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Friday, January 29, 2016
GNWT sues Sport North
The GNWT is suing Sport North, claiming that it reneged on a deal to sell the Cooper Building on 49 Street downtown to the NWT Sport and Recreation Council. Court documents show the territorial government claims that it made an agreement in 2005 stating that Sport North use its profits from the sale of lottery tickets to pay the $840,000 mortgage on the building and eventually transfer it to the council. However, the documents also show Sport North informed the government in 2014 that it planned to sell the building and use the proceeds for its own project. The allegation has yet to be heard in court.
- John McFadden
Domestic violence talk coming up
The first Ledge Talks: the Knowledge Series of 2016 will be held on Feb. 5 at the legislative assembly at 7:30 p.m. The topic is frontline workers' perspectives on community response to intimate partner violence in the NWT. A news release states the talk will focus on an action plan developed to assist on the journey to non-violent communities.
- John McFadden
Stuart Hodgson memorial next month
The territorial government announced this week there will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of the first resident commissioner Stuart Hodgson on Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. The event will be held at the Great Hall of the legislative assembly but details are still being finalized. Hodgson, who was celebrated for setting up the GNWT when Yellowknife became the capital city, died at his residence in Vancouver on Dec. 18.
- Simon Whitehouse
Jr kindergarten report released
An external review of the GNWT's junior kindergarten program was released Thursday, a 322-page report it had refused to release to the newspaper earlier this month.
Junior kindergarten was introduced to the territory in 2013 to prepare four year olds for entry into the school system. Expansion of it from small communities to regional centres and the city was halted in fall 2014 so the review could be carried out. Eight recommendations include continuing the program where it's already in place; consulting school boards on a funding model; respecting existing programs in locations where junior kindergarten may expand into; and decisions about appropriate pupil-teacher ratios.
- Shane Magee
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Men's hockey in Fort Providence
The 2016 Aurora Ford Men's Hockey Tournament will kick off Feb. 12 in Fort Providence.
The tournament is scheduled to run for three days at the Fort Providence arena.
It will be an adult-only event for ages 18 and up.
Anyone wishing to register can do so with recreation co-ordinator Andre Bolduc.
Fort Simpson Metis election approaches
The Fort Simpson Metis Nation has put out a call for candidate nominations for the positions of president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer and four directors.
Nomination papers are available at the Fort Simpson Metis Nation office and nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Feb. 1.
The election is set to be held Feb. 10.
Outreach tour hits the Deh Cho
Dechinta's community outreach tour reached the Deh Cho on Jan. 25 and will run until Jan. 29.
Presenters were in Fort Simpson on Jan. 25 and were scheduled to be in Hay River on Jan. 27. They will then move on to Fort Resolution and Fort Smith.
Sessions were held to inform community members on Dechinta's upcoming programs.
Economic development report released
The territorial government will be pushing for promised funds from the feds after an economic development report explored the advantages of investing in the North.
On Jan. 20, the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board released a report that pressed the need for transportation and energy infrastructure investment in the Northwest Territories.
According to a news release from the GNWT on Jan. 21, the report highlighted the need for the government to settle outstanding land claims to create stability in Northern regions.
The news release said Premier Bob McLeod "is committed to settling remaining claims."
The board's report also shows exponential returns on money invested in the North, to the tune of $22 for every $1 invested.
Alice coming back to Inuvik
East Three Secondary School's drama program will be once again presenting Alice in Wonderland this year.
"It was such a huge success last year, it would be a disservice to the students to not do it again," said teacher Steve Dagar. "It was so big, students were coming up to us on the last night of the show and asking us what we were doing next."
The play was chosen by students and involves a lot of help from staff and community members. Tasks from set production and design to costume sewing will need to be completed to put on a show as successful as those in previous years.
While there is no set date yet, organizers predict the show will be ready to go in April.
Gwich'in classes offered
The Nihtat Gwich'in Council is offering language classes starting this month. Beginning Jan. 27, sessions will be held on selected Wednesdays and Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The classes will be held at the Alex Moses Greenland building.
Gwich'in is one of the most endangered languages in the NWT with only a fraction of those who claim heritage able to speak it. Only about two per cent speak the language in their homes and 13 per cent are able to speak it at all, the council stated on its promotional poster.
Legion to host Burns night
Inuvik's Royal Canadian Legion may be the host to one of the most northerly Robbie Burns Suppers on the planet, but that's not to say it's any less special.
"It's a load of fun," said co-organizer Rick Lindsay. "Everybody who has gone has said they had a laugh."
Burns Suppers are an annual celebration of the Scottish national bard Robert Burns, who was born Jan. 25, 1759. Typically, participants recite poetry, make toasts and eat neeps and haggis. Inuvik's supper will take place Jan. 30, with the gathering to commence at 6:30 and supper to be served at 7:30 p.m.
"It's something very different in Inuvik," said Lindsay, although the tradition has been observed for a long time. "We've been walking around in skirts here for I don't know how many years."
Ready for Reading begins
The Inuvik Centennial Library is inviting families with children from zero to five years old to participate in the Ready for Reading program every Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Each session involves story time, a craft and a snack. No registration is required.
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