Yellowknifer Friday, January 29, 2021 edition

Man gets 38 months for Canada Day sex assault Judge says Frankie Eyakfwo was 'lucky' the Crown didn't seek a dangerous offender designation after this, his fourth conviction Online first at NNSL.com

Rangers look forward to new base in Engle Volume 49 Issue 88

friday, January 29, 2021

75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city)

Caught in the headlight YK celebrates the snow

Comfy clothes sales helps keep Iceblink open

Takeout app takes orders but not delivering

$1.00 outside Yellowknife

Publication mail Contract #40012157

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71605 00100

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Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo

Pamela Naylor, a new volunteer with the club, said she has made use of the ski trails for many years and she's glad to have the opportunity to do her part to help maintain them.

See more photos of the crew at work on page 11.

"The public seems to have quickly forgotten the dangers of operating a vehicle while impaired." – RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon reminds the public after four suspected drunk driving cases occur in one day, page 12.

2 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

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Did we get it wrong?

Yellowknifer is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Yellowknifer, call 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

News Briefs Nearly $1,000 in reparations ordered for wellness camp theft A Yellowknife man was ordered to pay fines and reparations after stealing almost $1,000 worth of goods from a wellness camp just outside the city.

The court heard Wednesday that on Sept.

3, 2019 the man entered the wellness camp on Highway 3 and left with several bags full of wild meats, a chainsaw and a stove pipe.

He was arrested at his home 10 days later and released on a promise to appear in court.

He failed to meet his promise.

The man was sentenced to pay $985 in reparations to the camp owner, as well as fines of $250 for the theft and $200 for failing to attend court. He was also ordered to complete 25 hours of community service within the year.

The man, 62, has more than 20 convictions for crimes dating back to the 90s. He will remain on probation for the next 12 months with a requirement to keep the peace, be of good behaviour and show up for court when required to do so.

– Natalie Pressman

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 3

fact file nwt covid-19 situation as of Jan. 28 Active cases: 3 Confirmed cases: 31 Recovered cases: 28 Completed tests: 11,789 Negative tests: 11,745 Pending tests: 40

Scan for the latest GNWT Covid-19 statistics

Days since first confirmed case: 314 Days since last confirmed case: 9 Common symptoms: Fever, (60 per cent), muscle aches or pain (53 per cent), cough (53 per cent), sore throat (33 per cent), diharrhea (13 per cent), difficulty breathing (seven per cent) Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer

Delivery service app taking orders despite not being open

The Black Knight Pub thanks frontline workers with discount As of last week the Black Knight Pub is offering a 10 per cent discount to all frontline workers working in grocery stores, health care, retail, transportation and logistics, as well as RCMP and first responders.

The discount will continue until Feb. 27 as a gesture to thank these groups for their work throughout the pandemic. The Black Knight made the announcement on Facebook on Jan. 22 in a post that, as of Thursday afternoon, has 23 shares.

Yellowknifers who fall into one of the above frontline worker groups are asked to identify themselves as such to their servers to receive their discount. "Thank you, thank you, thank you frontline workers," the Black Knight wrote on Facebook.

– Natalie Pressman

Almost 9,500 Covid-19 vaccines administered A total of 9,471 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the NWT as of Monday, said Health Minister Julie Green in a tweet Tuesday.

The latest tally comes a day after Green also announced that vaccinations have been conducted for priority groups in all 33 communities of the territory.

In Yellowknife, the vaccine clinic is in its extended phase of Monday to Thursday of this week for individuals aged 60 and older, after overwhelmingly demand for vaccinations on Jan. 18 to 22 saw 1,000 spots booked up almost immediately.

Tuesday's update on vaccines marks a significant increase from the previous update on Jan. 18, when 1,893 doses had been given.

– Blair McBride

Individual diagnosed with Covid-19 at Gahcho Kué site An individual has been confirmed to have the Covid-19 virus at the Gahcho Kué satellite winter road work camp, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer announced on Wednesday.

A news release issued on Jan. 27 states that an employee of a company contracted by Gahcho Kué is isolating and doing well.

"The work camp has a pre-designated quarantine area separate from the accommodations facility," the release states.

– Simon Whitehouse

NNSL file photo

The YK Eats app appears to be operational despite orders hanging in the balance once placed. Orders were already being accepted for Monkey Tree Pub despite the owner being unaware.

Start-up has been processing refunds for would-be customers

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

YK Eats, a Yellowknife food delivery service, is not yet operational despite an app that allows users to place orders and pay for them.

Shivam Dhamija, YK Eats founder, said the app is only available "to show the functionality" of the interface and that the new company hasn't had any restaurants in town sign on for the service.

Dhamija said his start-up business has been issuing six or seven refunds each week for over a month to Yellowknifers who have used the app to place delivery orders.

