Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
PoliticsMunicipal8TuesdayMay132014ByMARIACHURCHAbrand-newmezzaninesixnewchangeroomsandenergy-efficientupgradesarejustafewoftherenova-tionsFortSmithhasinstoreforitslocalarena.LastweekthetownunveileditsplanstoretrottheoldFortSmithCentennialArenaintowhatlookslikeabrand-newstateoftheartcomplex.Updateswillincludeaglassed-inheatedmezza-nineandground-oorlobbybleacherswithtopoor-onlyaccesssixnewchangeroomsunderneaththestandsplay-ersboxesacrossfromthebleacherslargestoragead-ditionsandenergy-efcientinsulationandlighting.ThefutureofthearenawasputinquestionlastyearafteranelectricalresweptthroughthebuildinginMay.WhileofficialsoriginallyfearedtheicewouldbeclosedforthewinterseasonquickrepairsandtemporaryxesallowedthetowntoopenthefacilityforuseinNovember.CouncillorDonWebbamemberoftheicestrategycommitteeformedlastyeartoaddressthearenadamagehasbeenoneoftheleadsontherenovationproject.HesaideachupgradeproposedistheresultofaspecicrequestfromiceusergroupswhometwithcouncilinMarch.Everybodywhousesthearenacametocouncilwiththeirwishlist.Everysinglethingthattheyaskedforisthere.TheycantbelieveitWebbsaid.Theplansweredraftedsothateachcomponenthasanindividualpricetagwhichwillallowthetowntomoveaheadwithsegmentsoftheconstructionaccordingtoitsbudgetandtimeline.Councilmettodiscussthearenanancinglastweekanddeterminepriorityandlong-termrenovations.Thatishowwehavebeenapproachingit.Nonalcostorpossiblecompletiondateyetalthoughwehopebefore2018butitcouldgopastthisdateforsomemodulesoftheproj-ectMayorBradBrakesaidinanemailtoTheJournal.Thisyearthepriorityren-ovationsarethebleacherswashroomsandchangerooms-allareasdamagedbythereandnowcoveredby250000ininsuranceforcodeup-grades.Thetownwillbefoot-inganadditional150000tocompletethoseupgrades.Aninitialcontractfor1.77millionhasbeenawardedbythetowntocompleterepairstothere-damagedareasandinstallenergy-efcientLEDlight-emittingdiodelightingbeforeOct.1justintimeforthenexticeseason.TherestofitisallgoingtobestagedoverthenextcoupleofyearsifwecanndtheadditionalfundsbutImextremelycondentwecandoit.IthinkitsanexcitingprojectWebbsaid.Accordingtocontractores-timatestherenovationswillextendthebuildinglifespan25-30years.Itsmuchwisertospendafewmilliondollarstoup-gradethebuildingforlong-termthantospendawholebunchofmoneytobuildanewfacilityWebbsaid.Councilisstillwaitingonthecontractorforatotales-timateandtimelinebeforetheyvotetopassthearenanancingbudget.FortSmithunveilsbigplansforupgradedgreenerarenaPhotoMariaChurchAll33NWTcommunitiesgatherinInuvikforAGMAwardspresentedtocommunitybuildersvolunteersacrossNWTByNATHALIEHEIBERG-HARRISONForthersttimeinitshis-torytheNorthwestTerritoriesAssociationofCommunitiesNWTACcelebrateditsan-nualgeneralmeeting33com-munitiesstrongfollowingtheadditionofLutselKetotheas-sociationinMarch.TheNWTACnownumberseachandeverycommunityintheNorthwestTerritoriesamongourmembershipout-goingassociationpresidentandFortProvidenceMayorTinaGargansaidinastatementtodelegates.ItmeansthatwhenourcommunitiesspeaktogetherthroughNWTACresolutionsandadvocacyothergovern-mentsandorganizationsareinnodoubtNWTAClobbyingpositionshavetheendorsementsofallmunicipalgovernments.Morethan120delegatesincludingmayorscouncillorssenioradministrativeofcersMLAsgovernmentofcialsandNWTACstaffattendedthemeetingsheldinInuvikattheMidnightSunRecreationCom-plexbetweenMay8and11.ActivitiesincludedaspeechbyCalgaryMayorNaheedNenshionleadershipformalAGMbusinesspresentationsbyGNWTcommitteesandde-partmentsaboardofdirectorsmeetingadoptionofresolu-tionsfor2014andtheelectionofNWTACdirectors.SteppinginasnewpresidentoftheassociationisCharlieFurlongthemayorofAklavik.GarganremainsonasoneoftwovicepresidentsalongwithClarenceWoodacouncillorfromInuvik.RogerChandowacouncillorfromHayRiverPau-latukMayorRayRubenSr.andDelineChiefLeonardKennywereelectedboarddirectors.Theassociationpassedatotalofveresolutionsonissuesin-cludingfeesforhouseholdsinthegeneraltaxationareahome-lessnesshazardouswasteinmunicipallandllsvehicleme-chanicsandmaintenanceandacommunityfundingreview.Therehasbeennosigni-cantadjustmentorincreaseintherateoffundingprovidedtothemunicipalitiessincethecre-ationoftheNewDealin2007readstheassociationsnalmo-tiononthetopicofacommunityfundingreview.TheGNWTneedstoensurethatcommuni-tiesareadequatelyfundedtodelivertheprogramsthatarelegislatedmandatedandex-pectedtodeliver.Onthenaldayofthean-nualgeneralmeetingdelegatesweregiventheopportunitytoaskquestionsofthepremierandhiscabinetonawiderangeofissuesincludinghomeless-nessfuelpricesNorthernlivingallowancereductionsanddogcontrol.VolunteersawardedforserviceTheNWTACAGMalsoin-cludedtheNWTOutstandingVolunteerceremonyandlun-cheonwhichwasheldatthecommunityhall.TheawardspresentedbyMunicipalandCommunityAffairsMACArecognizeoutstandingelderyouthindividualandgroupvolunteers.Theydontdoitfortherec-ognitionsaidMACAMinisterRobertC.McLeodattheawardceremony.Theydoittogivebacktothecommunity.EdwardOudziofNormanWellsandMargaretMillerofInuvikwerebothpresentedwiththeOutstandingElderAwards.Oudziwascommendedforteachingtraditionalskillshostingon-the-landtripsandhavingastrongimpactonyouthintheSahtu.HehasbecomebothaneducationalandinspirationalspeakersaidTomWilliamsdeputyministerofMACA.MillerwasrecognizedasaquiethardworkingindividualwhohasvolunteeredwithsuchorganizationsastheGreatNorthernArtsFestivaltheInuvikFoodBankandArcticPawsandwhosealtruisticworkmakesherarolemodelformanyWilliamssaid.ThomasNorbert10ofTsiigehtchicwaspresentedwiththeOutstandingYouthAwardforhiswillingnesstohelpoutinhiscommunity.DavidTaylorofYellow-knifereceivedtheOutstand-ingIndividualAwardforhisservicetocountlessorgani-zationsandnon-protgroupsinthecitywhiletheNWTSPCAreceivedtheOutstand-ingGroupAward.InadditiontheNWTACpresentedsevenawardsofitsownatitsbanquetonSatur-dayeveningincludinglongserviceawards.TheCommunityBuilderAwardwaspresentedtoChar-lieScarboroughwhiletheCommunityServiceAwardwaspresentedtoJohnMcKee.ThenalawardofthenightthePresidentsAwardwasgiventotheDelineGotineGovernmentwhosenalself-governmentagreementistherstofitskindinCanada.FromleftPremierBobMcLeodcongratulates2014OutstandingVolunteerAwardwinnersMargaretMillerMichelleReesoftheNWTSPCADavidTaylorandThomasNorbertinfront.PhotoNathalieHeiberg-HarrisonPoliticsMunicipalFortSmithcouncillorDonWebbrightshowsoffthenewly-unveiledarenarenovationschematicstoresidentsattheannualFortSmithTradeshowonMay3.