HAY RIVER HUB WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 Edition

Covid waste water signal disappears 'Hay River can return to routine public health measures,' Dr. Kami Kandola says

Hub Volume 48 Issue 48

The

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

$1.00 (.95 + GST)

One-ski ... soccer?

H ay R i v e r , N o rt h w e s t T e rr i to r i e s

Community Vaccine clinic held in town

News Library giving out activity kits

Sports 2021 Polar Pond Hockey tournament cancelled Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Eight-year-old Davin Swallow competes in one-ski soccer on Jan. 23 during the Jackrabbits program at the Hay River Ski Club. The Jackrabbits program for young skiers is held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday.

Publication mail Contract #40012157

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71605 00200

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"This investment is one of many that we are making to re-establish the Great Slave Lake fishery." – ITI Minister Caroline Wawzonek announced an eight-week pilot project to help fishers earlier this month, page 7.

www.hayriverhub.com

2 ▼ Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Town wins decision on utility buy Court ruling deals with valuation of assets and inclusion of backup generators

Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

The Town of Hay River has won another court decision in its yearslong efforts to buy the assets of the electricity franchise-holder in the community.

On Jan. 20, the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories released a decision that supported the town's arguments on the valuation of the assets and whether back-up diesel generators should be included in a sale.

"The town is pleased with the decision of the NWT Court of Appeals and looks forward to working through the remaining steps of the franchise process," said Glenn Smith, the senior administrative officer with the Town of Hay River, in a written comment supplied to The Hub. ATCO, the parent company of franchise-holder Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd., was not pleased with the decision.

"Obviously, we're disappointed with the decision from the NWT Court," said Melanie Bayley, president of ATCO Electricity Division, which includes Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd., in a written statement for The Hub. "Since we just learned of this decision, we will review our options and determine our next steps."

Bayley noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd. providing electricity to Hay River.

"And it continues to be an honour serving customers and the community even while negotiations with the town are underway," she said.

The town launched a process in 2016 to buy the franchise assets from Northland Utilities – as permitted in the franchise agreement – and turn the system over to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation in hopes of lowering electricity costs in the community.

In 2016, the town and Northland Utilities agreed to arbitration, which decided on a valuation method for assets and that back-up diesel generators should be included in a sale.

Northland Utilities appealed the arbitrator's ruling to the Supreme Court of the NWT in 2019, and it then took that court's decision to the court of appeal.

The supreme court judge who heard the matter in 2019 concluded that the arbitrator had made no reviewable error.

"The chambers judge did not err in reaching these findings," stated the court of appeal decision, referring to the supreme court justice as the chambers judge. "As a result, the appeal is dismissed."

Northland Utilities objected to the arbitrator's decision on the methodology to establish the value of the franchise assets.

The arbitrator set the means of determining the purchase price based on a modified book value, rather than on the basis of replacement cost less depreciation.

The arbitrator's decision would

permit the Town of Hay River to purchase certain assets from Northland Utilities used to supply, transmit and distribute electricity within the town limits for a price – subject to final adjustments – ranging from $13,064,262 to $14,754,429.

Northland Utilities argued the arbitrator should have utilized the replacement cost less depreciation, which produced a purchase price of $39,974,082.

Along with the overall value of the assets, there was the issue of whether five back-up diesel generators should be included in the sale.

The arbitrator found that the generators were essential to the continuity of electricity distribution within the town and therefore fell within the definition of assets subject to sale.

Northland Utilities had argued that the franchise agreement granted the company the exclusive right to "distribute, supply and sell electrical energy" within Hay River and that did not include the right to generate electricity, meaning that the diesel generators are not properly the subject of the franchise agreement and therefore not caught in the right of purchase.

The supreme court ruling in 2019 noted the franchise agreement has a provision that prevented the Town of Hay River from granting any other person, firm or corporation the right to generate, distribute or sell electric energy in the town.

"The chambers judge was therefore correct in concluding that the arbitrator reasonably included these

photo courtesy of Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd.

The diesel generators at the Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd. operations in Hay River were among the issues dealt with in a Jan. 20 decision by the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories. diesel generators within the assets covered by the purchase under the franchise agreement," stated the appeal court decision. "That reasonable standard does not disclose any palpable and overriding error by the arbitrator."

Hay River is powered by the hydroelectricity produced on the Taltson River, except when that supply is occasionally interrupted and the back-up diesel generators are used.