Currently, the Monkey Tree Pub and Copperhouse Eatery are the only two listed on the app, though neither have given Dhamija the OK to begin deliveries.

Jennifer Vornbrock, co-owner of the Monkey Tree, was unaware that customers could already place orders through the app, but said the pub plans to work with YK Eats as it's prepared to roll out in the coming weeks.

She said the Monkey Tree has been supportive of the delivery business since it approached her months ago, but that the

initial collaboration will be on a trial basis to ensure quality isn't being compromised.

"We've done delivery before and a lot can go wrong so if I'm partnering with them I want to make sure the level of service customers can expect is the same as if they were dining in or picking up," Vornbrock said. "Because it's our name, you're trusting someone to make sure the food is delivered hot and in a timely manner because, at the end of the day, that doesn't fall back on them, that reflects on us."

Copperhouse co-owner Mark Henry said his restaurant has had discussions with YK Eats, but that he's still unsure whether a partnership will be formed.

Dhamija has been working on the app for almost a year. He said the company has secured drivers, established its technology and "has everything ready to go," save for the green light from Yellowknife eateries.

Part of the reason restaurants owners are so hesitant, Dhamija said, is because of the way events unfolded when Californiabased competitor DoorDash tried to enter the Yellowknife market in the fall.

At the time, DoorDash appeared to have landed in Yellowknife with a number of local eateries listed on its app, though none

of the Yellowknife establishments had consented to using the service.

Restaurant owners asserted then that a DoorDash partnership would cut heavily into the industry's already thin profit margins.

"We're certainly not interested in partnering with a company like DoorDash that focuses on stealing profits, Vornbrock said, noting that, as a local company, YK Eats understands the market and is looking at a more modest profit with its delivery charge for consumers. Something people in Yellowknife "are used to anyways."

Dhamija said DoorDash's commission is twice that of YK Eats. He said he's not looking to have local restaurants foot the bill with his service.

Within the next few weeks, Dhamija said he hopes the service will be fully operational, with proper deliveries and partnerships. When YK Eats officially launches, he plans to make an announcement on the Bite Me Yellowknife Facebook page.

Once launched, Dhamija said he hopes more Yellowknife restaurants will recognize the potential in a collaboration and will agree to join the delivery service as well.

news

4 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

New Rangers headquarters expected to be complete in winter 2024 Pandemic-delayed project worth $86 million

by Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services

A new headquarters for the Canadian Rangers is expected to be ready in the Engle Business District in the winter of 2024-25, however the building hasn't been started yet, as initially planned.

"There have been some delays due to site work taking longer than anticipated, as well as some delays due to Covid-19," stated Jessica Lamirande, senior communications officer with the federal Department of National Defence. "Construction is now estimated to start in spring 2022 and be completed in winter 2024-2025.

The estimated project budget is up to $86 million overall, she said.

Lamirande said the new facility will feature office and classroom space and room for training purposes. It will also include an assembly area that will double as a drill hall and additional space for vehicle maintenance and storage.

There's currently no active headquarters building for the Rangers so they are operating out of temporary, leased facilities in different loca-

NNSL file photo

Members of the Canadian Rangers show off a komatik sled built at the Forward Operating Location on Deh Cho Boulevard. The Rangers are planning to build a new headquarters nearby in the Engle Business District. tions in Yellowknife, according to Lamirande.

The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol group consists of close to 1,800 Rangers in 60 patrols across the three territories.

Lamirande said that much preparation work has been done to date, having started in the fall of 2019. That work is expected to wrap up this coming summer.

Between October 2019 and February 2020, Arctic Farmer Inc. was contracted for tree-cutting on the site at a cost of $176,000.

North Country Logistics

Ltd also received a site grading contract in July 2020 for $3.6 million.

Both contracts went to Indigenous companies as per the federal Procurement

Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB).

"The site work is underway with an expected completion date of late summer 2021," Lamirande stated.

DND purchased property from the City of Yellowknife in the Engle Business District off of Deh Cho Boulevard.

PCL Construction Management of Edmonton was awarded the $1.8 million design in November, Lamirande said.

"Following the design work, the construction work to build the facility may be negotiated into the contract with the same firm," Lamirande stated.

The City of Yellowknife refused to comment on what stage the project is at as it pertains to the planning department's involvement. Nor would it identify the civic address or when the project is to come to city council, if at all.

Lamirande was also unable to provide a street address and said that concept options for the facility are still being developed and therefore no diagrams are available.

news

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 5

Comfortable clothing sales keep Iceblink from freezing up during pandemic Best sales year since opening came in 2020 Northern News Services online store set up through Clothing shop Iceblink has Shopify. Before Covid-19 hit, defied pandemic challenges her website included just the over the past year and suc- basic facts about the store and cessfully tapped into customer customers still had to visit in demand for comfortable cloth- person. ing and shopping in a relaxing Online sales became brisk space. and she began shipping orders The women's apparel shop to customers in Yellowknife, experienced its best sales in Hay River, Cambridge Bay 2020 since it opened almost and even the United States, the eight years ago.

