The lawyer investigating allegations of workplace misconduct at the Municipal Enforcement Division in 2014 was conducting in-person interviews in Yellowknife last week.
Dev Chankasingh is interviewing "individuals he deems relevant," stated a city spokesperson.
Chankasingh is investigating on behalf of law firm Miller Thomson LLP.
Miller Thomson was given a list of people who have contacted the city about matters relating to alleged misbehaviour at the bylaw enforcement division.
The investigator is also mandated to review how city officials handled a 2014 formal complaint made by a former bylaw officer.
Additionally, the investigation will look into allegations of the inappropriate use of city security cameras.
– Sidney Cohen
Opioid-related deaths decrease in NWT in 2017
New statistics show there was one opioid overdose in the NWT in 2017, a decrease from five-people who died the year before.
The single death suggests the rate of overdoses in the territory are at 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
According to numbers from the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, between 2015 and March of last year 59 people were hospitalized due to opioids.
During that span the NWT also saw 83 visits to the emergency room due to opioids.
The Department of Health and Social Services disclosed the information Tuesday after federal statistics showed 3,987 Canadians died from overdoses in 2017, 34 per cent higher than the previous year.
– Michael Hugall
Construction not bogged down
The City of Yellowknife has found a silver lining despite last week's heavy rainfall. Although crews were temporarily pulled off Franklin Avenue road work, the city stated that all construction projects are still on schedule.
"The rain on Franklin did cause a delay of a couple days due to the saturated ground conditions. The overall closure for Franklin was expected to take four weeks and we are still on schedule for that as the closure has only been in place for 2.5 weeks," stated a city spokesperson.
– Dylan Short
A youth-to-youth music project
Elections NWT with the support of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs have launched a youth engagement project in the form of a music contest.
The contest and workshop will be led by NWT hip-hop artist Aaron "Godson" Hernandez.
Youth are under represented at the polls in the Northwest Territories, stated a news release.
This initiative provides a means for young people to formulate relevant messaging for their peers on the importance of making a choice, or having a voice in the North's elections.
The contest is open to young people, 16 to 24 years of age. Contest posters and information items have been sent to all high schools and youth centres throughout the NWT.
Details can also be found on Facebook
– James O'Connor
GNWT, UNW to enter mediation in October
A mediator involved in resolving the 1992 Giant Mine labour dispute, which included the killing of nine miners, has been picked to broker a deal between the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and the GNWT.
Both parties agreed to have Vince Ready facilitate negotiations with the hope of reaching a collective agreement.
Ready has worked on more than 7,000 labour and commercial disputes, according to his website.
Mediation will take place from Oct. 25 to 27 in Yellowknife.
Unionized government workers have been without a collective agreement with the GNWT for more than two years.
The UNW has threatened to strike if the government doesn't increase its wage offer.
The government is pushing for a four-year collective agreement with no wage hikes for the first two years, a one per cent increase in the third year and a 1.1 per cent raise in the fourth year.
The UNW has said it wants an annual three per cent wage hike for the years 2016 through 2018.
"The union is optimistic that a negotiated agreement can be reached with the GNWT," UNW President Todd Parsons stated Friday.
Stewart said the government is also optimistic the two parties will reach a deal.
– Sidney Cohen
Pop up park for downtown
Ecology North, in partnership with the city, is launching a pop-up park competition that aims to transform empty lots in the downtown core into a temporary park.
Yellowknife Pop-Up Park will be partially landscaped by Ecology North and the city and will feature a functional installation by local artist JD
Hollingshead, stated a news release.
"There is a growing movement around the world's cities to reclaim and green derelict lots, we are tying into that movement – but with a fun northern twist and the support of the community of Yellowknife," stated Craig Scott, executive director of Ecology North.
Five plots are available for community groups and individuals to build on.
Community groups and individuals are encouraged to submit their ideas through: ykpopuppark.ca or in person at the Ecology North office.
Submissions to the Yellowknife Pop-Up Park competition are due July 3.
A jury will narrow the selection down to 10 finalists, and then the public will vote to choose the best five ideas to populate the Yellowknife Pop-Up Park.
– James O'Connor
City implements new election signs restrictions
In an effort to protect the city's landscaping and irrigation infrastructure, the city has adjusted its bylaw regulating the placing of election signs on city property.
The bylaw helps ensure accountability for candidates to remove signage, sandbag and rock debris following elections, and will prevent damage to city infrastructure from sign posts.
The rules apply to federal, territorial, municipal or school board elections, states a June 8 news release from the city.
The restrictions state that signs cannot interfere with the safe operation of traffic, pedestrian safety or city maintenance.
It offers candidates guidelines on the size and placement of election signs on city property.
Candidates may put election signs elsewhere with the permission of property owners.
– Avery Zingel
Transforming those boxes
For the third year, the City of Yellowknife and Northland Utilities are partnering in a public art initiative which will see several transformer boxes resurfaced by Yellowknife artists.
Artists, including photographers and those working with paint, graffiti, digital, and any other two dimensional mediums, are invited to submit a proposal to the city by June 28, stated a news release from the city.
"We are fortunate to have many talented artists living in Yellowknife and are looking forward to working with them to enhance the beauty of and creativity within our community, while involving residents to guide the process," said Mayor Mark Heyck.
The focus of this year's project is collaboration between artists and the public.
Through sidewalk meetings the artists will involve residents who live in the vicinity in the decoration of the transformer boxes.
"Northland Utilities is very proud to be a part of the Yellowknife community and we are delighted to partner with the city on this creative project" said Northland Utilities manager Derek McHugh.
Successful applicants are expected to complete their art projects by Aug. 31.
In 2016 and 2017, local artists decorated a total of 27 transformers. This year the goal is to decorate 14 boxes.
– James O'Connor