Yk photo contest

The city is accepting photo submissions for the cover of the 2009 Recreation Guide. Photos of recreational activities and facilities, or festivals and special events in the city are accepted. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. Deadline for submissions is July 31. The winner will receive a diamond and their photo on the cover of the guide. Entry forms are available at the Community Services Department.

- Cara Loverock

Half mast

The Canadian flag at the Yellowknife Fire Department was at half mast this week in honour of Romeo LeBlanc, former governor general, Liberal cabinet minister and senator.

LeBlanc died last week at age 81.

- Tim Edwards

Car seat clinic

A car seat clinic offering tips on how to properly install car seats will be given on Sunday, July 12 at the Centre for Northern Families. Three car seat technicians will demonstrate proper installation. The event will be held in the centre's parking lot from noon to 4 p.m.

- Cara Loverock

Kid pilots

Kids aged seven to 17 are being offered an introduction to aviation course which includes a 20 to 35 minute flight in a floatplane.

COPA for Kids, is sponsored by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and the NWT Floatplane Association.

The event, taking place on July 11, is free and pre-registration is required in order to guarantee that a pilot will be available. Check out the COPA for Kids website to find out more about registration.

- Tim Edwards

Paddling for parts

The Paddlers for Parts Annual Sociable Affair is happening today at noon through to Sunday at the Yellowknife River.

Canoe and kayak rides will be offered as well as sports and games in between rides. Food and refreshments will be provided.

- Tim Edwards

Temporary mine closure

North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. announced on June 29 it will be temporarily suspending production at its Cantung Mine.

A press release from the company listed declining tungsten prices and increased stockpiles of tungsten for the closure that will be effective as of Oct. 15. The mine will be placed on a care and maintenance program that the company said will allow them to recommence production when market conditions improve.

The mine is located in the western part of the Deh Cho close to the Yukon border.

Superintendent moves on

Bill Hval, the regional superintendent of transportation, is leaving the Deh Cho for another position. Hval, who started work in Fort Simpson last August, will be finished on July 3. He's returning to Fort Smith to become the director of trades, apprenticeship and industrial training for Aurora College.

The position of regional superintendent of transportation has been put out for competition.

Outstanding residents

The winners of the third annual Aboriginal Day Outstanding Awards were announced in Fort Liard on June 21.

Neil Kotchea won the youth award, Pierre Berreault took the elder award and Helena Timbre was given the harvester award. Elder William Betthale received an honourable mention. The awards are based on nominations and the individuals' volunteer work, healthy lifestyle and commitment to the community, said Shirley Bertrand-Jorris, one of the Aboriginal Day event organizers. Betthale, for example, is in his late 80s and is still going out on the land, said Bertrand-Jorris.

Historica Fair winners

Students from Fort Simpson preformed well in the NWT Territorial Historica Fairs showcase that was held in Inuvik from May 21 to 24.

The students who were chosen based on their projects at the regional level returned with a variety of awards.

Grade 6 student Tiffany Larter received a Royal Bank of Canada Award for her project on healthy eating at home. Grade 5 student Aleyx Smith won a Laurier LaPierre Award for showing passion about her log cabin project.

Sylvia Pascua-Matte's project on the Hudson Bay Company tied her for the top Grade 4/5 Project Award. Grade 7 student Madison Pilling received a Minister's Heritage Award, given to exceptional projects representing people, places and events in the NWT, for her project on barging.

No rest for the young

Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake

Community members organized activities for youth for Canada Day on July 1.

Five youth started summer jobs with the Sambaa K'e Development Corporation on June 29. The workers include Danna Payne, Timothy Pierre, Tyler Jumbo, Donovan Punch and Corey Jumbo.

Clearing the dust

Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley

From July 6 to 9 calcium will be applied to the roads in the community to help control dust.

Five young fiddlers and two chaperones will be attending the Kole Crook Fiddle camp on the Hay River Reserve from July 6 to 10.

The fiddlers include Loyal Moses, Napem Moses, Brandon Moses, Savannah Baton and Alicia Moses.

Some of the band members are preparing to attend the Dene National assembly that will be held in Lutsel K'e from July 6 to 10.

