An airline deal, fried chicken and community spirit
Plus the latest from the NWT Legislative Assembly and Yellowknife City Hall
Hello readers, this is Emily, Cabin Radio’s assistant editor.
It’s nearly March, which means the start of this year’s Snowkings’ Winter Festival on Yellowknife Bay. Admission to the Snowcastle will be free from 12-5pm on its opening day, March 1.
The 2025 edition of the festival will host an exhibit from the Far North Photo Festival and a screening from the Frozen Dog Film Festival among a variety of other events throughout the month.
In the news this week, airline Canadian North is being sold to Winnipeg-based Exchange Income Corporation for $205 million. We spoke with the company about what the change in ownership will mean.
At Yellowknife City Hall, a project to replace the city’s ageing drinking water infrastructure could now cost more than $100 million, while planning is in the works to bring Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to the city.
At the NWT Legislative Assembly, we’ve been looking into a proposal from three MLAs to start an independent members’ caucus. We spoke to several former MLAs about their thoughts on the idea and examined how it could change the way current MLAs vote.
One of the MLAs behind the caucus idea, Kieron Testart, is facing a complaint over a Facebook post he made related to a recent vote on budget funding. The premier alleged the post was part of a “campaign of intimidation” while the MLA has defended his words.
Meanwhile, territorial politicians have discussed the reopening of the NWT’s nominee program, the draft 2025-26 operations budget, and how interpretation of legislation is affecting efforts to repatriate children who never returned home from residential school.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
Our best stories
What we’re reading
Stories to catch up on
1. The tedious task of taking a corporate landlord to court
"Months went by and nothing." A resident of a Yellowknife building that burned in 2023 described their quest to be compensated for items they could not recover.
2. ‘I felt like I found a piece of myself in each of them’
Sandra Noel was born in Inuvik and adopted as a baby. Next month, for the first time, she and her two biological sisters will be in the same room together.
3. New legal challenge over Gwich’in Tribal Council board meeting
A dispute over the validity of a Gwich'in Tribal Council board meeting in Edmonton earlier this month is headed to NWT Supreme Court.
4. Siblings at health authority repeatedly broke law to see woman’s data
A woman's medical records were unlawfully accessed time and time again over a period of months by two siblings at the NWT's health authority, a report states.
5. Dene Nation voices opposition to Jordan’s Principle changes
The Dene Nation and First Nations Caring Society criticized recent changes to Jordan's Principle, saying the existing federal approach puts children at risk.
6. Agrifood association urges haste on NWT meat regulations
An agrifood group wants the GNWT to speed up the introduction of regulations that will allow animals raised in the NWT to be processed within the territory.
7. Use of paramedics in Behchokọ̀ ‘violates collective agreement’
For years, the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency has brought in paramedics to work in Behchokọ̀. That violates the rights of other workers, an arbitrator ruled.
8. Aurora borealis brought to life in multi-sensory performance
This weekend, a Yellowknife orchestra will provide live accompaniment as painters and dancers tell a story about the northern lights.
9. For the first time, Hay River sends off a team to the Brier
"This is the prize for us." On March 2, a team from Hay River will compete at curling's Brier for the first time. The town held a party for the team on Friday.
10. Tara Boudreau is Hay River’s 2025 citizen of the year
The principal of two Hay River schools was named the town's citizen of the year as an awards gala that celebrates community spirit returned for its second year.
What we’re reading
The Lives of Glamour Alley
For Up Here magazine, Dana Bowden writes about the little-known stories of Yellowknife’s historic red-light district.
Local News Is Dying. The Consequences Are Worse than You Think
As a journalist who has spent much of their career working for local, independent news organizations, it pains me every time I learn about another community newspaper or radio station closing its doors and reporters losing their jobs. For The Walrus, April Lindgren writes about the impacts of reliable information becoming harder to find.
Kebaowek First Nation wins precedent-setting case against nuclear waste facility
For the National Observer, Matteo Cimellaro writes about a federal court decision on an Ontario nuclear waste facility that could change standards for consultation with First Nations. It’s the first case that challenges the United Nations Declarations Act.