Online first at NNSL.com Friday vigil will mark 30 years since Montreal Massacre Volume 48 Issue 75 WEDNESDAY, december 4, 2019 75 CENTS ($1 outside city) 'Please help!' Barred from shelter, banned user starts petition to reverse recent policy change

Spending News Pool's Memorial future planned Carlena Mantla, left, Josephine Tsatchi, Anthony Blackduck, Robert Washie and Duane pondered for Norwegian stand in solidarity outside the day shelter Monday. Some are housed. Some in budget beloved aren't. Either way, they're supporting Washie's calls to overturn the "hurtful" policy. debate teacher Brendan Burke/NNSL photo

$1.00 outside Yellowknife Publication mail Contract #40012157 "It's amazing to know that I come from an awesome place where people are always paying attention and supporting what I'm doing." 7 71605 00100 5 – Speed skater Wren Acorn had a better than expected national championship, page 14. 2 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 news Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 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 Plans for pool's future 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 floated for city council Briefs

Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo The Alzheimer Society of and the held its sev- enth annual children's Christmas Mall and Santa photos at the Northern United Place, Saturday. From left are Claudia Kelly, volunteer, Sidney Johnson, four, and Kirsten Maclellan, 11. Kids become mayor for the day A local radio station and the city have announced two students will be Yellowknife mayor for the day this Friday. According to a Tuesday announcement from 100.1 The Moose, the radio station and the city chose from 38 submissions collected from Grades 2 through 12, before settling on the winners. The essays asked how Yellowknife could be a better community. This the first year the contest has been in place. Chosen by Mayor Rebecca Alty, the two NNSL file photo students are Grade 2 student Celestia O'Brien Yellowknife city council has to decide whether to renovate and expand Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, or plow ahead and Grade 5 student Nora Swan. with a new pool, deciding between 52-metre and 25-metre options. The two will have the opportunity to be sworn in, tour city facilities, have their picture taken at the Mayor's desk, have lunch with the Repair or replace, it will cost taxpayers nearly $50 million mayor, and recap their day with an interview on the radio. by Nick Pearce To avoid that added delay, she said, it and a 52-metre pool that can be split into – Nick Pearce Northern News Services would be helpful to explore options. Mayor 25-metre halves. City councillors were presented with Rebecca Alty agreed, adding she wanted On top of that, he added, further delay pricey pool proposals Monday. clear comparisons of differences in pro- carry a significant cost. Organizations to receive Council had to decide whether to reno- gramming and costs between the two facili- "If we had done this a year ago, we would ‘Inspiring Youth Leader Grants' vate and expand Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, ties. have saved our taxpayers $3 million dollars. or plow ahead with a new pool, deciding Konge, meanwhile, was unwilling to shut That's the cost of waiting. Every year. Three Two community-based organizations will between 52-metre and 25-metre options. down the existing facility for expansion and million bucks. So while we think about wait- be awarded a pair of grants totalling $35,000 At $41 million, renovations and a renovation, which he said wouldn't enjoy ing, think about three million dollars. That's by the Yellowknife Community Foundation 25-metre pool appears to be the cheap- widespread support. a lot of money," he said. and RBC Foundation on Thursday. est option on paper, and would also spare "I'd like to continue down the path we're Coun. Julian Morse, supporting explor- Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife - Youth the costs of maintaining an extra building. on without too many detours," he said, ing further evaluations, was concerned over Membership Program and the Foster Family However, it would be closed for about a leading Coun. Steve Payne to back his com- what would become of the old building if a Coalition of the NWT - 5052 Community Pro- year-and-a-half during the renovation. A ments. new pool was built – especially on mainten- ject, recipients of the grants, will walk away 52-metre tank would bump that cost up to ance, which he said would ultimately be the with $15,000 and $20,000 respectively in sup- $48.7 million. Councillor calls it a 'can' real burden on taxpayers. It's also unclear if port of youth-led projects in the territory. The other option is a new building with a Konge was wary of introducing another the old building would have a buyer. Part of the RBC Future Launch Community 25-metre pool at $47 million, or a 52-metre possible delay to the long-developing pool Challenge, the grants are meant to inspire youth- pool primed to meet high user demand, but update. White elephant worries led initiatives in 150 small to medium-sized that costs about $54.7 million. That would "This pool – you can call it a ‘can' – has "We're talking like that building isn't communities across the country. also mean another building to insure and been kicked around a circle now for a long going to exist anymore. It is," he said, The overall goal of the program, according maintain. time," he said. "We need to make a decision explaining he was worried about it becom- to a news release, is to "help shift the power on what path we want to go down. Whatever ing a "white elephant." That is something to young leaders making positive social or Topic coming back in January the decision is, as long we start moving this expensive, but largely useless. environmental change in their communities, Council, with the exception of Couns. forward instead of kicking this can around Renee Lelievre, a former president, cur- while enabling them to gain valuable skills and Niels Konge and Steve Payne, voted to dis- in a circle." rent treasurer and longtime board member of experience." cuss the issue further in a meeting in early He said the city pool committee found the Polar Bear Swim Club, has three kids in "The RBC Future Launch Community Chal- January, where they'll provide consultants issue with the renovation plan because of the program using Ruth Inch Memorial pool. lenge is an exciting and valuable addition to with instruction on whether or not to expand the length of time the pool would be out of She said the last city committee has the Yellowknife Community Foundation," states the project. commission. already addressed cost concerns around foundation board member Sophie Kirby in the "If we continue on the current course The facility is popular, he said, citing a the various options. "There were no reports news release. where (consultants) are only directed to 300-person wait list for swimming lessons, back at that time that showed it'd be of more "We are looking forward to seeing how youth look at the 52 metre pool, then the team adding that when the swim club held open efficiency to renovate what we currently in our community step up to create solutions to will come back to us with an estimate. If try-outs, there were 200 kids. Optimally had," she said. urgent needs," continued Kirby. at the point we have sticker shock … what under its time constraints, the club has room "That discussion, in my mind, has already The grants will be handed out during a cere- I would predict is we would end up send- for 85 kids, which can be stretched into the happened and has been dealt with and talked mony at Yellowknife's RBC Branch on Franklin ing them back to do another analysis of a 90s, according to Konge. about," she said, calling it a "redundancy." Avenue. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Dec. 5. cheaper option," Coun. Shauna Morgan said, He said the committee concluded there It feels like that work and previous infor- – Brendan Burke explaining she wanted to stay the course would be basically three bodies of water in mation has been put on the "back burner," with the new pool, while evaluating options. the 52-metre pool: a warm pool for lessons, according to Lelievre. 