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Friday, February 24, 2017
Northwestel unveils cover
Next week, phone books across the territory will get a facelift. On March 2, Northwestel will unveil the artwork which will be displayed on the 2017/18 telephone directories.
Each year, artists who currently reside in the North submit hand-rendered work like acrylic, oil, watercolour and silkscreen art.
Three selected artists each win $3,000. They are chosen by a panel of Northern artists, Northwestel employees, and a public ballot.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Council funds marketing plan
Yellowknife city council approved its 2016-2018 Strategic Objectives, including allocating $140,000 over two years toward the implementation of the Destination Marketing Plan for the city.
According to a news release on Monday, council also approved $75,000 for a downtown multi-purpose building study to explore options for an integrated civic facility that could host a library, culture centre and commercial spaces.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Ekati announces mixed results
Dominion Diamond Corporation announced a mixed bag of fourth quarter fiscal results on Wednesday.
From November to January, Ekati nearly doubled the number of carats recovered from last year - going from 1.2 million carats in 2016 to 2.3 million carats this year. In a news release, Ekati attributed the 93 per cent increased to the processing of a large proportion of high grade Misery ore. But while carats sold rose, the dollar value of the sales fell by half - from US$111.6 million in the three months ending in Jan. 31, 2016 to US$51.9 million this year.
In 2018, the company plans to produce 6.3 to seven million carats at Ekati.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
City seeks operator for Wildcat Cafe
The City of Yellowknife has issued a request for proposals to take over the operation of the Wildcat Cafe for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Details of the proposal package can be on the city's website. Proposals must be received by March 10.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Thursday, February 23, 2017
School name change cost discussed
During an education meeting in Fort Simpson on Feb. 23, members of the district education authority, parents and education staff discussed the proposed name change of Bompas Elementary School and Thomas Simpson Secondary School.
The main point of contention was the potential cost of the name change to the schools.
Although district education authority representatives have said in the past that the name change process itself likely won't have costs associated with it, once the name is changed, school paraphernalia will also need to change.
District education authority member Renalyn Pascua-Matte said the education authority has not yet done a cost analysis for the name change and admitted the education authority had acted "reactively" to the suggestion of a name change.
High rate of 'unfounded' sexual assault allegations: study
A study from the Globe and Mail into data from 1,119 police jurisdictions across the country show 24 per cent of sexual assault allegations in Fort Simpson were cleared by police as unfounded.
That statistic is based on a five-year average, with 14 of 58 allegations dismissed as unfounded.
The rate for Fort Liard is 30 per cent, or eight of 27 allegations.
That number rises in Fort Providence to 37 per cent, or 19 out of 52 allegations.
According to the study, "unfounded" refers to instances where an investigator does not believe a criminal offence occurred or was attempted.
Workshop encourages women in politics
Fourteen women from across the Northwest Territories travelled to Yellowknife for the Daughters of the Vote NWT workshop, which began Feb. 12.
Reannda Cli of Fort Simpson attended the workshop.
The workshop was an initiative of Equal Voice, an organization aiming to get more women elected in government.
The workshop included panel discussions and presentations.
Deh Cho tourism championed
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment hosted a workshop this week to promote tourism in the Deh Cho region.
The workshop, which ran Feb. 21 to 23, aimed to engage participants in discussion about community-driven, sustainable tourism.
GTC to livestream Peel Watershed case
The Gwich'in Tribal Council will be livestreaming the Supreme Court's Peel Watershed hearing March 22.
The GTC will livestream the court out of its boardroom in Inuvik for any interested parties. Those outside of Inuvik can follow along with the official Supreme Court livestream on the Supreme Court's website.
Students on Ice applications open
Any youth interested in the 2017 Students on Ice Arctic expedition are encouraged to apply.
The ship-based expedition will bring together more than 100 youth from around the world along with scientists, elders, educators, musicians and more for an educational journey.
Each day will be filled with exploration, discovery, presentations, adventure and more.
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation has advertised it will sponsor one Inuvialuk for the trip, which is set for August.
The deadline to apply is
March 1.
RCMP investigate break and enter
Inuvik RCMP responded to a report of a break and enter in town Feb. 7.
An unknown person or persons gained entry to Mac's Convenience Store and attempted to steal an ATM from the premises.
The RCMP responded to the call at 4 a.m. A witness reportedly observed someone attempting to break into the store.
The witness pointed a flashlight at the suspect, who ran away.
The RCMP "G" Division Forensic Identification Section is assisting with the investigation.
Inuvik RCMP are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible for the crime.
GNWT focuses on mental health
Health Minister Glen Abernethy laid out three plans to address mental health in the legislative assembly last week.
Those plans involved children and youth mental wellness, addictions recovery and mental health services.
The Department of Health and Social Services is also working on implementing the new Mental Health Act, which will work to protect the rights of patients.
"The new Mental Health Act represents a substantive shift in practice, and our goal remains to have the act in force this year," stated Abernethy.
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