The Rankin Rock Season Opener hockey camp made its second road trip of the year when it skated into Arviat Dec. 7 to 9.
The skills-development camp has been able to visit communities outside of Rankin Inlet thanks to the Arctic Inspiration Prize it was
awarded earlier this year.
Peaceful end
Baker Lake
Members of the Baker Lake detachment of the RCMP engaged in a critical incident which occurred in a residence during the early morning hours of Dec. 7.
The Baker Lake RCMP, along with the RCMP’s Critical Incident Team, worked with a male who had barricaded himself in his residence with a firearm.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the man was taken into custody.
The RCMP have ensured the citizens of Baker Lake that despite the rumours, there were no hostages taken, nor was the public in danger during the incident.
“We would like to thank the citizens of Baker Lake for their patience as we peacefully resolved this potentially volatile situation,” stated Staff Sgt. Stephen Bergerman, district commander for the Kivalliq region in a news release.
Funding announced
Arviat
Arviat is one of five Nunavut communities receiving funding from Transport Canada to help the Government of Nunavut construct mooring bollards in each community.
Each of the five communities – Arviat, Gjoa Haven, Pangnirtung, Sanikiluaq and Taloyoak – will receive two 70-tonne mooring bollards.
Potential projects that could develop from the comprehensive community scoping study include creation or expansion of breakwaters, dedicated laydown areas, ramps, secure fencing and lighting, dedicated small craft launching and unloading zones and road access.
The federal government is providing a grand total of $2,545,200 in funding to help construct the mooring bollards.
Federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau stated in a news release that Northern communities rely on marine resupply operations to receive up to 95 per cent of their goods.
“The Government of Canada is protecting the health of our Arctic coast,” Garneau stated.
Herd in danger
Kivalliq
The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB) wrapped up its 86th meeting in Winnipeg, Man., from Nov. 20 to 22 with a dire message – the Beverly caribou herd is highly vulnerable and more needs to be done to address the pressures the herd is facing.
The message resulted from the board’s vulnerability assessment for the herd, which was conducted in November 2017 through a process set out in its management plan for 2013-2022.
Using both traditional knowledge and scientific information, board members looked at 20 indicators of herd vulnerability for Beverly caribou, rating them from very low to very high and used the results to identify a preliminary overall vulnerability level for the herd.