Weekend Yellowknifer – Feb. 5 Edition

GNWT plans to nearly double HSS staffing $1.00 outside Yellowknife

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Finance minister says there will be no new taxes in budget

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Winter road now open Volume 49 Issue 90

friday, February 5, 2021

75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city)

GNWT plans to nearly double HSS staffing Finance minister says there will be no new taxes in 2021-22 budget Online first at NNSL.com

Winter road now open Volume 49 Issue 90

friday, February 5, 2021

Talbot Technologies capitalizes on remote work

75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city)

Remembering a legendary bushman

Athletes call turf into question

Council mulls Fire Hall reno photo courtesy of Gren Thomas

Fred Diamond C, a long celebrated bushman, passed away late last month at his remote cabin between Yellowknife and Behchoko, at the age of 74. $1.00 outside Yellowknife

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"This year is going to be the Year of the Ox." – Yellowknife Chinese Association vice-president Xiaoyi Yan is preparing for annual lantern festival, page 6.

2 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

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Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 3

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 Tuesday power outage caused by problem at Snare Rapids A generation issue at Snare Rapids Hydroelectric Facility is the culprit of Tuesday night's Yellowknife wide power outage.

Doug Prendergast, spokesperson for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, advised that the outage began at 7:47 p.m. and lasted approximately 24 minutes.

Power was restored using backup generation from the Jackfish plant.

Though the outage impacted all of Yellowknife, he said it did not reach customers in Behchoko and Dettah.

– Natalie Pressman

fact file nwt covid-19 situation as of Feb. 4 Active cases: 1 resident, 5 non-resident Confirmed cases: 32 Recovered cases: 31 Completed tests: 12,273 Negative tests: 12,224 Pending tests: 14

Scan for the latest GNWT Covid-19 statistics

Days since first confirmed case: 321 Days since last confirmed case: 3 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

Tibbitt-Contwoyto Winter Road now open to public

Public safety director position changes hands Eric Bussey, public safety director with the City of Yellowknife retired from the position after two-and-a-half years. His last day was Friday, Jan. 29.

Bussey had replaced longtime public safety director Dennis Marchiori after a shakeup at the administration level in July 2018.

The director's position oversees fire division and municipal enforcement divisions.

According to the city's staff directory, Jennifer Hunt-Poitras, who had been the municipal enforcement division manager, has taken the role of director.

It wasn't clear as of Thursday who will replace Hunt-Poitras.

– Simon Whitehouse

Free jigging class for youth at Tree of Peace Friendship Centre Free jigging dance classes are coming to the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre for Yellowknife youth. Residents seven to 12 years old can register for "to get jiggy" either online or in person on Tuesday nights throughout February and March. Interested participants can email upip@ttopfc.com to register or visit the Tree of Peace Friendship centre.

Free snacks and transportation can be made available. The Tree of Peace Friendship centre encourages residents to sign up to improve health and wellbeing, to connect with others, to connect with culture and to have fun.

– Natalie Pressman

Aurora College to resume faceto-face classes in fall of 2021 Aurora College plans to resume its face-toface courses for most programs at campuses and Community Learning Centres in the NWT for the 2021-2022 academic year starting this fall.

Up to 20 students will be able to join inclass learning in the fall, depending on the size of the classroom, said Aurora spokesperson Jayne Murray in a news release Feb. 3.

The resumption of in-person learning will be in line with Covid-19 safety regulations from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer, and will include maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres, the use of non-medical masks, frequent hand washing, respiratory hygiene techniques and enhanced cleaning protocols.

Distance learning will continue for some programs and individual courses in 20212022.

"I am pleased that northern residents will have access to in person learning at Aurora College starting this fall," said Aurora College president Andy Bevan.

– Blair McBride

A Nuna Logistics snow plough clears snow from the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road.

photo courtesy of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Joint Venture

Feb. 8 start of truck traffic not affected by Covid-19 regulations

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road opened for public travel on Feb. 3.

Truck traffic on the 575-kilometre road is scheduled to start on Feb. 8 at 8 a.m, according to a news release from the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture on Feb. 3. Rio Tinto, Dominion Diamond Mines and De Beers Canada are the joint venture partners.

The road, which leads northeast from Yellowknife and towards Nunavut, connects to the Ekati, Diavik and Gahcho Kué diamond mines.

Members of the public should be aware that the road might be closed at times due to poor weather or events related to Covid-19 to ensure public safety.

Drivers should be prepared for slowmoving vehicles and drive according to the conditions of the ice road and the portages.

All drivers are urged to carry proper winter clothing and survival equipment, as weather conditions can change quickly.

An estimated 6,100 loads will be transported to the mine sites until the road closes on March 31, weather permitting. Estimates for the season are set by the mines and are subject to change, said Mike Lowing, spokesperson for the joint venture.

This year's load estimate is lower than the

totals of previous years. In 2018 it was 8,209, in 2019 it was 7,489 and in 2020 it was 7,072, according to the 2020 Winter Road Operating Summary that the joint venture published in October.

Lowing said he couldn't comment on the differences between this year's estimate and the totals for past years.

A Covid-19 control program is in force for the winter road, with screening and testing conducted for personnel who work on the road and for truck drivers. Everyone must wear approved face masks and maintain two metres of physical distancing.

Winter road camps are closed to the public to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

All NWT resident rotational workers in remote camps were encouraged by chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola on Feb. 2 to get their Covid-19 vaccinations because camps tend to also have many workers from outside of the territory who could import the virus into the NWT. However, most drivers on the winter road come from outside of the NWT and are ineligible for those vaccinations, Lowing said.

The truck resupply schedule to the Gahcho Kué Mine will continue as planned despite an outbreak of Covid-19 that was declared at the mine on Feb. 3, said Terry Kruger, spokesperson for De Beers, which

operates the mine. The outbreak was announced after a second positive case of Covid-19 was diagnosed there.

