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Friday, June 24, 2016
Council to consider hotel approval
City council will consider Monday evening whether to grant conditional approval to Nova Builders for its planned 30-room hotel at the base of Twin Pine Hill along Franklin Avenue.
Councillors already have had a chance to review the plans for the project during a municipal services committee in May, which was first pitched by Nova owner Mike Mrdjenovich as a 19-room "boutique" hotel. The hotel would be located beside the Arnica Inn.
Because the area is zoned Old Town Mixed Use, the plan goes to council for review and approval.
- Shane Magee
Council to debate water source
The city's municipal services committee is expected to mull a switch in the drinking water supply during a noon hour public meeting Monday at city hall.
The discussion was requested by Coun. Niels Konge who is seeking information about whether the water from Yellowknife Bay could be used instead of the Yellowknife River. An eight-km pipeline under Great Slave Lake carries the city water supply currently but is scheduled to be replaced in 2020 at an estimated cost of $20 million.
Opponents of the switch have raised concerns of arsenic contamination in the bay.
- Shane Magee
Law Society makes amends
The Law Society of the Northwest Territories and the Canadian Bar Association, Northwest Territories Branch presented a statement of reconciliation on Tuesday, as part of the Aboriginal Day celebrations. The statement was in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
City seeks vendors
The City of Yellowknife is now accepting applications for vendors to sell food, crafts or wares during the city's Canada Day celebrations. Preference will be given to non-profit groups or organizations who donate a portion of their revenue.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Thursday, June 23, 2016
School's out
Children and youth across the Deh Cho are out for the remainder of the season as the 2015-16 school year wraps up.
In Fort Simpson, Bompas Elementary School holds its final day on June 24, culminating a week of activities including a sports day and culture camp.
At Echo Dene School in Fort Liard, school ended earlier in the week, with classes finishing at noon on June 17. Classes at Chief Julian Yendo School in Wrigley ended June 17 as well.
Healthy options reap rewards
Four schools under the purview of the Deh Cho Divisional Education Council have received recognition for their efforts to implement Drop The Pop programming.
Kakisa Lake School, Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River, Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake and Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson were all recognized by the Department of Health and Social Services, among 18 schools chosen as winners across the Northwest Territories for the Drop The Pop campaign. Prizes for winners range from $500 to $3,000.
This is the 10th year of the campaign, which promotes healthy food and beverages in schools and encourages students to learn more about nutrition.
Handgames tournament raising funds
Members of the handgames committee in Fort Simpson are planning the annual men's handgames tournament from July 22 to 25 and are looking for donors to help support the event.
Funds can be donated to committee members. The handgames are expected to feature $50,000 in prizes, with $18,000 going to first place, $12,000 to second place, $8,000 to third place, $6,000 to fourth place, $4,000 to fifth place and $2,000 to sixth place.
The tournament will be for players 14 years of age and older, with teams having eight players and one alternate.
Pool opens
Fort Simpson's pool officially opened for the summer with a public swim on June 17.
Swim club is taking sign-ups at the pool.
The schedule is out until July 3 and includes bronze medallion training, pool games, synchronized swimming, Aqua Fit and parent and tot swims, as well as public swimming and swim club.
Bronze medallion training is scheduled to take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays will include a family swim from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Warming centre seeks new name
The call has been put out for a new name for the building occupied by the Inuvik Emergency Warming Centre.
Officially called the Berger Building, and more commonly known as the Inuvik Works building, the structure now houses the centre, as well as second-hand store called Next to New. Entries for the new name can be commemorative of important people in the community, an event, or something that speaks to hopes for the future. In any case, the name must have a story to back it up.
Submissions can be made in person at the warming centre, mailed, or e-mailed to the manager of the facility before June 27. First prize, beyond having the building bear the new name, is a round-trip with Aklak Air. Second is a personal flotation device, and third is a $50 shopping spree at the Next to New store.
Summer Speaker Series underway
The Aurora Research Institute's Summer Speaker Series is starting again for the summer. Happening every second Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the institute on Mackenzie, this week's edition will feature three separate topics, each lasting 15 minutes.
There will be a lecture on comparing microbial community diversity and activity with environmental parameters by the University of Alberta's Mitchell Bergstresser, as well as one by Sarah Shakil from the same school on the mobilization and biodegradability of particulate organic carbon from permafrost thaw slumps. There will also be a presentation on the geometrics of an Arctic highway, with the University of California's Mia Bennett.
All presentations are free to the public. Anyone looking for more information may contact Catarina Owen at the institute.
Top honour for Cournoyea
Nellie Cournoyea is to receive the Order of the Northwest Territories.
The former Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chairperson will join Jan Stirling, Anthony W.J. Whitford, and Marie Wilson in receiving the distinction, Paul Delorey, chairperson of the Northwest Territories' Honours Advisory Council, announced June 15.
"These four recipients strongly reflect the spirit and intent behind the order," he said. "They are passionate Northerners who greatly inspire us, the residents of NWT, to persevere, share our knowledge and wisdom and, importantly, give back to our people and our communities."
The Order, established only in 2013, honours individuals who "have served with the greatest distinction in any field of endeavour benefitting the people of the NWT or elsewhere," according to a news release. The ceremony will take place June 29 in Yellowknife at the legislative assembly and is open to the public.
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