Rubbish on the Rocks Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 4, 2017
Imagine throwing a party and some of your guests decided to pitch tents in your neighbour's yard and dump their trash and empty booze bottles there. You wouldn't tell your neighbour, "sorry, not my problem," would you?
The appropriate answer seems obvious. Alas, it doesn't appear to have dawned on organizers for this year's Folk on the Rocks music festival. A week after the two-day event came to a close last month, discarded drink cups, empty beer boxes and other debris remained in an area directly adjacent to the site.
A week is a long time to leave garbage lying around. Lighter trash is likely to blow away - into a lake or onto someone else's property. If some of that trash contains broken glass, the longer it remains, the more likely someone or their pet will step on it.
It's clear the trash was left behind by revelers attending the festival - Yellowknifer staff saw them - yet no action was taken until the newspaper began making calls.
Folk president Ryan Fequet insists anything outside the festival grounds' green fence perimeter is "solely the city's land." This is technically true but it was still their party.
Expecting taxpayers to foot the bill and have city hall clean up after their party is unacceptable. Folk on the Rocks recruits hundreds of volunteers for the event. Site cleanup is one of the required tasks. How hard is it to direct volunteers to clean up trash at the periphery of the festival grounds? It's not like cleaning up trash on public land is illegal.
Folk on the Rocks is an amazing event, the summer highlight for more than 2,000 Yellowknife residents each year. Organizers, including its volunteer board of directors, do a great job putting together a high quality and family-friendly event on a shoestring budget.
Clearly it would have been nice if the people who had left the mess outside the festival fence had cleaned it up themselves.
But next time someone asks organizers, "Hey, what's up with the trash left behind by festival-goers?" it's best not to pin the responsibility for cleaning it up on the city.
Way to go, Indigenous athletes Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 4, 2017
NWT athletes' bags were a little heavier on the way home from the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto last month. Athletes from across the Northwest Territories snagged 20 medals.
Yellowknife's Hannah Courtoreille won silver for the U16 girls' triple jump, while Deanne Whenham won gold in the U17 girls' golf division.
Other highlights included Tamara Lafferty of Fort Resolution shooting her way to a bronze medal in the U19 girls' prone position rifle shooting competition, and Gaius Crook of Hay River and Danika Burke of Fort Resolution each winning gold in the U16 prone position events. On the water, Kaidan McDonald of Inuvik and Davina McLeod of Aklavik brought home the gold in the U19 tandem 3,000-metre canoeing event while Inuvik's Kyra McDonald scored silver in the U14 girls' 3,000-metre canoe race.
But NWT athletes weren't done running away with accolades: on the track, Kayleigh Hunter of Fort Resolution brought home silver for the U16 shot put and Brayden Sinclair of Fort Smith captured gold in the U19. Cole Clark, also from Fort Smith, took bronze in the U19 boys' javelin and Bayleigh Chaplin of Fort Resolution captured bronze for the U16 girls' composite archery competition.
The medals are more than hardware -- they are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the young athletes who competed.
Events like these are great for youth but especially for Indigenous youth, a segment of the population that is often forgotten or ignored outside the territory.
Events like these help build confidence and self esteem in healthy ways, and regardless of whether the competitors came home with something shiny or not, they're all already victors. But it sure is nice to win.
Grounded aviation tour a disappointmentInuvik Drum - Thursday, August 3, 2017
Hundreds of people enjoyed the show when the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour dazzled Inuvik and surrounding communities early this June.
After each show, pilots took hours out of their time to meet with residents and discuss opportunities in aviation and form bonds with people of the North.
Unfortunately, it looks like not all Northerners will get to enjoy that show, as the tour has been postponed since its last stop in Yellowknife.
"I'm extremely heartbroken and disappointed," Nancy McClure, executive director of the project, said to me earlier this week. "I've put my heart and soul into this."
The tour needs more than a million dollars in additional funding to finish its route through Nunavut and Atlantic Canada. McClure had been banking on that funding coming from the Government of Canada for its Canada 150 events, but hope is running out as the season begins to change and no new grant comes through.
If it didn't come through this week, the tour would have to be officially cancelled, as the weather in Nunavut would begin to make it unfeasible to fly such small planes in the territory.