The affected workers are not connected to the winter road program and have been in a secure quarantine wing at the mine since Jan. 30 and pose no risk to anyone at the mine or drivers.

"Gahcho Kué already had provisions in place to ensure no contact between winter road truck drivers bring supplies to the mine and mine-based workers," Kruger said De Beers has worked with Kandola to inform its NWT resident workers and contractors that rotational resident workers and drivers have priority access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

"A number of De Beers employees took advantage of this opportunity to get their first dose," he said.

Diavik encourages all of its employees to get vaccinated and the company follows best health practices from provinces and territories, a spokesperson said.

The company has in place measures to protect staff, including a testing program in partnership with GuardRX. Employees and contractors are tested upon arrival at the mine and before they leave.

A spokesperson for Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd, the new owner of Ekati, wasn't available for comment by press time.

4 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

news

GNWT projects revenue of $2.2B, $69-million surplus in new budget

The 2021-2022 budget adds hundreds of jobs to the GNWT payroll but no new taxes for NWT residents, Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said Thursday.

Blair McBride/NNSL photo

Plans to add 284 new jobs, including 159 in Health dept., an 87-per-cent increase

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

The GNWT plans to increase staffing in the Health department by 87 per cent, according to its latest budget.

The GNWT plans to add 284 new positions to its departments and public agencies in 2021-2022, up from the 5,917 active positions in 2020-2021.

Health and Social Services

will go from 182 positions to 341, and Health and Social Services Authorities will rise from 1,645 to 1,755, accounting for the bulk of the new jobs.

In response to questions about the increases showing a "bloating government," Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek told reporters Thursday that some of the increases are due to growth

in the health sector in general.

But she said that under the GNWT's Government Renewal initiative, more attention will be focused on increasing value and efficiency in public sector positions. That initiative will require no new investment, she said.

"If we do it well and right, I hope to achieve more valueoriented services," she said.

In documents released

Thursday morning, the GNWT forecasts revenues of almost $2.2 billion for 20212022, with total expenditures of close to $2.1 billion.

It's expected to leave an operating surplus of about $69 million.

This year's budget proposes $117 million of increased spending over Budget 2020, which includes $104 million for adjustments and added expenditures for GNWT departments.

HSS will see the largest increase in estimated spending, with an additional $63 million allocated. Of that, the Covid-19 Coordinating Secretariat will receive about $35 million.

GNWT overall spending had increased since 2019, when it was $1.9 billion and rose to $2.2 billion in 2020-2021. It is projected to decrease slightly for the 2021-2022 budget, to $2.124 billion.

Revenues also rose since 2019, when they were at $1.85 billion, rising to $2.18 billion in 2020-2021 and estimated to be around $2.19 billion for the 2021-2022 budget.

On a negative note, once the final analysis is completed, the NWT economy is expected to contract 6.6 per cent in 2020, mainly because of the effects of the Covid19 pandemic on consumer spending, trade, diamond production, private investment and tourism.

In 2021, however, diamond production at the

restarted Ekati mine, along with exports and investment increases, are expected to boost economic growth by 5.8 per cent.

The GNWT's own-source revenues are estimated to decrease to $322 million for 2021-2022, their lowest level since 2019, when they were at $348 million.

Federal transfers still account for most revenues.

They rose to $1.8 billion in 2020-2021 from $1.5 billion in 2019. They're estimated to reach $1.87 billion in the 2021-2022 budget.

Own-resource revenue estimates reflect federal forecasts and the fact the GNWT believes the population might decrease due to a decline in personal income tax returns, combined with the effects of Covid-19.

Wawzonek said the population of the NWT has been relatively stable amid some ups and downs over the years.

"I hope the takeaway for people is that we're finding a way to be stable even during a pandemic. In the short term we've introduced measures to help keep people safe and healthy," she said.

She noted that no new taxes have been added in the budget.

Mining and resource royalties, which normally contribute to own-source royalties, were revised for 20202021 to be zero in the budget, reflecting weak diamond sales due to Covid-19.

"It's much lower than what

we projected it to be. Sales are showing recovery," the finance minister said.

Small and medium-sized businesses will not be ignored in the budget and the government plans to a launch a new committee aimed at cutting red tape for small businesses in the territory, Wawzonek said.

'Unsustainable' fiscal plan The budget document states that operating and capital expenditure growth are exceeding revenue growth, making the current fiscal plan "unsustainable." It also indicates that "immediate action" is needed to ensure sufficient borrowing room remains for the next legislative assembly.

On the NWT's current course, the federal borrowing limit of $1.8 billion would be exceeded by the next legislative assembly, leading to an operating deficit in three years, if the course isn't adjusted.

Wawzonek explained that with the federal government expecting some form of recovery this year, if the GNWT takes a careful approach and makes strategic investments it could be in a more stable position next year.

She said the Government Renewal initiative would help find ways of spending more effectively and that more efficiencies could be found.

"I hope we can spend more money based on value and I hope to see a change in our fiscal fortunes," she said.

business

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 5

Talbot Technologies sees success due to pandemic IT surge Yellowknifers' transition to virtual living means more work for entrepreneur Northern News Services

After Yellowknifers were ordered to stay home last March, remote capabilities became essential as homes transitioned to offices and social gatherings went virtual.

That meant technology moved to the top of priority lists, and for Talbot Technologies, business picked up.

Trey Talbot started Talbot Technologies In April 2018 after earning his computer information technology diploma from Lethbridge College.

The tech company offers full IT support in residential computer repairs, office setup as well as web development and management for businesses.

"Basically anything IT– related," Talbot said.

Growing up with two entrepreneurial parents and having seen their successes and their love of their work, Talbot didn't bat an eye at the idea of launching a company in his early 20s.

