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Friday, May 30, 2014
NWT has highest rates of child sex abuse victims
The Northwest Territories has the highest rate of children and youth who are victims of sexual offences, according to a recent Statistics Canada report. In 2012, the NWT had a rate of 895 children victimized by sexual crimes per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 205.
The report adds nine out of 10 victims knew the accused and younger children were often victimized by a family member. The report also notes delays in the offences coming to the attention of police, unlike other violent crimes.
- Daniel Campbell
Brush up on bike skills
Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the city's 30th annual bike rodeo at the Multiplex this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Children will be asked to demonstrate safe cycling techniques while navigating through several obstacle courses.
Participants must have a roadworthy bicycle as well as a helmet. Those who do not have helmets are eligible to pick one up for free care of the events' many sponsors.
- Cody Punter
Employment down
There are fewer people collecting a paycheque in Yellowknife and the rest of the territory than there were a year ago, according to a report by Statistics Canada.
According to the new figures, approximately 27,400 people in the NWT were employed in March of this year. This is down 3.1 per cent - approximately 900 people - from March 2013.
These numbers are contrast with the rest of the country, which saw national employment numbers rise by 0.3 per cent over the same time frame.
- Graeme McNaughton
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Academic success recognized
Thomas Simpson School in Fort Simpson will be holding its annual graduation celebration June 7.
The ceremony, which is set to take place outside at 1:30 p.m. – weather permitting – is open to the public. Twenty-four graduates are expected to be recognized.
In the evening there will be a dinner and dance for the graduates and their guests. A dry grad carnival is also being planned.
Last year, the school had 26 graduates. It was its largest graduating class to date.
Women prepare to golf
Women are being encouraged to start organizing teams for the Golf Fore the Cure tournament that is being held at the Seven Spruce Golf Course June 14.
Last year 44 golfers on 11 teams competed in the event in Fort Simpson. The Moosehide Mammas hockey team is organizing the tournament for a second year.
Four-person teams will play 18 holes of golf during the event. Teams are encouraged to fundraise for breast cancer research by the Canadian Cancer Foundation. Last year the tournament raised more than $4,300 in the village.
Snowshoe Idol changes the date
The date of the finale for the Snowshoe Idol has been changed.
In order to avoid conflicting with a wedding in Fort Providence, the finale for the karaoke contest will be held at the Snowshoe Lounge Aug. 2. The contest is still beginning June 6 and will run every Friday throughout the summer.
Two contestants will be picked each Friday from the people who sing. Those 20 competitors will sing again at the finals and will be narrowed down to the top five by a panel of judges before the crowd in the lounge votes for the new idol.
This is the sixth time the popular contest has been held in the hamlet.
Magazine pushes territorial park
A territorial park in the Deh Cho has made a national magazine's list of the best family campgrounds in Canada.
Today's Parent published an online article in early May that listed Blackstone Territorial Park along with Fred Henne Territorial Park as the two parks in the NWT families should stay at. The article highlighted the opportunities for canoeing and kayaking at Blackstone and the delights of the nearby scenery.
In a press release Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay said that the territorial government invests heavily in the territorial parks to make them safe and fun for families and it's great to see that work paying off.
Community cleanup underway
The annual community clean-up campaign sponsored by the town has now unofficially begun.
It's a traditional part of Inuvik life where the litter and refuse concealed by the winter snows pop up as the weather warms.
The town is asking for volunteers and community organizations to select a zone from a grid it has prepared as their area for cleanup.
The town is offering to pay $400 for each zone that is properly cleaned and approved. It is also supplying garbage bags and gloves. The official clean-up begins June 6 and ends June 13, but volunteers have already begun the work.
Grizzly bear killed
Department of Energy and Natural Resources officials shot and killed a grizzly bear on the outskirts of Inuvik May 25.
"An adult male grizzly was destroyed late Sunday night near the northern end of Lagoon Road," said spokesperson Ella Stinson May 26.
"The bear became a public safety concern, so he was destroyed as a safety precaution.
"ENR received calls about the bear on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday," she continued.
"He was initially spotted on Navy Road, then multiple times on Lagoon Road. Multiple deterrents to scare the bear away were issued. The male was very thin and not afraid."
Stinson reminded everyone to call the ENR office if they spot any bears near the community.
Rivers, ferries still closed
With the spring breakup looking as if it's moving faster than normal, the seasonal openings of the ferries along the Dempster Highway are imminent.
The Dempster ferries are tentatively scheduled to open the first week of June, according to the Department of Transportation website.
The MV Lafferty is now providing ferry service at the Liard River crossing near Fort Simpson from 8 a.m. until 11:45 p.m.
The ice is moving slowly on the Mackenzie River in Inuvik with water levels higher than at this time last year, according to the spring breakup newsletter published by federal scientists.
The water level in Aklavik is also higher than normal.
Aurora Campus hosts students
High school students from the Mackenzie Delta and the Sahtu looking for a taste of college life headed to Aurora Campus this week.
Campus director Doug Robertson said Aurora College had decided to split its annual orientation sessions in two this year to help reduce travel costs.
Students in the two Northern regions were invited to visit the Aurora Campus to glean some information and ideas about their post-secondary education plans, while students from the remainder of the NWT would be invited to sessions at Fort Smith at another date.
Typically the visits had all been done at Fort Smith at the Aurora College headquarters, Robertson said, but with travel costs increasing, college officials decided to try the split sessions.
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