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Monday, November 14, 2016
Behchoko liquor plebiscite advance poll
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Behchoko is scheduled to hold an advance vote in its liquor plebiscite on Nov. 28, a notice from the community government said.
The plebiscite is scheduled to take place on Dec. 12, but eligible voters who aren't able to cast ballots on that day can vote during the advance poll, which is scheduled to run from 1 to 7 p.m.
The advance poll will take place at the Ko Gocho Centre in Behchoko.
- Kassina Ryder
Three community projects get funding
NWT
Aklavik, Fort Liard and Norman Wells are receiving $4 million in infrastructure funding for community projects.
The majority of the funding, $2,655,250, is being provided through the federal Small Communities Fund and community governments are providing the remaining $1,827,426.
The money will help Fort Liard improve its sewage lagoon, update the Sittichinli Recreational Complex in Aklavik and upgrade eight roads in Norman Wells.
The community's gravel roads will be chip sealed.
"Residents have expressed their concern around negative impacts of poor road surfaces and dust throughout the town," Nathan Watson, Norman Wells mayor, said in a news release.
Aklavik will put the money toward a new fitness centre and a storage area for equipment and Zamboni while improvements in Fort Liard should keep its sewage lagoon running for another 20 years.
- Kassina Ryder
GNWT's mandate reporting site launches
NWT
The territorial government has launched a new website where the public can track the GNWT's progress on fulfilling its mandate.
The mandate refers to the five major themes the GNWT is pursuing: governance; economy, environment and climate change; cost of living; education, training and youth development; and community wellness and safety.
"Open government is good government, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to transparency," Premier Bob McLeod stated in a news release.
The website can be found atmandate.exec.gov.nt.ca.
- Stewart Burnett
Hockey equipment for young players
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Fort Providence will be receiving approximately 20 full sets of hockey equipment for young players thanks to a donation from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and CCM Hockey.
The community's minor hockey board has been collecting equipment over the past year. That collection has now been enhanced by 20 full sets of gear.
Andre Bolduc, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet, said he contacted the Canadian Tire organization about general funding, at which point he found out about the hockey equipment.
Two hundred sets in total are available for the Northwest Territories. "Most kids in town aren't able to afford equipment. It's pretty expensive in general.
"This is good for older youth who want to take that next step in learning how to play hockey but always face the barrier of not being able to have equipment."
The equipment will be set aside for children from low-income families who want to play hockey but cannot afford the cost of equipment.
The equipment will remain the property of the hamlet but will be available for use.
Canadian Tire corporate spokesperson Leah Gaucher said aside from Fort Providence, equipment is also going to Behchoko and to Yellownife's Yk1 schools as well as Side Door Youth Ministries.
- April Hudson
Aboriginal tourism program started
NWT
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has introduced the Aboriginal Tourism Champions Program in hopes to develop and expand authentic cultural tourism products in NWT communities.
"Our territory is unmatched in its ability to fill the growing market demand for Aboriginal and cultural tourism," stated Wally Schumann, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, in a news release. "We are committed to helping communities realize economic opportunities from tourism in the NWT and finding unique and respectful approaches to share the traditional ways, arts and celebrations of our people."
The goal of the program is to develop a network of aboriginal champions who will work to strengthen cultural tourism within communities and motivate organizations to use tourism initiatives as a stimulus for economic development and cultural revitalization.
Aboriginal tourism in Canada employs roughly 32,000 people, which is about two per cent of Canada's travel sector workforce.
The program is eligible to anyone of aboriginal ancestry born and residing in a NWT community.
- Kassina Ryder
LED swap takes off
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Since Arctic Energy Alliance launched its LED bulb swap initiative in September, the response from the region has been extensive, according to Teresa Chilkowich, the alliance's
regional community energy co-ordinator.
The 60-watt and 100-watt bulbs, given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, are more energy-efficient than the alternative incandescent bulbs and can save users up to $300 per year, according to the alliance. The LED bulbs last up to 25,000 hours and do not contain mercury.
The alliance is offering up to seven bulbs per household.
Chilkowich recently returned from Fort Liard, where she and other representatives of the alliance gave away all the bulbs the alliance had allocated for that community.
"We distributed all of what was allocated to Fort Liard," she said. "We have a waiting list now."
The alliance is getting ready for a display at Fort Simpson's Christmas bazaar, which is scheduled for Nov. 19 at Thomas Simpson Secondary School. There, Chilkowich hopes the program will have similar success.
"We'll be the brightest table at the bazaar," she said.
She is encouraging people to bring in their old bulbs, as well as household batteries to dispose of - waste she said the alliance is happy to divert from the landfill.
- April Hudson
Busy evenings in Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Adults and youth in Tsiigehtchic have a full range of activities this month, thanks to a full schedule organized through the recreation department.
"It's every day of the week," said recreation co-ordinator Ben Contenti.
"Different things will happen each day."
The gym is open to youth from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. every day after school. Activities typically include volleyball, basketball and soccer, as well as Northern games.