At first, running his own enterprise brought challenges. Talbot manages his own books, does his own marketing and, on most projects, he's a one-man team – though he says the technology aspect is the easy part.

Having lived in Yellowknife for most of his life, he said while the early days of his company were slow to get off the ground, word of mouth helped. Through friends, and friends of friends, Talbot Technology's client list Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo grew steadily. In almost three Trey Talbot founded IT business Talbot Technologies in 2018. While starting a business has had its challenges, Talbot has found sucyears of operation, he said the cess in the surge in tech use during the pandemic. learning curve has been steep at times.

Talbot's diploma is under has been more business-to- to 30 per cent in 2020 from the burdens of being a soleLethbridge college's school of consumer. As an entrepre- 2019. proprietor and only employee. business. As such, he learned neur, he has come to learn While he explained the He admits such changes won't the fundamentals of account- what a dollar is worth to dif- business has had to pivot to be in the near future. For now, ing, finance and marketing, ferent companies and gained uphold safety precautions for he'll continue to "go with the but continues to rely on trial a better understanding of the certain services – touchless flow and see what happens and error as value of his pickup and drop off, main- and how long (he) can manage his company taining proper distances, the ship." own time. develops.

W h e n ensuring masks are worn, etc.

While circumstances have "A lot of the pandem- for the company, the pandem- improved business for Talbot my lessons ic struck, ic "hasn't been terrible."

Technologies, he acknoware just tryTa l b o t In 2019, Talbot said he was ledged that hasn't been the ing to learn Te c h n olo - still trying to get his "feet off case for many companies in with Natalie Pressman gies became the ground" as a new venture. town. how to deal with combusy with This year, however, "I've been "I just hope that all busipanies and nesses manage to make it out requests for run off my feet," he said. bettering my understanding video equipment setup, atTalbot currently has an of this pandemic successfulof company-to-company rela- home office installation and office in the Finn Hansen ly," he said. tionships," he said.

"It's a very trying time other such services for living building on 50 Street, though Having worked in sales in isolation. he hopes to eventually have a and very difficult for a lot of and for the government, TalTalbot estimates his com- proper storefront and a staff people, and I just wish the bot said his past experience pany's revenues were up 25 presence to relieve some of best for everybody."

Back

to business

6 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

sponsored

YK Lantern Festival celebrates Chinese culture Somba K'e park to be lit with Northern United Place site of workshops

by Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services

Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

Jacky Shi, left, and Frank Fu, president of the Yellowknife Chinese Association were setting up lanterns at Somba K'e Civic Plaza last week in anticipation for the Chinese Lantern Festival which is to be launched Feb. 12. Fu said there are 53 lanterns expected to go up during the festival which will last until March 6.

All eyes will be on the Yellowknife Chinese Association as they launch the Yellowknife Lantern Festival at Somba K'e Civic Plaza on Feb. 12.

Mayor Rebecca Alty is expected to attend the official lighting of 76 lanterns which are set up in Somba K'e Civic Plaza and which

will stay on until March 6.

The event will coincide with the 15 the day of the Chinese Spring Festival -which marks last day of the lunar new year - and will involve riddles hanging on the lanterns for residents to answer and claim prizes at local businesses.

"The reason why we picked the Lantern Festival instead of Chinese Spring Festival, as we usually have done in the past, is because the Lantern Festival indicates the end of the spring festival," explained vice-president Xiaoyi Yan. "On that day, traditionally in China, people put up all kinds of different lanterns, depending on the animal year. This year is going to be the Year of the Ox, so traditionally, in China, you will see people putting up all kinds of shapes of ox everywhere – different colours and shapes. Some are funny and some are more serious.

"Here in Yellowknife we also would like to create that kind of ambience for the city.

The Red Lanterns are so traditional for us."

Three workshops Over the three weeks there will also be three workshops scheduled related to Chinese culture – all of which will take place at Northern United Place.

The first workshop, on Sunday, Feb. 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. will include a Mandarine Conversation and Calligraphy. The day lines up with Valentine's Day and is an opportunity for people to show up, receive a Chinese name and see it written in calligraphy.

The following Sunday, Feb. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a Chinese Traditional Rice Ball Cooking Showcase at NUP. Board member Angela Law and Flavour Trader owner Etienne Croteau will provide a cooking demonstration for the traditional Yuan Xiao (glutinous rice ball).

On the final Sunday, Feb. 28, two sessions – from 2

p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – will feature the Art and Culture of tea sipping.

Xiaoyi Yan said having the event spread out over multiple weeks will allow the festival to be held in a safe way during the pandemic while sharing Chinese culture for a longer period of time.

"There won't be a huge gathering like what we have done before but instead we invite everyone to go to Somba K'e park to enjoy the lanterns, solve the riddles, and win the prizes," she said.

"Then for the workshops, unfortunately we do have a limit for the numbers of people we can allow. People are encouraged to register at (https://forms.gle/XeJhfquBSKxMRjMD6) as spots will fill up. " Yellowknife Chinese Association The association was only formally put together last October and since then the group has been strategizing to find new and interesting ways to celebrate the positive aspects of Chinese culture in Yellowknife.

"We haven't had an Association for Chinese only, but we have had lots of events before in the past," association president Xin Fu explained, noting that past Chinese New Year events have been popular but just haven't had the formal organization around them.

"This past year, we have built up this organization and right now have 10 certified board members.

"We really think that with an association, we can get our resources together better and we can do something big."

Board members estimate there is a little under 200 people of Chinese descent living in Yellowknife.

"This Lantern Festival is a place where we hope to reach more people who didn't know about this association and celebrate the festival with us, said Xiaoyi Yan.

Yellowknife athletes call for review of Fieldhouse turf Soccer and ultimate Frisbee players say knees and other joints suffering, want turf replaced

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

If you've ever felt aches and pains from running in the Yellowknife Fieldhouse, you're not alone.

