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NEWS BRIEFS: Wolf sightings near city

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There have been wolf sightings in the Back Bay and Yellowknife Bay areas of Yellowknife, near Ndılo.

An increase in wildlife sightings is often an indication of residents intentionally or unintentionally providing a food source, stated the GNWT in a news release yesterday.

People are warned not to leave food, fish entrails or other attractants outside their homes, camps or cabins.

If a wolf is encountered at any time:

If you are walking with a pet, leash it immediately.

Raise your arms and wave them in the air to make yourself appear larger. Use noise makers such as air horns, or throw sticks and rocks to scare the animal away.

If the wolf displays aggressive behavior, back away slowly. Do not turn your back on it. Do not run.

Use bear spray if you have it and know how to use it safely.

To report a wildlife emergency call Environment and Natural Resources at 867-873-7181.

To report a wildlife sighting, call 867-767-9238 ext. 53247.

– James O'Connor

Easier access to child benefit programs

NWT residents can now apply for the Canada Child Benefit program and other child benefits using the Automated Benefits Application service.

"The Automated Benefits Application Services will make it easier for parents of newborns to apply for all child benefit programs," stated Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy in a news release.

As of March 21, residents can apply for the program by "simply providing their consent on the birth registration form available in health care facilities throughout the Northwest Territories," stated the release.

The information submitted by parents will be relayed to the Canada Revenue Agency, which will then process the information and assess whether the applicant is eligible for other benefits beyond the program, including NWT child benefit and the child portion of the GST/HST credit. The service is currently available in 10 provinces and the Northwest Territories, with plans to offer the service in Yukon and Nunavut in the future.

– Brendan Burke

Support coming for families

There will be "an important announcement today of benefit to families in the NWT," stated a news release yesterday afternoon

NWT MP Michael McLeod, and Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Alfred Moses will be at the Yellowknife Day Care Association on 52 Street today at 3 p.m.

Look to old.nnsl.com for updates as they become available. A full story will appear in Wednesday's Yellowknifer.

– James O'Connor

 

Cabbie accused of punching passenger awaits fate

A Yellowknife taxi driver accused of leaving a passenger bloodied and black-eyed following an alleged assault last summer will learn his fate next month.

Matar Mahamed Mahamud pleaded not guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm, prompting a trial that continued last Friday in territorial court with closing arguments from the Crown and Mahamud's defence.

The charge stems from an altercation that took place between Mahamud – an Aurora Taxi driver who was 48-years-old at the time of the incident – and his passenger and alleged victim, Angus Durrie.

In the early hours of July 24, 2017, an intoxicated Durrie left the Kilt and Castle Pub in downtown Yellowknife and hailed Mahamud's cab, requesting to be taken to a McDonald's restaurant. Once at the fast food location, an argument between the two ensued after Durrie says Mahamud refused to bring him to an ATM machine so he could pay his fare.

Friday's submissions from Mahamud's lawyer, Paul Falvo, and Crown prosecutor Brendan Green focused on the physical confrontation that followed.

Both Mahamud and Durrie had previously taken the stand to recount their version of events, but Falvo zeroed in on testimony from a civilian witness who observed the struggle.

The witness said she saw Mahamud punch Durrie three times, while Durrie testified he was struck five or six times.

While Falvo called the civilian's testimony "truthful," he denied that it was reliable, citing the fact that the witness saw the altercation as it was already in progress.

The beginning of the physical confrontation – which ended in both men falling to the ground – wasn't witnessed by the civilian, amounting to another "unknown detail" that Falvo said left the

court with an incomplete picture of the incident in question.

Missing details and gaps in testimony – including the unreliable memory of an intoxicated Durrie – means there isn't enough evidence to prove that Mahamud was the aggressor, said Falvo.

Falvo said the injuries Durrie suffered, including two black eyes, could have been sustained from his fall to the ground outside of McDonald's – not from punches thrown by Mahamud.

Crown prosecutor Brendan Green argued that after picking up Durrie – a passenger Mahamud perceived to be rude and "sloppy" – the driver "lost his temper" and carried out the assault.

"It was out of character, but that's what happened," said Green.

Mahamud will learn if he's found guilty or not guilty when Judge Malakoe gives his decision on May 25.

– Brendan Burke

 

Mushers in motion this weekend

Dogsledders and their canine companions are off to the races today for the 64th annual Canadian Championship Dog Derby – and with the many mushers in motion comes plenty of chances for Yellowknifers to catch the action as it happens.

The three-day derby, which sees competitors from across the continent compete in the capitol, will kick off today with an eight mile, four-dog race at 9:30 a.m. on the Dettah Ice Road.

Spectators looking to follow the four-legged front-runners and their mushers can easily track the pack along the ice road, said organizers.

The first heat will be followed by another eight-mile, four-dog race at 9:45 a.m.

That length will be doubled when the third, 16-mile, six-dog race gets underway at 11 a.m.

The derby's main event – the storied 10-dog, 150-mile trek over three days – will kick off at 1 p.m.

The 150-mile excursion is divided into 50-mile days and is sponsored by Dominion Diamond Mines.

The mining corporation is joined by other supporters, including the City of Yellowknife, Beck's Kennels Aurora Wonderland, NWT Dogsledding Association, Northbest Distributors, Adam Dental Clinic, Stewart Weir MacDonald Ltd., Weaver & Devore Trading Ltd. and Northtech Drilling.

The 2018 derby marks the third consecutive year Northtech Drilling has contributed to what employee Roberta Cochrane called a "big part of our community."

"The dog derby has always been a lifelong event that's happened here since we were kids and any way we can support the community to keep our events happening, we're more than willing to do that," said Cochrane.

Last year, Jaden Beck – a fifth generation Yellowknifer whose last name is synonymous with success in the race – took the derby's crown with an overall time of 7:49:26.

– Brendan Burke

 

Fraud prevention month looks to combat 'sophisticated' scammers

As part of a month-long fraud awareness campaign, NWT RCMP are reminding residents to exercise caution when doing business over the phone and on the Internet.

The push to prevent citizens from becoming victims of scams comes after reports of fraudulent activity in the territory.

In one incident, a scam allegedly masked itself as a legitimate northern service provider, "complete with credible account details," and requested changes to a customer's payment information, a news release from RCMP stated.

Other reports have noted the presence of "sophisticated websites," that dupe unsuspecting victims into making online money transfers to fraudsters. Subsequent losses, including fraud in the thousands of dollars, have been reported.

For examples of scams and tips to recognize the many shapes and sizes they take, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: antifraudcentre.ca. Police encourage residents to report incidents of fraud to their local RCMP detachment.

– Brendan Burke