Council briefs
City proclaims Wish Month
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Friday, March 3, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
At the request of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, Mayor Mark Heyck proclaimed March to be Wish Month during council on Monday.
"This March, we are celebrating Wish Month to honor those Wish children, their families, as well as our donors, volunteers, and various stakeholders who turned Wishes into reality," wrote Rhys Dowbiggin, communications specialist with The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada in a request to city council.
The foundation has been granting the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses for 30 years.
Dowbiggin stated that the proclamation from the city was a means to support children who have had their wishes granted, as well as encourage those "whose wishes will come true."
Indigenous wellness centre takes next step
City council unanimously passed a motion Monday calling on the city to look at collaborating on the construction of an indigenous wellness centre in the city.
The project would create a traditional healing facility in Yellowknife. At a council meeting on Feb. 13, Dr. Nicole Redvers asked the city for a land gift in the form of a 30-year lease, including waiving property taxes, to build the healing facility and cultural site. Redvers proposed an approximately four-acre piece of land behind the Fieldhouse adjacent to Kam Lake for the project.
"As a city we have the responsibility and should be proud to collaborate and offer all the support that we can to this organization," said Coun. Linda Bussey on Monday.
Bussey added the healing centre project has already taking steps forward, even before the city has agreed to the partnership. The foundation is planning its first elder gathering in Yellowknife in April.
"They will be bringing in 12 elders on the council and all of their board members in from the NWT and Nunavut for the purpose of setting the groundwork for the projects to come," said Bussey.
Homeless board appointed
Council appointed six members Monday to the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness, which advises the city on homelessness issues.
Yellowknives Dene First Nation councillor Paul Betsina was appointed as an indigenous representative, Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA Yellowknife, represents a Yellowknife sheltering agency, Denise McKee, executive director of the NWT Disabilities Council represents an organization serving people with disabilities, Iris Hamyln, executive director of SideDoor Youth Ministries, represents an organization serving youth, NWT Seniors' Society Program Co-ordinator Mike Prowse represents an organization serving seniors and Winter Haley from Diavik Diamond Mines represents a Yellowknife business.
Catherine Lafferty and Stephen Jackson had previously resigned from the board, which was established in 2014. In February, the city announced five programs had been funded for 2016-2019.
Housing First will receive additional funding in 2017 for a program specific to families experiencing homelessness.
The city has awarded the contract and consultations have begun, with a report expected in June, for a 10-year plan to end homelessness, as well as currently finalizing a contract for a 24-hour youth sheltering service, expected to commence this month. The new appointees will serve for two years.
Heritage Committee member appointed
Council voted unanimously Monday to appoint Leslie Gordon to serve on the Yellowknife Heritage Committee for two years, ending on Feb. 27, 2019.
The committee recognizes and restores heritage resources, including providing limited funding for groups that celebrate Yellowknife's history and culture, and organizing the annual Heritage Days. Gordon replaces Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox who resigned recently from the Heritage Committee.
Development Appeal Board gets new members
As the term of office for Daniel Korver and Margaret Kralt expired at the end of February, council voted unanimously to extend Daniel Korver's tenure on the Development Appeal Board until Feb. 27, 2020.
Peggy Holyrod was also appointed to serve on the board.
The board is a quasi-judicial tribunal that hears appeals regarding development officer decisions.
The Municipal Services Committee noted that it was important to make sure the board was fully appointed to ensure that hearings can be held in a timely manner.
