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Newsbriefs: Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Hopefuls for Ndilo chief to speak
Members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation will get a chance to hear from the three candidates for Ndilo chief this week. Ernest Betsina, Alex Beaulieu and Shirley Tsetta will speak at the YKDFN Ndilo Chiefs' Forum on Thursday at the Ndilo gym from 7 to 9 p.m.
Elections will take place on Sept. 6. YKDFN members can vote in three locations: the Dettah gym, the Ndilo gym and Yellowknife Tree of Peace Friendship Centre.
- Emelie Peacock
Airline investigation wraps up
The Competition Bureau announced Tuesday they have found no evidence Canadian North and First Air engaged in anti-competitive acts. The bureau conducted investigations into a codeshare agreement between the two airlines and allegations First Air and Canadian North were using predatory pricing to freeze out competitors, specifically on the Iqaluit-Ottawa route. The companies have since terminated the agreement.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Missing women's inquiry to visit Yk
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will visit Yellowknife Aug. 29 to 31. Members of the health, legal and community teams will meet with families and survivors to prepare them for hearings to be held the week of Nov. 13. The community visit is not open to the public.
Tiar Wilson, communications advisor with the inquiry, stated in an email family and survivors could walk in without registering, but encouraged them to reach out in advance. There will also be an opportunity to participate by phone.
- Emelie Peacock
Alleged sex offender faces new charge
A man charged with three counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement now faces a third charge of forcible confinement in relation to one of the assaults. Peter Tsetta, 48, made a brief court appearance via video yesterday from the North Slave Correctional Complex where he remains in custody. He is charged with attacks one three separate women - one in March, another in May and a third in June. The latter two assaults allegedly occurred after Tsetta was granted bail for the first sexual assault. He is back in court on Sept. 12.
- John McFadden
Trip of a lifetime for Rankin baseball fan
Blue Jays fan Rachel D'Cunha, from Rankin Inlet, got a surprise last month when she learned she would be spending July 30 in Toronto to watch the Canada Baseball Day game between the Jays and the L.A. Angels.
D'Cunha was nominated for the trip by her boyfriend through the Rogers' Baseball Dreams program. While at the game, she was also the Nunavut flag-bearer during special opening ceremonies at the Rogers Centre.
In an e-mail, D'Cunha said she had felt nervous about the trip but described carrying the flag as an honour.
"The experience of being a flag bearer was joyful but also overwhelming," she wrote.
"The nerves did get to me once I was standing in the field and looked out to the crowd, but I told myself to just keep (breathing) and how awesome this opportunity really is."
D'Cunha was one of several people in July to have a 'baseball dream made real' by Rogers.
Although it wasn't her first Blue Jays game, she said it was her favourite.
Highlights for D'Cunha included watching the Jays bounce back from a 4-10 deficit and getting a photograph from outfielder George Bell.
Northern Youth Abroad participants head for home
Youth from the Kivalliq region who took part in the Northern Youth Abroad program this summer are on their way home after seven weeks away.
According to a list from Northern Youth Abroad, participants in the 2017 program included Naujaat's Brenden Angotingoar, Charmaine Putulik and Susannah Mablik; Baker Lake's Christopher Atutuvaa and
Victoria Piryuaq; and Joellen Netser from Coral Harbour.
Smoke turns Kivalliq skies brown
Skies around Rankin Inlet darkened on Aug. 15 as smoke from forest fires drifted through the area, turning the sun red and prompting a public service announcement from the territorial government. The announcement from the Department of Health advised residents to take precautions when smoke is present and watch for symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or light-headedness. Tips to outlast the smoke included staying indoors with windows and doors closed, turning off air exchangers and limiting outdoor physical activity.
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