What to expect from Cabin Radio over the holidays
Our best recent reporting, a guide to what's coming up, and a job ad!
Hello! It’s Ollie. This week’s email has our usual round-up of recent news you should read, plus I thought I’d explain what you’ll see from us over the holidays.
Cabin Radio gives most staff the week off between Christmas and the new year, although people are on call in case something urgent happens.
During that week, I’ll be keeping an eye on things and you’ll see news reports where they’re absolutely necessary. But you can expect a quieter website than usual.
We’ll also have a selection of end-of-year coverage that highlights some of our best reporting from 2023, remembers some of the people we lost this year, and looks back at the NWT of decades past as we welcome 2024.
My end-of-year news quiz will make an appearance, too.
On the air, Sarah Vaughan will have a Cabin Classics Christmas Special on the morning of Christmas Day, and we’ll be airing the best of Mornings at the Cabin throughout the holiday period.
One more thing before we get to this week’s reporting round-up – we’re hiring!
This isn’t a journalism job. We do so many other things and we have a long list of fun and challenging projects, ranging from audio and video to ad sales, graphic design and even merchandise. If you like managing projects and you want to come work for an innovative, independent and locally owned broadcaster, go take a look. It’s the kind of job where we hope the right person can evolve it over time into a role they love.
OK. On with the news.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Our most important stories from the past week
What we’re reading
Stories to catch up on
GNWT takes no position on China mine deal that some call a betrayal
It’s been an extraordinary seven days for the Nechalacho rare earths mine, east of Yellowknife.
After years setting the mine up to be a rival to China’s dominance of rare earths, Australian owner Vital Metals sold a 9.9-percent stake in the mine – and all the material mined there so far – to a Chinese company, Shenghe.
We tracked that deal closely as it reached its final stages:
Several MPs urged the federal government to launch a national security review over Chinese investment at Nechalacho…
… but the first phase of the deal went through anyway, including a surprise announcement that Shenghe would get all the material mined so far at Nechalacho, too.
Some northerners who helped the mine grow thought the Shenghe deal marked “a betrayal.” The GNWT said it wouldn’t comment.
Rare earths are elements that help power the likes of electric motors and other green technology. They’re considered a big deal and Nechalacho is believed to be one of the largest deposits outside China.
Fort Smith man pleads guilty to second-degree murder
A 19-year-old man from Fort Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of a 50-year-old man in March 2022.
‘We’ve been heard,’ says airline as Sahtu fuel plan reached
Imperial Oil says extra aviation fuel will be brought to the Sahtu by air, easing a crisis that had been building after a summer fuel shipment never made it.
Arson charge as human remains found after Fort McPherson fire
RCMP believe a person found deceased at the scene of a Fort McPherson fire is a 22-year-old woman reported missing last week. A 27-year-old is accused of arson.
Ottawa sending $84M advance to help cover NWT disasters
The federal government is sending the NWT an "advance payment" of just over $84 million as disaster assistance funding to help recovery from 2023's wildfires.
Santa needs extra reindeer this year, GNWT reveals
Documentation published by the NWT government suggests Santa is using more reindeer in 2023 than in 2022, sparking rumours of a gift bonanza.
Hay River’s 10-year plan is ‘underfunded by $88 million’
"It's getting more desperate." Hay River says many upcoming projects, including disaster recovery and mitigation work, have nowhere near the cash they need.
Vietnamese Noodle House’s longtime owners bid farewell
Since 2005, Kim Luong and Hung Le have run Yellowknife's Vietnamese Noodle House. Now, they plan to retire and say new owners are on the way.
Wekweètì to get new $1.2M grocery store
Wekweètì's getting a new store with more space for bulk food orders, banking and mail services. The building will be driven up the winter road to its new home.
NWT celebrates inclusion on 2024 must-visit list
A US travel magazine selected the NWT as one of its must-see places in 2024. One reason: there's a solar maximum on the way. Here's what that means.
Hay River library removes seating over loitering concerns
"It was getting past the point where the library could cope." To combat loitering, staff at Hay River's library tried something new: removing all the seats.
Inuvik approves solar farm contract for Midnight Sun Complex
The Town of Inuvik gave Whitehorse-based energy firm Solvest the go-ahead to begin work on a solar farm that could save the town millions and reduce emissions.
Union says it’s entering mediation with GNWT
The Union of Northern Workers says a mediator has been appointed to try to reach a new collective agreement for thousands of NWT government workers.
Sambaa K’e holds two elections for chief in three months
Three months after Anthony Ekenale was elected Chief of the Sambaa K'e First Nation, another election has returned longtime Chief Dolphus Jumbo to the position.
What we’re reading
Emily has a Christmas double bill for you.
Why people in Edmonton are renting Christmas trees for $50
Emily writes: A holiday story with an environmental focus. A tree farm near Edmonton is helping to reduce the amount of Christmas trees going in the landfill after the holidays are over by renting out living trees.
If you're more of an artificial Christmas tree person, like myself, you might enjoy this interesting story about one of the earliest mass-produced trees recently selling for more than $4,000.
When the culture wars came for dog training
Ollie writes: “I will not project colonial, capitalist, or patriarchal concepts on my dog.” So begins this (lengthy) study of the way in which the world of dog training is becoming polarized over many of the same political and cultural touchstones you see in any given Facebook comment thread. Often, the disagreements come down to how we use language.
‘Christmas carolling truck’ brings joy in rural Alberta
Emily writes: This story from CTV will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Every winter for the past three years, Walter Moebis and Clint Jackson from Olds, Alberta, have been spreading Christmas cheer in rural Alberta driving a truck decorated for the holidays and playing Christmas carols. "We're just doing something out of the kindness of our hearts to cheer other people up, and it helps cheer us up too."