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Friday, July 1, 2016
Canada Post strike could loom
Yellowknifers who use mail do not have to worry about a postal strike or a lockout, at least not yet. According to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) the union decided not to file a 72-hour strike notice last night. That means there will be no strike action until at least Monday. CUPW said it is currently working to prepare a counter proposal to management's latest contract offer.
Several Yellowknife businesses and organizations have notified residents that their bills must still be paid using other methods if postal workers do go on strike or are locked out.
- John McFadden
RCMP investigate assault
Police are investigating after a man was injured in an assault in the early morning hours on Wednesday.
Police responded to a report of an injured male at 5001 Forrest Drive at about 1:14 a.m., according to an RCMP press release.
- Robin Grant
Man charged after assault on Con Road
A man has been charged with aggravated assault after another male was hurt at an apartment on Con Road on Tuesday night. According to an RCMP news release, officers were called to 48 Con Road after they received a complaint of an assault with a weapon at about 9 p.m.
The injured male was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital by ambulance, police stated. His condition has not been released nor has his name or the name of the accused. Police continue to investigate.
- John McFadden
City bans open air burning
The City of Yellowknife has enacted an open air burning ban which went into effect yesterday morning.
"This ban includes the use of approved fire pits," the city stated in a news release.
The city, in co-ordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, uses weather data to evaluate conditions. The ban also includes Fred Henne Territorial Park and the Yellowknife River Day Use Area, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
- John McFadden
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Regional wellness councils announced
Members for six regional wellness councils in the Northwest Territories were announced on June 24.
The councils are one step in the government's efforts to create a territorial Health and Social Services Authority.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Leadership Council will be chaired by the Deh Cho's Jim Antoine.
Regional wellness council members for the Deh Cho region include chairperson Ruby Simba and members Raymond Michaud, Hilda Tsetso, Hilda Sabourin, Brenda Jumbo, Janna Deneron and Margaret Thom.
There are also councils for the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu, Hay River, Fort Smith and Yellowknife regions.
The chair of each regional wellness council will sit on the leadership council.
Mining company secures financing
Canadian Zinc has secured $8 million in financing after selling 32 million shares.
According to a June 16 news release from the mining company, the financing will go toward feasibility and development programs at Prairie Creek Mine, as well as exploration programs at Prairie Creek and Canadian Zinc's properties in Newfoundland and Labrador.
A June 21 news release on the company's annual general meeting of shareholders states the company will continue focusing on Prairie Creek in the next year.
Carnival for sober Simpson
The second annual carnival for Sober Sally/Sober Steve will kick off on Canada Day at the arena within Fort Simpson's recreation centre.
Free of charge, the event promotes sober activities for youth between the ages of 11 and 18.
Activities kick off at 8 p.m. with games, prizes, snacks and bouncy castles. From 10 to 11 p.m., there will also be a free late-night swim.
Childrens' summer program begins
The Open Doors Society in Fort Simpson will be kicking off its summer program for children 12 years of age and under.
The program opened June 27 and will run through to July 8 at the recreation centre, on a drop-in basis.
From Mondays to Fridays, children six and under will have activities in the morning, while the afternoon will be for ages seven to 12.
Man killed in industrial accident
A man was killed when a piece of heavy equipment rolled over June 28 at a construction site outside Inuvik.
Fire Chief Jim Sawkins confirmed the fire department responded to a call at 3:22 p.m. and dispatched two trucks to the lot where an access road is being built for a new satellite facility.
He said there were six people on the site when he and his crew of 12 firefighters arrived but that only two were present at the time of the accident.
Sawkins also said Workers' Safety & Compensation Commission and RCMP are investigating the incident. RCMP did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
RCMP are working with the assistance of the Office of the Chief Coroner of the Northwest Territories and WSCC as the investigation continues.
The death is not deemed suspicious.
Satellite station moves ahead
All 10 councillors at a town council meeting June 22 voted in favour of a proposed bylaw to rezone a lot off of Airport Road to allow for a second satellite farm.
The meeting was open to the public for questions and concerns about the new development Tom Zubko hopes to have built on the lot. No one from the community was present to support or oppose the bylaws.
Senior administrative officer Grant Hood recommended that the rezoning "be held off" until the bylaw request is sent and approved by Lands Minister Robert C. McLeod, which is required for rezoning bylaws. A third reading will be held by council once approval is granted. The town previously received a letter from MDA Geospatial Services Inc., the contractor which manages the government-owned satellite farm opposing a proposed second farm being built in Inuvik.
Town development officer Kecil Joseph confirmed to council that there were no new verbal or written submissions related to the two bylaws to rezone the lot.
- Kaila Jefferd-Moore
Canada Day celebrated
Inuvik will be celebrating Canada Day in style with events spanning the whole afternoon on July 1.
A parade to kick off festivities begins at the NTPC building at 11 a.m., with activities then starting to Jim Koe Park. There will be a dunk tank with proceeds going to support breast cancer research, as well as a carnival open to all.
The event will also feature a giant Canada Day cake, rides from the Inuvik Fire Department on their fire trucks, and a barbecue, among other things. Festivities will get underway at the park at noon and wrap up at 6 p.m.
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