United Kingdom and SwitzRevenues were up by about erland.

Supply chain disruptions, 20 per cent compared to 2019 and sales were consistently which have been a problem for Northstrong. ern busi"Weirdly, nesses in the there was p a nd em ic, this one affected Icetunic ... that blink only just became to a limited this phenomenon. degree. with Blair McBride We still "A lot of can't keep our orders it in stock," said shop owner didn't come, I got partial Judy McNicol. orders in, I'm having to wait It came to be known as the much longer (for some orders)," "Jillian tunic" after Canadian McNicol said. "And people celebrity Jillian Harris. don't know what you don't "I started ordering sweat- have. They don't know that pants, lounge sets, things that you've ordered all this stuff. people could wear on Zoom We've had plenty of things to calls, but they basically feel offer people so it's not like big like they're wearing pajamas. gaps in here. It's just things So super comfy to wear at that I would have liked to have home but formal enough that arrived that didn't." they look OK on Zoom. I was Aside from relatively really lucky that I could get strong demand over the last 11 these things in for immediate months, McNicol said the six order." weeks of closure gave her time When Iceblink – along to reflect on the direction she with almost all other shops – was taking Iceblink. closed in the spring lockdown, "For the last seven years, McNicol worked hard during I've just been kind of respondthose six weeks to get her ing and reacting, because it's

Back

to business

Blair McBride/NNSL photo

"Everything that I've done, I've done based on what I like. I like comfortable clothing. I like to dress nicely, and I really like coffee," said Iceblink owner Judy McNicol on her successful women's clothing shop and in-store cafe Fika. been busy and there hasn't been a lot of time to pause to take stock of things physically and mentally," she said. "And to enjoy being in Yellowknife and really think about where we are, and I really want this store to reflect where we are."

Out of that reflection came the opportunity to open her

Blair McBride/NNSL photo

After Judy McNicol opened her in-store cafe Fika about eight or nine months ago, it has brought in more customers and is the realization of a decades-long aspiration to operate a coffee shop.

in-store cafe Fika, named for the popular Swedish practice of taking a break and having coffee with friends.

The idea had been on the back burner for years. McNicol had wanted to own a coffee shop ever since she worked in a cafe in Glasgow, Scotland decades ago.

She realized in the summer of 2019 that there was a gap in downtown Yellowknife for another cafe that she could fill, after tourists would ask her about where to find coffee shops and she kept directing them elsewhere.

Almost one year ago, staff from Treeline Construction began building the cafe area in the back of the store. McNicol started serving her first coffees eight or nine months ago.

She didn't do much advertising for Fika, so it has only become popular in the last month.

"It's going really well. It's just bringing so many people in. My idea was that, if you want to shop and you want to go for coffee, you can do that.

Everything that I've done, I've done based on what I like.

I like comfortable clothing.

I like to dress nicely, and I really like coffee. And I don't

want to have to make choices between like, ‘I've only got two hours, we'll go for coffee or we'll go shop.' So you can do both (here). And if you're with somebody who doesn't want to shop they can hang out on the couch."

While the NWT's vaccination program brings the possibility of a gradual return to normalcy, McNicol explained that she has little control over what business will look like as the pandemic winds down.

"I just go day by day. I'm fairly philosophical about things like that," she said. "I think we've got a very strong customer base. I think people are starting more and more to realize how good they have it here with all sorts of things. I think it's brought more people in that maybe hadn't been in before. What I do have control over is making this as beautiful of a space with as good a product as I can possibly offer."

6 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

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Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 7

Yellowknife man gets 38 months for fourth sex assault conviction He raped a stranger after offering to walk her home on Canada Day 2019

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

Frankie James Eyakfwo was sentenced Wednesday to a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for his fourth sexual assault conviction.

On July 1, 2019, the victim of the assault was visiting Yellowknife from her home community in Nunavut.

Eyakfwo, whom the victim had never met, offered to walk her home. While walking through an alley, Eyakfwo pulled down the victim's pants and then his own. He raped the woman and left.

The victim reported the assault to the RCMP and was taken to the hospital. A sample extracted from her sexual assault examination found male DNA. Eyakfwo's DNA was already in the national database from prior assault convictions and was found to match the victim's swab.

Standard procedure requires RCMP to request an additional sample from Eyakfwo. The results came back in June 2020 and confirmed Eyakfwo's match. He was then arrested, charged and remanded into custody.

The Canada day offence happened mere weeks after Eyakfwo was released from custody for sexual assault charges incurred in 2018 – a case where he assaulted a sleeping victim.

