Premier Floyd Roland spoke to attendees at the 10th Inuvik Petroleum Show last Wednesday, expressing that cooperation and unity of Northern leaders is required for the development of Northern resources.
The show took place from June 22 – 24, and brings delegates from across Canada together to discuss the North’s petroleum potentia

“With our huge resource potential, the NWT continues to be well positioned to take advantage of substantial investment and economic activity,” said Roland in his address. “However, while the authority and control over natural resources have enabled provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan to capitalize on their resource wealth, we in the NWT do not yet have that advantage.”
He introduced three key issues that will determine the NWT’s short term success.
First, the Industry’s will to commit, secondly the federal Government’s will to support Northern development and lastly, the will of Northerners and governments to work together.
“We need to speak with a single message – and convey a unity that reflects the values and goals we all strive for in the NWT,” said Roland.
He referenced the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, saying that this project must be something the NWT wants for itself.
“It will depend on our collective will and ability to collaborate in the interest of a greater good,” he said.
“Many great things have been accomplished from the simple philosophy on which the success of this show has been built: the importance or working for the North, with the North, and in the North.”
Industry Minister Bob McLeod was also present for the Petroleum show, and believes the event was a success.
“I think the show went quite well,” he said. “I think that everybody is getting very anxious about getting a commitment for the MacKenzie Pipeline.”
But he said the government’s attitude towards drilling and furthering the oil and gas manufacturing in the North is a positive but cautious one.
“We support drilling but not at any cost,” he said. “We put forward the case that we needed more federal support and infrastructure.”

DJSS Grad – Morning Ceremony

DJSS Grad – Evening Prom

While they may be heading off in different directions in the coming years, the latest graduates of Diamond Jenness Secondary School promised to do so while remembering where they came from.
The forty-two students who graduated from Hay River’s high school on Saturday will be the final class to graduate from the school in its original form. Massive renovations at the iconic purple school are set to begin in earnest this summer.

Valedictorian Ming Hua Guo thanked the teachers and staff at the school, and reminded his fellow graduates to continue pushing themselves.
“Today I ask you to be proud of yourself,” he said at the beginning of his address. Guo will be off to Ontario in the fall to attend the University of Waterloo’s math program.
Brieanne Glaicar thanked the staff and teachers for staying late to mark tests, for volunteering to take the students on trips, and for pulling pranks on the students from time to time. Glaicar will be attending the physical education program at Grant MacEwan University in the fall.
“They are gestures that have made us feel special throughout our school years,” she said in her thank-you to staff.
Another graduate, Logan Clarke, thanked the parents for their never-ending support.
“They have helped us to learn to be wise through experience,” he said.
DJSS teacher Stephen MacKay was the guest speaker and said it was a pleasure to teach many of the students for three years. He also presented a message to the students by telling them the story of the turkey and the bull. In the story, a turkey is chatting with a bull about not having the energy to get to the top of the tree. The bull suggested the turkey nibble on some droppings since they are full of nutrients. The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and was able to make it to the first branch. The next day, after eating some more dung, the turkey managed to make it to the second branch. After a week, the turkey finally made it to the top of the tree, where he was promptly spotted by a farmer and shot out of the tree.
“The moral of the story is bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there,” MacKay said to raucous laughter.
Numerous dignitaries, including Lyle Fabian of the K’atlo’deeche First Nation, Hay River Acting Mayor Ken Latour, Hay River DEA chair Kandis Jameson, and SSDEC supervisor of schools Brent Kaulback, reminded students to face any challenges head on and to remember where they came from.
“If you do not know where you come from, you won’t know where you are going,” Fabian, a 1994 DJSS grad, said.

This year’s Northwest Territories Track and Field Championships has come to a close, but another successful year is on Hay River’s record.
Over 1,000 kids from 17 communities across the NWT were in Hay River from June 2-4 competing for a territorial title.
Despite potential complications with the construction of the new trades centre at Diamond Jenness Secondary School, the track meet went off without any major problems.

