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Town council meeting discusses pride parade, RCMP report

RCMP reports impaired driving and domestic violence charges, increased youth involvement

Staff Sgt. Dustin Ward of the Inuvik RCMP Detachment presented the monthly mayor’s/chief’s policing report for December 2017.

The report states the RCMP responded to nine impaired driving incidents in Inuvik in December, three of which resulted in arrests and impaired driving charges in Territorial Court.

In December, the Inuvik RCMP also responded to eight incidents of domestic violence, according to the report. The RCMP investigated each report, resulting in charges pending in six of the incidents.

The report also notes that on Dec. 13, 2017, RCMP members arrested Shane Comeau of Inuvik in relation to the Nov. 2017 drug seizure. The report states Comeau has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, and was scheduled to appear in court in Yellowknife Jan. 23.

Sgt. Ward also discussed the RCMP’s involvement with youth in Inuvik, such as the Mini Mounties program, the Candy Cane Check Stop event, and the Aboriginal Shield Program, among others.

 

Aurora GSA Club proposes pride parade, council supportive

Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
Jill Nugent (left), Katelynn Crocker, and Jasmine Keogak of the East Three Secondary Gay-Straight Alliance present at the town council meeting Monday, Jan. 22.

Two members of the Aurora Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club from East Three Secondary school, Katelynn Crocker and Jasmine Keogak presented their proposal for a pride parade at the council meeting. One of their supervising teachers, Jill Nugent, was also in attendance.

Crocker said in her presentation that a pride parade is important because there are LGBTQ2+ students who have not been supported in the community.

“We think that pride week will provide visible and public support to youth who are otherwise often marginalized, bullied or ignored by their community or family,” Crocker said. “Pride week will show LGBTQ2+ youth that they have allies and a safe place to go to in the community.”

Crocker said the parade is still in the planning stages, but they hope to have a keynote speaker, a pride walk, and a free BBQ for the community. Most of these events will be held at the school.

Council was unanimously supportive of the GSA’s proposal, and suggestions for funding, donations, and road closures were made.

The Aurora GSA was started in the spring of 2017 and is open to students from grade seven to 12.