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Friday, February 20, 2015
Gala fundraiser a success
More than $65,000 was raised at this year's Forever in our Hearts Gala held Feb. 14.
Around 165 people attended the event and enjoyed food, dancing and entertainment by cover band The Committed. Attendees participated in live and silent auctions and a number of sizable donations were made including a one-carat Diavik diamond valued at $17,000. All funds raised will go toward community projects.
- Meagan Leonard
Giant Mine public forum next week
The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team will be holding three public forums next week as stabilization work continues at the mine.
A meeting will be held next Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Northern United Place. On Feb. 27, two meet and greets will be held at Javaroma from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. and from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m.
- John McFadden
Andrew Matthews against the world
Yellowknife snowboarder Andrew Matthews was again taking on the world's best at the World Cup stop in Stoneham, Que.
Matthews, competing in the big air event, had to go through the qualification round on Wednesday but was unable to make it through to the final, finishing in 17th place. Only the top 10 made it through to the final. He then entered the slopestyle qualifier yesterday and it was the same again as Matthews couldn't get into the final as he finished 34th in the qualification round.
- James McCarthy
Bylaw ruling delayed
Territorial court judge Robert Gorin will issue his ruling on April 9 on the validity of a city bylaw that allows for jail time for people who have let their parking meter expire. Gorin heard arguments Feb. 18 from lawyers Jay Bran who contends that part of the law is unconstitutional and Kerry Penney, the lawyer for the city who defended the bylaw. Bran challenged the bylaw in court after he pleaded guilty to an expired meter.
- John McFadden
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Dehcho talks to resume
Following a meeting in Yellowknife last week with Premier Bob McLeod, the Dehcho First Nations grand chief says land claim negotiations are back on.
"He made time to meet with the Dehcho leadership and we then put our position before him and as a result of that, we were able to get some good results," Herb Norwegian said after the meeting which had brought First Nations leaders down to Yellowknife.
Negotiations appeared to break down over the amount of land offered to the First Nations by the GNWT. The offer GNWT put on the table in January consists of 37,500 square kilometres of land, up from its 2009 offer of 33,488 square kilometres.
While the premier called it a good deal, Norwegian said it fell far short of what leaders are seeking.
Norwegian said Dehcho leadership remain upbeat.
"The last thing we want to do is stay on our side of the river and continue with the rhetorical bombardment, which is something that we don't normally like doing," said Norwegian. Negotiations are scheduled to resume in March, he said.
- Elaine Anselmi
School seeks donations
Bompas Elementary School is seeking donations of various items from parents in the community.
Principal Kelley Andrews-Klein sent a message to parents Feb. 17 that said after recent discussions, the school is looking for items to make it a more welcoming space for students and staff. The requested items, in good condition, include book shelves, comfy chairs, cushions, lamp, coffee tables, cultural crafts and hides.
Donations will be accepted at the school or arrangements can be made to have items picked up, she wrote.
Tournament scrubbed
The Kingland Ford men's recreation hockey tournament that was expected to take place this past weekend in Fort Providence was scrubbed because not enough teams made firm commitments to attend.
Organizers still held some community activities in place of the tournament including a three game mini-series.
Andre Bolduc, the hamlet recreation co-ordinator, said there are plans in the works to potentially have an old-timers tournament, some games with the teams that were supposed to play the Kingland Ford teams and a volleyball tournament the weekend of March 6.
Tourney approaches
Several Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club members will be heading to participate in the NWT Speed Skating Championships. In the past, club members have come home with medals. The event runs from Feb. 28 to March 1.
Draft economic strategy expected this month
A draft of the town's economic development strategy is expected to be complete Feb. 25 with a presentation to council expected March 23.
Working with consulting firm Millier Dickinson Blais, the town is working to create a plan for its future economic growth. Community consultations were held in December and January. These meetings included focus groups, interviews, a public session and online survey.
At the January public meeting, residents in attendance highlighted tourism and alternative energy development as interests they'd like the town to focus on.
Child abuser released from prison
A man who sexually abused boys at Grollier Hall in the 1970s has been released from prison on parole a year into his three-year prison sentence for other residential school abuse crimes.
Paul Leroux, 74, was released Dec. 30 after spending one year in jail for sexually abusing boys at a residential school in Saskatchewan in the 1970s.
Leroux was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 1998 after he was found guilty of abusing students at the Inuvik school in the 1970s.
Three-day meeting ends
The Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board wrapped up its three-day public meeting on Feb. 19 at the Alex Moses Greenland Building.
The first day covered administrative issues and a discussion about wildlife and fish, including a board discussion about caribou management plans and implementation, as well as a discussion about next steps regarding management plans for Dall's sheep.
On the second day, the board covered issues related to proposals on Bluenose-West and Cape Bathurst caribou herd surveys, youth and communication and muskrat traditional knowledge. On the third day there were discussions about species at risk and board operations issues.
Youth art contest opens
The Arctic Council is accepting submissions for a youth art contest.
The council wants to challenge youth in the Arctic region to show off their artistic talents by creating an original two-dimensional piece of art in any medium, with the exception of photography.
Pieces must be no larger than 61 cm by 61 cm unframed, weigh less than two kilograms and be capable of being rolled into a tube for shipping.
The contest's theme is “Development for the People of the North," in celebration of Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship (2013-2015).
Photographs of eligible entries must be provided electronically by March 13.
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