In a joint submission, Crown Prosecutor Morgan Fane and defence lawyer Jessi Casebeer recommended Eyakfwo serve 38.5 months, or 30 months after deducting his credit for time in pre-trial custody.

The two-and-a-half year sentence means Eyakfwo will serve his time in a federal correctional facility.

In rendering her decision, Justice Louise Charbonneau called the sentence "extremely restrained."

She explained that her discretion is greatly reduced when presented with a joint submission and that while the 30-month sentence "is like-

ly not the submission (she) would have imposed," she could not say the joint recommendation is unreasonable and would therefore accept it.

Though, she said "the sentence should not be seen as having precedential value and is not how this court manages serious sex offences like this one."

Charbonneau also noted that the sentence is only slightly longer than the term Eyakfwo served for his last offence – a 30-month sentence that left Eyakfwo with only nine months in a correctional facility after his credit for pre-trial custody had been deducted.

Acknowledging how soon after his release the most recent offence occurred, Charbonneau said it was clear that rehabilitation had not been achieved.

Charbonneau noted public safety as a concern. While she said she believes Eyakfwo when he says he wants to change, "particular care should be taken when he is eligible for release," she said.

Though Eyakfwo has a number of prior convictions, starting with charges from 2003 when he was only 14, Charbonneau noted that this would be the first time he was in federal custody and had access to federal programming.

Charbonneau told Eyakfwo that he was lucky the Crown was not asking him to be designated a long term offender or dangerous offender.

While the court heard Eyakfwo was himself a victim of abuse and violence in childhood, Charbonneau said that no matter the offender's background, if a person is continuously causing harm to others, there comes a point where the court doesn't have a choice.

"Removing that person from the community becomes a necessity," she said.

The court heard that Eyakfwo had returned to his home

NNSL file photo

Frankie James Eyakfwo will serve a 30-month sentence in a federal facility following his fourth sexual assault conviction for a July 2019 offence. community of Whati before his most recent arrest. Letters of support indicated Eyakfwo has family support in Whati and that he had been doing well in the months he had returned.

Charbonneau said that while his time is Whati was short, it shows hope for a brighter future when he has the support of his home com-

munity.

The court also heard that Eyakfwo has skills on the land and, through drawings rendered to the court, artistic ability. Charbonneau told the court that Eyakfwo's drawings are beautiful and that he "obviously has talents and skills and can use them to lead a more productive life."

Charbonneau told the

court that Eyakfwo, 31, is still young and that she believes him when he says he is sorry and doesn't want to spend his life in jail.

After delivering her decision, Eyakfwo's lawyer indicated that he had a drawing he wished to provide the judge.

Charbonneau thanked him, but said that judges need to be careful about receiving

offerings because of how it may be perceived. She told him the drawing would stay on the court file but that she would not keep it personally.

An additional firearm prohibition will be placed on Eyakfwo for 10 years after his release from custody.

He will remain on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life.

8 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

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NNSL file photo

Hermina Joldersma, a Granite Condos resident, left, stands with Matonabee Street neighbour Judy Murdock to show the narrow width of the Matonabee alley laneway that is being proposed as the access point for the planned Aven Pavilion.

Narrow-minded or right in their lane?

Hard to blame neighbours upset that AVENS says it needs access to an overused laneway to avoid a $10 million redesign Northern News Services

There is a lot of dust left to settle on the debate over a massive expansion proposed by AVENS: A Community for Seniors.

The prospect of 102 new supportive and independent living units for senior citizens, including more than 90 apartments designed for individuals, would be enough to get anyone with skin in Yellowknife's housing game sitting straight up in their chair. Likewise for the tens of millions of dollars of construction activity the new Aven Pavilion would generate.

A quick look at a map of the project area provided to city councillors reveals the expansion would increase the complex's footprint by 50 per cent or more.

Unfortunately for CEO Daryl Dolynny, that footprint butts right up

The issue:

AVENS proposed expansion

We say:

Where's the middle ground?

against Matonabee Laneway which, according to at least a pair of neighbours, is too narrow for the amount of traffic Aven Pavilion would be sure to generate.

Dolynny says using the laneway as the Pavilion's primary access point for vehicle traffic is the only cost-effective possibility. He told city councillors earlier this week that changing the layout would require a $10-million redesign.

That's a shame, because it's an awfully large surcharge to be consid-

ering in terms of building new housing for seniors. The project also falls safely within the parameters for the neighbourhood envisioned in the city's community plan, being residential infill that's less dense than the downtown core but more dense than outlying areas like Old Town.

Best case scenario? The biggest problems are only a slight narrowness, and minor bits of vegetation that surely could be removed – the NWT is not in a shortage of greenery.