For years, participants in the recreational adult soccer and ultimate Frisbee leagues have been saying that the facility is hard on joints, and many athletes are refusing to play on the artificial turf as a result.

The Fieldhouse multi-sport fields, installed in 2009-2010, are made up of nylon and polypropylene fibres atop a layer of foam and a concrete slab.

Blake Moulton is in his third indoor season with the adult soccer league.

"My ankles and knees are always killing me after a soccer game," he said. "It's almost after every game, and certainly the morning after a late one."

Moulton, 27, has played on other indoor fields in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Calgary.

The discomfort he's been feeling, however, is unique to the Yellowknife facility.

"It's essentially concrete with a layer of green felt, so it's painful to run on and even more so when you fall," he said.

Despite working out four to five times a week at the gym and playing in the outdoor soccer league, Moulton said he never experiences ankle and knee pain the way he does after an indoor soccer game.

He said teammates, both current and former, have expressed similar complaints.

Soccer players, aren't the only ones speaking up.

The Yellowknife Ultimate Club also makes use of the Fieldhouse during the winter months.

The club's board of directors has launched an initiative to review the field with a goal of lobbying the city to replace the current turf.

Other Canadian indoor soccer facilities, like the Calgary North Soccer Centre and the Toronto Hangar, for example, are composed of rubber particles and sand under the turf layer to simulate an outdoor playing field.

Those types of softer fields, like the ones Moulton has played on, are more flexible.

Kaeligh Brown, a physiotherapist at Wildrose Physiotherapy, said she has heard complaints about the Fieldhouse turf's impact on knees

and ankles.

The research, however, doesn't seem to explain why.

She said there isn't strong evidence that running on concrete increases injury, and that running on harder surfaces actually helps improve bone density.

She said many factors could be at play for Yellowknife athletes' injuries, including lifestyle, nutrition and tissue health.

It's important to balance a weekly sports game with other physical activities to build joint strength in different ways and contribute to a healthy lifestyle overall, she said.

Brown explained that the compression hard surfaces creates on joints is good for body tissues while softer terrain creates more challenges for joint stability.

"People who engage in high-impact activities generally have healthier joints than people who don't," she said.

If athletes experience pain, she said their bodies might be telling them to slow down.

Still, Yellowknife athletes are drawing attention to the facility.

Michael Vatour, a member of the Yellowknife Ultimate Frisbee league, said playing weekly on the Fieldhouse turf is "not good for anybody's body, especially old people like me."

At age 50, he said that while he continues to endure the aches, teammates in their 20s and 30s decline to play during the winter months "because of the turf and how it impacts their joints."

"Their bodies are giving them the middle finger," Vatour said.

Moulton said he has considered abandoning the indoor season, but added that "soccer is one of the few outlets that keeps me busy during the dark months, so I just kind of work through it."

Vatour is calling for a new Yellowknife facility. He predicts something larger, with a softer surface, would not only allow a higher level of training for Yellowknife athletes, it would encourage tournaments and attract tourism dollars from teams across the country coming to play.

A new Fieldhouse would bring Yellowknife athletes to the next level, Vatour said.

"These facilities just don't work," he said of the existing building.

news

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 7

Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo

The Yellowknife Fieldhouse has two indoor multi-sport fields made up of artificial turf and a layer of foam over concrete. Athletes have been complaining for years about the impact it is having on their joints.

8 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

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Students in Stewart MacNeil's Grade 5-6 at Mildred Hall School connected by video conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the NHL's first black player Willie O'Ree and veteran hockey broadcaster Ron MacLean on Monday.

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No skating around racism Discrimination may not be as rampant and visible as it was years ago, but it still rears its ugly head Northern News Services

Willie O'Ree made his National Hockey League debut in 1958, making him the first Black player in league history.

More than 60 years later, students at William McDonald School were listening to an 85-year-old O'Ree via video-conference on Monday, reflecting on his historic achievements in the face of racism.

And some Yellowknifers think, or even say aloud, "Well, it's good that we've moved on from those days and that's all in the past."

While it's true that there's a few more Black players in the NHL these days – although some of them still hear racial slurs hurled over the Plexiglass – and progress has been made on many fronts, racism still exists of course, even if we bury our heads in the sand.

Only a few days into Black History Month, Charles Dent, chair of the NWT Human Rights Commission, recently spoke about the need to recognize the struggles that minorities and underprivileged peoples face in 2021.

"Our goal is to try and get people to think about racism, what they can do to fight racism and to get a positive spin on how we approach it," Dent said. "One of our big goals is to improve relationships between different communities because there is only one race, the human race."

Here's a prime example of racism

The issue: Racism

We say:

Confront it

that perhaps applies to you, or your relatives, or your friends or coworkers: When's the last time you heard someone complain about the GNWT's affirmative action policy?

That the territorial government prioritizes the hiring of Indigenous candidates and women, for some positions, still rankles some residents.

"The most qualified person should be hired for the job, plain and simple."

Have those words been uttered in your presence? Do you agree with them?

First off, sometimes the best candidate is an Indigenous person, or a woman. On other occasions, when someone else possesses stronger credentials, it's still important to give Indigenous or female applicants a hand up to help them continue to break into roles that they traditionally haven't held, at least partly due to discrimination.

One of the organizations that has faced increasing scrutiny over its discriminatory approaches is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. While meeting with a committee of MLAs

on Jan. 29, Jamie Zettler, commanding officer of the NWT's Mounties, admitted that a lack of trust toward the RCMP exists among Indigenous people. There are historical reasons for that – the police force played an enforcement role in taking children to residential schools. As well, there are ongoing suspicions that Indigenous people, who represent approximately 23 per cent of Yellowknife's population, are not treated equitably by police.