“I think it went fantastic,” said Tim Borchuk, co-coordinator of the event. “There are always little things we can improve on. It is great, it makes what we have here even better.”
The only improvement Borchuk had was being more prepared with the track. The warm weather dried out the track quickly, by no ones fault by the temperatures.
But none of the kids seemed to mind.
The warm temperatures kept spirits up as young athletes cheered on their teammates and took their own turns participating in their events.
“I think it is a pretty fun event,” said 15-year-old Julia Gyapay from Ecole Boreale. “I have been participating for quite a few years now, so it’s cool to see all the same people and see familiar faces.”
She was pleased to see the weather co-operate this year, as was everyone else in attendance.
“The weather is really unbelievable,” she said. “One year it was snowing and everyone was wrapped up.”
There was no question about warmth this year as umbrellas, tents and even a teepee were set up to help shelter athletes, coaches and spectators from the sun.
Both Chelsea Young and Cynthia Flunkie agreed that the best part of the meet was the absence of class.
“It is awesome,” said Young. “We get exercise, and no school.”
Wednesday’s opening ceremonies allowed each school to march into the arena with a banner stating their schools name. After all the athletes were seated indoors, motivational words and videos filled the room. Brendan Green lit the ceremonial flame and the meet was declared open.
Both Thursday and Friday were chalk filled with track and field events, including the annual corporate relay. This year, one team was dressed as chickens, one in snowgear and one even had to pass off a wheelbarrow with a bird mascot sitting inside as their baton.
The awards ceremony Friday afternoon allowed all the participants in attendance to recognize their fellow northern athletes and celebrate another year of NWT track and field.
“It has been a very fun few days,” said St. Patrick’s Gabriel Darku. “I can’t wait until next year.”

See you there!

Diamond Jenness Secondary School isn’t the only thing getting a makeover this year.
The DJSS track, which has played host to the Northwest Territories Track and Field Championships since 1991, will be modified this year due to the construction of the school’s new trade centre.
“It certainly is a different look out there,” Tim Borchuk, the event’s co-coordinator, said last week.

While the high jump pit will remain more or less in the same location at the northeast side of the track, it will be re-orientated to face north to south. Bleachers will be installed at both ends for fans, Borchuk said.
“That’s a nice option,” he said.
To accommodate that change, one long jump pit and one triple jump pit will be eliminated in the northeast corner of the track. The triple jump pit will not run east-to-west at the north end of the track, while two new long jump pits will be created in the northwest corner, just south of one of the current long jump pits.
To make room for the new long jump pits the shot put pit will be moved to the south end of the field near the discus cage.
“Historically, athletes tend to be in both of those events,” Borchuk explained. “It will give them one area where they can congregate.”
Borchuk said organizers were able to make the changes while maintaing the number of pits. The changes may work out to be more fan-friendly, he added.
“But they’ll be a little more condensed around the track area,” Borchuk said.
The location of the new centre was selected well in advance in order to best accommodate the track meet, Borchuk explained.
“Our town is the track meet town,” he said. “Anything we do has to be right on the ball, and on the money, to put on this meet.”
Work was originally planned for two weeks ago, but rainy weather delayed the start of construction. Borchuk, Joe Leblanc, J.J. Hirst and Bob White staked out the new pits early last week, while construction began on May 19. Borchuk called it “a community project,” explaining that Arcan Construction, Rowe’s Construction and Eagle 88 are all involved in the construction of the new pits.
“The local contractors are being awesome,” he said. “They know track and field means everything to us and they’re going to have it done before it goes.”
While a lot of work goes into making every meet a success, Borchuk said it is also one of the most exciting times of the year. This year, representatives from Athletics Canada have been invited to attend and will be hosting some youth camps during the week. Organizers have also asked them to examine the meet for areas for improvement. With so many athletes involved in the sprinting events, Borchuk admitted one option might be the use of electronic timing for future events.
“Is there something out there that we can make everybody’s lives easier and make just a better meet,” he said.

Photos © the Hub / Andy Spiridonica, Kristin Campbell & Patrick Teskey

“Let the Games begin,” declared Arctic Winter Games president Gerry Thick Saturday night to a roaring crowd of over 1,800 athletes from around the polar world and a packed stadium full of fans.
The 2010 Arctic Winter Games have officially begun in Grande Prairie, AB. Hay River’s 36 athletes join the massive Team NWT, made up of 334 athletes and coaches from across the Territory.