The appeal court decision was written by Justice J.A. Bielby. It was then reviewed by Justice J.A. Veld-

huis and Justice J.A. Strekaf, who both concurred with the decision.

The appeal was heard on Oct. 27, 2020.

The most recent 10-year renewal of the franchise agreement between the town and Northland Utilities began in 2006 and expired in 2016.

Prior to the expiry of that 10-year renewal, the town gave notice that it intended to purchase the assets of Northland Utilities in the community.

The company has continued to operate the franchise while negotiations with the town are ongoing.

www.hayriverhub.com

Correction

In the Jan. 20 edition of The Hub, the article headlined “Graphic content” contained incorrect information on the cost of a new printer to be purchased by Poison Graphics. The actual cost of the printer will be $330,000.

News Briefs

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 ▼ 3

fact file nwt covid-19 situation as of Jan. 25 Active cases: 7 Confirmed cases: 43 Recovered cases: 36 Completed tests: 11,607 Negative tests: 11,564 Pending tests: 103

Scan for the latest GNWT Covid-19 statistics

Days since first confirmed case: 311 Days since last confirmed case: 6 Common symptoms: Runny nose or congestion (57 per cent), cough (57 per cent), fever, (39 per cent), muscle aches (39 per cent), headache (32 per cent), malaise (32 per cent), fatigue (29 per cent)

Covid sewage signal is gone Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer

NNSL file photo

"Drinking in public has been a common concern for many businesses and residents," stated the written report from bylaw officer Const. Travis Rosborough.

Bylaw officer reports on helping homeless On Jan. 11, the Town of Hay River's bylaw officer, reported to town council on his efforts to work for the safety of homeless people.

"Drinking in public has been a common concern for many businesses and residents," stated the written report from Const. Travis Rosborough. "It creates litter of empty alcohol bottles and has persons intoxicated at risk for harm to themselves by falling asleep in the roadway or snow banks, especially while alone.

"Education and regular conversations with homeless persons have been an ongoing task to ensure they are aware of the dangers of drinking alone and drinking to where they can't take care of themselves during cold months."

LNG idea presented at council meeting A company based in British Columbia has approached Hay River’s town council to ask whether it has any interest in bringing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the community.

Sasa Cook, the senior vice-president of business development with Cryopeak LNG Solutions, made a presentation to the Jan. 11 online meeting of council.

Cook noted the company currently distributes LNG in trucks to remote industries and communities in B.C., Yukon, the NWT and Alaska. That includes to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation for power generation in Inuvik.

"It's their primary source of energy for power generation in Inuvik," said Cook.

The company representative noted Cryopeak LNG Solutions is not a utility, but would envision working with a utility company in Hay River.

"We do have several utilities in mind who may be interested in operating a natural gas distribution system in your community," he said.

Except for some technical questions, council members offered no opinions on the idea suggested by Cook, but simply accepted his presentation as information.

Tourism committee seeking members The Town of Hay River's Tourism and Economic Development Committee is looking for two new members.

Applications will be accepted until Jan. 28.

The committee advises the town and makes recommendations to support tourism and economic development services.

It consists of nine to 10 members appointed by town council.

Those members include five or six representatives of the public. The remaining non-voting members represent town administration, town council and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

NNSL file photo

All those who were self-isolating in Hay River during the time of wastewater signal detection and were asked to come in for testing can return to routine measures, according to chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola.

It's another sign that discovery was 'highly likely' connected to case later diagnosed in Fort Liard Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

An indication that there may have been an undetected Covid-19 case in Hay River has disappeared.

"Public Health has received negative wastewater surveillance results in Hay River," stated a Jan. 22 update from chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola. "This means that there is no further evidence of undetected Covid-19 infections in Hay River."

Kandola added that the investigation is now closed and Hay River can return to routine public health measures against Covid-19.

"All those who were self-isolating in Hay River during the time of wastewater signal detection and were asked to come in for testing can return to routine measures – including monitoring for symptoms of Covid-19 and getting tested at their first sign," she added.

It is suspected that the signal in the Hay River wastewater may be connected to a person who had self-isolated in the town earlier in January before travelling on to Fort Liard and being diagnosed with Covid-19 there.

Mike Westwick, the manager of Covid-19 communications with the GNWT, said it is

"highly likely" that the original case in Fort Liard is related to the wastewater signal in Hay River.