What especially hurts McClure is knowing the impact the show had on some of the smaller communities.
Ken Fowler, one of the pilots, relayed a story about how touching his experience meeting people in Aklavik was.
"We have so many people coming up to us that were literally in tears," he said at the time.
From what I've seen in my time in Inuvik, few events put on by out-of-towners have matched the interest and fanfare the aviation tour achieved.
What might be a simple spectacle to Vancouverites seemed like something bigger here.
Not many people come to the North to put on a show for Northerners.
Usually, the onus seems to be on community members to show off their traditional culture to wide-eyed tourists, which certainly has its place.
But there's something very special about a troupe of highly skilled aviators putting on a dazzling show for a community that might not even have 1,000 residents.
It's not just an afternoon spectacle, but a great sign of respect and involvement in celebrating a united country's pride.
Speaking of unity, a peculiar thing about this country is just how uninformed most Canadians are about anything in the North.
It's likely that other Arctic countries, such as Norway and Russia, understand Northern Canadian issues better than southern Canadians themselves.
The extent of many southerners' familiarity with the North seems to be as the poster boy for climate change.
It's nice for Northerners to be treated as a vital part of Canada and catered to once in a while.
The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour went well beyond even that spectacle and truly inspired many residents of the Western Arctic. It helped connect our country and its people, especially ones who are often forgotten about.
There's little use in pitting one project against another and arguing about which deserves funding and which doesn't, but money aside, the record should show that this was a positive event for the North and more like it would be welcomed.
Let the children inYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Of all the territory's liquor laws, the one that defines liquor permits might be the most archaic.
As it is written right now, if an NWT restaurateur offers a full menu but won't necessarily derive his or her profits primarily from food, that business will be granted a Class A, or 'liquor-primary' liquor licence.
For example, there are a handful of restaurants in town that see a bustling brunch, lunch and dinner service but stay open past the dinner rush to serve drinks through the evening.
One of the catches of having this licence is the establishment - being bureaucratically designated "liquor primary" - cannot allow customers under 19 inside.
This blunt dividing line puts bustling pubs with full menus such as Twist & Shout, the Black Knight, the Woodyard Brewpub and The Cellar on the same level as a place such as The Raven, which is essentially a venue and dance club.
The territorial government - its politicians at least - love to make a big show about making the territory more business friendly and welcoming to tourists.
But there is nothing more unwelcoming to business than forcing restaurant owners to turn away families. As well, there is nothing more unwelcoming to tourists than to be denied service at one of the city's fine establishments because parents might have a toddler, pre-teen or (gasp!) an 18-year-old in tow. Now, Yellowknifer isn't suggesting allowing babies to belly up to the bar or junior kindergartners to sing karaoke on Saturday nights.
But many of the city's 'liquor primary' establishments offer a great brunch, and there is no reason to bar kids from eggs and pancakes, even if there is a side mimosa for mom or dad.
Many other Canadian jurisdictions now allow families to dine in pubs. The solution is simple - amend the NWT's Class A liquor licence to give business owners the option of allowing children in until a certain time - say 9 p.m. That way, families can partake in brunch, lunch and dinner service and establishments turn into adult-only affairs after youngsters' bedtimes.
Loosening the laws should be a simple fix, so hopefully the Department of Finance, which is responsible for the Liquor Act, is listening.
New home needed for visitor's centreYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 2, 2017
One of the few economic success stories to come out of the territory over the past few years is tourism.
People love the aurora, the fantastic hunting and fishing opportunities, the beautiful lakes and trails, camping and Indigenous culture. According to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment website, the tourism industry pulled in a massive $146 million in 2015 and the department hopes to see that number rise to more than $200 million in 2020.
Considering tourism has become a beautiful cash cow for the territorial government, it's mind-boggling there are no plans publicized to replace or rebuild the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre.
Whether they stay in Yellowknife or head out to the communities, the capital city is a hub for tourists. In fact, the visitor's centre saw 50,000 of them walk through the door last year. An industry this size deserves a well-funded, well-maintained and welcoming spot to guide tourists to Yellowknife's best restaurants, galleries, trails, camping sites, swimming holes and everything else the territory has to offer. A temporary desk at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is certainly appreciated, but a lack of a long-term plan to back it up is unfathomable.
