The Week's News: Brrr! It's cold in here.
Freezing? For winter? Groundbreaking. But the weather gets everyone talking.
Hello readers, this is Cabin Radio’s assistant editor Emily.
I hope you’re settling into the start of the new year and haven’t yet abandoned your new year’s resolutions. I have to confess my resolve to eat healthier is already starting to wane.
Speaking of the new year, it sure has been a chilly January here in the Northwest Territories so far, with frigid temperatures posing plenty of challenges for businesses and services.
The territory’s healthcare system has also faced a number of challenges this month, from Yellowknife’s hospital being overrun with flu cases to flooding at the city’s Primary Care Centre, the closure of the Frame Lake clinic over heating issues and the suspension of labour and delivery services in Inuvik.
On a brighter note, stories about not one but two new year’s babies have kept plenty of hearts warm.
Now, on to some of our best reporting from the past two weeks.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Our most important stories
Listen to our shows
What we’re reading
Stories to catch up on
Listen: Hercules crew describes Air Tindi rescue jump
Snowshoes? Check. Gun in case a bear comes? Check. We interviewed two rescuers about what it takes to leap from a Hercules and help people in an NWT air crash.
In 2024, what will the NWT do about drugs and treatment?
There is near-universal agreement that the drug trade – and treatment – should be a top priority for the NWT's new government. What will incoming MLAs do?
The challenge of gathering statistics in the North
Why are the territories often left out of Canada-wide reports? We spoke with statisticians about the challenges of collecting and reporting data on the North.
Impaired driving charges dismissed over RCMP charter breach
An NWT judge threw out charges against a man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol in Yellowknife after police breached his charter rights.
Watch: NWT begins big aurora year with US TV showcase
Yellowknife on Good Morning America? American network ABC’s flagship show broadcast from the NWT capital as we head toward an aurora-packed solar maximum this year.
Hard drive theft exposed lax GNWT security, report finds
Remember when hard drives with thousands of people's data were stolen from a GNWT office? A review of the theft criticized the department's privacy measures.
Straw bales, and a little love, keep NWT shelter dogs warm in -40C
Yellowknifers hauled dozens of straw bales up the highway to help keep the city's shelter dogs warm in some of the world's coldest temperatures.
How do NWT trappers see the future of their craft?
"It's a losing battle. There was a time for trapping, but it's come and it's gone." In a changing world and climate, what's left for the North's trappers?
When Cold Road opens in Hay River, it’ll warm its director’s heart
Kelvin Redvers sat in Hay River's theatre as an eight-year-old and fell in love with movies. Now, one of his own – shot in the NWT – is about to open there.
Rory Voudrach’s journey of leadership, fatherhood and healing
Artist and Inuvialuit leader Rory Voudrach has passed away, aged 50. His daughter, Tamara, describes how the life changes he made transformed his family.
Transglobal Car Expedition heads back to NWT, this time for real
Everybody's favourite Russian-backed global car expedition is back. After causing an international incident when landing in Yellowknife and sinking a truck in the Arctic during a test run, now they're starting the full voyage.
Just how hooped is this downtown Yellowknife building?
There's almost no public info about a fuel spill that closed a Yellowknife government building. Internal emails say it'll be closed for most of 2024 – at least.
What caused the Garden Townhomes fire?
A fire that destroyed a dozen Yellowknife homes is the subject of multiple investigations. One man whose home burned has some possible answers – and concerns.
They lost their home in a fire. Then they lost their dignity.
We followed one family trying to find a new home in Yellowknife public housing after the Garden Townhomes fire. They found it soul-destroying.
Air Tindi suing federal government over damaged plane
Air Tindi has launched a $10.4-million lawsuit after one of its planes was damaged during a military training flight. The federal government denies liability.
Tune in to our radio programming
I want to take a moment to highlight some of the amazing radio shows we have here at Cabin Radio, many of which are run by volunteers.
There’s something for everyone, from Dad Rock with Summer Dave starting at 6pm on Thursdays and repeating 12pm on Sundays, to Metal Meltdown at 9pm on Fridays, and Cabin Classics with Sarah Vaughan at 9am on Sundays followed by Cabin Jazz and Soul with Jeremy Walsh.
Every weekday starts with Mornings at the Cabin (you can catch me there on Thursdays around 8:30am for a pop culture quiz), followed by Nineties at Nine with Scott Letkeman, then editor Ollie Williams brings you the latest news along with some tunes from 12-3pm. There’s music, best-of clips and more on Home to the Cabin with Jay Bear from 3pm till 6pm.
You can check out our program schedule and learn more about all of our shows here.
You can listen live online and check out podcasts of Mornings at the Cabin, too.
What we’re reading
Stoneface: A Defiant Dene
With some downtime over the holidays I was able to finish Stephen Kakfwi's memoir. It’s a moving read that provides insight into the history of the NWT and the impact of residential schools. It also has some lighter moments like a story about Kakfwi's colourful paisley shirt going missing.
Canadians Keep Forgetting About the North
This article by Eva Holland published by The Walrus delves into the issue of many Canadians knowing little about the North. “I try not to burn too much energy feeling defensive or frustrated about the territories being overlooked. But I am interested in asking why. If the North is such an integral part of our national brand, why do we pay it so little collective attention?”
Ten Curious New Plants and Fungi Recorded in 2023
This article published by Yale Environment 360, highlights 10 of the 89 plant and fungi species newly recorded by researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “It is imperative now, more so than ever, that we do everything in our power to go out into the field with our partners and work out which species of plants and fungi we haven’t given a scientific description yet.”
Why there can be no ‘closure’ for the family of an Ontario white nationalist killer’s victims
Many people across Canada were affected by the hate-motivated 2021 truck attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario. In an interview with the Toronto Star’s Mahdis Habibinia, Hina and Ali Islam, relatives of the four victims and one survivor, speak about their grief and the change they want to see in the world.