Cameron Wilkinson

Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok has tested positive for elevated levels of lead in the drinking water. At this time, information is not publicly available about how many fixtures tested positive for lead levels above Health Canada's guidelines.

The GNWT's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola is recommending that day centres and day homes in the N.W.T. have their drinking water tested even though the testing of these facilities does not fall under the purview of the GNWT. One main reason for the recommendation,  has to do with the age of buildings along with the risk contaminants like lead and rayon can pose to children ages 6 and under, explained Dr. Kandola.

In December, the night sky is the place to focus your attention, as the annual Geminid meteor shower will be at its finest on the night of Dec.13, into the morning of Dec. 14. “A 23 per cent waning crescent Moon will rise late into the morning hours, so no big interference this year. This is a weekend event. If cloudy Saturday night, it’s still visible on Sunday night, but the numbers will be reduced,” says The Backyard Astronomer Gary Boyle.

The Still Dark Festival has just released the second wave of artists slated to perform at the Still Dark Festival beginning Feb. 5 and running to Feb. 8.

As the community of Tuktoyaktuk braces for a weekend of blizzard conditions, predicted to begin this morning, more communities in the Aklavik, Inuvik and Paulatuk region are facing extreme weather and warnings. Originally the federal agency had predicted that a blizzard would begin late Friday in Tuktoyaktuk, but according to reports, conditions intensified earlier than expected and the storm is predicted to begin this morning.