Zettler said all the right things during the meeting: the RCMP is examining the barriers that lead to systemic racism, he pledged to keep working on better communication and he committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, even though only a paltry eight per cent of NWT officers identify as Indigenous, and that statistic has never been a whole lot higher.

While it's refreshing that we can openly discuss these failings and challenges in 2021, talk remains cheap. Action is what we need.

In the meantime, keep educating young minds – like Willie O'Ree did with the students at William McDonald School and numerous Indigenous leaders and Elders do at various schools.

We must open the eyes of future generations to diversity and fairness in order to reduce lingering discrimination to an absolute minimum.

commentary

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 9

Comparing thermometers A weathered outdoor Taylor thermometer. While most non-digital thermometers only record to 40 C below, the NWT should have ones that go to at least 60 C below, writes columnist Walt Humphries.

Wikimedia Commons photo

How far we've come

Northern News Services

Years ago, before the digital age, I was heading out to the bush. I thought I would take along an outdoor thermometer. At the time, there were only a few stores in town that carried them, so I checked them all. The best I could come up with was one that recorded from 40 below to 40 above in Celsius. You can still buy them today.

It is a little ironic that they stop recording at minus forty, when the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales align and minus forty is minus forty regardless of which scale you are using.

It is also ironic that they sell thermometers that do not go any lower, when just about every winter it gets even colder temperatures.

The coldest recorded temperature in Yellowknife was in 1947 at 51.2 degrees below zero. That was also probably the first year that someone with a good thermometer started recording temperatures here. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the NWT was minus 59.4 taken at Fort Resolution. So, in the NWT one should really have a thermometer that records down to minus 60 or 70 degrees. The coldest temperature ever recorded on the planet was minus 88 degrees in Antarctica.

So, one should really have a thermometer that goes to minus 90 or a 100. It is important to remember that our weather observations and recording basically go back less than a hundred years. Most people did not have thermometers, did not know what the actual temperature was in degrees and just judged it by how it felt. Cold, darned cold and way too cold to be out doing things.

There is a big difference between the way the weather feels between 20, 30, 40 and 50 below. I find minus 40 an interesting point because that is when our modern technology, equipment, infrastructure, and stuff, starts to break down. That is the temperature at which propane jells, as a lot of people found out this winter. So, propane vehicles, stoves, furnaces and even lights can stop working, just when you need them most.

One year we had a real cold snap and all the diesel pickup trucks in town stopped

Tales from

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

working because the fuel we had at the time was only rated to minus forty. Also, most vehicles won't start at forty below unless they have been plugged in. If you were to record all the frozen water and sewer lines in the city, the numbers would start to dramatically rise at forty below.

In extreme cold things begin to break and fall apart. Metal can shatter. Wood beams can split, and the cold air can rush into a house through the tiniest crack. Most buildings are not designed or built to withstand a prolonged spell of really cold temperatures. Automatic sliding and swinging doors seem to stop working around that temperature as well.

Just as they build thermometers that would not work below 40 a whole lot of other stuff does not work well either. This includes governments and bureaucracies. Recently in the North during extreme cold conditions the people in charge of power decided to do some maintenance at Colville Lake and did a planned shut off of the power. Which caused the unplanned freeze up of several buildings.

Also, in other communities there were reports that the Power authority cut several houses off from power, for not paying their bills. At 50 below.

Obviously the GNWT needs to write a rule or law that at certain temperatures, it is illegal to cut people's power off or do planned outages that lead to freeze ups. This is the North after all, and the weather and temperature should and must be taken into consideration.

Someone should tell the city and government planets that we get long winters in the North.

I still have thermometers that only went to minus forty, because they work well, they don't require any power so are ecologically friendly and relatively inexpensive.

Wikimedia Commons photo

A bust of Hippocrates. Although he died in 370 AD, his ideas of medicine carried well into the 19th century, writes columnist Aaron La Borde.

Northern News Services

Medicine has progressed greatly since the 1800s. The medical theory of disease put forth by the Greek physician, Hippocrates, said that disease was caused by the imbalance of four "humours."

These were blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile.

Even though Hippocrates died in 370 BC, his ideas on disease persisted well into the 19th century but his ethics of medical practice persist today.

Fighting Type 2

sional.

Take vitamin D Vitamin D is very popular and its deficiency has been linked to many diseases ... even Covid-19. The American epidemiologist, Dr. Fauci says he takes it. Even though proof is lacking in many cases, many people take it and in moderate doses, it is not harmful.

A problem for one in four women

In a small study in England, Capsule As many as one in four researchers looked at a low women experience urinary carbohydrate diet for type 2 dia- Comments betes to achieve a remission of incontinence and the numbers Aaron La Borde is their disease. rise into those above 80 years a pharmacist at Sutherland Drugs.

The researchers put a group of age. of people on this diet for an averCauses include vaginal and age of 23 months and recorded a urinary tract infections, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.

43 per cent remission rate in type 2 diabetes. More study will be done on this idea in Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing the future. and annoying problem but there is help to Diabetics are cautioned not to change lessen the problem. their diet until they have consulted with Your doctor is a good source of advice their doctors or diabetic health-care profes- in this matter.

10 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

commentary

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 11

Day of mourning declared Northern News Services

40 years ago

Territorial Fancy Meats, owned and managed by Chris Goisnard, received permission from city council to purchase the adjacent lot on Woolgar Avenue in Frame Lake South.

Goisnard planned to add on to his existing building, and doubling his floor space. The size of the addition helped form the city development committee's positive recommendation.

30 years ago

monds and diamond indicator minerals to the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa.

The donation was made by Jim Excell, then Ekati diamond mine president, and Dia Met Minerals chairman Peter Atkinson.

A year after the mine opened, BHP donated the original diamonds, discovered at Point Lake, to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife.

