News briefs: Monday, August 30, 2010

Bomb scare at Iqaluit courthouse

On Aug. 19 RCMP in Iqaluit responded to a tip that there might be a bomb inside a vehicle parked outside the city's courthouse.

They arrived at the scene around 3:40 p.m. and evacuated the courthouse. A perimeter was set up but no explosives were found and the whole affair was over by about 4:40 p.m.

The investigation, however, is still ongoing and police are asking anyone with information about the bomb threat to contact the RCMP or CrimeStoppers.

-Tim Edwards

Iqaluit man shot and robbed

An Iqaluit man was taken to the hospital on Aug. 17 at 1:55 a.m. with a bullet in his arm after being shot and robbed by two male assailants.

In a press release, RCMP stated the man was approached by two males wearing ski masks and carrying a firearm.

They proceeded to take his money and then shot him in the forearm.

The description provided by the victim said one man was 5'8 and about 160 pounds, and the other was 5'2 and about 140 pounds.

-Tim Edwards

End of summer barbecue

Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord

To welcome the students back to another year of classes, Umimmak School planned on holding a barbecue last Thursday.

Details weren't set in stone when Nunavut News/North spoke to Meeka Kiguktak, a staff member, who said the school would most likely offer the children hotdogs and hot chocolate during the barbecue.

- Tim Edwards

Labour negotiations

Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay

The hamlet and the Public Service Alliance of Canada are negotiating their first collective agreement that would affect all indeterminate hamlet staff.

"Things are progressing at a good pace," said Andre Larabie, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, about the first round of talks held Aug. 10 to 13. "We both left with a good feeling that we're working towards achieving our goal, which is to get our first collective agreement."

Larabie said they already have an agenda for the second round of negotiations slated for some time in October.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Environment camp

Taloyoak/Spence Bay

Cleaning up the shoreline and learning about the environment will be the focus of Netsilik School's environment camp scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.

All of the 315 students and 20 staff will take part, with a couple of classes hiking daily two kilometres to the camp's location at Stanner's Harbour, said the school's principal Gina Pizzo. They will spend an hour collecting garbage and other debris, then spend the rest of the day doing environmentally-focused games and activities, she added.

Pizzo said the activities would include collecting plant samples as well as observing and collecting items from along the shore that are organic in nature.

The school has been holding the environment camp for close to 20 years.

"The students really enjoy it, going out and all the different kinds of activities that are associated with it," said Pizzo.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Hunt on

Naujaat/Repulse Bay

A crew of hunters in Repulse Bay finally sailed out in search of a bowhead whale in mid-August.

There was no news on whether the hunters had been successful as of press time.

- Darrell Greer

Planes grounded

Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

Heavy fog blanketed the hamlet of Pond Inlet last week, according to Colin Saunders, the hamlet's economic development officer.

It got so bad that on Wednesday, all flights leaving the hamlet were grounded, and passengers were stranded.

- Tim Edwards

Science camp

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik's students were learning about the weather, how to use a microscope and a GPS as well as make bannock as part of the school's science camp Aug. 23 to 27, said teacher and camp co-ordinator Trina Sallerina.

She added the Grades 7 to 12 students were taking part in daily activities. Elders were also participating, for instance teaching students the Inuktitut names for parts of a fish they will dissect as part of the camp.

"It's a very traditional cultural way of having students interact with one another. It's about observing and doing and then learning," said Sallerina.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Grad time

Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet

Douglas Aggark and Ashley Tanuyak received their Grade 12 diplomas during a graduation ceremony at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet this past week.

The event was well-attended by family, friends and school staff members.

- Darrell Greer

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