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Friday, July 8, 2016
Fire near Snare hydro dam grows
A forest fire burning near the Snare hydro dam, located about 65 kilometres north of Behchoko, has grown to five square kilometres in size.
It remains about 10 kilometres from the dam, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The fire was only 0.1 square kilometre earlier in the week. A plan was being developed yesterday to manage the fire and protect any structures and infrastructure in the area. There are no plans at this point to evacuate the facility according to the NWT Power Corporation.
- John McFadden
NWT Pride looking for volunteers
NWT Pride is putting the call out for volunteers.
This year's festivities are set to include Queerlesque, cake at the post office, Rainbow in the Park, a variety of workshops and musical acts. Pride organizers are looking for people willing to help with all of these events. Those interested can fill out an online form at the Pride website.
NWT Pride, which is entering its fifth year, runs from Aug. 4 to 6 and this year's theme is You've Got the Power.
- Randi Beers
Ice roads honoured
The ice roads of the NWT have been commemorated as a national historic event by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
The event to unveil a plaque at the Yellowknife entrance to the Dettah ice road was held yesterday afternoon.
Catherine McKenna, minister of environment and minister responsible for Parks Canada was present for the commemoration as well as a representative for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
- Randi Beers
Federal minister to visit Yk
Catherine McKenna, the federal minister of environment and climate change will be in Yellowknife Monday for a town hall event on clean growth and climate change. She will be joined by NWT MP Michael McLeod for a discussion designed to raise awareness of climate change issues.
The public meeting will be held at the Somba K'e Civic Plaza beside city hall beginning at 7:30 p.m.
- John McFadden
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Summer games kick off
Youth from across the Deh Cho packed their bags for a week of sports in Hay River.
Teams from Fort Providence and Fort Liard, accompanied by chaperones and community members, left the Deh Cho from July 4 to 8 to partake in the annual sporting event.
The week-long event includes a variety of sports, from soccer to swimming as well as traditional games.
Committee set to start up
Fort Liard is looking to start up a FireSmart committee following a brush fire in the hamlet, according to a notice posted around town by the fire department.
According to the notice, the brush fire began after youth set fire to poplar fluff.
The committee would be a partnership between the community, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as well as the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Input is being sought on what areas can be FireSmarted this summer to reduce the risk of wildfire. That includes areas with dry brush, dead trees, branches and bushes close to houses.
Session explores all-season mining road
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board brought an afternoon meeting to Fort Simpson on July 5 to discuss the culture impacts of an all-season road for the Prairie Creek Mine.
That project, put forth by Canadian Zinc Corporation, is currently before the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.
According to a poster for the event, the review board is looking for traditional and local knowledge on potential cultural impacts as well as ways to mitigate potential impacts of the road.
The session was scheduled to run from 2 to 7 p.m. at the recreation centre.
The all-season road would replace a winter road currently running to the mine, allowing Canadian Zinc Corporation to keep the mine open year-round.
Previously, the board held a four-day technical session in Yellowknife from June 13 to 16 on the project.
Funding approval received
Fort Simpson has been notified its re-application for federal funding to cover part of the cost of a new village fitness centre has been approved, with the stipulation the project must be completed in the next six years.
The funding means the village will be reimbursed for up to 75 per cent of the cost of building the facility.
Heritage Centre damaged by water
The Fort Simpson Historical Society is pursuing recompense from the village for damage caused to the basement of the heritage centre this spring.
A letter to council from society president Martina Norwegian, dated June 24, states water was discovered in the basement, causing "considerable damages to the concrete basement floor, lifting a support beam and adding pressure to the rafters of the building."
Additionally, mold has set in around the lumber framing in the basement. Accompanying Norwegian's letter was a copy of a notice sent to the village in 2014 asking that water and garbage collection be cancelled.
"It is the understanding of (the historical society) that the responsibility lies within the Village of Fort Simpson as a letter was forwarded … to have the account and water service discontinued from the priest trailer in the adjacent lot," Norwegian wrote.
"The seeping water was tested and it was determined that the water in the basement was treated."
Norwegian stated the society checked with a village employee, who confirmed water had not been shut off.
She added the society would be forwarding costs of repairs to the village.
During discussion of Norwegian's letter, senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo told councillors the issue is currently before the village's insurance company.
Jumbo said the company will be getting statements from everyone involved, and added the basement would need to be dug up in order to determine who is responsible for the damage.
–April Hudson
Lockout planned at Canada Post
Inuvik and the rest of Canada could be facing a stoppage of mail services beginning July 8.
After lengthy negotiations between Canada Post and the union that represents its employees, the union made an announcement July 5 of the pending lockout.
"On July 4, Canada Post informed CUPW that the offers the corporation presented on June 25 are considered final as they represent a fair and reasonable framework for settlements," Canada Post stated on its website. "The company also informed CUPW that the union's more than $1 billion in demands were unaffordable and therefore rejected."
The statement also said that the company followed the procedure required, giving 72 hours notice to the union.
"We knew this was their game all along. They are sabotaging the public review of the post office. They refused to negotiate fairly with us and now they're locking the doors and will try to starve us into submission," stated CUPW president Mike Palecek.
The main contention for employees are pay-equity for the largely female workforce in rural areas and pension agreements for new hires.
Snow geese talk of the town
Aurora College's Summer Speaker Series at the Aurora Research Institute will be hosting a lecture July 8 on the overabundance of snow geese and the impact on habitat, management action and international collaboration.
The lecture will run from 6 to 7 p.m. and will feature presentations by Environment Canada biologists Eric Reed, Danicaq Hogan and Marie Fast, as well as Idaho Fish and Game upland game and migratory bird co-ordinator Jeff Knetter.
Ladybugs for all
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is hosting its annual ladybug release July 9 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
There will be lots of activities for children, including games and face-painting, as well as crafts.
The annual event, while fun for kids and parents alike, was actually designed to provide an alternative to pesticide treatment, said greenhouse executive director Ray Solotki.
More than 200 people turned out for last year's event, surpassing expectations and creating high expectations for this year.
The release is free for everyone to attend and both members of the greenhouse and non-members are welcome.
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