4 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 news New email scam pilfers pay cheque Fraudster directs accounting department to change direct deposit information by Brendan Burke email scam is a new one for NWT RCMP. Northern News Services "We have not encountered this specific A new, sophisticated online scam that type of fraud in the NWT," Plourde told left a Northern News Services manager out Yellowknifer. of a pay cheque is another example of the Of all fraud complaints reported to the ever-evolving tricks used by fraudsters to RCMP's financial crimes unit this year, a steal Canadians' hard-earned cash, say NWT computer was used to commit 13 of the RCMP. offences, according to Plourde. "Scammers are using different methods to While fraudsters have been known to take lure their victims, and new methods are being aim at seniors and non-tech-savvy people, invented daily," stated RCMP spokesperson "different groups can be targeted," she stated. Julie Plourde in an email to Yellowknifer. Plourde added not all scams are reported On Nov. 25, a member of NNSL's account- to police, while other complaints are filed dir- ing department received an email from some- ectly with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. one posing as managing editor Mike Bryant. "This incident certainly is timely to The scammer, using Bryant's name but reinforce (fraud prevention tips)," stated under a different email address - ending in "@ Plourde. msg-text.com" - stated he had switched banks NWT RCMP urges residents to be weary and wished to have his pay cheques directly of scammers impersonating legitimate com- deposited into a new account. panies by email. Pixabay image The next day, the scammer provided the "Beware of emails requesting login cre- Northern News Services' managing editor Mike Bryant was the victim of an direct deposit information, including the dentials, personal or financial information to email scam last week. name of the bank, the account number, insti- rectify ‘urgent problems,'" wrote Plourde. tution number and transit number. "Since the email looks like it is from a somware attack that crippled the Government the website you're on. The email ended with the fraudster sign- known business, victims have a false sense of of 's computer systems early last • Review your credit card statements regu- ing off under Bryant's name. security and end up providing their informa- month. larly for unauthorized charges. The staff member who received the initial tion to scammers," continued Plourde. It's believed the computer virus spread • Remember: government agencies will email complied with what was believed to be Bryant, who has filed a report with RCMP, after a government employee opened an not ask you to purchase gift cards as a form a legitimate request from a co-worker. is working to recoup the stolen money. The email link or an online ad. of payment. On Nov. 30, Bryant realized he was the scammers never did have access to the money Here's some general fraud prevention tips To report fraud or scams, contact your victim of a scam when he checked his bank because the bank had placed a four-day hold from NWT RCMP: local RCMP detachment or call the Canadian account: his monthly pay cheque wasn't there. on the deposit as the name on the cheque • Beware of unsolicited emails from indi- Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. While the method used to pilfer his pay didn't match the name on the account. viduals or organizations. Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for cheque shares similarities with other fraud As of press time, Northern News Services • Do not reply to any email that requests more information and fraud prevention tips: techniques reported in the territory - where is still waiting to hear back from police to your personal information. http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude. scammers attempt to obtain banking infor- open an investigation. • Look out for paid advertisements online. ca/protectyourself-protegezvous/index-eng. mation from potential victims - the recent The scheme comes on the heels of a ran- Paid banner ads are not always affiliated with htm. Scammers, hackers, liars and thieves Northern News Services Bryant? Is he taking out credit cards in my company executives – I'm no Paul Godfrey ing to fool editors into publishing it. It will Got a nasty surprise when I looked at my name? Booking flights to Las Vegas? What but I suppose I loosely qualify in this regard invariable contain links directing people to a bank account Saturday. sordid and unspeakable things are being – are targeted because their HR departments scam site. My end-of-the-month pay cheque wasn't plotted under my name? are less likely to question an email Few institutions appear invulnerable to there. Well, that's odd, I thought to myself. Come Monday morning I was purportedly arriving from at or getting duped at least once and a while. Better contact our accounting person right deeply relieved to find out there near the top. We figure that the The Nunavut government was brought to its away and find out what's going on. was no dummy Mike Bryant culprit/culprits merely had a look knees last month because somebody opened "You told me you changed your bank account to go along with the at our company masthead and a link in an email that contained a ransom- account and wanted your direct deposit put dummy email. There was a bank picked their target accordingly. ware virus that when launched, immediately in the new account," the response came. "I'll account alright but not under my I'm just putting it out there, begins to encrypt files. Something similar send you your email." name. The bank, after freezing but you know, if our local bank happened to us in 2015. "What!?!" came mine. the account, wouldn't tell us who branches were to forward us the The GNWT Department of Health and To make a long story short, last Tuesday, it belonged to but did confide that odd press release warning the Social Services was the victim of two cyber unbeknownst to me, an email with my name my money was deposited into an public of these kind of things, attacks the previous week. And as you may in the address bar showed up at our account- account in Nanaimo, B.C. we'll happily report it. We have have read in News/North this week, our ing department asking that my pay be put While it's relieving to know newspapers, a website, and several website endured nearly 1,500 bot attacks last into a different account. After being asked my personal information – at Mike W. well-visited social media pages to week. for my new bank account information, my least as far as I can tell, thus far Bryant trumpet all the latest news. Big or small, at the heart of every institu- doppelganger promptly sent back a complet- – has not been compromised, I Mike W. Bryant is the But perhaps all this online tion are people. They're busy, distracted or ed direct deposit form and into that account am left wondering why we're only managing editor of banditry is too overwhelming. The just plain oblivious. It's a game of averages went my pay cheque. finding out about this problem NNSL Media. amount of larcenous trash that and the scammers know it. Needless to say, a deeply troubled week- now. daily fills my spam box is weari- Imagine what it would it be like if all end passed while waiting for the bank to A quick Google search turned some if not little depressing. For these people scamming and scheming on the open Monday so I could clear up this mess. up dozens of articles on this very every five or six comments sub- internet were to put their minds and energy Who is this alternate Mike Bryant? What scam, many of them dating back to March or mitted to us to be included with our stories toward something useful to society. And does he know about me, the real Mike April of this year. These reports indicate that on the website, one will be from a bot try- what a wonderful world it would be. news Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 5