Whether the centre, which needs space for RV parking, is rebuilt in the same spot, down Highway 4 or along Highway 3 heading into the city is neither here nor there. Yellowknifer just wants to see the territorial government get proactive in supporting an industry that has grown to provide such a big economic support for government and private sector alike.
Loud and clearEditorial Comment by April Hudson
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 2, 2017
The second of two public information sessions to deal with work happening at the Itivia site for the Meliadine mine was packed full of people who brought questions, concerns and advice for mining company Agnico Eagle.
It was a welcome sight, if a little surprising given the first meeting hadn't elicited anywhere near such a response. The meeting went late into the night, stretching for hours as the Kivalliq Inuit Association, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and Agnico Eagle sought to address numerous issues.
People who attended made one thing loud and clear: they're not happy with the current state of affairs.
One of the most contentious issues, of course, was the well-used Itivia boat launch, a location that has become congested this summer as Agnico Eagle offloads barges full of sea cans for the construction phase of Meliadine mine.
Having only been here a few weeks, I don't personally know how bad that congestion is. But it was bad enough to bring dozens upon dozens of people out for a discussion on how to improve the situation.
One suggestion in particular struck me as a good compromise: if the boat launch area reserved for public use could be widened and expanded, that could alleviate pressure on the site.
2017 is a very busy year for Agnico Eagle, and mine traffic at the Itivia site is not going to slow down any time soon.
When a private company relies so heavily on important public facilities, it is of vital importance that they mitigate their impact as much as possible.
That is ostensibly what the meeting was for: to come up with solutions on how to move forward, now that congestion has presented a problem at the site.
Any action Agnico Eagle takes will surely cost the company a fair amount of money. Hopefully that is seen as simply the cost of doing business in the North.
What was not made clear at the meeting was whether that's something the company is prepared to do.
It would have been re-assuring if company representatives had come with their own suggestions, or at least an idea of how far Agnico Eagle is willing to go to ease pressure - and by extension ease frustration - stemming from mine operations.
What also wasn't clear at the meeting was exactly how much of this congestion should be considered the "new normal" - whether this uptick in mining traffic will persist as the mine rolls into production.
Another important point brought up during the meeting was the simple fact this community is growing.
As one participant noted, the very presence of the mine bringing money into the community means more people will be able to afford boats and trailers to haul them on in the future.
That will inevitably cause more strain on already limited resources.
For now, the most important thing Agnico Eagle can do is follow up with the community.
Community members need to know just how dedicated the company is to building a positive relationship. They need to know the company has listened, and that means Agnico Eagle needs to present real, feasible options they are willing to undertake.
If that doesn't happen, these meetings will have been an unfortunate waste of time.
Rethink military base locationsNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, July 31, 2017
Since 2007, a military training exercise called Operation NUNAKPUT has taken place on the Mackenzie River, and the North and South Slave regions and Beaufort Delta. This summer, NUNAKPUT took place from June 26 to July 20, with News/North reporter Kirsten Fenn embedded for four days.
To have a reporter spend so many days on assignment – and then spend many more days going through notes and writing stories – is a significant commitment for Northern News Services. But being able to witness first-hand how the Canadian government asserts its sovereignty over the North helps us better explain how the armed forces work on land and water in co-ordination with the Canadian Rangers and RCMP.
In last week's edition, we devoted News/North's two-page centrefold to some of Fenn's fine photos, ("Operation NUNAKPUT taps into local expertise').
While that was a feature, Fenn also provided a news story when on July 16 the training mission was quickly overshadowed by a real-life emergency after a small Cessna aircraft nearly crashed outside Tulita ("Three safe after engine fails near Tulita"). The aircraft was headed from Norman Wells when it began experiencing engine failure and was attempting to glide into the nearest airport – in Tulita. As Fenn reported, firefighters, RCMP, armed forces and rangers were on site, as well as a medic who assessed the passengers. No one was physically injured.
But the incident underlined how having a beefed up military presence could help improve the safety level of the people who help keep the lights on up here in the North.