AVENS started 2021 with a shot – a round of Covid-19 vaccinations for its residents, to be specific. It would be nice for the facility to end the year with the bang of excavators, bulldozers and, for the laneway, a paving crew improving the entry to a massively expanded housing complex in the heart of the city.

commentary

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 9

The ballad of the Northern Snow Snake

Let the drops fall Craig Gilbert/NNSL photo

A Northern Snow Snake rears its head from the sidewalk on Con Road near 54th Street. The dead and dying extension cords are a staple of the winter months in Yellowknife, columnist Walt Humphries writes.

Northern News Services

We have all done it. You jump into your vehicle and drive off without unplugging, and you drag your helpless extension cord around for a while, until it falls off. Some even call these battered, busied, dead, or dying cords, Northern Snow Snakes. Sometimes you can spot several of them in a single day. A truly Northern Hinterlands Who's Who. That is just one of the hazards of winter driving in the North. On many trips I can count on seeing a few Snow Forts or Igloo Cars driving around. This is where the conscientious driver clears a small viewing portal on the front windshield and the rest of the car, side mirrors, windows roof, hood and back are completely covered in snow. The driver has about a five per cent view of what they should have. One day during a snowstorm I counted five of them in a row stopped at a traffic light.

Impressive.

I was tempted to go over and brush them off, but you have to be careful touching some people's vehicles, they can really take offence at that. Many will drive like this until they drive off the road or get stuck in a snowbank.

Then they may, ask or even plead for help.

It would be interesting to know just how many people manage to drive off the road or get stuck every year. I know I always drive with a tow rope and pair of jumper cables in my truck because one never knows when you are going to come across people stuck or stranded. Imagine if the GNWT recorded every place along the highway, all winter long, of the number of places where someone has driven off the road and gotten stuck. Not only would it be an interesting map, I bet the numbers would also be shocking.

The other day I was walking down the road, and someone took a corner too quickly and spun out. They managed to do a 360-degree spin around and ended up in a snowbank. They did manage to drive out of it though and drove by with an embarrassed look on their face. On the highway I watched in horror as a car with three people in it managed two-and-a-half 360s and ended up pointed right at me. Scary but luckily no one was hurt.

With our modern technology maybe, we

Tales from

the dump Walt Humphries is a well-known Yellowknife artist and prospector.

need a computer in the vehicles that takes into consideration the winter driving conditions because many drivers don't seem to. I am actually surprised there aren't more accidents when you consider the conditions and the way some people drive. However, it's not just the drivers who are at risk. One often sees pedestrians at intersections, crosswalks or on the roads who just step out, without looking to see if there is any traffic. They have more faith in drivers then I do and I have seen several near misses.

At night it gets even worse with some people dressed all in dark clothing walking down the roads, sometimes a tad inebriated.

There should be a rule, maybe even a law, that if you are out walking in the dark you should have some reflective tape on your clothes.

On the highway this rule could also be applied to our bison who despite their size blend in and often consider the highway their domain. I doubt we could get them to buy and wear their own reflective tape, but maybe wildlife could provide the tape and put it on them. That would be an interesting exercise I am sure. Worthy of a YouTube video or two.

Another way to make them more visible, would be to hire a few locals who were good hunters and provide them with paint guns and some paintballs filled with reflective paint. These people could patrol the roads occasionally and they would get a bonus for every bison they tagged. You would not have to tag them, all just enough to give them herd immunity.

You could also encourage the paintball hunters to tag any pedestrians they see all in dark-coloured clothes. It would be interesting to see if this cut down on the number of night stalker accidents for both bison and pedestrians. Happy trails.

Wikimedia commons photo

When using eye drops, it's important to let the drop fall into the eye, as opposed to having the dropper touch your eye, writes columnist Aaron La Borde.

Northern News Services

When using eye drops, it's important to let the drop fall into the eye. Try not to let the dropper touch the eye at all. Pull the lower eyelid down and place one drop in the pocket produced.

Then close your eye for a minute or so. It helps to put a bit of pressure on the corner of the eye. This prevents the drop from draining from the eye too soon.

Fun with dentists

being well hydrated is one of the causes of mental confusion among seniors.

Uncontrolled diabetes and urinary tract infections are two other causes of confusion in this age group. But dehydration is another that can easily be rectified by drinking enough water each day. If you feel thirsty or your urine is dark yellow in colour, drink more water.

Capsule Comments

Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux A bit of humour can be found disease (GERD) is a digestive on the licence plates of a few disorder occurring when stomAaron La Borde is dentists. ach acid juices flow back up the a pharmacist at It might be a subtle form of esophagus producing a heartburn Sutherland Drugs. advertising but it brings a smile feeling. to people.

In the old days, prior to the Examples of these vanity plates include: 1970s, surgery was one of the options to 2TH-DOC, NO-DK, STR8N-M, 3RD-MLR relieve it. Now there are many drugs that and TTH-FRY. will help. However, one of the best ways to deal with the problem is to lose weight Drink more water and to reduce consumption of coffee and alcohol.