A dinner break takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The next half hour is available to anyone who wants to participate in different sports or play board games.
"We have Nordic walking and then some different sports as well," Contenti said. "There is a slot for board games some arts and crafts."
Adult time runs from about 8 until 10 p.m.
- Kassina Ryder
Documentary moves forward
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The Passion Foundation was in Fort Liard from Nov. 11 to 14 to begin filming the Global Sorority Documentary with youth in the community.
Twenty to 30 youths between the ages of 11 and 15 were invited to participate in the project's leadership program.
- April Hudson
Hockey sign up approaches
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson Minor Hockey will be holding its registration night on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.
Artist Phoebe Punch will be at the Open Sky gallery's craft nights on Nov. 15, 22 and 29 running a workshop on how to make birch bark Christmas decorations with porcupine
quill accents.
The free workshop runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and is open to everyone over the age of 12.
- April Hudson
Addictions Awareness Week events
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson's interagency committee has developed a week of events for National Addictions Awareness Week from Nov. 13 to 19. Some of those events include a community wellness walk on Nov. 14, starting at Unity at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a potluck at the Stanley Isaiah Wellness Centre.
- April Hudson
Book fair at Chief Julius
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Staff at the Chief Julius School library in Fort McPherson are hosting a variety of activities throughout the month of November, according to the library's monthly schedule.
Movie and snack afternoons are scheduled to take place on Nov. 20 and 27 at about 3 p.m. Lego Tuesdays are scheduled to run each week and a kids' reading club is scheduled to take place Nov. 17 and 24. The month will finish off with a Scholastic Book Fair on Nov. 30.
- Kassina Ryder
Councillor reaches out to youth
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson Coun. Muaz Hassan has taken over responsibility as council's representative on the Fort Simpson District Education Authority.
Hassan requested that seat during a Nov. 7 council meeting.
He said he and parents within the community are in the process of forming a society for youth in the Deh Cho, with the hope that society will provide opportunities for youth to experience national and international events.
- April Hudson
Tourney anniversary a big bash
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The 30th anniversary of Fort Simpson's Men's Rec Hockey's annual tournament will be celebrated from Jan. 20 to 22 this year.
Aside from hockey, the event is expected to include a family and adult dance and a draw.
The tournament will have a maximum of 12 teams, with a first-place prize of $5,000, second-place prize of $3,000 and third-place prize of $2,000.
The registration deadline is Jan. 19 at 5 p.m.
- April Hudson
Chamber champions Shop Local campaign
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
When you spend money in Fort Simpson and surrounding communities, you're supporting your local economy.
That's the message the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce is hoping to get across as it embarks on a Shop Local campaign.
Angela Fiebelkorn, a board member with the chamber as well as one of its past presidents, said the focus of the Shop Local campaign is to get the names of small businesses out there for the community to see.
"People don't realize how much spinoff there is from a simple program like this. When you buy something from someone local, that money spins off to the next product they might buy from someone else who has a small business. It snowballs," Fiebelkorn said.
The campaign marks something new for the chamber, kicking off just in time for the Christmas season as well as the community's popular winter bazaar.
- April Hudson
Derby celebrates 25 years
Aklavik
The 25th annual Hannah Stewart Memorial Losh Derby kicked off in Aklavik on Nov. 1, said recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod.
Stewart was a former recreation co-ordinator who started the derby.
"It was one of the events she started up," McLeod said.
The derby will run until Nov. 22 and prizes will be awarded for the heaviest, lightest, longest and shortest losh.
There is a total of $2,500 worth of cash prizes, as well as door prizes.
Winners' names will also be displayed on the memorial plaque, which is housed at the Sittichinli Recreational Complex.
- Kassina Ryder
Four in race for NTI presidency
Nunavut
When Inuit head to the polls Dec. 12 to select a president for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), they will have a choice between four candidates, all with governance backgrounds.
Incumbent Cathy Towtongie has served as NTI president from 2001 to 2004, then again from 2010 to the present.
Levinia Brown was the MLA for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove from 2004 to 2008, serving as deputy premier and minister of Community and Government Services. Brown also served as the first female mayor of Rankin Inlet.
Aluki Kotierk, originally from Iglulik, is on leave from her position as director of NTI's Inuit employment and training division. Kotierk previously held senior Nunavut government management positions, most recently as director of strategic planning and policy at the Office of the Languages Commissioner.
Joe Adla Kunuk became Nunavut Arctic College president in the fall of 2015, leaving his role as deputy minister of Culture and Heritage. He was previously deputy minister of Human Resources, principal secretary to former premier Eva Aariak, associate deputy minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, chief executive officer for NTI, chief negotiator for NTI, and mayor of Iqaluit. Voters have five ways to vote: at advance polls Dec. 5; in person, by mobile poll, or by proxy vote on election day Dec. 12; or by mail-in ballot delivered on or before Dec. 12.
Voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years of age as of Dec. 12, and enrolled or eligible to enrol under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
- Michele LeTourneau
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