"The thing that we know for sure is that the additional risk in Hay River has resolved and Hay River can return to routine public health measures." Westwick told The Hub on Jan. 23.

On Jan. 13, Kandola's office advised that wastewater samples analyzed in Hay River from Jan. 1 to Jan. 6 had shown signs of Covid-19, indicating there might be an undetected case in the community or the signal might be from one or more travellers who were self-isolating or who had even left the territory.

People who had self-isolated in that time period were advised to be tested.

On Jan. 16, a GNWT news release stated that the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory reported a persistent positive Covid-19 signal in Hay River wastewater in samples collected in the previous 48 hours leading up to Jan. 11.

As a result, anyone who had self-isolated since Jan. 1 or who was still in self-isolation in Hay River or K'atlodeeche First Nation was urged to be tested.

Westwick said there was an aggressive

testing program as a result of the signal in the wastewater.

"Since Jan. 11, there were 189 tests completed locally during that period and there were no positive cases identified," he said late last week.

As of Jan. 22, a total of six confirmed Covid-19 infections were reported in Fort Liard.

All diagnoses are in the same cluster, originally connected to out-of-territory travel.

Westwick was asked whether the GNWT may increase the requirement for 14 days of self-isolation since the person who travelled on to Fort Liard may have had the disease before leaving Hay River, based on the findings in the wastewater testing.

Westwick could not comment on an individual case. However, he said there is no reconsideration of the 14-day self-isolation requirement.

"There's no indication that there are any issues with 14 days of self-isolation," he said.

"It's the rule of thumb, and most folks agree that you're free and clear. "If you don't have symptoms through 14 days, you're good to go. An important aspect of that is symptom checks."

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4 ▼ Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Opinion Hub

Historical Quote 2011

"If you give people literacy, bad ideas can be attacked and experiments tried, and lessons will accumulate."

– Steven Pinker

CCNA

Hub Stop speeding

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in school zones

that a person could be travIn early November, a Hub elling at such a speed in a editorial pointed out the school zone. strange tendency of some And it also seems imposdrivers in Hay River to ignore sible that drivers wouldn't stop signs. know that it is dangerous In normal circumstances, and illegal to speed in school those comments zones. on dangerous But if anything editorial can be worse driving would usually do for a year than speeding in or so before the topic might school zones, it might be – come up again in this space. as Potter also noted – that However, the issue of safe- some drivers are even passty on the town's streets can't ing school buses as they are wait that long, because blow- unloading students. ing through stop signs might Nothing can justify such be among the least of our irresponsible driving. And worries when it comes to poor once again, it seems imposdriving in Hay River. sible that drivers wouldn't Some irresponsible drivers know that it is illegal and danin this community are speed- gerous to pass school buses ing through school zones, while youngsters are exiting sometimes while using cell the vehicles. phones.

So what is the community During the Jan. 11 meeting left to conclude? of town council, Ross Potter, It seems apparent that the community's director of some drivers in Hay River protective services, noted that are a risk to the community's a driver had been ticketed youth. that day for doing 68 kiloIt's bad enough to blow metres an hour in a school through a stop sign, but it is zone, where the speed limit is much worse to endanger chiljust 30 kilometres per hour. dren.

Potter described such a What in the world can such high speed as "totally ridicudrivers be thinking to do over lous." double the speed limit in a It is impossible to disagree school zone, or to drive past a with that. It is beyond belief school bus as it is unloading Northern News Services

NNSL file photo

Municipal officials are concerned about speeding in school zones and some drivers passing school buses unloading students.

students?

The only possible answer seems to be that those drivers know they're in a school zone or passing off-loading school buses, but they don't care.

That is simply not acceptable.

If a person is operating a motor vehicle, society expects that driver to know the rules of the road and the speed limits – and to obey them. That goes for everywhere in town, but is especially important in school zones.

It is commendable that the Town of Hay River, especially its bylaw officer, is focusing on safety in school zones and around school buses.

However, it is also discouraging that enforcement is even needed to keep some drivers at a safe speed in school zones and to stop them from passing unloading school buses.

Even if there were no laws requiring it, it just makes common sense to slow down and be extra careful when it can be reasonably expected that there will be kids around.

Unfortunately, it appears that some drivers in Hay River lack even the most basic degree of common sense.

