Spectacular specials

Frostbyte Cafe is offering month-long specials in celebration of their fifth anniversary in business. On Monday and Wednesday, for every hour of computer use purchased, a friend gets an hour free. On Tuesdays, every hour purchased will cost only two dollars and on Sundays customers receive a free hour for every two hours bought. On Thursdays users get a free can of pop for every hour paid.

Baby Boot Camp II

Back by popular demand, The Racquet Club is offering a three-week session for moms to get fit while bonding with their babies.

Baby Boot Camp II runs from Nov. 19 to Dec. 8 on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and will focus on core strengthening and cardiovascular fitness, using your own baby as resistance. Babies from six weeks old to as big as you can carry are welcome.

A front or back carrier will be required and participants are recommended to bring a baby blanket and toy for the young one.

Contact the Racquet Club for more information.

Employment rate drops

Even though the employment rate has not changed this month since September, it is still seven per cent lower than this time last year.

Statistics Canada estimated 65.1 per cent of NWT residents over the age of 15 were employed in the month of October, amounting to 20,500 residents. This is down from 2,200 reported in October of 2008.

The number of unemployed residents remained at 1,700, as it was in September, and the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 per cent, equal to the national average.

Territory GDP down in 2008

The NWT's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped by eight per cent since last year, according to Statistics Canada, the biggest drop of any province or territory, while Nunavut's increased by 9.2 per cent.

The overall GDP dropped to $3.58 billion from 3.9 billion in 2007, a drop characterized by major decline in the diamond and manufacturing industries. Diamond mining dropped to $976 million, down from $1.23 billion.

Exports and imports also decreased, by 9.5 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively, while net exports (exports less imports) decreased by $157 million.

Diamonds constitute the largest export by value from the NWT.