10 years ago

Rick Mercer was in Yellowknife to hang out The NWT Federation of with the pilots and crew Labour announced a nationfrom Buffalo Airways. al day of mourning on April While in the city, the 28 for workers killed or with comedian and television injured in the workplace had Candace A. McQuatt personality was put to work been proclaimed law. by the crew featured on the A private member's bill History Television series, passed through the Senate Ice Pilots NWT. on Feb 1 to make April 28 a national day The team started Mercer's initiation into of mourning for persons killed or injured in Buffalo Airways at 7 a.m. on Monday morthe workplace. ning with temperatures nearing -45 with The law recognized the tragedy of the windchill. deaths and injuries on the job.

The footage would show on Mercer's At the time according to the federation.

There had been 1,000 deaths in the work- show, the Rick Mercer Report, and also on place across Canada, one million injuries, the new season of Ice Pilots NWT. As to whether Mercer could make a and an estimated 6,000 or more work career out of working for Buffalo Airways, related cancer deaths. straight out from his words, he said "I would last a day."

Mercer said he liked to experience BHP Diamonds, the then majority unique jobs such as being a rampie with the owner and operator of the Ekati diamond crew of Buffalo Airways, but at the end of mine, donated a collection of rough dia- the day enjoyed returning to host his show.

LOOKING Back

20 years ago

photo courtesy of Buffalo Air

Rick Mercer visited Yellowknife to be part of the reality TV show Ice Pilots NWT.

news

12 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

Legendary bushman Fred Diamond C dies at 74 Fort Liard man recalled for adventures, expertise on the land

by Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services

Longtime Northerners were remembering Fred Diamond C this week as one of the last and best bushmen and prospectors of his kind.

The Dene man from Fort Liard passed away at his remote cabin about 40 kilometres outside of Yellowknife

toward Behchoko on Jan. 21 at the age of 74.

Dominic Doctor, a resident of Behchoko, said in the last few years during his regular commutes between the community and the capital, he had gotten to know Diamond C who would seek rides into town from his cabin.

"I would pick him up lots of

photo courtesy of Dominic Doctor

Dominic Doctor, who regularly commutes between Behchoko and Yellowknife, regularly picked up Fred Diamond C over the last few years.

The late bushman would often hitchhike from his remote cabin into Yellowknife.

times if I saw him hitchhiking and I did it because I liked to help out," Doctor explained, also noting he appreciated the company. "During our trips, he shared some of his stories, but in his life kept to himself quite a bit because he was just tired of city life."

Doctor said it isn't rare for people to commute between Behchoko and Yellowknife on a daily basis but it was unique for Diamond C given his preference for living close to the land.

"One of the first ways I ended up picking him up was noticing that he would walk and walk and walk toward Yellowknife and vehicles would go by," Doctor said. "So he would pull out a $20 bill and wave it at the vehicles.

"The last time I picked him up was about two or three weeks ago and I was shocked to hear of his passing."

Yellowknifer Lane Dewar first met Diamond C in the mid 80s as they both worked in mineral stakes claims.

"He was a well respected bush guy and really innovative," Dewar remembered. "He could build something almost out of nothing and make things work."

Dewar started a company involving staking claims and hired Diamond C in the midto-late 90s in and around the NWT's diamond rush. It was at that time that Diamond C had one of his most famous stories which involved killing a black bear with an axe.

"He was working for me at that time and it was (November 1996) around Gameti. Fred was out there staking," Dewar recalled. "He was still walking on snowshoes and it was quite warm and there were lots of caribou around.

"Fred heard something behind him. He turned about and a bear was coming toward him in leaps and bounds. He was on snowshoes running backwards with an axe and got one shot in when the bear got close enough. He tried to hit

photo courtesy of Gren Thomas

Fred Diamond C, a long celebrated bushman, passed away late last month at his remote cabin between Yellowknife and Behchoko, at the age of 74. the bear on the top of his head and was really competent," he but he went into the neck with recalled, noting that his charthe blade. He didn't want to let acter and lifestyle were unique for the time period. go of the axe."

"There were quite a few Rather than killing the bear bushmen in immediately, it Yellowknife in irritated the animal more than those days but anything. not that many "The bear just left nowadays. turned around "He took to and walked a the bush and was few feet and the handy at staking axe fell out of the claims or cutting neck. The bear lines or building wandered about camps. He could Lane Dewar 20 feet before it do everything just laid down." and he was very Dewar said his company reliable and he really had some had to go back in by helicopter adventures." to shoot it dead.

Merlyn Williams said he Another colleague over the knew Fred and even visited years was Gren Thomas, first him and his dog in recent years. met Diamond C in the late 60s "He did a tremendous in Yellowknife. amount of work and cutting "I met him in 1966 or 1967 lines, staking and was a really and he was one of the guys talented bushman and avid in that spent his time in the bush the bush," Williams said.

"He could build something almost out of nothing."

Williams added that although Fred didn't speak English well, he should be remembered fondly for being an avid reader and for having overcoming alcohol addition during his life.

Williams said his name Diamond C stemmed from a nickname that was attributed to Fred's father Edward who played cards in Fort Liard.

"His father was a card player who played a lot of cards and gambled a lot in cards. That is how he ended up with the name Diamond C." Diamond C is survived by his siblings John, Enis, Phoebe, Laura and Theresa.

He is predeceased by his father Edward and mother Laura.

Unmarried and without children, Diamond C is survived by his dog and loyal companion Musky who lived with him at his cabin.

news

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 13

Immigration consultant faces legal action from former client and files counterclaim Former lawyer in court over alleged breach of contract; millions of dollars sought as defendant claims slander

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

A Yellowknife immigration consultant and his former client are suing each after their contractual relationship fell apart last year, and millions of dollars could be at stake.

When Shengtang Wang, a businessman who owns Northern Sky Films in Center Ice Plaza, emigrated from China, he enlisted immigration consultant Liang Chen.