It makes you wonder how they ever got a driver's licence in the first place.

What's a good book you have read?

You Said It!

Isabella Rodriguez "I like a book called Harry Potter. It's like a lot of different books combined into one. It's magical. It's fun."

Mary Rodriguez "The Secret Life of Trees ... talks about how nature is so interconnected and about a lot of different things that I didn't even realize."

Michelle Cooke "I liked The Glass Castle.

I read it twice. It's actually a memoir."

Charity Tambour "She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I just read it in high school and I found it very interesting because it was from a female perspective, but it was written by a man."

www.hayriverhub.com

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 â–ź 5

Five-day vaccination clinic held On Jan. 18, Doris Caudron, left, received the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 from Lorie Steinwand, the supervisor of Public Health with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and a registered nurse.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

A steady flow of people showed up to receive the Moderna vaccine Jan. 18 to 22 Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

The rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations continued in Hay River last week.

A steady flow of people showed up to receive the Moderna vaccine at a special clinic from Jan. 18 to 22.

"Right now, I think we're having a really great turnout," said Lorie Steinwand, the supervisor of public health with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and a registered nurse, on the first day of the clinic.

"The workflow is very steady. So I anticipate that we'll have a good turnout for the rest of the week, as well."

By the end of the five-day clinic, 656 people had rolled up their sleeves to receive the Moderna vaccine.

Steinwand explained the clinic was for a number of priority groups, including those 60 years of age and over, health-care professionals, anyone who travels out of the territory for medical reasons and those who have certain priority health issues.

"I find a lot of them are quite happy to be here and very grateful, and they share that with you when you're offering the information," she said, noting the people being vaccinated feel it will help get their lives back to normal.

For example, Steinwand said a lot of them want to see their grandchildren, increase the number of people in their bubbles or travel.

"It's one of those things where I think that it's a preventative measure that can help them maybe see and do some of those things again," she added. "That's kind of their driving force behind it is to be able to do those things when we can."

Doris Caudron said she had to think about whether or not she should get vaccinated.

"But then I decided that if I got Covid I'd probably die, so I might as well get it," she said just after receiving the Moderna vaccine.

Caudron said the shot itself was not painful.

"It feels like nothing," she said, adding with a laugh, "Like a mosquito bite."

The first doses of the Moderna vaccine in Hay River were delivered on Jan. 7 for the resi-

dents and staff at Woodland Manor long-term care facility and at Supported Living Services.

Vaccinations were also offered to all residents 18 years of age and over in K'atlodeeche First Nation on Jan. 13 and in Enterprise on Jan. 14.

All people receiving the Moderna vaccine have to get a second shot 28 days later.

The GNWT began Covid-19 vaccinations

on Dec. 31 in Yellowknife and Behchoko after receiving a first shipment of 7,200 doses from the federal government on Dec. 28.

A second shipment of about another 7,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine is expected at the end of January.

The goal is to provide the vaccine to 75 per cent of the territory's eligible population 18 years of age and older.

www.hayriverhub.com

6 â–ź Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Library has travel-themed activities Family Literacy Day celebrated with books, crafts, colouring and recipes Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

Family Literacy Day will be marked at the public library in Hay River on Jan. 27 in a new way this year.

That's because Covid19 precautions at NWT Centennial Library are preventing the usual inperson celebrations.

Instead, program librarian Marissa Oteiza has come up with a unique activity called Pick a Country Travel Bags.

Oteiza said the NWT Literacy Council provided $500 each to communities to celebrate Family Literacy Day with the theme Travel the World from the Comfort of Home.

"So they're trying to help people think of creative ways to celebrate Family Literacy Day even though we're not really hosting celebrations like we normally would be," she said.

Oteiza's idea was to put together themed pick-up packages.

"So it's Pick a Country Travel Bags and each bag

will include books, crafts, colouring pages and a meal from that country," she said. "I'm going to include a recipe and the ingredients to make the recipe at home. So then families can work together to create different cultural meals depending on the country they pick."

As of late last week, she had about 13 different families signed up for the 15 available travel bags, which were to be assigned

by Jan. 25.

The countries to be featured included China, Russia, Japan, England, Ireland, India, South Korea, Greece, Spain, Brazil, Germany and the Philippines.

Heather Hirst was getting the travel bag on Germany.