Are you drinking enough water? Not

10 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

photo story

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 11

Groomers hit trails for workshop

Fifteen volunteer groomers came Sunday to the ski club's annual workshop, the biggest turnout the club has seen so far.

John Stephenson, left, and Bruce Cook, right, are both longtime members of the Yellowknife Ski Club. Stephenson said volunteers, at the Ski Club and around Yellowknife, "are the engine of society."

Northern News Services

With unseasonably warm temperatures and fewer events than in years past, residents are making regular use of Yellowknife's ski trails. For the Yellowknife Ski Club, that means maintenance. The volunteer team looking after the trails are a dedicated bunch who engage in grooming three times a week, depending on snowfall and frigid temperatures.

Each year, the ski club runs a trail grooming workshop to train newcomers as experi-

ski club Feature

by Natalie Pressman

Natalie Pressman/NNSL photos

Bruce Cook, a veteren volunteer, has been with the Yellowknife Ski Club for 26 years. He cleared the trails at the end of Sunday's workshop.

enced volunteers pass along their knowledge. Trails director Chris Hotson ran this year's workshop. The event, sponsored by Cross Country NWT, took place Sunday with the club's biggest turnout yet.

Pamela Naylor, a new volunteer with the club, said she has made use of the ski trails for many years and she's glad to have the opportunity to do her part to help maintain them.

Yellowknife Ski Club trails are groomed, on average, three times a week. It's typically done ahead of the club's weekend programming and following significant snowfall, Chris Hotson explained.

12 yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021

commentary

Why the monster? Because it's the book of the year Northern News Services

Why the Monster by Rachel and Sean QitsualikTinsley follows a young Inuit boy called Huuq, "why" in Inuktitut, on his journey through the high Arctic.

Drawing on Inuit beliefs and lore to craft a coming of age tale set very literally in a land before time, the QitsualikTinsleys created this triumphant and thought-provoking tale of belonging, fear, and consequence.

Scary, thrilling, and a total page turner, Why the Monster is, without a doubt, the best book I've read this year!

Why the Monster is built on the age-old structure of

a journey but with a twist: rather than being a journey to a specific place, Huuq is travelling to get his human body back and, in doing so, finds his own identity along the way. The motivation for Huuq's journey is built around a discovery; when Huuq finds a mysterious egg out on the land, he thinks he's stumbled on some new and unusual bird species.

When that egg hatches, however, it is not a bird that comes out but a tiny white creature called an It. Before Huuq can react, his dog swallows the newborn creature whole. Soon enough, the rest of the creature's species come

to collect the baby so, to save Monster is accompanied by his dog, Huuq tricks them into silhouette-like illustrations by thinking he is keeping the Toma Feizo Gas, which appear baby safe and tells scattered throughout them to come back the novel. the next day to colEqual parts lect it. creepy and gorgeous, These creatures these illustrations add agree, taking Huuq's a lot to the overall human body to seal atmosphere of this the deal and leavnovel. Though it is ing him with a body my understanding that's a cross between that this Why the a wolverine, a bear, Monster was written a caribou, and a for readers between human. Huuq has to the ages of 13 and 15 Grace Guy is a life- years old, it was one find a way to get the long Yellowknifer and little creature out of of those books that lover of literature. his dog's stomach – never felt oversimplified or childish, but now in this "monster" form – and return it to the rest instead simply a very accessible book that I would recomof the Its, on the way exposing some dark secrets and mend for people of all ages. near-magical truths about his The mystery surrounding Huuq's journey to get his friends, his community, and human body back, which soon his dog. turns to an exploration of his Why The Monster was a own relation to a world where page turner from chapter one. everything is not as it seems, Split into three parts, each kept me on the edge of my detailing a different part of seat right to the very last page.

Huuq's journey, Why The Rachael and Sean QitsualMonster still takes its time ik-Tinsley are very good and in that action-oriented plot very frequent writers. Though to have moments where the I had only ever read short stornature of friendship, love, and ies penned by them until now, fear are explored.

I found that Why the MonSettling somewhere ster's novel format was even between horror, fantasy, and more well-paced and attention history, the story of Why the

Book

review

image courtesy of Inhabit Media

Drawing on Inuit beliefs and lore to craft a coming of age tale set very literally in a land before time, the Qitsualik-Tinsleys created this triumphant and thought-provoking tale of belonging, fear, and consequence. capturing than the short stories I have read.

Mysterious, playful, and adventurous, I highly recom-

mend Why The Monster for those of all ages that are looking for a well-paced Northern read.

RCMP investigate four possible impaired driving incidents in a day Charges laid in three cases so far

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

Yellowknife RCMP are investigating four individuals for impaired driving in one day.

