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Monday, March 2, 2015
Yk cab driver assaulted
The Mounties are investigating after a taxi driver was assaulted and robbed Feb. 25 in Yellowknife. Const. Elenore Sturko, an RCMP spokesperson, stated in an e-mail that the cab driver was attacked by the three passengers who were in the cab, two males and a female, on Latham Island.
Money was then stolen and the suspects fled the area.
The taxi driver was taken to Stanton Hospital, treated and later released. According to Sturko the female was seen carrying a white purse.
-John McFadden
Coroner, RCMP probe sudden deaths
The Mounties and the NWT Chief Coroner are investigating two sudden deaths in the territory.
RCMP said a man was found dead in the driver's seat of a vehicle in the ditch Feb. 25 on Highway 1 near Fort Providence at about 7 p.m..
RCMP stated that it did not appear that a collision had occurred.
The next day in Gameti, police said a male was found deceased between the arena and the hamlet garage. A cause of death has not been determined, police stated. RCMP state foul play is not suspected in either case.
No names have been released.
-John McFadden
Road closures abound
Blizzard warnings have preceded road closures across the territory as of press time.
The Dempster Highway was closed from Eagle Plains to Fort McPherson, the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road system was closed from Tulita to Norman Wells and there was a closure on the Mackenzie Delta Ice Roads from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk due to weather.
The areas under Environment Canada blizzard warnings include communities in the Sahtu, the Beaufort Delta and the North Slave.
- Josh Long
Parks head shuffled
Rob Kent is out as Parks Canada's field unit superintendent for the southwest NWT - an area which includes Wood Buffalo National Park and Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The change occurred in mid-February, but Parks Canada still refuses to explain the reason for Kent's departure, and won't confirm that he is no longer in the leadership position.
"This is a personnel matter, and Parks Canada does not comment on such issues," said Tim Gauthier, a communications officer with Wood Buffalo National Park.
Kent had been Parks Canada's field unit superintendent for the southwest NWT since early 2010.
- Paul Bickford
Dates set for ice fishing derby
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The annual Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby has been set for late March.
The event will take place from March 27-29 at three lakes - Natawa, Blackman and Jackfish - all of which are a two-hour snowmobile ride east of Fort Smith. People can also pay to fly to the fishing derby with Northwestern Air Lease Ltd.
The fishing derby will feature two age categories - adult and 15 years of age and under.
Fishing licences are required by all participants. The licences are available at the offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Resolution Spring Carnival plans events
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
The annual Fort Resolution Spring Carnival has been set for March 19 through 22.
The carnival will feature a wide variety of events and activities, including youth and adult talent shows, a sliding party, the crowning of a carnival king and queen, bingos, a minor hockey player development clinic, pancake breakfasts, youth events and a cribbage tournament.
There will also be adult events such as wood splitting, sled pulling, nail pounding and snowshoe races.
Plus, the carnival will feature the NWT territorial championships in dog racing, which will take place on Great Slave Lake.
The Hamlet of Fort Resolution is hosting the carnival.
- Paul Bickford
Trout Lake band election coming up
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
The band council election is scheduled for March 4. A list of candidates was not available at press time.
Father Joe Daley will be in the community Feb. 26 to March 1 for a community visit expected to include baptisms and confirmations.
Representatives of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will be promoting its programs and services Feb. 26 and 27 at the band office chambers. The sessions are open to anyone.
Four people will be in Yellowknife from March 2 to March 6 for a conference.
Spring break at the school is coming up. It will go from March 5 to 13.
- Shane Magee
Kakisa residents off to conference
Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa
There was a cancer wellness information session Feb. 24 in the community. People were invited to watch a video and have snacks.
Environment and Natural Resources staff were in the community giving a presentation about the 2014 wildfire season.
On Feb. 25, there was an emergency plan review with Municipal and Community Affairs with the chief, council and members of the public.
- Shane Magee
Dog sled race rescheduled
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
The 2015 Dehcho Sled Dog Championships has been rescheduled again. While it was planned this coming weekend, the event is now expected to take place March 27 and 28 according to Susan Fleck.
Two sports tournaments are planned for the first weekend of March.
The first is an old timers hockey event for those 35 years and older and is expected to include teams from Yellowknife, Fort Simpson and Hay River.
It will be held March 7 and 8.
An adult coed recreation volleyball tournament at the school gym will take place the same weekend but begin March 6.
The Fort Providence spring carnival planning is underway. It's scheduled for the weekend of March 25 to 29.
On March 28, there will be a snowmobile race.
- Shane Magee
Big prizes on busy weekend
Aklavik
Aklavik residents walked away with big cash prizes Feb. 21 during a fishing derby and lunch box social.
Richard Gordon Sr. claimed top prize at the derby for his 39.5-inch fish. In second place was Sheldon Hendrick with a 38.25-inch coney. Kayden McLeod and Jennifer Meyook tied for third and each submitted a jackfish 37.75 inches long.
They received $200, $150 and $100 respectively. The recreation department also handed out ten $50-consolation prizes and 10 $25-consolation prizes.
There were a total of 30 entries.
Prizes of $250, $200, $150, $100 and $75 were also handed out at the box social.