Robert Washie holds a petition in front of the NWT Disabilities Coun- cil-operated Sobering and Day Centre on 49 Street. Behind him, affixed to the centre's front door, a notice informs housed day shelter users that they will no longer be able to access services at the shelter. With enough signatures, Washie hopes to reverse the contentious policy change. Brendan Burke/NNSL photo

Petition launched to reverse day shelter policy change

Ousted from shelter, Robert Washie says ‘I'm going to keep fighting' by Brendan Burke "Some of us go to the day shelter because Northern News Services we are lonely and want to see our friends, rela- Robert Washie is on a mission. tives and people from our home communities. Petition in hand, the once homeless Yellow- It is good for our mental health." knife man walked through Centre Square Mall For Washie, and many others, he said, the Monday afternoon, shaking hands with resi- day shelter was a place to meet and connect dents, speaking to shop owners and collecting with friends, to engage with community mem- signatures. bers instead of isolating oneself at home. Hours earlier, a contentious day centre He said he's been canvassing downtown policy had come into effect. businesses that stand to be impacted by the People with homes are no new rule. Echoing the concerns of longer allowed to access services some community partners, includ- provided at the day shelter. ing the Yellowknife Women's The move is meant to refocus "(The shelter) Society, he worries the policy will resources on people currently drive now-barred day centre users experiencing homelessness in the is good for into overcrowded spaces, places community, the Northwest Terri- our mental like the mall or the library, and tories Health and Social Services that could create conflict. Authority (NWTHSSA) says. health." Further, Washie fears the dis- Washie, who frequently used placed shelter users, particularly the day shelter for meals, to do Robert Washie elders, will be driven into solitude laundry and to connect with at home, or left out in the cold on friends and family via the inter- the street. net, was shocked and outraged when the policy was announced early last month. Impact already being felt He's one of nearly 70 people affected by the Washie told Yellowknifer he's already seeing change. negative impacts following the change – former Because he shares a home with his wife day shelter users sitting on the street as temper- through the NWT YWCA, Washie joins 65 atures plunge. other individuals now ousted from the day By gathering signatures and support from shelter following the policy shift. residents, Washie, who wants to act as an Washie is fighting to have the new rule "advocate" for his people and his community, overturned. hopes to make a statement. "It's really important that they reverse (the He wants his voice, and the shared concerns policy)," he told Yellowknifer. of community members, to be heard loud and Washie launched his appeal to the public clear. late last week. "I want people to support me," said Washie. The petition, which had garnered some 40 "I'm doing this for friends, lots of people on the signatures by Monday afternoon, urges the street, not just me." NWTHSSA to reverse the rule it claims will With enough signatures, Washie plans "hurt so many. to bring his petition to elected officials in "Some of us go to the day shelter because the hopes the "unfair" policy change will be we do not have enough food (and the other food reversed. programs only supply a small amount)," reads But event if the petition fails to spur change, the petition. "I'm going to keep fighting." 6 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 news Steve Elms, elementary teacher, to be remembered Saturday Grade 4 educator, lover of magic, dies suddenly by Simon Whitehouse a magic show partnership and NJ Macpherson School. Northern News Services with Brookes called Frozen He had been trained to Yellowknife Education Fingered Magicians. The pair become an elementary teach- District 1 has been in mourn- were at the Prince of Wales er – completing his teacher's ing since late last week after Northern Heritage Centre giv- prep at Aurora College in Inu- the sudden loss of one of its ing a lecture on the history of vik – and graduated from the beloved elementary school magic up to the modern age. Teacher Education Program in teachers. Shirley Zouboules, former Fort Smith. Steve Elms, a Grade 4 principal at NJ Macpherson, "It is hard on the staff and teacher with NJ Macpher- said Elms was a close friend, a hard on the kids," Huculak son School, died suddenly on beloved co-worker and a par- said of Elms' death. "We have Thursday. ent to whom she could relate. made sure that we have a Yk 1 superintendent Metro Elms is survived by his son bunch of counsellors available Huculak said Elms, 45, was Michael, 18, and former wife to talk to kids and talk to staff discovered dead Thursday Megan Holsapple. and even talk to parents if after not showing up for work. "We have been friends a they needed it. He said he last saw Elms two long time," Zouboules recalled "They talked to the kids weeks ago at school and he this week. "Steve was a really and any students who want to looked ill at the time and it incredibly generous person speak to counsellors, they are was recommended he see a and was known for his laughs, available." doctor. his kindness and crazy sense Huculak said Yellowknife There was no cause of of humour. Catholic Schools was gracious death reported at the time, he "He was also very private in provide counselling assist- added. and he never wanted to burden ance at a time when Yk 1 staff "Steve was a happy-go- anybody with anything going and students are grieving. lucky guy and people liked on for him." him and he got along well Elms had been a teacher Memorial service with kids and parents," Hucu- in the North for 15 years. A A memorial service will be lak said, noting he had a repu- notice of his death on Tuesday held at NJ Macpherson School tation for showing up to work stated that Elms came North on Saturday at 2 p.m. Anyone early, always by 7 a.m. "He from Bay Roberts, N.L., and from the public is invited to was also a magician and did worked at several schools attend. NNSL file photo magic tricks and would do including Sir Alexander Elms is survived by his parties with (school trustee) Mackenzie School in Inuvik, parents Byron and Mona, Emma Pedersen, 3, gets a balloon puppy on a leash from Steve Elms on Can- Terry Brookes." Kaw Tay Whee School in Det- siblings Sean (Adrienne, ada Day in 2013. Elms died suddenly last week, but is remembered for his love In a 2009 article in Yellow- tah, and at Range Lake North Zachery, Keagan) and David of magic, making balloon animals and community theatre. A memorial service knifer, Elms was featured in School, JH Sissons School, (Erika, Leah, Gabriel). will be held at NJ Macpherson School on Saturday at 2 p.m. news Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 7