They were all found to be driving under the influence on Jan. 23, less than a month since the RCMP launched Operation Gingerbread – an annual campaign discouraging drinking and driving.

"The public seems to have quickly forgotten the dangers of operating a vehicle while impaired and the potential criminal charges they may face," RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon said in a news release Wednesday.

Three of the four individuals are facing charges, with one person owing fines surpassing $2,500. When charges of impaired operation

of a motor vehicle are laid, an automatic drivers licence suspension is also imposed.

The first charges were laid when RCMP were called for a traffic complaint around 12:30 a.m. and noted impaired driving as a potential cause for the call. An investigation is still ongoing.

Police later noticed a 45-year-old man in the driver's seat of a parked running vehicle at approximately 1:30 a.m. The man's blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and the man was charged.

At 10:50 a.m. that same morning police received a complaint of a possible abandoned vehicle at approximately 10:50 a.m. An investigation linked the vehicle to a one-car accident from the previous evening. The driver, a 20-year-old woman, was charged with operation while impaired of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of motor vehicle and failure to stop after accident.

She is being fined $2,530 for operating a vehicle without a valid registration, with-

out a valid driver's license and without valid certificate of financial responsibility.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. that afternoon, RCMP conducted a traffic stop. A 38-year-old man was found to have consumed alcohol. He was brought to the Yellowknife detachment and charged.

"Unfortunately, operating a motor vehicle while impaired continues to be a regularly occurring crime in our city, and we are urging people to reconsider getting behind the wheel," Insp.

Dyson Smith, commander of the Yellowknife detachment, stated in the release.

"Impaired driving is avoidable, simply choose another way to get home safely. Your loved ones will thank you for it."

If you see a suspected impaired driver or suspicious activity, call your local RCMP detachment, for Yellowknife 669-1111, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or text: "nwtnutips" plus your message to 274637.

news

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 13

Homelessness board seeks members as part of $6-million federal partnership Advisory group will now have 16 members, including two with lived experience with homelessness would be an example of voices who could provide important input.

The City of Yellowknife passed In April 2019, the city entered into a proposal from staff during Mon- a funding agreement with the federal day night's regular council meeting government's Reaching Home Initiaintended to diversify and broaden tive: Canada's Homelessness Stratrepresentation on the community egy that will provide the city with advisory board on homelessness $6 million until March 31, 2024.

The funding provides the city a little (CAB).

CAB serves as an advisory group more than $1 million every year to for council on issues involving disburse to various city programs that seek to alleviate homelessness. homelessness.

The bulk of money will go to Representatives will now include two people who have lived experi- the city's Housing First program, ence with homelesswhich is a contracted ness, a person from service for local nonthe public at large, a government organizations to provide representative from housing for adults, the RCMP, a veteran families and youth, and another member who is a landMayor Rebecca Alty lord or representative said this week. of a non-government Part of the housing sector. A requirements in the second representative federal and municipal from an Indigenous agreement are that organization will also the city must designate specific types of be added. representatives on the The increased Stacie Smith board, which councilmembership proposal lors discussed during will bring the board the Jan. 18 committee meeting. membership to 16 from nine.

"We will be now be doing a call Council also supported an amendment from Coun. Robin Williams to for applications this week and we add a member from the business will have to aim to fill all these new community to the board. City staff positions as well as vacancies that we indicated that there have been chal- already have," Alty said. lenges in the past with maintaining a The increased membership, business representative on the board. beyond the requirements from the "I would think that especially federal government, will help ensure when it comes to homelessness, that there are diverse voices involved downtown is one of those things in homelessness discussions, she that's affected and downtown is the said. This will aid in targeting funds home of many of our businesses and properly to areas of homelessness our business community," Williams where it's needed most, Alty added. said, noting chambers of commerce The increased membership is also

by Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services

NNSL file photo

Yellowknife city council has approved increasing the membership of the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness as part of a funding arrangement with the federal Reaching Home Initiative. aimed at solving "direct or perceived conflict of interest" issues between organizations.

"It is a committee that needs to be balanced because you want people on the ground with the local knowledge to be part of CAB for their wisdom but we need to be aware and balance that," Alty said. "Sometimes

they are also the same organizations that are applying for the (Reaching Home Initiative) funding."

Some councillors noted the importance of having people with lived experience on the board.

"I'm really happy with what has come forward," said board chair Stacie Smith, who said more input from

Indigenous organizations is also a benefit.

"Having added all of these other positions that are a little bit more specific to the sectors that they're going to represent, I think will allow us to be a little bit more efficient in how we're going to dole out funding and make decisions."

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news

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 15

Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: sports@nnsl.com • Fax: (867) 873-8507

Yellowknife celebrates the snow

Mayor Rebecca Alty, centre, gives a complimentary pass to instructor Rob Matthews during World Snow Day activities at the Yellowknife Ski Club on Jan. 17.