Team NWT joins eight other regional teams in competition in 21 winter sports. International teams include Alaska, Greenland, Sapmi (indigenous people of northern Scandinavia), and the Yamal-Nenets state of Russia. Domestic teams include the Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, the NWT, and of course the host team, Northern Alberta.
The fans were treated to a number of cultural presentations in the stadium including the Grande Prairie Bag Pipers, the Troyanda Ukranian Dancers, a professional hoola-hooper, and Cree cultural dances.
Meanwhile, 1800 athletes and coaches from the circumpolar world packed into the neighbouring room to showcase their jackets and Games spirit. They came pouring into the stadium full of cheering fans team by team.
A special honour was bestowed upon Hay River’s senior competitor Brieanne Glaicar, who is playing on the Team NWT volleyball team. She was chosen to carry the NWT flag for her team as it entered the stadium.
Glaicar’s mother, April, said that although she was not able to see Glaicar bearing the flag, she was brimming with pride for her daughter.
“I felt very proud, very happy,” she said. “It is quite an honour to carry the flag for your team.”
“I had no idea,” said Brieanne. “My coach texted me yesterday morning when I was half asleep so I didn’t think much when I found out. But later on I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s pretty cool!’”
The Glaicars only found out about the news minutes before the ceremony began. April said the flag bearer is chosen on recommendation of the coaches. This is Glaicar’s third and final Arctic Winter Games. For the past two Games, Glaicar has competed as a biathlete and is a decorated athlete. She is also the recipient of the 2008 Fair Play Award for good sportsmanship.
“I think they look for someone who is a role model for a healthy lifestyle,” said April. “Brieanne is definitely that. She is so health conscious.”
Once all the athletes had entered the stadium, flags waved spasmodically as the local youth choir belted out the national anthems of each team represented. Local band Reject performed the theme song for the Games, ‘Rise Up,’ with the message that “there’s nothing that can stop you now,” to pump up the athletes.
AWG president Gerry Thick had his own spin on the 2010 AWG slogan.
“Let’s prepare to dream, aspire, and achieve as we come together as nations to share in fair play,” he said during his address to the athletes.
The actual slogan, ‘Dream, Achieve, Inspire,’ is printed on thousands of lanyards around necks of athletes, coaches, and volunteers for the Games. This includes the 260 officials and referees that have volunteered their services for the Games with the goal of promoting sport and fair play in the North.
“It’s more than a slogan,” said Gary Lund, Minister responsible for sports in Alberta. “It captures the passion shared here.”
Lund said the Games are an excellent opportunity to showcase northern culture, as well as the 21 traditional and modern sports.
“We applaud each one of you as you set out on your personal journey to dream, achieve, and inspire.”

Lirette, Magtibay claim bronze ulus

Hay River will be bringing home a few ulus in ski biathlon, thanks to a successful day of racing for the seven local biathletes.

Biathletes were fortunate enough to have snow to race on on Monday, after a warm spell hit Grande Prairie. Temperatures have been on the positive side of the mercury, with an intense sun adding to the quick melt. The winds were high for the race at noon, but the athletes pushed through to a strong finish overall.
Joseph Lirette started off the race for the junior male 7.5 km individual race. Mason Hachey was close behind in the same division. The boys were required to ski 7.5 km, with four bouts of shooting: two prone, and two standing.
Joseph raced his self onto the podium with a third place finish. A lump in the snow at the finish line made for a dramatic end to his race, as he bit the snow just after crossing the finish line.
Joseph, who injured his knee in a basketball tournament earlier in the year, has been spending his time in physio therapy to recover his knee before the Games.
“It didn’t hurt during the race, but it probably will be a bit stiff tonight,” said Joseph.
Joseph was pleased with his result; however, he is hungry for a sparklier ulu.
“It’s my first race of the year, so I did alright,” he said. “I lost by one shot. If I had shot better, I would have won.”
Mason was close behind Joseph with a 5th place finish in the event.
Also on the podium was Angeline Magtibay for the juvenile girls’ 5 km individual event. She claimed the bronze ulu for the NWT.
The rest of the athletes were only moments away from the podium. Christopher Lirette came in 4th in the juvenile boys’ event, and Colton Glaicar came in 5th for the same event.
Kim Ring was right behind Magtibay at a close 5th in the juvenile girls’ event, and Ilona Gyapay was in 10th.

Economy expected to show growth for first time in three years

The economy of the Northwest Territories will show positive growth this year, following two years of decline, Northwest Territories Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger announced in his budget last week.

