 | Home page |  | Text size |
Friday, March 10, 2017
Daylight saving time begins
Clocks spring forward on Sunday. Daylight saving time moves clocks ahead one hour, starting at 2 a.m. that morning. Daylight saving time will continue until Nov. 5, when clocks fall back an hour. The clock shift is observed across Canada, except in Saskatchewan, where Central Standard Time reigns year-round.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Ekati employees vote on contract
Voting to ratify a collective agreement between Dominion Diamond Corporation and about 500 workers at the Ekati diamond mine starts Monday. The tentative agreement was reached Feb. 2 after Local 3050 members had been without a contract for 30 months.
The contract would run until May 2019 if approved. It includes a pay increase of 5.5 per cent over five years backdated to 2015.
Voting takes place Monday, Tuesday and then March 27 and 28 at the mine about 300 kilometres northeast of the city.
- Shane Magee
EU allows Inuvialuit seal
The European Union announced yesterday it has accepted the NWT's application for the Inuvialuit to be recognized under the indigenous exception to the EU seal products ban. Seal products harvested in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region will now have unencumbered access to the European market, and be marketed under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur brand. Travellers will now also be able to return home to Europe with sealskin products purchased in the NWT.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Gahcho Kue receives award
Gahcho Kue mine, 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, won its third award on Tuesday. The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada presented the Viola R. MacMillan Award to De Beers Canada and Mountain Province Diamonds, partners in the mine. The award honours leadership in management and financing for the exploration and development of mineral resources. Previously, Gahcho Kue received the Workplace Health and Safety Award from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and Gold at the 11th Annual Project Management Institute's awards gala.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Sudden death ruled not suspicious
RCMP have said there was no foul play identified in the sudden death of a person in Fort Liard on Feb. 26.
That information was released March 3, four days after RCMP notified the public in a news release of the death.
On Feb. 26, RCMP members in Fort Liard received a report of someone found dead on a trail near the community hall. Members of the Northwest Territories Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Services investigated the death.
On March 3, RCMP said the file is now in the hands of the NWT Coroner Services. There will be a Coroner's investigation, completed with help from the Fort Liard RCMP.
Walk to Tuk crosses finish line
Participants endeavouring to walk the distance between Fort Providence and Tuktoyaktuk wrapped up their Walk to Tuk challenge last week.
In total, 3,686 people participated in this year's challenge, accumulating an average of five hours and 20 minutes of weekly exercise apiece.
The event challenged walkers to cover a distance of 1,658 kilometres between Jan. 3 and Feb. 28.
In Fort Simpson, the nine-person team Noon Walkers clocked 7,098 kilometres, followed by the Deh Cho Steppers with 4,677 and Pteam Ptarmigan with 4,202. Fort Simpson had a total of seven teams registered.
Fort Liard's Tukkin Liard team walked 2,537 kilometres.
Nine teams out of Fort Providence participated, including two school classes.
Fort Simpson youth join Yk basketball tourney
The last basketball tournament of the year drew a group of 20 youth from Fort Simpson who participated in three teams.
The Senior Cager basketball tournament, for youth in grades 9 to 12, ran from March 1 to 5 in Yellowknife.
The tournament included teams from Yellownife, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Tulita and Fort Good Hope.
Ministers hit region
Three ministerial visits have been announced for the month of March.
Louis Sebert, the minister responsible for public engagement and transparency, will be in Fort Providence on March 13 conducting an open house. The open house will run from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Snowshoe Inn in the dining lounge.
Sebert will also be holding open houses in Fort Simpson on April 4, and in Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard on April 5.
On March 27, Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy will hold a meeting with leaders in Fort Simpson, followed by a public hearing at 7 p.m. in regard to the Fort Simpson health centre.
Spring carnival schedule released
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
Nahanni Butte will be holding its Lukeh Carnival from March 17 to 19.
The carnival kicks off with traditional games, a hockey tournament and dances on March 17, followed by more games and dances on the 18th.
On March 19, there will be a scavenger hunt and a sliding party, followed by Bingo at the community gymnasium.
Badminton tournament upcoming
The registration deadline is fast approaching for a badminton tournament at East Three School March 17 and 18.
The round robin tournament is open to all skill levels and includes categories for U16, U19 and adults.
Registration deadline is approaching quickly. E-mail taylor.giffin@gmail.com for more information.
Inuvik artist wins cover of phonebook
The iconic Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk ice road will be showcased on the cover of the 2017/18 Northwest Territories phone directory with artwork by Anick Deschenes Jenks.
Her water colour artwork was selected as this year's winner of the annual territory-wide Northwestel Directory Cover Art Competition for the NWT
Her work, now featured on the cover of Northwestel's directory, will be distributed throughout the territory.
"I've always been struck by the stark beauty of the ice road and its surroundings," Deschenes Jenks stated in a news release.
"I wanted to capture that and show the unique beauty of this landscape."
Inuvik Native Band elections coming up
The election for the new Inuvik Native Band chief is fast approaching.
Melba Mitchell, Lawrence J. Neyando and James Firth are all running for chief of the band.
Acclaimed to the position of councillor for the band are Vern Smith, Kelly McLeod, Amanda Vittrekwa, Richard Ross, Billie Lennie, Bernice Furlong and Barry Greenland.
The general election for chief will be held March 20.
End of the Road music festival this weekend
A whole lot of musical fun is going down this weekend at the End of the Road Music Festival March 10 to 12.
Doors open Friday night at 8 p.m. with a talent show at 9 p.m. and a wet dance at 11 p.m at the Midnight Sun Complex.
Saturday afternoon the Delta fiddlers will be playing music for all ages at the Children First Centre.
That night a tribute to James Rogers featuring fiddlers from across the Delta and Green River Revival CCR Tribute Band will play at the MSC at 9 p.m.
Sunday afternoon until night will see a jam at the Legion with Delta Flood.
| 
