Diamonds and Denim

Victim 'satisfied' with sex assault sentence Cynthia Grandjambe was in Yellowknife court to see her attacker get 9.5 years in jail Online first at NNSL.com A more permanent tattoo artist lands in the city Volume 48 Issue 40 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 75 CENTS ($1 outside city) Diamonds and denim Sports News Local First-ever teams Far North From left, Tyson Goodvin, Weston Blatz, Ben Chase, Matt O'Connor and Nate McMurdo show photo played a selection of country rock tunes well into the evening at the Stanton Territorial they can festival Hospital Charity Foundation's Denim and compete continues Diamonds fundraiser Saturday. photo courtesy of Samantha Stuart Photography $1.00 outside Yellowknife Publication mail Contract #40012157 "Often I'm better at giving advice than I am at taking it." 7 71605 00100 5 Metro Huculak, Yk 1 school board superintendent, is retiring at the end of the school year, page 4. 2 YELLOWKNIFER, Wednesday, November 20, 2019 news YELLOWKNIFER, Wednesday, November 20, 2019 3 Did we get it wrong? Yellowknifer is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknow- ledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Yellowknifer, call 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email [email protected]. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. NEWS Briefs photo courtesy of Health Canada Cody Punter/NNSL photo Health Canada says there is a risk of Cynthia Grandjambe, who had a publication ban on her name lifted so she could speak about her case, said she the 4800W Mastercraft Construction was relieved Peter Tsetta was sentenced to 9.5 years for the violent sexual assaults he committed against her and Heater overheating and posing a burn another victim, who has since died, in the summer of 2017. and fire hazard. Space heaters recalled A space heater sold by Canadian Tire between 1997 to 2014 has been recalled. Grandjambe 'satisfied' with Health Canada says there is a risk of the 4800W Mastercraft Construction Heater overheating and posing a burn and fire hazard. The blue Chinese-made heaters bear the number 052-2604. The item number and cer- 9.5-year term for attacker tification file number can be found on the label affixed to the back of the heater. As of Nov. 8, Canadian Tire had received Peter Tsetta's pre-trial credit means he'll serve nearly six years nine reports of the product overheating, with by Cody Punter name be lifted so she could speak on behalf according to Charbonneau was the fact that two incidents of the product catching fire and Northern News Services of other victims. Tsetta was under a court-ordered condition damaging property in Canada, according to Peter Charlie Tsetta was sentenced to "I want to give encouragement. I know it's not to consume alcohol at the time of both the recall notice, which also said no injuries 9.5 years in prison Monday evening after been a long and hard process but it's worth assaults. In both cases, Tsetta was drinking were reported. previously being found guilty of sexually it. He's been found guilty," Grandjambe told when committing the offences. About 10,000 units of the affected product assaulting two women just a month apart in Yellowknifer at the time. During the sentencing Charbonneau also were sold in Canada. the summer of 2017. The Crown has been asking for a 10-year raised concerns that Tsetta did not seem Health Canada advises owners of the heater In August, Tsetta was convicted of raping sentence while the defence, citing Tsetta's to understand the severity of his offences. to "immediately stop using the recalled prod- Cynthia Grandjambe "over and over" in June difficult upbringing as an Indigenous man, Referring to the pre-sentence report for uct and return it to the place of purchase for a 2017, as well as another unnamed woman, sought five years. which he was interviewed, Charbonneau store credit or to obtain a replacement unit." whose name is protected by In her ruling on Monday, said Tsetta was more concerned with resum- For more information, consumers should a publication ban, that May. Charbonneau explained there ing a friendship with Grandjambe than tak- contact Canadian Tire at 1-800-387-8803 Justice Louise Charbon- were several aggravating factors ing responsibility for the harm he inflicted Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. neau gave Tsetta a 66-month "It's been hell which called for a longer term upon her. or on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 year sentence for the rape than the defence was asking for. When questioned about Tsetta's hopes of p.m. and unlawful confinement but it's also She pointed to Tsetta's exten- resuming a friendship with her, Grandjambe – Craig Gilbert of Grandjambe and another helped me sive criminal record, which was unequivocal. 