Louise Elder, executive director of the Status of Women Council NWT, stands with some roses at her office in the Northwest Tower, last week. The council will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Mas- sacre where a man killed 14 women at L'Ecole Polytech- nique. A Dec. 6 vigil will be hosted by the organization and feature other women's organizations from Yellow- knife at the Calvary Com- munity Church. Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

Vigil to mark 30 years since Montreal Massacre this Friday Rate of violence against women in NWT remains 'stubbornly high' by Simon Whitehouse times the national rate at that time. We just haven't seen the every year. She agreed that remembering the 14 women includes Northern News Services improvements in the North." reflecting on the loss of potential advances for women in a male- It has been 30 years since a lone gunman walked into L'École Elder said the biggest focus is to improve these trends by pro- dominated field. Polytechnique de Montreal to kill 14 young women. moting cultural change and awareness and that the Dec. 6 vigil is "For me, I'm 42 and I would have been coming up behind The Montreal Massacre, as it came to be known, shook the an important part of that effort. Ensuring that a wide variety of these women in my profession," she said, noting that she is aiming country. women's organizations can participate and that visitors leave the to speak and advance the need for women in engineering as much Linda Bussey, executive director La Federation franco-ténoise, event reflecting on the seriousness of the issue are big goals every as possible. "So I look at this as a loss of 14 of my colleagues and was a 30-year-old student at L'Ecole Polytechnique at the time of year at the vigil. my potential mentors. It isn't an abstract thing that happened 100 the shooting but was studying addictions on another campus. "We want people to come and walk away feeling like they years ago. These are women that would have been in the work- "It brings me back to my life there and what that day felt like," participated in a meaningful manner," Elder said. "We want them force with women like myself." Bussey said. "You feel like a part of you is gone or you just feel to take that time to remember these 14 women and all the other like you lost something. women we've lost and to walk away with a sense of remembrance. "It was very shocking. It changed so many things in Montreal We usually encourage them to think about what they can do to be at that time. There wasn't anybody who didn't feel bad or feel an part of the change." emotion from it." This Friday, Yellowknifers will remember those who were lost Talking to men in the massacre, those that have been lost since, and the rever- Elder said a big part of improving the numbers that she sees is berations gender-based violence has left on Canadian society and engaging with men on reducing gender-based violence. across the North. "We are really encouraging men to attend the vigil," she said. Louise Elder, executive director of the Status of Women "It has become a part of our regular dialogue to look at how we Council of the NWT, hosts the National Day of Remembrance have to engage with men. They are part of the problem as well as and Action on Violence Against Women vigil every year. She part of the solution. said in an interview last week that there are a number of things to "We can't advance gender equality if men aren't working with think about as the 30th anniversary is marked. us." "This year is the 30th anniversary and we are highlighting that fact because it is significant," Elder said. "We still live with Vigil and Laying of roses the risk and threat of violence on a daily basis in our country and Elder said the event presents an opportunity for partnering around the world. organizations like the YWCA, the Yellowknife Women's Society "We don't want to forget what happened and it is an opportun- and Native Women's Association to come together. ity for all of us to come together and remember these 14 women." The vigil will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Calvary Elder said the most sobering reality is that statistics involving Community Church and will include selected members of the violence against women, especially in the North, haven't changed community laying 14 red roses to remember each of the women much over the last decade. killed at L'Ecole Polytechnique. Figures from Statistics Canada show that the Northwest Ter- A fifteenth, purple rose will be laid to commemorate missing ritories has the second highest rate of family violence in Canada and murdered Indigenous women and girls. A final red rose is and has about eight to nine times the national rate of intimate then laid during the ceremony to remember all who have lost their partner violence - the vast majority of which is men on women, lives to violence over the 30 years since the massacre. Elder said. The event this year will include a group lighting of candles. Each She said young women in the North are more likely to guest will receive a candle when they arrive and a volunteer will com- experience violence including severe violence than women in mence the lighting of a candle to then be passed among the guests. Southern Canada of the same age and that across the country, a female is likely to be killed every two-and-a-half days because Women in engineering of their gender. An important part of the vigil continues to be noting the slain "When I look at the NWT, the statistics of violence are sad women were in the engineering field, which is considered lacking and unacceptable," Elder said, calling the rates "stubbornly" in female role models. high. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Minister of "The reality here is very sad. We looked at reports over 10 Infrastructure Katrina Nokleby, a professional engineer, is one of years ago and we were the second highest and eight or nine the sponsors this year and has been a strong supporter of the vigil 8 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Editorial & Opinions Published Wednesdays and Fridays Comments and views from Yellowknifer and letters to the editor