Court documents indicate that Wang is suing Chen and his immigration consulting company C.L. Pacific Immigration Consulting Ltd. for $125,000 in damages over an alleged breach in a currency exchange contract and for failing to return a $50,000 deposit.

In a statement of claim, Wang, represented by Christopher D. Buchanan of McLennan Ross LLP, is claiming Chen should pay an additional $250,000 in exemplary damages – an order used to punish the defendant for outrageous conduct, and to deter others from engaging in similar actions.

Chen, on the other hand, is claiming the Wang "spread lies about Chen's personal and professional conducts."

He stated that the remarks – which he considers slander – have cost him a direct loss of $515,000, plus loss of work and future income.

He asserts that Wang has breached three different contracts, in addition to one verbal agreement, and owes him almost $1.8 million. He is also suing for more than $4.6 million in exemplary damages.

Chen does not dispute the claim

that he breached the currency exchange contract, however.

The parties agree that in seeking Canadian permanent residency, Wang retained Chen's services to assist with his Skilled Workers application – a program that allows eligible employers to recruit a foreign national when no such labour can be located within Canada.

Wang applied first to the British Columbia Nominee Program and then to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program when his first attempt was unsuccessful.

In the terms of their agreement, Wang and Chen agreed that Chen would prepare Wang's application to the Nominee Program and would be his authorized representative. In exchange, Wang would pay Chen an investment deposit of $50,000, which would be returned to him if he "receive(d) a work permit and invest(ed) the requisite amount of money into a company to satisfy the terms of the Nominee Program," according to the statement of claim.

The $50,000 deposit was on top of $61,750 paid to Chen in consulting fees.

Wang's application to the Nominee Program was approved in January 2019 and Wang invested $300,000 to start his company. Despite Wang's repeated requests, he claims Chen failed to return the deposit.

In his statement of defence and counterclaim, Chen said that both parties "understood that the $50,000 retainer is earned by Mr. Chen."

Wang says Chen also advised him to purchase $1 million worth of shares in Fortune Minerals Ltd.

NNSL file photo

An immigration consultant and his client are suing each other in NWT civil court after a falling out. under the promise that the company would then hire Wang as a skilled worker. In his reply and defence to counterclaim, he said he "relied on the advice and representations of the defendant as a certified immigration consultant." He said Chen "negligently or fraudulently misrepresented the requirements for the Employer

Program for the purpose of inducing the plaintiff into the alleged verbal agreement."

In the alleged verbal contract, Chen claims that the two parties agreed Chen would be owed 30 per cent of the total stock value if Wang were to earn at least 100 per cent profit on the investment. He said

Wang owes him $1,757,292 in stock commission, which has not been paid.

Wang denies Chen is entitled to the commissions.

As the matter is before the courts, Buchanan declined to comment on his client's behalf. Chen could not be reached prior to press deadline.

Fire hall 'inadequate' for city needs: SAO Council appears to be moving ahead with renos, expansion at hall

by Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services

Yellowknife city council will be voting on the expansion and renovation of the fire hall on Feb. 8 after a study was released last week showed the building is substandard and inadequate.

The fire hall study by Dillon Consulting was presented to council at the Jan. 25 governance and priorities committee meeting and city staff recommended council approve increasing the size of the building and making "long-standing" internal improvements to some of its facilities.

"This option will maximize the suitability of our fire hall and provide adequate space for staff, vehicles, and the apparatus we have right now," said Sheila Bassi-Kellett, senior administrative officer for the city.

The document poses questions for council to consider including where future fire and emergency services are deployed from, especially as the city grows and as existing structural infrastructure continues to age.

According to the report for a population of 18,800 residents in the city, the division responded to about 4,500 calls for assistance in 2019. Of those, about 87 per cent were "medically related."

The fire hall was built in 1990 but services have outgrown the location given that it now houses a fire chief, three deputy fire chiefs who oversee 32 full-time firefighters.

Administration's recommendation on near-term expansion and renovations stems from four options including collaborating fire and emergency services at the Government of the Northwest Territories' fire hall facility at the Yellowknife Airport off of Deh Cho Boulevard and/or building an entirely new fire station located near the Niven Lake area.

"These (options) are very much under consideration into the future, however at this time, given that the existing fire hall needs renovation, focusing on the renovation and expansion are

best and most cost effective path going forward," Bassi-Kellett said.

During Budget 2021 deliberations, council had decided to put a pause on some of the spending requests from the fire division until the fire hall study was presented.

Those items included $185,000 for the expansion of a single bathroom on the main floor of the fire hall that would allow for multiple showers. Upon council's approval, those funds will be rolled into a broader expansion and redesign plan to be prepared for next year's budget.

100 Taylor Road station substandard Council also heard some of the study's preliminary findings during those Budget 2021 deliberations which included demolishing the current building, expanding the current building or building a second fire hall elsewhere in the city. The reason for this is at least in part to ensure response times remain adequate.

"The (Taylor Road) building's condition is substandard and any future development in the community which expands the fire protection coverage area may jeopardize YKFD's ability to maintain response times to an acceptable level," stated the city's committee memorandum.

The expansion of the bathroom with showers would assist first responders in what are inadequately cramped quarters at the moment, council heard.

Bassi-Kellett acknowledged that the current physical situation presents a health and safety risk to firefighters.

"We know that after a fire event, it is incredibly important for our firefighters to come back to the fire hall, to be able to get out of their equipment, get out of any equipment that's been exposed – in what is potentially some toxic fumes and toxic materials – and that they can also then shower, get clean and meet all of the standards that needs upon returning from a fire

call," Bassi-Kellett said.

Public safety director Eric Bussey told councillors that the study examined risk factors in assessing what the city's fire hall needs require.

"Certainly occupational health and safety is probably the most important consideration when looking through our risk lens," Bussey said. "So those were very much on our mind and everything that we did in studying this document, and we feel comfortable with the recommendation as terms of being the most optimum."