Operation NUNAKPUT is made up from personnel and assets from across Canada, states the Government of Canada's website, and is drawn from Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force units. About 140 Canadian Armed Forces members and employees from other government departments and agencies took part, according to government information.
That included members from bases in Halifax, N.S., and Esquimalt, B.C. and cities including Montreal and Winnipeg. The Royal Canadian Air Force, 440 (Transport) Squadron, based in Yellowknife, transported people and supplies throughout the operation.
We're pleased to see the beefed up presence during the busy summer season in the NWT. However, wouldn't it be beneficial for both the residents that live in this vast territory and to the nation as a whole to have a much stronger military presence up here year-round?
Is there a reason that Canada's military bases are, for the most part, located in the most populated areas of the country? In areas that already have a strong police and reserves presence.
Canada needs to be ready to defend itself against any challenges to its sovereignty while also protecting civilians who live in the North.
So it just makes sense to us here at News/North that having a small permanent base – such as in a place like the town of Inuvik – would help place military members in a forward operating position, while also populating the place with their families which would enhance the local economy.
Oh, wait a minute. Inuvik did have a signals intercept facility the operated for about 25 years – the largest one that far North in all of Canada. When Canadian Forces Station Inuvik was closed in 1986, about 270 military members left. But some estimates peg the total loss at 700 when families and others are counted. It was a devastating blow to the community, which now has population of 3,400.
The regular presence of the Canadian Armed Forces in the North shows other nations that we indeed do claim the place as part of our country.
The regular permanent presence of those forces in places such as Inuvik shows a much deeper commitment to the nation and the people of the North.
Progress needs to benefit allNunavut/News North - Monday, July 31, 2017
It's summer in Nunavut, and as the beaches fill with sealift containers, the streets – in the capital, at least - are filled with visitors and construction vehicles. They're both critical to the Nunavut economy but we can see the fallout when the two clash.
Hotel Arctic is expected to close. Though it would make great student housing to replace the fire-lost Old Res, if local speculation is truth, it is also a loss of a significant space for tourists and business visitors. Is the capacity available elsewhere to replace this loss? Time will tell.
As the hotel closes, the city will likely lose, at least temporarily, a restaurant and a pub, both of which are well-frequented.
It's unfortunate timing in light of the fact the new airport is set to open next month, with the intention to better support visitors to the territory. The loss of amenities makes the city less attractive to visitors and to those considering living here.
At the same time, a new hotel is being discussed for the land currently occupied by the Tukisigiarvik Friendship Centre. Unfortunately, that means the centre could face eviction.
The friendship centre is a significant supporter of Inuit and a safe space to go during the day to reconnect with traditional ways, while providing breakfast, access to country food, counselling, land skills training, and workshops such as kamiik making. The loss of the centre, even temporarily, is sure to have a profound impact on the lives of the people who use it.
It is a loss for local residents in favour of the construction of a hotel that will benefit visitors. Some of these visitors will be coming from other communities within Nunavut, and others will be coming to do work that support Nunavummiut. But efforts must be made to reduce any negative impact on local residents.
It's a delicate balance to find in the quest to increase economic opportunities for Nunavummiut. Outside of government, resource extraction and construction, promoting tourism is seen as an opportunity worth the investment. The capital certainly needs hotels and restaurants. Communities across Nunavut are building visitor centres and other tourism supports to draw money from outside to local outfitters and artists.
Communities along the Northwest Passage are especially hopeful they will be able to reap the rewards. Gjoa Haven has seen a wealth of investment that was only ramped up in the wake of the discovery of the Franklin expedition ships.
But the promise of big money from cruise passengers and other tourism operations needs to be tempered by the realities on the ground. Various artists and economic development officers have told us that they don't see the benefits if their communities are a middle stop on a cruise itinerary, as passengers tend to spend all their souvenir money at the beginning, or save it for the end.
The growth of the tourism economy is slow here, so it's important to maintain a holistic approach to progress. Just as it is critical to continue to invest in hotels, etc., it is equally – perhaps more – important to invest in the people here and improving the quality of life.
With this in mind, we call on landlords, politicians, and regular folk to help support organizations survive the changes afoot. Progress is good, but for Tukisigiarvik and others, Nunavut can't let progress mean negative outcomes for the people who need the support of such organizations.