Miltenberger made the comments Thursday when he released the territorial budget at the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will maintain service levels in the coming year while investing $222 million in capital and housing infrastructure. The funding, the second part of a two-year, $744 million infrastructure investment announced in last year’s budget, was approved by members of the Legislative Assembly in October. A total of $64 million is earmarked for highways and roads; $42 million is set aside for school repairs, replacements and additions; $28 is available for community infrastructure; $24 for renovations and upgrades to GNWT buildings; $17 million for airport infrastructure upgrades; and $4.5 million for hospitals and health care centres. The GNWT will fund the infrastructure investments through an estimated $35 million operating surplus in the coming year and over $89 million in short-term debt.
“The recession, while it seems to be bottomed out and there seems to be some signs of recovery, there’s still a long way to go, “Miltenberger said, explaining while the outlook is positive the NWT will face “on-going challenges” with the economy.  “When we first started as a government we tried to make the right decisions to get started, to give ourselves a strong financial footing. We acknowledged and planned to play a stabilizing role over the next number of years and this budget reflects that continued commitment.”
Revenues are expected to increase from five per cent this year – from $1.29 billion in 2009-10 to $1.36 billion in 2010-11. Operating expenditures will increase nearly eight per cent – up $92 million to $1.29 billion.
Miltenberger said the NWT’s GDP dropped 17 per cent last year, following an eight per cent drop in 2008. Mineral exploration rates dropped 80 per cent from their 2008 levels.  Mining and oil and gas investment intentions dropped to half their 2007 levels last year. While there were positives – including Diavik and DeBeers canceling planned shutdowns due to improved diamond prices – the economic recovery will be slow.
“The cutbacks that we saw have not been recovered from,” Miltenberger told reporters. “There’s still a critical need for us to play that stabilizing role.”
Investments in green initiatives will also continue, with $19 million set aside for the second year of a four-year, $60 million investment in energy vision designed to reduce the NWT’s dependence on diesel fuel. There is also $1.1 million for water-related activities, including: $821,000 for the finalization and implementation of the NWT Water Strategy; $200,000 to help development a system to measure the health of an entire aquatic ecosystem; and $115,000 to help develop tools to protect each community’s water supply.
“The whole plan – to start cutting our costs, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, renew our greenhouse gas strategy – we’re fully committed to,” Miltenberger said.
Miltenberger said cost pressures on health care in the NWT need to be reduced in order for it to be sustainable. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently working with the different health authorities to develop a plan that will provide dependable and timely access to health care for residents for the long-term. $326 million is set aside for social services expenditures in the current budget – 25 per cent of the GNWT’s operating budget.
“There is an enormous, unrelenting, upward pressure on our costs which, as we attempt to deal with the health needs, reduce our ability to put the funds into other areas,” he said.
The GNWT will also work to develop “a solid, clearly defined, politically tamper-proof” NWT Heritage Fund. Miltenberger first outlined the fund, which would contain revenues from non-renewable resources, in his Strategic Action Plan for 2009-12. He said a public discussion paper on establishing the fund will be released this year, and the legislation to create the Fund could be in place by the end of the 16th Assembly if there is enough support.
The budget also includes $66 million for community governments – an increase of 7.3 per cent over 2009-10. There is also $3.6 million to improve services in remote communities, including: $950,000 for a project to establish Government Service Centres in ten small communities ; $600,000 to improve early childhood education in rural and remote communities by increasing funding for programs and improving access to early childhood consultants; $400,000 to support regional youth sporting events; $450,000 for the creation of three new youth officer positions; and $158,000 to help remote communities reduce drug and alcohol-related crimes and to provide additional training for court workers.
The GNWT will also provide $1 million to increase the number of RCMP officers at remote detachments. The federal government will contribute $500,000. The funding will help bring Northern RCMP detachments in line with a backup policy announced in 2007 following the deaths of Const. Chris Worden in Hay River, NWT and Const. Doug Scott in Kimmirut, Nunavut. A further $121,000 will ensure communities without a resident RCMP detachment receive regular patrols.
Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen called the budget was “very, very good” but said she would like to see the GNWT spend less time talking, and more time acting.
“There are very good, experienced, long-time Northerners sitting in this room, and we hear from our constituents who have very good ideas as well,” she said Thursday following the budget address. “I think we need to focus more of our monetary resources on putting things into real action as opposed to spending too much time talking about it.”
While there are no tax increases in the budget, Miltenberger said property tax rates, tobacco tax rates and liquor mark-ups will be adjusted to reflect inflation on April 1.
“We have not laid anybody off, we’re not cutting any programs, and we’re not raising any taxes,” he said.
The Deh Cho Bridge, the Taltson Hydro Expansion project, and the the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway remain priorities for the GNWT, Miltenberger said.
“We are going to leave some lasting legacies here that are going to far outlive the short four years of the 16th Assembly.”