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Looking Back: Stanton expansion held up by feds

40 years ago

A planned $9-million expansion for Stanton Yellowknife Hospital was being held up because the territorial government hadn't reached an agreement in-principle with Health and Welfare Canada.

Then health and social services minister Dave Nickerson was angered by the announcement and said ultimately the delay was caused by actions taken by Health and Welfare Canada.

Nickerson asked and received unanimous support for a motion that expressed council's dissatisfaction with Health and Welfare Canada's “uncooperative attitude,” toward hospital construction which was paid by both the territorial and federal government.

30 years ago

The Inukshuk Housing Co-op got the go ahead for the purchase of the Frame Lake South property on which it would build 50 housing units.

City council approved the sale, setting the price at $377,840.

Council also approved the sale of land on Range Lake Road to Nova Holdings for the price of $113,352.

The selling price on the lots was based on $94,460 per acre.

20 years ago

The wives of miners killed in the 1992 Giant Mine blast had won access to documents used by miners Al Shearing and Tim Bettger during the trials on vandalism and explosion charges that stemmed from the 1992 strike.

NWT Supreme Court Justice John Vertes ruled the papers could be released to the women, who were suing Royal Oak Mines and former union officials for creating a situation that led to the bombing by Roger Warren.

10 years ago

A week long cold snap with temperatures consistently below -40 C had Yellowknifers beset with weather-related ailments.

Cars wouldn't start, deliveries didn't arrive, Air Canada's Bombardier CRJ series planes were not certified to operate in temperatures below -40 C causing many flight cancellations at the Yellowknife Airport.

Even after earlier in the week saying they wouldn't, the YK Education District No. 1's superintendent changed his mind and decided to close the public schools.

Earlier in the week Metro Huculak said Yellowknife public schools would stay open despite the cold, but as the temperature remained in the -40 C range decided to close the school.

Environment Canada's forecast was calling for a high of -40 C and a low of -47 C.

Huculak said the school board did not predict temperatures would drop so low.

Staff were at the school in order to ensure no child who may have shown up for school, not be left out in the cold.

Students at Yellowknife Catholic Schools however had to head to class. Mike Huvenaars, then assistant superintendent for business with YCS said their three schools would stay open.

“Our policy is we don't close schools. As far as I know we have never closed schools due to weather,” he said.