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Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Park, section of highway open
The roadblock on Highway 4 was moved from the Cameron River bridge to the Reid Lake campground entrance Tuesday morning. Fire crews remain at the campground as efforts continue on the Reid Lake fire. At the height of firefighting efforts, more than 100 personnel were based at the campground. As the section of highway reopened, so to did Cameron River Territorial Park on Tuesday morning. The fire, as of Monday, has affected approximately 335 square-kilometres.
- Shane Magee
Council nominations open soon
Those considering a run for city council or the mayor's office will be able to formally enter the race starting Sept. 4. The nomination period will remain open until Sept. 21. Papers must be delivered to the returning officer personally at city hall. The municipal election will be held Oct. 19.
- Shane Magee
First day of school coming up
Students of the city's Catholic school district will pack pencils, paper and pens and head back to classes in the coming week. The eight schools of Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (Yk1) and the Commission scolaire francophone's Allain St. Cyr School open the doors to new and returning pupils Aug. 31 while Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) Grade 7 and Grade 8 students will be back in the classrooms at St. Joseph School and Weledeh School on Aug. 27, while the students of St. Patrick High School return to class Aug. 28.
- Evan Kiyoshi French
Snowbirds get extra coverage
NWT residents are now allowed an extra 30 days outside of territory before their health coverage is affected. According to a news release from the Department of Health and Social Services, as long as residents maintain their permanent NWT residency, they will now only need to be physically present in the NWT for 153 days, down from the previous 183-day limit. This is consistent with what several other provinces are doing, stated the release.
"Snowbirds and others now have the flexibility to go on extended vacations without having to worry about their NWT health-care coverage," stated Heath Minister Glen Abernethy.
- John McFadden
Men's tourney weekend
Rankin Inlet
The community of Rankin Inlet will be hosting the annual men's 16-and-older national qualifier this coming weekend, Aug. 21 to 23.
The final lineup of teams competing for the title was not available as of press time.
Off to college
Rankin Inlet
Former Rankin Inlet cadet chief warrant officer Senna Oolooyuk left for Kingston, Ont., this past week to attend the Royal Military College of Canada.
Oolooyuk is attending the college through the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year program.
Boil water advisory continues
Whale Cove
As of press time on Friday, Aug. 14, the community of Whale Cove was still under a boil water advisory.
Whale has been on the advisory for the past three weeks due to high levels of coliform bacteria in the community's water supply.
Cramped classes for students
Rankin Inlet
Things were a little cramped for some young students as they headed back to school in Rankin Inlet this past week.
With Leo Ussak Elementary School still closed on Aug. 14 due to renovations, classes were scheduled to be held between Simon Alaittuq School and the John Ayaruaq Library at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik.
The Rankin Inlet District Education Authority is expected to release new hours of operation for the library this week for as long as the elementary classes are being held there.
Renovations to the elementary school are behind schedule due to materials being on a late-arriving barge this shipping season.
Youth go to culture camp
Naujaat
The Kivalliq Inuit Association wrapped up its annual Puunnaqsiniq Culture Camp at the Niaquungut-North Pole River outside of Naujaat on Aug. 7.
The camp provides an opportunity for Inuit youth ages 15 to 29 in the Kivalliq to learn traditional-and-cultural skills out on the land with a group of elders.
The youths learn to sew traditional Inuit clothing, prepare and use marine and land-mammal skins, and prepare and preserve traditional foods.
They also learn survival skills on the land, as well as fishing and pipsi-making skills, land and sea mammal harvesting/hunting skills, traditional Inuit weather observation and attend workshops on grief, loss and healing.
Softball tourney on the way
Baker Lake
The community of Baker Lake is scheduled to hold a junior co-ed softball tournament this coming weekend from Aug. 21 to 23.
Flag bearer
Rankin Inlet
John William Tagoona of Rankin Inlet was given the honour of being the flag bearer for Team Nunavut at the opening ceremonies of the Western Canada Summer Games in Alberta's Wood Buffalo Region earlier this month.
The Games ran from Aug. 7 to 16 in Fort McMurray.
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