14 yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021

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

If the Eagles became one squad then why not the Spartans/Futures?

Northern News Services sions between he and Craig about bringing everything together You'll no doubt know that the Deton Cho Eagles girls basket- and I agree – the boys should copy the girls and move into club territory. What it gets called is up to the organizers but the Sparball program is now a full club outfit with everything brought tans has a nice ring to it. under one umbrella. Before, there was the Eagles itself, which First off, it would probably cater to those who want to play was the girls high performance squad while the Diamonds were basketball at a higher level and I can hear it now from the "parthe junior high performance team, which served as a feeder of ticipation brigade." sorts for the Eagles.

"Oh, here we go again … another program for Not anymore as everyone is all together the better kids. It's all about the good ones." and now, they'll have a proper conduit for the Yes, it would be. That's why the Yellowknife girls to move up the ladder.

Wolfpack development program came along all I said back then that it was a good idea those years ago and that's why the Yellowknife Bay because everything is concentrated into a Soccer Club and Yk Galaxy Soccer Club exist. one-stop shop of sorts with the coaching staff with James McCarthy Those are avenues for those who are good at their all on the same page when it comes to teachchosen sport. ing what needs to be taught. That way, no If your child isn't good enough, it isn't because one is left behind and no one goes up to the next level scratching their head. It's such a great idea that I think they suck at it. It just means there are those who are better and there needs to be opportunities for those who are better. A club the same should be done for the boys.

Cole Marshall has done a very fine job in building up the DT program will give players a chance to become better at the Electric Futures junior program which, in turn, serves as a feed- younger ages so by the time they reach the age where they'll er for the Spartans, the high performance boys outfit coached by begin knocking on the door for a high performance spot, they'll have everything in their repertoire to contest for a spot.

Matt Craig. Craig is very well-versed in basketball himself and You can bet that there will be tryouts for this new club had it not been for Covid-19, he would have led the NWT into program, if and when it takes root. That means, in theory, in action at the Arctic Winter Games.

Marshall told me late last month that there have been discus- theory, not everyone will make the team if that's the case. That's

Sports Talk

By the numbers Even in times of Covid-19, ports stat packs have returned to Yellowknifer. Standings and top scorers will appear Fridays. If you'd like your league featured, call the sports line at 766-8257 or email sports@nnsl.com.

not a bad thing because as I've always said, not making a team is the best motivation an athlete can have. It means you need to work that much harder if you want to be at that level.

Aaron Wells, head coach of the U19 Eagles girls squad, has said as much in the past: you have to be able to keep up and be at that level. If you aren't, you simply have to work harder. If you don't want to work at it, then you'll never be at that level.

It sounds simplistic and patronizing at the same time but it's true. Athletes who dog it and simply show up with the attitude of going through the motions are people I would never have on my team. In fact, they would be gone by the end of day one of any tryout I would ever hold.

I would much rather have 12 or so players who bust their collective arse every practice than a handful of dinguses who drag their feet on a drill and then complain when it comes time for shoot-around.

Marshall and Craig already make a fine coaching duo and there are a couple of fine young coaches coming through the pipeline in Jose Esteban and Patrick Yatco, both of who have gone through the high performance system and who knows what it takes to be successful. They've been there.

I can't wait to see what this looks like down the road because it will only make basketball stronger. And isn't that what we want? Strong programs?

Makes it worth the money you'd spend.

Volleyball Yk Volleyball Association final round one standings as of feb. 5 A division

2. The Young and the Rest of Us

9

5

3. Team North

3

12

4. Bumpin' Uglies

1

12

Team

W

L

1. Safe Sets

11

3

2. Avery Cooper Crushers

9

3

Team

W

L

3. DCL Detonators

6

8

1. YKDFN Spikers

13

4

4. All Blacks

2

14

2. No Chalkers

8

9

3. 2 Legit 2 Hit

7

10

4. Harley's Ball Busters

4

10

D Division

B division Team

W

L

1. Can't Block This

11

4

2. Blue Balls

9

8

3. Setters of Catan

7

7

4. 6-Pack

3

11

E division

C Division Team

W

L

1. Can't Get It Up

17

1

Team

W

L

1. Crowe MacKay Number Crunchers

8

6

2. Coyote's Muktuk Snappers

8

8

3. BFTA

8

9

4. JTFN Defenders

7

8

source: Yk Volleyball Association

iNDOOR sOCCER yk SOCCER League standings as of feb. 5

Hockey

Team

W

L

T

Yk Rec Hockey League Standings as of Feb. 5

1. Yk Galaxy Pepsi

28

0

0

A division

2. Anytime Fitness Purple Cobras

26

2

0

Team

W

L

OTL

Pts.

3. Woodyard Growlers

20

6

1

4. @ourfriendcraig FC

18

10

0 4

1. Ace

11

0

0

22

2. Fuel Flo

11

1

0

22

5. Overlander Sundogs

15

9

16

6. JTFN 2

11

14

3

11

14

2

3. Weaver and Devore

8

4

0

4. Diamond Glass

4

5

2

10

7. JTFN 1

5. Slayers

5

7

0

10

8. Ragged Ass 62 Degrees

10

15

3

9

13

5

9

14

5

6. Carl's

4

6

1

9

9. Pickaxe United

7. J-Tech

3

7

2

8

10. Midnight Sun Mayhem

8. KaSteelHeads

3

7

1

7

11. Breakaway

9

17

2

4

19

5

9. Aurora Ford

3

9

1

7

12. Summit FC

10. Eagles

2

7

2

6

13. Dirty Birds

4

21

3

14. Maley and the Pussycats

2

22

3

Note: Overtime losses are worth one point source: Yk Rec Hockey League

source: NWT Soccer

Yellowknifer, Friday, February 5, 2021 15

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