48-month sentence for the dates back to 1989. It includes "Never in this lifetime," she said. "He's Yk Scouts tree 'elves' return rape of the unnamed victim, too." numerous convictions for violent sick in the head if he thinks someone can who has since passed away. crimes: several for assault, a 1992 rape someone over and over and then hold The Yellowknife Scouts annual tree stand Cynthia Grandjambe is back. The 51-year-old was in sexual assault and an aggravated them hostage and then think that the person Holiday revelers can pick out the perfect custody for 29 months before assault in 2014, for which he would want to be friends with him. That just Saskatchewan-grown premium balsam fir or his trial began, so the time was sentenced to three years in shows how sick he is." Fraser fir tree in the parking lot of the Co-op he has left to serve in prison was reduced by prison. As part of his sentence Tsetta must grocery store on Old Airport Road, then go 43 months, reflecting the 1.5 days of credit Although she took into account the hard- refrain from contacting Grandjambe. He home for hot chocolate while The Odd Job courts give an accused for every day they ships which Tsetta faced growing up, she did will be registered as a sex offender, cannot Squad takes care of the rest. spend behind bars awaiting a decision. not find those circumstances sufficient to own firearms for 10 years and submitted a For $15, the Squad will deliver your tree This means Tsetta still has to serve ignore his previous record. DNA sample to the national registry. within 24 hours of purchase. An email asks another 5 years and 11 months. "Those circumstances were very sad," Grandjambe told Yellowknifer that those interested to "please contact us no later After the decision Grandjambe erupted she said. "I would not go so far as to say that Tsetta's sentence is just one more step on than 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and before 2 p.m. in tears as she called her family members to his previous record should be discounted her path to healing. She said she has been on weekends. notify them of the verdict. entirely." receiving counselling and has been reaching "After your household's holiday season "I'm so happy and relieved with that sen- Charbonneau also pointed to the par- out to other victims of sexual assault to help winds down, contact the squad to pick up your tence," she said on the phone. ticularly aggressive nature and prolonged support them. tree from your curbside after January 2," the Talking to reporters outside the court- nature of the sexual assaults, referring to "It's been hell but it's also helped me release continued. room Grandjambe said she was elated by the repeated attacks on Grandjambe over a too," she said. "I've met some of his previous The Squad also hangs Christmas lights. the decision. period of hours as "particularly callous" and victims that I'm also fighting for. It's not just And in the aftermath, pick up will be avail- "I am totally satisfied. I would have a "very brutal offence." for myself. That's what has kept me going, able weekdays until Jan. 31, again with 24 settled for eight (years), I was praying for The fact that Grandjambe was confined knowing that it's going to help his other vic- hours notice. 10 but I had to be realistic and I'm proud of and repeatedly raped before finally being tims as well as victims that are listening to Phone an elf today: 867-445-6967. getting the nine-and-a-half." let go also increased the severity of the sen- what's going on." – Craig Gilbert In October Grandjambe was successful tence, according to Charbonneau. Grandjambe said she is also considering in requesting that the publication ban on her The final, and least aggravating factor taking civil action against Tsetta. 4 YELLOWKNIFER, Wednesday, November 20, 2019 news The longest year "They wouldn't let me out of the hospital because they thought I was going to have a stroke or heart attack," retiring Yk 1 superintendent Metro Huculak, pictured here at a barbecue with JH Sissons vice-principal Jeff McConom and Range Lake North School principal Yas- emin Heyck in August, said after a tough year that included heart surgery and the loss of two close family members. NNSL file photo Metro Huculak retires after 15 years at the helm of Yellowknife's largest school board by Simon Whitehouse suffered two deaths in his surgeon's table within days of well as 12 grandchildren.

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