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FOUNDER (1934-2018): J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason PUBLISHER, CEO: Bruce Valpy – [email protected] Chief Financial Officer: Judy Triffo – [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR: Mike W. Bryant – [email protected] ACCOUNTING: [email protected] Florie Mariano • Cindy Minor • Amy Yang Assignment editor Craig Gilbert - [email protected] Editorial board: Bruce Valpy • Mike W. Bryant Craig Gilbert • Simon Whitehouse

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Reporters: [email protected] Simon Whitehouse • Brendan Burke • Nick Pearce NNSL file photo Sports: The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is the life-line for mine re-supply and also supplies various exploration properties and James McCarthy – [email protected] local tourism and outfitting camps. The global mining industry is still contracting, but data suggests it is set to rebound into growth territory in the next few years. ADVERTISING: [email protected] Representatives: Petra Memedi • Laura Whittle James Boylan • Echo Xin Advertising manager: Zerline Rodriguez Administrative assistant: Emmanuel Ramos Social Media manager: Vincent De Leon Don't drag feet on ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Diana Mathisen • Zdena Kunderlik Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson

Customer service: Holly Yestrau [email protected] dragon of economy CIRCULATION: [email protected] Aurora tours are terrific, but they'll never eclipse the mines Circulation Director: Emma Thomas Jewala Jhankur Northern News Services and it would be naive not to be con- When you're talking about the The issue: cerned about the message Prime Subscriptions: economy, tourism is the one per cent The mining cycle Minister Justin Trudeau sent when Print: (mail) $90/year of the Northwest Territories. he moved Catherine McKenna, who Online: (entire content) $50/year That is, at about $50 million per We say: made a name for herself as environ- year, tourism represents less than GNWT should get ahead of ment minister, over to infrastructure. one one-hundredth of the economic the curve Mega-projects like the Taltson hydro impact of mining, the Fire Breathing expansion and the road to the Slave NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated Dragon of the North, at more than Geological Province, though they be $1.7 billion. cent per year, or more. Pairing that favourites of the 19th Legislative Publishers of: Inuvik Drum •Kivalliq News Sometimes, dragons need sleep. trajectory with hints dropped by De Assembly, are far from guaranteed to Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North The boom-bust cycle of resource Beers Canada last week that it is be built in the next four years, or at Nunavut News/North extraction is well established in Can- already thinking about extending the all. ada and around the world. Going back life of the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine Whether the mine line is going up Member of: to the end of the Industrial Revolution beyond 2030 makes for some good or down, Premier Caroline Cochrane Canadian Community Newspapers Association Community Newspapers Association (which mining helped start), around news to be encouraged by. and her cabinet have to be mov- Community Newspapers Association Weekly Newspapers Association 1830, growth in the global mining Expert, longtime miners like De ing forward. There may be powerful Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association industry follows a spike and trough Beers know what the cycle feels like. forces beyond our control at work, but Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce pattern, illustrated concisely in a post In tough times, they make tough deci- NWT voters made it more than clear Contents copyright – printed in the North on miningquest.com. sions, when the boom comes, they that standing still and expecting the by Canarctic Graphics Limited Through the first half of the 20th do their best to capitalize. Canada pieces to assemble themselves is no century, alternating periods of growth has a role to play here, and there are longer an option for a politician inter- and loss hardly last longer than five consultations and agreements with ested in serving more than one term Send us your comments years. The peaks are between eight Indigenous bodies ahead. But the in the legislature. You can e-mail us at [email protected]; mail to and 14 years apart. Government of the Northwest Territor- What can be done for mining must Box 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50th Street. There's a solid decade from 1973 ies, whose executive committee just be done for mining. That means All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we to 1983, and some really good times declared itself an ally of the industry, making bold investments, and hope- can confirm it came from you. fuelled by Chinese expansion between explorers and extractors alike, should fully Cochrane will get her meeting Not all letters will necessarily be published. Pref- erence is given to short letters of broad interest or about 2004 and the housing bust of walk the talk now and take the lead with Trudeau sooner than later, and concern. We particularly encourage new contributors as 2008 and the ensuing financial crisis on making sure the lights stay on and will take the opportunity to hammer we attempt to publish a cross-section of public and downturn. the substantial natural resources that home how much of an impact some opinion. Letters of more than 300 words, open letters and Right now, we're below the zero still exist under the ground here are certainty from the federal level would those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to growth line, indicating an overall as easy to access as possible. have. eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements. shrinking of the industry of about 0.5 When it comes to mining, if it can But leadership also means being We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story. per cent per year around 2015, but happen, it has happened. willing to make the first move. The tracking back upward where the chart And a lot of it has happened in coming year will define how Cochrane ends just short of 2018. the NWT. The boom and bust cycle backs up her claim to the title of min- If the line stays on its current is powerful, impossible to paddle ing ally. For an industry waiting for its course, it would show a return to against, but it doesn't make itself. next boom, 2020 can't come soon growth of between 1.5 and two per There are a lot of factors involved, enough. commentary Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 9 New mega-mine could affect caribou