Four judges examined the 11 lunch box entries, which held items such as sandwiches, goodies, juice and small gifts, and decided on the top five.
Cora-Lee Simpson came first followed by Terry Lyn Storr, Evelyn Wilson and Jordan McLeod. Mildred Edwards and George Semple tied for fifth.
The public then bid on the boxes with half the profits going to the person who packed it while the other half will be used to send youth to the Gwich'in Cup Tournament.
The community was able to raise a total of $746 for the trip.
- Miranda Scotland
Two charged after drugs seized
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Members of the Taloyoak RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Taloyoak Feb. 23.
Officers arrested two people as part of a marijuana trafficking investigation.
Pre-packaged marijuana and hash ready for street sale were seized, as well as cash.
The two residents of Taloyoak were charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. They are scheduled to appear in court in July.
RCMP say the investigation would not have been successful without the assistance of the public.
- Michele LeTourneau
Fight violence against women
Nunavut
New funds are available for projects to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq invited organizations across Nunavut Feb. 24 to propose new projects that will help end violence against women and girls.
"Our government is committed to making communities across the North safe and secure for everyone, including women and girls," stated Aglukkaq in a news release. "This new call for proposals will support the development of effective, local strategies to prevent violence against women and girls by encouraging organizations to work in partnership with key stakeholders in the community."
Applications can be filled out online at the Status of Women Canada website. The deadline for applications is April 17.
- Michele LeTourneau
Disruptions possible
Nunavut
Nunavut residents are reminded that Northwestel satellite facilities will begin to experience brief service degradations due to a natural phenomenon known as sun transit.
Northwestel customers in communities serviced by satellite may experience noise or service interruptions between 2:22 and 2:59 p.m. from Feb. 22 until March 7.
The exact timing depends on a community's geographic location and the position of the satellite providing service.
- Darrell Greer
Parvovirus outbreak hits dogs
Iqaluit
Iqaluit dog owners are advised to get their animals vaccinated for parvovirus as the city experiences an outbreak.
"In the past 12 days, I've seen eight cases of parvovirus, and that is an incredibly high number," said Dr. Leia Cunningham of Nunavet Animal Hospital. "We typically see one or two a month."
The virus is passed easily through feces and freezing does not kill the virus.
The virus is easily avoided through vaccination. Untreated, the virus can be fatal through a severe dehydration or causing the dog's organs to go septic.
Anyone can buy the vaccine from Cunningham to administer it themselves and she can ship it to other communities. Cunningham charges about $125 to administer with an examination. Treatment for dogs infected with the virus "is very extensive and very expensive," she said because it requires a long stay at the hospital with costs ranging from $1,500 to $2,000.
- Casey Lessard
Kivalliq art in England
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
A beautiful illustration of Kivalliq tradition is on display in Trafalgar Square's Canada House in London, England.
The embroidered wall hanging depicting an Inuit tale from Nunavut is the work of internationally known Nunavut artist Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq of Baker Lake.
It is one of several key pieces from Canada's High Arctic on display as part of a largescale revitalization of the Canadian High Commission, Canada's diplomatic mission to the United Kingdom. Created in 2007 with duffel, felt, embroidery and floss, the wall hanging depicts a fish creature turning into a birdlike human so it can escape from the faces that encircle it.
"It's scared of the faces and trying to fly away," explained Avaalaaqiaq in a written press release on the wall hanging. "I am happy and excited to have my work shown in another part of the world."
- Darrell Greer
Sanikiluaq reopens hall
Sanikiluaq
The community hall in Sanikiluaq was set to open this past weekend after a broken water pump forced hamlet officials to put activities on hold.
A government technician flew in to fix the problem last week.
The pump was broken for most of February, meaning the hall had no water. Recreation co-ordinator Kelly Fraser closed the hall two weeks ago.
Community bingos, hockey games, and youth activities were cancelled but are now allowed to go ahead.
- Casey Lessard
Thirty years of producing graduates
Nunavut
Nunavut Sivuniksavut is celebrating its 30th birthday this year.
The eight-month college program based in Ottawa and founded in 1985 is for Inuit youth from Nunavut who want to get ready for the educational, training, and career opportunities created by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Government of Nunavut.
To celebrate its birthday, Nunavut Sivuniksavut is hosting a conference April 27 to 29 in Gatineau, Que.
The goal of the gathering is to bring together Inuit and indigenous students and educators with organizations and institutions that are committed to meeting their needs, such as colleges, universities, Inuit and indigenous organizations, governments, private foundations and funding agencies.
- Michele LeTourneau
Panel to look at minimum wage
Nunavut
Nunavut's minimum wage hasn't increased since 2011 and it looks like it will be a while before it goes up again.
The minimum wage must be reviewed every year.
But when Iqaluit-Tasulik MLA George Hickes asked Justice Minister Paul Okalik when the wage would be reviewed, Okalik would not set a firm date.
"We will be undertaking consultation this year and we are currently assembling a panel that will be reviewing the minimum wage for our territory," Okalik said in the legislature Feb. 24.
He added businesses and workers in communities across the territory must be consulted first."
I would like to get this review completed before year-end. I would like to find the time and have the panel do their work."
Tied with Ontario, Nunavut currently has Canada's highest minimum wage.
- Casey Lessard
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