school trips, breakfast programs, cleanups and school recycling programs, among other projects.
- Miranda Scotland
Cadets hold food drive
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Cambridge Bay cadets braved cold temperatures April 9 to collect non-perishable goods for the local food bank.
Members of the 3004 Nanook Cadets went door-to-door and gathered about 20 cardboard boxes of food. This is the first time the cadets have held a food drive in recent memory.
However, they are looking to make it an annual event, said Michelle Buchan.
"Cadets are expected to do volunteer service as part of their training, and they were excited to see the amount of food that they were able to collect in a short time," said Buchan in an email to News/North. "We all felt a sense of pride at the willingness to share by the residents of Cambridge Bay."
- Miranda Scotland
Cinderella in the works
Arviat
The John Arnalukjuak High School Drama Club has begun rehearsals for a play to be presented in Arviat in midJune.
Exact dates have yet to be determined for the club's comedic interpretation of the classic tale, Cinderella, directed by Gord Billard.
- Darrell Greer
Hockey tourney follows race
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
The community of Pond Inlet is gearing up for a hockey tournament, to be held April 25 to May 1.
The event will take place immediately after the conclusion of the Nunavut Quest race, where participants race from Iglulik to Pond Inlet. So far, two teams from Pond Inlet, and one each from Iglulik, Arctic Bay and Pangnirtung have signed up to play, according to arena maintainer David Suqslak.
Winners of the senior men's tournament will receive gold, silver and bronze medals and awards will also be handed out to the most valuable player, most sportsmanlike and best goalie.
- Myles Dolphin
Repulse to host tourney
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
The Hamlet of Repulse Bay has announced the Arctic Circle Cup senior men's hockey championship will be played in Repulse Bay April 25 to 27.
As of press time, two teams from the host community and squads from Rankin Inlet and Coral Harbour were confirmed for the tournament
There is also a strong possibility a team from Arviat will compete, and Chesterfield Inlet is also trying to put a squad together for the event.
- Darrell Greer
Netsilik students advance
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Two Netsilik School students are advancing to this year's Canada-wide science fair, to be held in Windsor, Ont., in May.
Suzanne Nee Qavavau did her project on Vitamin C in carrots while Hollie Tulurialik's focus was harpoons. Tulurialik wanted to find out if it was possible to hunt with a dull harpoon. She found a sharp harpoon head could shred through about four layers of cardboard, but a dull harpoon head could only make it through a couple layers before falling out.
To advance, the girls first had to place at the Netsilik School science fair and the regional science fair.
Principal Gina Pizzo said the students' moved on to the higher levels because not only are their projects visually appealing but the girls are knowledgeable about their topics.
"Ultimately it is the ability to talk about the project and intelligently field questions about it from the judges, which carries them on to the next level," noted Pizzo in an email to Nunavut News/North.
- Miranda Scotland
Help for post-secondary
Nunavut
Nunavut students, beneficiaries or not, are encouraged to apply for Qulliq Energy Corporation's Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship.
The $5,000 award is handed out annually to a promising student in the territory who plans to pursue post-secondary education. Students must be enrolled in a recognized, accredited technical college or university program for the September 2014 semester to be eligible. Mature students are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants are expected to submit a three- to five-page autobiographical essay, an enrollment or acceptance letter from an accredited institution, a copy of their most recent transcript and a completed application form, which can be found at nunavutpower.com.
The application deadline is June 30.
- Miranda Scotland
Snowmobile races coming
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
There will be plenty of fun-filled events taking place in Rankin Inlet during the next month.
The Kivalliq Challenge cross-country snowmobile races kick things off April 26 and 27, followed by the annual Pakallak Tyme celebrations from April 28 to May 4.
The annual Rankin Inlet Fishing Derby will be held May 16 to 19, with measuring being conducted outside the community hall May 20.
- Darrell Greer
Science winners
Kivalliq
Below is the complete list of winners for the 20th annual Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Arviat this past month.
1st Place: Grachel D'Cunha and Amiel Hernandez of Rankin Inlet
2nd Place: Mason Tautu of Chesterfield Inlet
3rd Place (tie): Natasha Kimmalairjuk of Chester and Matilda
Putulik and Pauline Kridular of Repulse Bay
5th Place: Maliki Kattegatsiak of Chesterfield Inlet
Peer Award: Kathy Ottokie of Coral Harbour
Northern Relevancy: Nicole Nanordluk of Repulse Bay
- Darrell Greer
Storm cancels trip
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Nunavut's unique climate has claimed yet another event.
The junior boys basketball team from Pond Inlet's Nasivvik High School was supposed to snowmobile south to Clyde River over the long Easter weekend to take part in a tournament. However, they encountered whiteout and blizzard-like conditions and had to turn back.
The event has been postponed until further notice.
- Myles Dolphin
Family watches career
Chesterfield Inlet/Rankin Inlet
Donna May Kimmaliardjuk will begin her sixyear journey to become a cardiac surgeon at the Ottawa Hospital this coming summer, after completing her medical training at the University of Calgary.
Kimmaliardjuk, who spent the majority of her childhood in Ottawa, has family members residing in both Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin Inlet.
- Darrell Greer
Let the birdies fly
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
A badminton tournament is tentatively scheduled to be held in Pangnirtung during the first week of June.
Participants can register to take part in one of three categories: 14 and under, 15 to 17 and Open.
People wishing to take part in practice before the event can do so on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the hamlet building, with birdies and racquets provided.
- Myles Dolphin
Seeking aboriginal journalists
Toronto
The Canadian Journalism Foundation is offering an early-career aboriginal journalist the chance to explore an issue of interest to First Nations, Metis or Inuit peoples.
The award aims to foster better comprehension of aboriginal issues in Canada's major media and community outlets.
"This is a very special new initiative for CJF," said chairperson Bob Lewis. "It aims in a small way to help bridge the yawning gap between traditional news media and the oft-ignored stories of Canada's aboriginal people. I hope it grows over the years as a significant platform for emerging aboriginal journalists."
Applications will be welcomed from aboriginal journalists - First Nations, Metis and Inuit - who for one to five years have been employed by, under contract to, or freelancing on the news and editorial side of regularly published newspapers and periodicals, television, radio, or online sites. The recipient will be selected by a jury. The deadline is April 30.
- NNSL staff
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