Photo courtesy of Teck Columnist Nancy Vail is concerned a new mega-mine in the Alberta oil patch will impact wildlife in the relatively nearby Northwest Territories. outcry. In its deliberations, the We asked you! review panel admitted that the with Simon Whitehouse notes new project would certainly cause irrevocable damage [email protected] from the trail to the environment, but they determined that the possibil- Nancy Vail is a longtime Yellowknifer ity of securing 7,000 jobs in a What did you buy at the Yellowknife Guild of Arts concerned with social justice. drowning province was worth the loss. and Crafts annual Christmas pottery sale? Last weekend (Nov. 24), the deadline And then there's the hidden closed for public submissions on the Teck agenda; how the oil from this site would put Frontier Mine in northeastern Alberta, which, more pressure on securing the TransCanada if approved will be the largest oil sands and the Kinder Morgan pipelines – something development in North America. few want. If created as planned, it will cover 24,000 The crazy part is the success of this oper- hectares of land: 14,000 ha of which is pre- ation, something even Teck Frontier doubts, cious wetlands and another 3,000 ha is old depends on oil prices reaching $95 a barrel, growth forest which will be permanently which hasn't been seen in years. When the lost. Though in Alberta, it comes within 30 project was approved by the board this sum- kilometres of Wood Buffalo National Park mer, oil prices were at $60 a barrel. With threatening food sources for the buffalo and more and more people switching to electric whooping cranes in recovery from endangered vehicles and turning away from products that numbers and 100 other species that depend on use fossil fuels, it's absurd to think there will Erin Devine: Aidan Cartwright: Matt Fournier: that sensitive area for survival. If the feds give be the demand for the 55 billion barrels of oil it the final go ahead in February, the project this plant plans to pump out A DAY. "I came with my friend "I got a fruit bowl for "I got a couple of would further threaten the migratory rates of At a time when we teeter on the edge of Lindsey Dempsey and utilitarian purposes - mugs for a Christmas caribou trying to come home. climate change catastrophe, should Canada I got two mugs for so fruit doesn't rot." present." You're not alone if this is the first you've be allowing a mega development of this scope myself." heard about this. For one thing, the bulk of which really brings our moral responsibility the discussions were going on when people and integrity into question? here were focused on the territorial and feder- In the meantime, where were the territor- al elections so the environmental groups that ies' own elected officials and senior govern- usually try to bring these things to light were ment people when these hearings and submis- busy arranging election forums. For another, sions were going on? How come no one from no one from the resource development sector the respective departments talked to us and and perhaps some in the government, espe- did they prepare submissions on our behalf? cially in Alberta, want you to know. If not, then when? Even though this massive development is The work of all of this should not be left to slated for that province, there is little doubt a handful of environmental groups to try and that destroying the wetlands and permanently keep the public safe. That is the government's eliminating great swaths of boreal forests will job which we pay for. impact the land, animals, water and people It's not too late to write your MP Michael here. Once it reaches peak output in its pro- McLeod, and ask him to speak out along Christine Glowach: Cindy Mansley: Colleen Eckert: jected 100 year lifespan, the plant will emit with your MLA. You too can post comments "I got a few bowls, but "I bought mostly orna- "I got a Garry Singer FOUR megatonnes of emissions annually at https://action.cpaws.org/51742/action/1 I was happy to get a ments and a butter mug for a Christmas which will have its greatest impacts on those or https://cease-ace.gc.ca/050/evaluations/ Garry Singer bowl." dish for a Christmas gift." areas within close proximity – the NWT. prom/65505?culture=en-CA. gift." Then there are all those toxins that will pol- The latter is a complicated government lute the water killing the land and animals address designed to discourage public com- in the southern part of the territories that the ment. First Nations communities depend on. This The bottom line is that fossil fuels need to project could spell their end. remain in the ground, if we, as a species and a Express yourself: Write a letter to the editor Though there were spatterings of informa- planet, hope to survive. Letters should be short and to the point. No longer than 500 words, please. Your letter should be relevant to our readers. Emailed letters are preferred. Include your full name and a phone number, as tion released just prior to the project going Post script: thanks to the MLAs and other we verify authenticity of all letters prior to publication. We may edit your letter for grammar, length (for to the joint federal-Alberta review board this politicians who attended Friday's gathering our print version) or any potential legal issues. summer, clearly the industry and probably at the ledge calling for climate action. Your Email your letter to: [email protected] with the subject line: Letter to The Editor the government of Alberta were trying to presence – and your absence – speaks vol- Or by regular mail: Yellowknifer 5108 50 St., Yellowknife, NT., X1A 1S2 Attn: Editor keep things quiet – it couldn't afford a public umes. 12 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 photo story photo story Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 13 Schools deck the Assembly TREE Feature by Nick Pearce

Northern News Services Seven kindergarten stu- dents from Dettah's Kaw Tay Whee School made their own ornaments when they decor- ated a Christmas Tree at the Legislative Assembly Friday. Since its opening in 1993, the Assembly has invited kindergarten students from Yellowknife, Ndilo and Det- tah, of which Kaw Tay Whee School was this year's smallest class, numbering only seven. Their handmade decora- tions included the Dene Laws written on rings wrapped around the tree. Each school decorates its own tree, leading up to Christ- mas Lights Across Canada, which kicks off today, Dec. 4. The event begins at 4:45 p.m. Nick Pearce/NNSL photos at City Hall, before moving the Zayden Andre, Jamie Lafferty-Charlo, Sierra Cardinal, and Sally Drygeese stretch the Dene Laws over the tree at the Legislative Legislative Assembly at 5 p.m. Assembly Nov. 29.

Jamie Lafferty-Charlo, left, Sierra Cardinal, Zayden Andre, Shihka Sundberg, Nevaeh Lafferty, Khloe Cardinal, survey some handmade ornaments with their Zayden Andre hangs an ornament on the tree. Nevaeh Lafferty, and Sierra Cardinal pick places for their ornaments. teacher Christina Boggis. Inset: Jamie Lafferty-Charlo, left, and Shihka Sundberg wrap the rings featuring the Dene Laws around the Christmas tree.

Some of the ornaments included pictures of classmates like the one Sierra Cardinal hung.

Sierra Cardinal places a fox ornament on the tree. 10 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 photo story photo story Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 11 Christmas spirit alive at United Church Women tea christmas tea Feature by Simon Whitehouse

Wanda Gale, left, Maria King and Edna Paul have tea and delightful goodies Alandra Hicks, left, and mother Nicolinea Minakis share a moment of tea as they converse on Saturday afternoon. sipping.

