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Newsbriefs: Friday, August 18, 2017
City awards paving contract
At a special council meeting on Wednesday, city council unanimously passed a motion to award a $600,000 contract for the paving of Phase 1 of the Hall Crescent Subdivision to Ace Enterprises Ltd.
Originally planned for 2018 and 2019, the paving is going forward a year early following a request from developer Homes North Ltd. Funding comes from Homes North and won't have an impact on the city's capital budgets.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
MSC rides again
After a lack of quorum Monday, the municipal services committee will have a special session at city hall 12:05 p.m. Aug. 21.
Items on the agenda include expanding the radius prohibiting smoking outside of sports facilities, incorporating tiny homes into the next general plan review and the future of School Draw parking.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Businesses sign up for ShopYk
The city and the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce have opened registration for businesses to sign up for the fourth edition of ShopYk this week.
The program allows shoppers to earn a stamp for every $20 spent at local businesses. Collecting 30 stamps puts customers in the running for a $3,000 shopping spree. In 2016, Yellowknifer reported 54 businesses participated in ShopYk with 1,616 total draw entries and $969,600 spent locally. The program runs from Oct. 11 until Dec. 4.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Back to blue skies
Residents can enjoy outdoor physical activities again after the Air Quality Health Index showed a low risk for most of yesterday.
Wind direction changed Tuesday, pushing smoke from fires in the south Slave region further north and northwest of Yellowknife.
Dawn Curtis, manager of public affairs at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, warned in a news release that smoky conditions could come back if southerly winds return.
Damien Healy, spokesperson for the department of health, confirmed there had been no increase in emergency department admissions for respiratory problems at Stanton Territorial Hospital.
- Emelie Peacock
Newsbriefs: Thursday, August 17, 2017
Town will consider beer garden policy
The Town of Inuvik will be watching how a beer garden at the Iron Horse Klub's demolition derby Aug. 26 goes.
When club president Melinda Gillis approached council about it earlier in summer, she asked if it would be possible to get clearance to hold beer gardens at all future events instead of having to reapply for one every year.
Coun. Clarence Wood said at the Aug. 9 meeting that he would like to consider beer gardens on an annual basis rather than giving a blank approval.
"As you know, beer gardens can get out of hand," he said.
Senior administrative officer Grant Hood said the town would watch the event, talk with RCMP following, and possibly write a report to council suggesting either to amend the current policy or not.
Lancaster Sound to be largest protected area in Canada
Canada, Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association agreed on a final boundary for Canada's largest national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound, also known as Tallurutiup Imanga, Aug. 14.
A section of Lancaster Sound twice the size of Nova Scotia will be protected, making it the largest marine conservation area in the nation.
The announcement is the culmination of years of work by Nunavut Inuit, different levels of government and environmental activist groups.
The agreement also confirms a moratorium on future offshore oil and gas exploration and development in the area.
Lancaster Sound is the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage.
IRC assessing gas viability in Beaufort Delta
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation is soon to undertake a detailed study to determine natural gas economic feasibility, resource viability and regional market opportunities to develop economic models to ensure energy security and develop business, employment and investment opportunities in the Beaufort Delta.
The organization has put out a request for proposals for the provision of a Beaufort Delta Regional Energy Study.
The project will be conducted in two phases, with the first to assess resource viability and develop a local model for energy supply and distribution, focusing on Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic and Tuktoyaktuk. The second phase will look at a broader regional model including Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok.
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