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Friday, January 22, 2016
NWT Pride appoints interim president
Jackie Siegel has been appointed interim president for NWT Pride since Patrick Peers has resigned his position, according to the group's Facebook page. Peers was sentenced to 14 months house arrest in Territorial Court last week, having pleaded guilty to stealing from his employer, Ice Wireless in the summer of 2014. Siegel has been a volunteer with the organization for two years and served as the volunteer co-ordinator at the NWT Pride Festival before becoming vice-president of the board of directors.
- Evan Kiyoshi French
Bekale returns to Denendeh Investments chairmanship
John Bekale of Yellowknife has been elected chairperson of Denendeh Investments Inc., according to a news release from the aboriginal-owned business.
Bekale was chairperson of the board for 10 years from its inception in 1999. He was re-appointed to the board in June by the Tlicho Government.
"He is well known and respected by people in the North, including the business community. He is knowledgeable about DII (Denendeh Development Corp.) and as well as the mining sector," stated Darrell Beaulieu, CEO of Denendeh Investments Inc.
- Shane Magee
Bishop hosting third annual dinner
Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith is hosting his third annual Bishop's Dinner at Weledeh Catholic School gym.
The event, entitled Building In Hope, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. A reception, dance and silent auction, as well as jigging and fiddling, will be featured. Hagemoen will also give an address about church restoration in the North.
- Simon Whitehouse
St. Pat's staff lounge to get a makeover
The staff lounge at St. Patrick High School is around 20 years old and in need of a refit, so Yellowknife Catholic Schools trustees have directed the superintendent to open a tender to get the work done.
Trustee John Dalton said the lounge is old and needs to be redesigned at a board meeting Wednesday evening.
Trustees voted unanimously to have superintendent Claudia Parker put out a request for proposals.
- Evan Kiyoshi French
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Computer give-away at the college
Aurora College's community access program in Fort Simpson is giving away free computers to anyone who wants one.
Community adult educator Dean Harvey said the computers were acquired with funding from the Smart Communities Society.
He said the college's goal was to give them away to people who could not afford their own.
"We've got a whole pallet of these computers ... at this point, we're trying to make sure we just get them all out," he said.
Anyone interested should contact the college.
Table tennis instructors tour the North
Between Jan. 19 and 24, five Deh Cho communities received visits from members of Table Tennis North.
Fort Simpson, Trout Lake, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard were all on the list of communities to visit for table tennis instructor Thorsten Gohl.
Over the week, instructors were set to go into the schools in each community to promote physical activity.
Village to hold public meeting
The Village of Fort Simpson will be holding a public meeting on Feb. 16.
The meeting will give residents a chance to weigh in on three topics: plans for the proposed fitness centre, the village's capital budget and Fort Simpson's community plan.
"I believe that council insisted that should one of our capital expenditures not follow through, then we wanted community input as to what the next priority would be," stated Mayor Darlene Sibbeston in an e-mail to senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo.
A time for the meeting will be set at a later date.
Nominations open for volunteer awards
On Jan. 14, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs announced it has opened nominations for this year's territorial Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
The program recognizes people who devote time to improving quality of life for residents in the Northwest Territories, according to a news release from the department.
There are four categories: elder, youth, individual and group volunteer awards.
Nominations will close March 25.
Calling all actors!
The call is out for young people to act in a feature-length film.
Katie Nolan, production executive for Inuit Teen Movie, told the Drum the company has launched a Northern-wide casting call for two projects, one being the movie itself, and the second being a camp for young people interested in working in the performing arts.
"It was a huge success in 2009 when we last did it," she said, adding that while 270 people auditioned last time, only 30 will be selected for the camp.
Auditions can be taped and sent in, following the directions on the Inuit Teen Movie website. The project is open to anyone from 13 to 21 years old. In-person auditions may be conducted later but Nolan said the communities visited will depend on interest shown through tapes submitted. The deadline is Jan. 27.
Public meeting called
Inuvik's town council has called a public hearing for Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in the community hall to discuss a proposed amendment to the licensed premises bylaw.
Rick Adams, the owner of the Mad Trapper, has petitioned the town to change the bylaw so the bar can sell liquor every Sunday and Good Friday. The amendment passed second reading at the last council meeting, Jan. 13, but needs to go through a public meeting before it can go to third reading.
Hoops tourney coming up
East Three Secondary School will be hosting its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament this coming weekend. Registration will take place Jan. 23 from 5 to 6 p.m. with games to begin at 6:30 sharp.
The tournament is open to students in Grades 6 to 12 and to adults as well.
Categories will be formed when registration is complete. There will be prizes awarded in various categories. Anyone with questions may contact Lorne Guy at the high school.
Transfer payments details delayed
Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod has said the office of his federal counterpart will have an update as to the financial situation facing the territory with regards to transfer payments in March.
"We're always looking for different pots of money," he told the Drum last week. "We're going to have to communicate with them... it affects how we do our business."
McLeod also said the legislative assembly will be heading into budget talks in May or June this year and that the announcement of a cut in excess of $30 million to transfer payments and the closure of Snap Lake mine will affect those talks.
"It was an unfortunate announcement," he said. "We're going to have to plan accordingly."
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