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Newsbriefs: Friday, September 1, 2017s
Indigenous languages growing in NWT
Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, and Tlicho are the most common languages spoken in NWT homes after English and French, according to Statistics Canada (StatsCan).
The number of people speaking Tagalog at home in the NWT increased by over 58 per cent since 2011. StatCan found people are increasingly learning Indigenous languages as a second language, especially people under the age of 14.
- Emelie Peacock
Back to the books
Yellowknife students are heading back to the academic salt mines after enjoying summer fun. Yellowknife Catholic Schools head back to class today, while Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and Commission scolaire francophone Territoires du Nord-Ouest schools begin classes on Tuesday.
- Emelie Peacock
Franklin Avenue closes
Sections of Franklin Avenue will be out of commission this weekend. The stretch between Old Airport Road and Reservoir Road will be closed Saturday so a new storm pipe can be installed.
Traffic will be detoured along Taylor Road, including bus routes A and B. The road will reopen late on Sunday. This has been the busiest summer ever for construction projects in the city, stated acting director of communications and economic development Stephanie Vandeputte in a news release.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Labour Day closures
The wheels on the bus will not be going around on Monday.
Public transit services won't be available for Labour Day and city hall will also be closed. Summer officially ends, as far as the municipality is concerned, when city hall reopens on Tuesday, with winter hours returning. Starting Sept. 5, city hall will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The municipal services committee will also be absconding on Labour Day, with its meeting rescheduled for Tuesday at 12:35 p.m. instead.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Newsbriefs: Thursday, August 31, 2017
Grizzly bear killed in Inuvik
A grizzly bear was killed earlier this week after being spotted on Stringer Road, according to Norman Snowshoe, Inuvik Region superintendent with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
An officer put the bear down early Monday morning because it stopped responding to efforts to deter it, said Snowshoe.
The department was also investigating a possible wolf sighting as of Aug. 28.
Snowshoe said wolves usually avoid people, but residents should make noise if they see bears, and not surprise the animals.
"If you have any food outside, make sure that it's well managed and your garbage is also managed correctly, put in the bin," he said. "Ensure that you don't have any attractants around for the animals."
According to Snowshoe, two other grizzly bears and a black bear were killed in the Inuvik region this year, while two black bears were captured and relocated.
Inuvik spared in barge delays
A shipping delay that left some store shelves in Tulita bare the week of Aug. 20 is not expected to impact Inuvik, according to Derrick Briggs, director of Marine Transportation Services at the Department of Infrastructure.
Deliveries of fuel and goods to Tulita and Fort Good Hope were a little more than two weeks late, but shipments to Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk were on schedule for this week, said Briggs on Aug. 28.
Last winter, the GNWT took over a fleet of barges and tugboats from now-bankrupt Northern Transportation Company Ltd.
The fleet was left in Inuvik and had to be brought to Hay River after break-up, which caused delays, he said. A number of them needed inspections.
High water after break-up also delayed the Canadian Coast Guard setting up navigation aides, according to Briggs.
Mineral session coming to Inuvik
GNWT staff will visit Inuvik next week to gauge residents' feedback on a new Mineral Resources Act.
The drop-in session runs Sept. 6 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Midnight Sun Complex, stated a GNWT news release.
The proposed Mineral Resources Act is intended to update legislation handed down from the federal government during devolution.
Residents can ask experts questions and comment on mining topics at the session.
Greenhouse searching for board members
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is looking for new board members to guide its direction.
The greenhouse is currently without a board chair and vice-chair, said executive director Ray Solotki.
She said the board usually has between six and 10 members and currently has space for new people.
"Without a good solid board ... it's really hard to direct how they want things to be done," said Solotki. "It's good to have more voices."
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