"I decided to sign up for the travel book bags as an activity to do with my nephews," said Hirst.

"They like learning about different places and we often talk about places we have travelled or places we want to visit in future."

Oteiza noted that the books in the travel bags

will have to be returned to the library.

"I'm going to have a selection of children's and adult books that they'll be borrowing from the library," she said. "We have a lot of non-fiction books about different countries.

So those will go into the packages, but they get returned once they're done with them. And then all the craft supplies and food and stuff will be theirs to keep."

All the participating families will be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of three books about foods in various countries.

Oteiza noted the NWT Literacy Council liked her idea so much that it will be doing a similar activity in Yellowknife.

She said Family Literacy Day is celebrated every year.

"I think the biggest point is just to get families reading at home," she added.

Normally, events like a chili luncheon or a pancake breakfast would be held at NWT Centennial Library for Family Literacy Day.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Marissa Oteiza, the program librarian at NWT Centennial Library, has devised a unique way to observe Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27.

www.hayriverhub.com

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 ▼ 7

Great Slave Lake winter fishery opens for first time in 15 years The fish plant in Hay River will be operating a winter fishery, which has opened on Great Slave Lake for the first time in 15 years.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

ITI funding will allow fish plant to operate for season Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

For the first time in 15 years, there is a winter fishery on Great Slave Lake.

The fishery opened on Jan. 11.

A Jan. 12 news release from the GNWT said it is anticipated that seven commercial fishing businesses will participate in this year's winter fishery.

They will be supported by a pilot program introduced by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI).

The pilot program will run for up to eight weeks and assist fishers with accessing winter-specific gear and equipment.

ITI funding will also allow the Tu Cho Fishers Co-operative to reopen and operate the Hay River fish plant, which closed in October following the summer fishing season.

The packing facility will receive and grade fish from commercial fishers in Yellowknife and Hay River, and then ship it to the federal Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC) in

Winnipeg for processing and sale.

In addition to the pilot program, the GNWT is partnering with Indigenous governments to train community members to participate in the winter fishery and build capacity for the future.

The GNWT is being guided by its Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery released in 2017.

"This investment is one of many that we are making to re-establish the Great Slave Lake fishery and provide greater returns for fishers," said ITI Minister Caroline Wawzonek in the GNWT news release. "In time, our plan is to see new and yearround jobs in processing, packaging, selling and transporting NWT fish to market, as well as new products including more opportunities for NWT residents to access fresh, healthy, locallyproduced food."

Cameron Beaverbones, the president of the Tu Cho Fishers Co-operative, welcomed the start of the winter fishery.

"We are working with the Government of the Northwest Territories to realize our shared vision of a revitalized Great Slave Lake fishery," stated Beaverbones in the GNWT news

release. "One of the steps that we must take is to secure a yearround supply of fresh Great Slave Lake fish for market. This requires that we invest in the revitalization of our winter fishery."

The Tu Cho Fishers Co-operative is comprised of commercial fishers on Great Slave Lake who sell to the FFMC. The federal corporation, which owns the fish plant in Hay River, is the centralized marketing body that buys, processes and markets all fish caught on commercial licences in the NWT.

www.hayriverhub.com

8 ▼ Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Hub

Sports

NNSL file photo

The last year a complete Polar Pond Hockey tournament was held in Hay River was 2017. There was only a partial tournament – games, but no social events – in 2020 because Covid-19 restrictions were just starting to be imposed,

2021 Polar Pond Hockey cancelled Covid-19 affects event for second year in a row Paul Bickford

editor@ssimicro.com

Polar Pond Hockey will not take place in 2021.

The weekend event, which is normally held in March, won't take place this year because of continuing restrictions due to Covid-19.

Organizers announced the cancellation on Jan. 20.

"I know the vaccine is out, but there are still tons of restrictions on right now and we'd have to be applying for a number of exemptions, including liquor licences, that we don't know if we'd be able to get or not," said Terry Rowe, an executive member of the organizing committee.

In 2020, there was only a partial tournament – games, but no social events – as Covid-19 restrictions were just starting to be imposed.

In 2018, the tournament was not held to avoid conflicting with the Arctic Winter Games, which were held in the South Slave in March of that year.

And in 2019, unseasonably warm weather deteriorated the river ice in front of Fisherman's Wharf.

Rowe said the decision to cancel this year's tournament was made in an email exchange between members of the organizing committee.

