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Friday, March 20, 2015
South Slave hosting 2018 Arctic Winter Games
The 2018 Arctic Winter Games will be held in the NWT's South Slave region after its bid was chosen over the bid from the Beaufort Delta region on Wednesday.
The South Slave bid was a joint effort between the towns of Hay River and Fort Smith and it will be the first time the AWG has been in that part of the world since 1978, when Hay River hosted with Pine Point.
- James McCarthy
Symposium cost $60,000
The GNWT's Skills 4 Success symposium last week cost the territory $60,000.
The March 10 to 12 event brought together government representatives, educators, employers and citizens discuss how to meet labour market demands and talk about the territory's 10-year Skills 4 Success strategic framework.
Costs include facility rental at the Explorer Hotel, catering, keynotes, communications and co-ordination.
- Stewart Burnett
City to host business focus groups
The City of Yellowknife will host three days of workshops with new and established businesses to gather input for how to improve the local economy.
The focus group sessions will be held at city hall for businesses started within the last three years, businesses older than three years and home-based businesses.
Participants will be asked how the city can improve its downtown, positively impact the economy and help entrepreneurs.
Those looking to attend were asked to register with the city.
- Shane Magee
Water agreement signed with Alberta
Protection of the Mackenzie River Basin that straddles the territory's border with Alberta is officially the responsibility of both jurisdictions following the signing of a bilateral water management agreement.
Both Premier Bob McLeod and Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger were in Edmonton on Thursday to sign the document, alongside their Alberta counterparts. The agreement enacts information-sharing and collaboration on water issues. A similar agreement was signed with British Columbia in June.
- Elaine Anselmi
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Pharmacy coming to village
The North West Company, which operates the Northern store, plans to open a pharmacy in Fort Simpson later this year.
The addition is part of the $150 million the company announced last month it plans to spend at its stores across the North over the next three years, creating 125 new permanent jobs. The village does not currently have a retail pharmacy.
It isn't clear yet how many jobs will be created by adding the pharmacy in the village.
The company posted an ad for a pharmacy manager position online in late January.
Derek Reimer, director of business development, said more information about the plans will be released soon.
Applications open for farming courses
If you're interested in learning how to grow your own vegetables the Northern Farm Training Institute is now accepting applications for its summer workshops.
Beginning in April the organization is offering six three-day workshops to help participants successfully grow their own produce.
Some of the topics of the workshops include how to design and plant a sustainable garden, food forests North of 60, gardening and maintenance, and food harvest, preparation and storage.
The courses run from the end of April to mid-September. Tools, supplies and learning materials will be provided. For more information please contact the institute.
Health centre nearly ready
The Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority plans to be moved into the new Fort Providence health centre the week of April 27.
The $11 million facility replaces the hamlet's existing health centre which is more than 43 years old.
Donna Allen, the authority's CEO, said furniture and equipment were moved in last month.
The original completion date for the 6,800 square metre building, a third larger than the old health centre, was set for March 31.
Work on the facility by the contractor is expected to be complete at the end of this month or in early April stated Allen in a March 12 e-mail. No official opening date was provided.
Learn to tuft moose hair
The Open Sky Gallery will be hosting a two-day Moose hair tufting workshop on Mar. 21 and 22.
Space for the workshop is limited so those interested are asked to sign up as soon as possible.
Figure skaters busy
The Inuvik Figure Skating Club has a busy weekend ahead of it as it wraps up its season.
The club will host a CanSkate competition March 20, followed by a senior competition March 21.
The Saturday evening will see the club putting on its annual awards banquet at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.
On March 22, the club is offering its yearly carnival program at 3 p.m., which will conclude the season.
North West posts profit
The North West Company, the parent company of the NorthMart and Northern store chains, has posted a profit for its fourth financial quarter.
In a media release, the company, the oldest in Canada, reported a $15-million net profit in the fourth quarter ending Jan. 31. That's down 5.7 per cent or $0.9 million from last year, although sales increased 7.6 per cent to $433.5 million.
The release stated gross profits were down in the Canadian operations due to clearance of general merchandise items in its stores in Northern Canada.
The company is in the process of reducing general merchandise, fashion and electronics in those stores in favour of products and services with "higher growth potential." These items include food, financial services, furniture and motorized products.
Skaters off to championships
Two of the most promising speedskaters in Inuvik are heading to a prestigious championship this week.
Jackson Christie, 15, and Braeden Picek of the Inuvik Speed Skating Club have earned spots at the CanWest Championships in Selkirk, Man., this weekend.
Paul MacDonald, one of the coaches with the club, said “they departed Wednesday for the CanWest in Manitoba.
“I will not be attending but they will meet up with an excellent coach from Yellowknife who will accompany them and some other skaters from the NWT to the competition,” he said.
Call for creative writers
A youth arts contest called Aboriginal Arts & Stories, a project of Historica Canada, is looking for submissions.
“Every year, we invite self-identified First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth ages 11 to 29 to submit visual art or creative writing to our contest for a chance to win $2,000 and have their work published or exhibited,” said spokesperson Eric Wright. “The contest is a great opportunity for emerging artists to gain national recognition for their work.”
The contest deadline is March 31.
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