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Jennifer Obleman
Monday, October 01, 2007
First Air ramps up flight schedule
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet - Starting Nov. 4, First Air will fly into Rankin Inlet from Winnipeg six days a week, all year round.
From Sunday through Friday, the Boeing 737-200 will leave Winnipeg at 7:10 a.m., then arrive in Rankin via Thompson at 10:35 a.m.
The plane will then depart from Rankin at 2:05 p.m. and land in Winnipeg, via Thompson, before 6 p.m. The flight can accommodate up to 115 passengers, depending on cargo.
Several reasons prompted First Air to ramp up to six flights a week from four, said Jim Ballingall, vice-president of marketing and sales.
"It's increased demand in the mining and exploration sector, as well as increased demand for cargo and food mail and passenger demand," he said.
First Air will hire up to six new staff in Rankin Inlet to accommodate the new flights.
Wrigley hotel being renovated
Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley - Renovations worth close to $100,000 began a few weeks ago on the hotel in Wrigley.
The Pehdzeh Ki First Nation recently purchased the hotel and other Petanea Co-op assets, including the store, truck, manager's residence, and storage buildings, after the Co-op closed at the end of July.
Work on the hotel will include new bathrooms, new kitchen counters, new paint, wood shutters, and wood floors, as well as the addition of two new rooms.
"They're pretty extensive renovations," said Daniel Steiner, Pehdzeh Ki economic development officer.
The hotel will be completed by the end of October.
Largest dividend ever
Nunavut - Nunasi Corporation's dividend to shareholders this year is almost $1.3 million, up substantially from dividends of $733,000 last year and $200,000 the year before.
The increase is due to greater profits from 60-odd companies Nunasi is affiliated with.
"The success of Nunasi companies can be attributed to the support of the people of Nunavut, especially our Inuit shareholders," said Cathy Munro, vice-president of finance and operations.
The dividend will be distributed to the Qikiqtani, Kitikmeot and Kivalliq Inuit Associations.
Busy construction season
Whati/Lac La Martre - The Lac La Martre Development Corporation just wrapped up construction on five new houses in Gameti.
The corporation currently has about 12 people employed on projects that include two new houses in Whati, which are expected to be completed before Christmas, and renovations on the church in Whati, which should be done in the next couple of weeks.
"We are pretty busy, which is good for the community," said George Nitsiza, general manager of the Lac La Martre Development Corporation.
Communities celebrate Mining Week
Nunavut - Nunavut was rocking Sept. 23-29 with Mining Week activities going on in several communities.
In Iqaluit, Mining Week festivities included a barbecue, urban rock walks, and a rock show at the NorthMart.
Federal, territorial and Inuit officials also visited Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay for Mining Week school visits and evening events.
The theme for the week was Treasures from the Past, Resources for the Future.
"We have so much in Nunavut that was created so long ago," said Gillian Martin, communications officer with Indian and Northern Affairs in Nunavut, adding mining activity in Nunavut began as early as 1200 AD and people are still profiting from what they find in the ground.