"The agreement was that we'd all love for it to happen, but it's a lot of work for, I guess, hosting the same kind of event that we did last year, which was really limited to what we could do," he said.

Rowe added it is disappointing that the tournament can't be held this year.

"Everybody is volunteering their time to put the event together because we love hockey and we love getting together to do that event," he said. "Everybody is very disappointed. There were a few that kind of wanted to do it, but ultimately it's a ton of work, probably at least three weeks in advance."

Under the Covid-19 restrictions last March, Polar Pond Hockey had games on the river ice, but could not hold its gala and a beer garden.

Without those social events, the moneymaking aspects of the tournament would not be available, except for registration fees from teams.

"That would be one of the concerns, for sure," said Rowe. "Our biggest concern is the health and safety of our community and the people who would want to attend the event.

That's the number one concern, for sure."

The money that would normally be raised goes to various non-profit groups in the community.

Rowe said the organizing committee still plans to hold the tournament in 2022.

"I mean everybody still looks forward to it," he said. "We're obviously looking forward to hosting it next year as long as the restrictions are relaxed a little bit. And we've got that brandnew pavilion down there that we haven't got to use yet. I think people will be really looking forward to using that, as well, and showcasing that."

Glenn Smith, the senior administrative officer with the Town of Hay River, was disappointed to hear about the cancellation of this year's Polar Pond Hockey.

"The community has recognized that it's been a successful event in terms of improving tourism for the town, and it's an economic driver, as well," Smith said. "It's a great event for community bonding, and I'm just hopeful we can have it come back in 2022 under normal conditions."

The tournament usually attracts many teams from Hay River and even from other communities.

Last year, 34 teams registered, and about 28 showed up even after the tournament was scaled back. About 150 players participated last year on eight rinks.

– with files from James McCarthy

NNSL file photo

Terry Rowe is an executive member of the organizing committee for Polar Pond Hockey.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 â–¼ 9

10 â–ź Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Art contest WINNERS

Five artists are the winners in a traditional arts competition at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre.

Each of them won $1,000 in a draw on Dec. 18, after their works were accepted for the contest.

The winners (and their artwork) included Ann FirthJones (a necklace), Larone Lafferty (a painting), Elsie Canadien (moose hair tufting earrings), Barb Lowe (a tote bag) and Aimee Tambour (beaded earrings). Twelve artists participated in the competition called the Traditional B.E.A.R. Art and Craft Contest.

Artwork and crafts were accepted from Hay River, K'atlodeeche First Nation, West Point First Nation and Enterprise. Shirley Bonnetrouge, the program co-ordinator at Soaring Eagle, pictured with Lafferty's winning painting, was very happy with the contest and the quality of the artwork. Bonnetrouge noted the competition was designed to help artists in this time of Covid-19, since they normally rely on sales at various events, such as festivals, conferences and workshops. "But that's no longer available," she said. "So I think this contest is great."

AROUND THE SOUTH SLAVE Paul Bickford is the reporter for The Hub. Send your ideas to: editor@ssimicro.com.

Councillor acclaimed for Smith's Landing Thebacha/Fort Smith Smith's Landing First Nation has a new councillor.

Dianne Benwell was acclaimed to a vacant seat on council after she was the only candidate when nominations closed on Jan. 19 for a by-election set for Feb. 2.

Benwell's role as councillor will become effective on Feb. 3.

Voting in the by-election had been set to take place in Fort Smith, Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., and Edmonton.

Band to conduct mapping sessions Deninu K'ue/Fort Resolution Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) will be conducting one-on-one mapping sessions with land users and elders who have also used the land.

The band is looking for 20 to 30 land users and elders to participate in the sessions, which will take place between Feb. 22 and March 5.

All markings will be digitally entered into the band's database system.

Anyone interested in participating should contact DKFN

by Feb. 12.

NWT Ski Day to be celebrated in Smith 22.

Thebacha/Fort Smith NWT Ski Day will be celebrated in Fort Smith on Feb.

The free event is being presented by the Fort Smith Ski Club and the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.

There will be free use of the trails for non-members of the club, free ski lessons for anyone, and free rentals.

Lessons will start at 11 a.m. and will run for approximately 90 minutes.

Anyone is welcome to ski for free between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Participants are being requested to register in advance for lessons or rentals.

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12 â–¼ Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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