Out and about

Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte

A community cookout was scheduled for Canada Day in Nahanni Butte weather permitting.

Five members of the band, who are still to be determined, will be attending the Dene National assembly in Lutsel K'e from July 6 to 10.

Naha Dehe Consensus Team members' George Tsetso, Darrell Betsaka and Peter Marcellais will be attending a meeting with Parks Canada in Fort Simpson from July 6 to 7.

Happy belated birthday to Jonas Marcellais on July 1.

Showing their patriotism

Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence

Fort Providence had a line up of events prepared to celebrate Canada Day.

The activities included a parade, fish derby, kids' activities, youth and adult canoe races, a community barbecue and a free party at the community's pool.

The community pool will be offering swimming lessons in July and August.

Proud to be Canadian

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard

To celebrate Canada Day Fort Liard was scheduled to hold a parade, a hotdog cook out, canoe races and a baseball tournament as well as free swimming all day at the pool.

Get Reading

Starting July 8, the Inuvik Centennial Library will be hosting the Agent 009 Toronto Dominion Summer Reading Club to help readers brush up on their literary knowledge.

Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m., and will be open to children aged four to 12. The program will conclude August 12.

No registration is required. For more information visit the library.

Knife-throwing anyone?

As part of the of the upcoming Great Northern Arts Festival, organizers will be putting on the first annual Bandit Blades Duct Tape Knife Throwing Competition.

Interested knife-chuckers can visit George Roberts in the IRD/CEDO Studio Zone during the festival to create and practise with their knives. Finals will be held on July 18 at 6 p.m.

Leaders unite in Inuvik

The Young Leaders Summit on Northern Climate Change will be held in Inuvik this summer and organizers are hoping to have some representation on board from Inuvik.

The summit, which will run from Aug. 17 to 20, is open to environmental leaders between 18 and 30 years old who are passionate about about the effects of climate change in the North and making real change in their home communities.

At the three-day event, youths from across the North and Canada descend on Inuvik to develop their leadership and communications skills as well as finding solutions. For more information, visit www.climateleaders.ca

Summer whale camp

The Inuvik Community Corporation(ICC) Brighter Futures Program is looking for participants to take part in a whale camp later this month.

Interested camp owners, camp assistants, youth co-ordinators should submit their names at the ICC office as soon as possible.

Ukraine exchange

An Inuvik teen has been accepted to an international exchange program with the Canada World Youth Organization.

Chelsey Smith, 19, will live with a host family in Victoria, B.C. for three months and spend another three months in the Ukraine while volunteering and focusing on health issues in that area. If she completes the program successfully, Smith will receive college certification in community development and cross-cultural relations. She said she plans to become a nurse and hopes to learn a lot from the exchange.

"It just seemed like a good experience," said Smith. "I am excited. I know it will be different."

A celebration of love

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

Peter and Mary Kay will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Friday, July 10 with a community feast and dance at Fort McPherson's recreation centre in the rink area.

The couple started their family in Fort McPherson and it now spans five generations, including relatives in the Yukon and Alaska. The party is scheduled to begin around 5 p.m. and Maribeth Baxter, Peter and Mary's great-granddaughter, said there's no pre-determined cut-off time.

"We'll dance all night 'till the early morning, like they used to, like the stories they tell us," she said.

A patriotic weekend

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

While most communities held their Canada Day celebrations on July 1, the hamlet of Fort McPherson stretched out its patriotic events to last until July 4, with the annual Canada Day triathlon on Thursday and on Friday a community cookout, a women versus men tug of war competition and a community-wide baseball game. The celebration ended on Saturday with canoe races.

As well, the community pool is now open and registration for all programs is set to take place July 6 and 7.

Paulatuk's Canada Day events will also happen on Saturday. Residents can look forward to an all-day barbecue with burgers, hotdogs and grill space for people to cook their own food, as well as softball, flag football, foot races and ATV and pedal bike float decorating contests.

IRC updates Ulukhaktok

Ulukhaktok/Holman

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation tour stopped in Ulukhaktok Tuesday to hold a corporate meeting and to update the community on its recent activities.

The IRC will visit all six Inuvialuit settlement communities.