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Newsbriefs: Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Fentanyl warning
The NWT's chief public health officer is warning people to be wary of fake xanax and oxycodone pills that could be laced with fentanyl.
Dr. Andre Corriveau said he isn't aware of the fake drugs circulating in Yellowknife, but was "tipped off" about the issue by a local pharmacist and wanted to warn residents to be careful.
"It's just to warn people that if you see that, don't try it," Corriveau said.
Sgt. Dean Riou said Yellowknife RCMP have no confirmed reports of counterfeit xanax pills laced with fentanyl in the NWT. He said police are aware the pills are circulating in other jurisdictions.
- Kirsten Fenn
Emergency alert testing today
An emergency alert system test will take place on radio and television today at 1:55 p.m., according to a GNWT news release.
The territorial government is testing the system that can send out alerts about various emergencies like fires, natural disasters, terrorism or civil emergencies. The system is being developed between the federal, provincial and territorial governments with implementation expected in summer 2019.
- Shane Magee
Crash near Co-op
No one was hurt in a road accident across from the Co-op on the evening of April 30, according to RCMP.
"One vehicle hit the cement barriers near the Petro-Canada fuel buck plant just afterthe sharp 90-degree turn on Old Airport Road," Const. Sam Holm stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.
Spokesperson Marie York-Condon said RCMP could not provide more details about the incident, which happened around 8:15 p.m.
There is an ongoing investigation into the incident, RCMP said.
- Kirsten Fenn
Ekati wins award
Dominion Diamond Corporation announced last week Ekati Diamond Mine won the Environmental Excellence Award at the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 2017 Awards Gala in Montreal. The award was in recognition of Ekati's waste management program that includes composting, incineration, landfill and hazardous waste management.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Baker tourney
Baker Lake
The seventh annual Qamani'tuaq Open Badminton Tournament featured 60 participants in four divisions - U13, U16, U19 and adult - including six players from Arviat.
Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School (RAES) vice-principal and physical education teacher Brad Mainse has hosted all seven of the friendly tournaments, but Mainse will be leaving Baker Lake at the end of the current school year.
The Nunavut Badminton Association sponsored awards and provided lots of free gear to give away, and every player received a tournament shirt to wear throughout the three-day tourney, which featured about 240 games played.
In other Baker sporting news, the Baker Lake Youth Athletic Association Blizzard banquet was held this past weekend for student athletes. As of press time, there was no word on the winners of the association's top awards.
Also, the kindergarten to Grade 5 students at RAES raised $2,605.10 through the school's annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser earlier this month.
Yes wins
Rankin Inlet
The yes side carried the day in convincing fashion for the plebiscite held in Rankin Inlet on May 1 to determine if the community wanted a beer and wine store, with 372 people voting in favour of the store and 127 voting against it.
The plebiscite was, however, non-binding, with the Government of Nunavut making the final decision on whether Rankin will get a government-run store.
The yes side won a similar plebiscite held in Cambridge Bay in even more convincing fashion, with 349 voting in favour of the store and 71 voting against.
Areva bids farewell
Baker Lake
Areva Resources Canada has decided to leave Baker Lake after more than a decade of trying to make the Kiggavik Uranium Project a reality.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board recommended that Kiggavik should not proceed in 2015, and the decision was accepted by the federal government in 2016.
Areva reportedly spent $80 million developing the project, with $30 million of that going to Northern contractors since 2006. Kiggavik had an estimated life span of about 12 years.
Kiggavik will remain in care and maintenance for an indefinite period, with its permits being maintained, and the property being secured and visited once a year.
Young leadership
Naujaat
James Alaralak, Veronica Angutetuar and Emmanuel Arnatsiaq of Naujaat have been selected to attend the Tim Hortons Youth Leadership Program camps this coming month.
The youths, who are all in the Naujaat cadet program, will start their leadership journey with the program's Level 1 in Whiteshell, Man.
Soccer tourney
Rankin Inlet
The annual Rick Ningeocheak Memorial Soccer tournament was played in Rankin Inlet this past weekend, amid the community's Pakallak Tyme celebrations.
Final results from the tournament were not known as of press time.
Funding announced
Arviat/Chester
The communities of Arviat and Chesterfield Inlet stand to benefit from more than $230 million in joint funding for nine projects across 19 communities to upgrade solid waste management, and water and wastewater systems throughout Nunavut.
The announcement was made this past week in Iqaluit by Nunavut Minister of Community and Government Services Joe Savikataaq, and federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi.
One project being supported by the joint funding is expanding storage capacity and enhancing water treatment and distribution in Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet and Sanikiluaq.
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