Her Worship handed out 50 such passes around the city as part of the occasion.

World Snow Day takes over city with plenty of activities for all

ordinate things at the ski club for several years.

It's Yellowknife in Janu"We had 99 total people ary, right? There's snow on the sign in and maybe about ground so why not celebrate it. another 50 or so who were The capital was one of hun- out on the trails doing their dreds of locales around the own thing," he said. "I would globe that took part in World estimate around 150 people in Snow Day on total were at the Jan. 17 with a full club that day." roster of events The day at the around town. ski club included The Yellowadult lessons knife Ultimate facilitated by Club took over instructor Rob Somba K'e Park Matthews as well to play a game of as several group outdoor Ultimskis. Overlander ate while Frame Sports put up ski Lake saw Fatbike gear for people to demonstrations rent at a reduced – John Stephenson courtesy of Overrate and that lander Sports and proved popular. snow painting put on by the "They rented everycity. If you wanted to build thing out," said Stephenson. a quinzee, you could out on "They've been a big supporter Frame Lake courtesy of Ecol- of everything we do here at the ogy North and the Great Slave club and the rental gear was Snowmobile Association had a obviously very popular." group outing in the afternoon.

Like with everything else The Yellowknife Ski Club happening in this day and age, also got in on the action with a Covid-19 requirements were free day of cross-country ski- kept, meaning no big groups ing for everyone. inside the chalet and all of By free, that meant trail the snacks on offer were prefees for the day were waived packaged, he added. and plenty of people took The club also wrapped up advantage of that, said John the first of its Skigo Bingo Stephenson, who's helped co- events where, over the course

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

"I would estimate around 150 people in total were at the club."

of a few weeks, people could fill out a Bingo-type game card which had different things people could do related to skiing. Anyone who managed to successfully fill the card was entered into a draw for prizes.

Mayor Rebecca Alty was out and about for most of the day and she carried with her complimentary admission passes for city facilities to hand out to people taking part in activities.

Her Worship said she handed out 50 passes in total.

James McCarthy/NNSL photos

Toryn Wheler gets set to hit the trails as part of the World Snow Day activities at the Yellowknife Ski Club on Jan. 17.

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sports & recreation

Another year, another no-go for NWT track

Yellowknifer, Friday, January 29, 2021 17

James McCarthy/NNSL photo

Duncan Stewart of William McDonald Middle School ends up clearing the bar during the bantam boys high jump in the 2019 NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River. Like the 2020 edition, this year's meet has been cancelled due to concerns over Covid-19, according to organizing committee co-chair Tim Borchuk.

Territorial championships cancelled for second year running

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

There was a glimmer of hope that the 2021 NWT Track and Field Championships would be a go and that the 30th anniversary could be celebrated.

Alas, the anniversary will have to wait for another year.

The meet's organizing committee announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that this year's edition has been cancelled owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the questions surrounding the safety of hosting such a large event, the biggest single annual sporting deal in the territory.

Tim Borchuk, who co-chairs the organizing committee, said there were too many what-ifs to make it happen.

"JJ (Hirst, co-chair) and I sat down Wednesday afternoon and talked about it," he said. "There are Tim Borchuk still a lot of unknowns out there and a super spreader event that size could affect the entire territory."

The meet brings between 1,100 and 1,200 people to the town on an annual basis with many of the competitors sleeping in classrooms or in other buildings and all in close quarters.

Borchuk said that was a chance he wasn't willing to take.

"We generally get about 20 to 25 kids in one room and they're all close to each other," he said. "That's so dangerous, especially now. I'm just not sure it would be good to host that many people considering everything that's still happening. I know so many people and I wouldn't want to be responsible for something happening to someone or to a community."

The cancellation means that Sir John Franklin remains the overall grand aggregate champions for another year – technically – though it's little comfort for Denise Hurley, who helps

"We'll still be here next year."

organize the track and field team at the school.

She said she had a feeling the meet would be gutted but it was the right thing to do.

"We all understand the chief public health officer taking the precautions she has to keep us all safe," she said. "It would have been nice to be together with everyone again but the reason we're all in a good place right now is because of what's happened and no one wants to jeopardize that."

The cancellation means another financial hit to the town of Hay River, which always sees a influx of revenue due to hotel room reservations and people shopping at places such as

grocery stores.

Borchuk said he knows it will affect the bottom line.

"Track and field is synonymous with Hay River, one in the same," he said. "I don't like making the decision to cancel but it's only prudent that we did. It's sad but good at the same time because we'll still be here next year."

As for next year, Borchuk said there's no idea of what that will look like but he's confident there will a meet of some sort.

"It could be on a smaller scale or we could throw open the doors and have a huge event," he said. "I don't know but we're planning for 2022."

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