Northern News Services The United Church Women hosted an after- noon of fellowship and festive tea sipping with its annual Christmas Tea and Bake Sale at Northern United Place, Saturday. Jeannette Hall, a longtime volunteer and organizer of the event said there were about 70 people who attended the event this year. She said it has been a regular event for the group for close to 60 years and is a positive way to mark the Christmas season. "Right now there are about 10 involved in the United Church Women's group for the event and the wider congregation pitches in to help out by providing donations and baking," she said. She said any profit the event makes goes to non-profit organizations locally, nationally and internationally. Among them include Salvation Annabella Churchill, 12, left, and Mackenzie Chiasson, 12, were among the youth volunteers serving up tea and Army of Yellowknife, YWCA, and the Yellow- goodies during the afternoon. knife Women's Centre.

Dawn Tremblay, left, and Arlene Cliffe-Phillips show some jars of antipasto Lorne Gushue, one of the volunteers at the tea and bake sale, shows a plate at the bake sale table. of corner sandwiches in the kitchen.

Residents gathered at the United Church Women's Christmas Tea and Bake Sale Saturday. The event was held at the Northern United Place auditorium. 14 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507 Seventh heaven for Wren Acorn Yk speed skater finishes inside top-8 at Canadian Junior Short Track Championships

by James McCarthy Northern News Services Wren Acorn went into the Can- adian Junior Short Track Cham- pionships ranked 10th and came out higher than when she went in. And she very nearly made a bit of history in the process. Acorn was part of the 32-skater field on the ladies side in this past weekend and ended up seventh overall with a cumulative point total of 8,607, easily beating her score from last year and beating her ranking by three places. "I really didn't know what to expect going in," said Acorn. "I had the thought of ‘Will I finish lower than my ranking?' but the first day was definitely a boost for my confi- dence for the rest of the weekend."

Bread and butter That first day on Nov. 29 saw Acorn race in the 1,500-metre event, her bread and butter distance, and came within an eyelash of hitting the podium. She would finish fourth by a mere two-tenths of a second behind Megan Boudrias of , narrowly missing the bronze medal. "The three skaters that fin- ished ahead of me are all part of the national junior program so that's not bad company to be a part of," said Acorn. "I man- aged to close the gap with a lap to go but I couldn't catch Megan." The pair even locked eyes as Acorn came barreling in for that third spot, she added. "I just stayed focused on the task Rick Lawrence/2019 Canada Winter Games photo at hand," she said. "I had made a pass Wren Acorn, rear, seen during the 2019 Canada Winter Games this past March, finished seventh overall at the Canadian junior on two skaters to get into the fourth Short Track Championships in Calgary this past weekend. position and all I was focused on was getting distance between them." myself out before a big race but advance. The final day of action saw non-ranked but is a chance for her The fourth-place finish was an I've come to realize that I'm at my "I was hitting 45 (seconds) each Acorn race in the 1,000-metre, to show what she can do against unexpected one for Acorn and she best when I'm totally calm," she time and the speed is there but where she ended up third in the B some of the best short-track speed said it all happened thanks to some said. "No nerves, stay calm, remain there's a method to the madness in final to earn 2,654 points. skaters from around the world. The improvements she's focused – that's where the 500-metre," she said. "I always The weekend saw plenty of peo- Americans will be sending their made this season. I'm at my prime men- thought the 1,000 and 1,500-metre ple from Yellowknife and the North development team to compete while "Moving to Calgary "I've come to tally and then it's going races were the tactical ones." send messages of support and Acorn the Netherlands will be sending certainly helped with out and doing the best said she appreciated every single some of their best. that," she said. "I went realize that that I can." Start at the start word of it. She said she's using Montreal as from three ice times The following day One thing Acorn said she worked "I had messages of congratula- a chance to try out some new things. per week to nine and I'm at my was the 500-metre, the on prior to the meet was her starts, tions from so many people and I "I'm looking at it as a way to I've seen drastic chan- event Acorn admits which was something she said has can't thank everyone enough for work on passing, strategy and other ges in the last four to best when I'm isn't her strongest, always been an issue. their support," she said. "It's amaz- things at a high-performance level," five months. My speed totally calm." where she finished "I reworked my starts and it's ing to know that I come from an she said. "It does make a difference is up, my tactics are third in the E final to great to have coaches who can iden- awesome place where people are when the skaters are at a high level improved and my – Wren Acorn earn 833 points. tify what I need to work on," she always paying attention and sup- because they're able to counter what awareness is greater." She said she man- said. "I've been diligent in watching porting what I'm doing." I can do and I can try to counter She also said working aged to be as fast as some video and staying on the ice Acorn is now in Montreal getting their counter." on her mindset was a factor. most of the other girls she raced an extra 10 minutes or so to work ready for the Canadian Short Track The meet gets underway on Fri- "I always believed in psyching against but just wasn't able to on the starts." International Invitational, which is day morning.

on behalf of the centre. in the Canadian Olympic Trials in 2021. The centre's junior girls team will be doing some fundrais- Koe's rink ended up with $25,000 for coming in second. sports ing over the course of the weekend as they will be cooking and serving up lunch on both days to help with their costs this Apprentice coaches wanted Check season. with James McCarthy The Council is once again looking for apprentice coaches, this time for the 2021 Canada Summer e-mail: [email protected] Kevin Koe comes up short Games. The Canada Cup of is in the books and for Kevin It's happening under two separate programs – Women in Koe it was close but no winners' cheque. Coaching and Aboriginal Coaching – and gives two women Berth spiels continue Koe and his rink managed to make it to the final of the and two Indigenous coaches the chance to go to the games The Yellowknife Curling Centre will host the second of men's draw on Sunday in Leduc, Alta., and took on John and essentially learn on the job. The idea behind the program its berth spiels this coming weekend and this one has a name. Epping of Ontario for the title. Koe had booked his place in the is to help build capacity in under-represented populations in It's the Merry Mixer Bonspiel and it will take place on final thanks to finishing atop the field in the round-robin but coaching. Saturday and Sunday. The berth spiels are mandatory for any Epping ended up on top when it mattered as he defeated Koe, The application forms for both programs are available at the team looking to advance to a territorial championship and play 7-4, to win the $40,000 first prize and secure his rink a berth Sport North website. sports & recreation Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 15 Competing to their ability Northern News Services possible in a meet designed to ensure The Yk Club was everyone ended up with skaters of in race mode this past weekend at the same ability by their final race. speedskating the Multiplex, during the first big A large chunk of the roster was competition in town for the club's made up of club skaters but there Feature skaters. were Special Olympians and a crew The annual Ability Meet saw a from Hay River that also completed. by James McCarthy total of 70 skaters hit the ice in the The final results weren't known hopes of being as close to the top as as of press time.

It's a clean start for a 200-metre race as Joliffe Mitchell, left, Russell MacKay and Cooper Burns battle for position.

Sylvain Rourke, left, Sage Acorn, Luke Dizon and Lachlan MacGillivray come around the turn like duck- lings during a 1,500-metre race.

Mira Gaudreault, left, and Sunny Tam take off Eric Burns, left, manages to hold off Cashton Pow- from the start line during a 500-metre race. less-Jones down the stretch in a 500-metre race. Brigid Murphy takes off from the start line for her 1,500-metre race.

Special Olympian Josh Boudreau lines up for the start of his 1,500-metre race. 16 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 sports & recreation

James McCarthy/NNSL photos Stephane Sevigny, phys-ed teacher at JH Sissons School, left, and Jeal Wright Kelsey Impett, right, hits the Kin-Ball into play, which was held by Sula Ray, roll a Kin-Ball across students laying on the floor as part of a warm-up exercise left, Alex Nguyen and Kayden Taylor. at the school's gymnasium Nov. 28. Kin-Ball takes over JH Sissons School Team sport wildly popular in after-school program by James McCarthy Kin-Ball has been part ity Program, which operates phys-ed teacher in Quebec. It up and then you're trying to You can make it go sideways, Northern News Services of the programming at the through the Department of involves three teams of four stop another team from scor- which is really cool." There are plenty of ball school for several years as Municipal and Community on a 20m x 20m court with ing that you were teamed up Sara Minogue has her sports which involve team- part of the instruction done Affairs, and once the money a ball measuring 48 inches with." daughter, who's in Grade 3, work and strategy in order to by Stephane Sevigny, the came in, Sevigny said Kin- in diameter. To start a rally The Kin-Ball portion of playing and she said there's get the job done. school's phys-ed teacher, but Ball was an easy choice. in Kin-Ball, one of the three the programming happens just something about the sport Kin-Ball, though, is one it's now part of the after- "I've done this at the teams – black, blue or grey every Thursday afternoon and which intrigues her. sport where teamwork and school program and it's just school for many years," he – sets up the ball to be hit. Sevigny said that was inten- "I don't know all the rules strategy are imperative and it as popular. said. "The kids all enjoy it so The person hitting the ball tionally done. and I don't totally under- would appear students at JH The funding to host Kin- why not do it after school?" must say the word "Omnikin" "I sent a survey home and stand it but when the oppor- Sissons School have it down Ball came as part of the Kin-Ball was invented in and then either of the other offered an explanation of tunity came up to sign up, to a science. After School Physical Activ- 1986 by Mario Demers, a two colours before striking what we would be doing and my daughter was all over it," the ball. when they would like to have she said. "She's not normally The team called out then it happen," he said. "I had all enthusiastic about team sports becomes the defending team of the activities on the list and so I was pleased about that." and must try to control the Kin-Ball was the most popu- There has been a tourna- ball before it either hits the lar and everyone wanted to do ment at the school level in ground or goes out of play. If it on Thursdays." Yellowknife – the Regional that team is successful, they How popular? A total of Invitational Kin-Ball Tourna- then become the attacking 30 students chose Kin-Ball, ment in 2011 – but nothing team and the game continues the most of any activity on the since then. Sevigny brought until play stops. list, he added. up an instructor from Mon- Points are scored in many The students in the pro- treal to help phys-ed teach- different ways, such as the gram seem to enjoy it every ers learn and understand the ball hitting the floor, the ball time it's played, such as Sabri- sport in preparation for it. going out of play, hitting the na Trinh, who's in Grade 5 at Sevigny said he's hopeful ball on a downward trajec- JH Sissons. that another tournament can tory and making a mistake She said what makes it fun be held in the city among the in calling out the colours. is the three-team aspect. schools because the students The two non-offending teams "It's a very different and seem to enjoy it. score points each time the creative sport," she said. "I want to sit with the other third team makes a mistake. "There's multiple teams so phys-ed teachers and set up Sevigny said having three you can never know what one a date to be ready, maybe teams out on the court can team is going to do." sometime next year," he said. make for some interesting Oliver Reitsma, who's also "The values of the sport are strategy. in Grade 5, likes the team- respect, sportsmanship and "For example, if you have work side of things. communication. There is no one team with 10 points and "You always work with arguing with anyone, not even the other two teams with five your teammates and you your own team, because that points, the two teams that are get to have fun with your can be penalized by the ref- behind can team up to try friends," he said. "My gym eree. Everyone who plays it and score points together," teacher taught me how to do enjoys it and I want many he said. "Then it can switch some curves with the ball. people to learn." Sports Card speedskating

AGE: 16 Sylvain was one of the nearly six-dozen racers who competed in the Yk Speed Skating Club's Ability Meet at the Multi- plex this past weekend. He was also part of the Canada Winter Games speedskat- ing team that raced in Red Deer, Alta., Sylvain Rourke this past March. Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 17 18 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 19 20 yellowknifer, Wednesday, December 4, 2019