Latest news with #Yellowknife
CBC
2 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Questions linger for parents of Yellowknife students exposed to high lead levels
Corey Francis says he was shocked when he found out that two Yellowknife schools' drinking water had high levels of lead — his 14-year-old son attended both schools and has been drinking water from their fountains for years. Parents and staff from William McDonald Middle School and Range Lake North School were notified in May that the drinking water at the schools contained high levels of lead, months after the Department of Infrastructure had conducted tests on most N.W.T. schools' drinking water. After finding out, Francis's son went to his pediatrician. About a week after taking a blood test to determine lead levels, the family received the results. The doctor said Francis's son had lead in his system, but it wasn't high enough to "be worrisome," Francis told CBC. "His results were 'elevated,' but we don't really have a baseline to judge from." Their family is one of many who has been dealing with the aftermath of the lead discovery. "We were a bit shocked and taken aback," Francis said. "Worried for the children of course." Lead exposure can lead to lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth and anemia, health officials say. However, those most at risk include children under six, infants and pregnant people, not necessarily middle-school aged children or staff. Francis's son graduated from William McDonald Middle School this year, and before that he went to Range Lake North. Francis says one of his biggest concerns is the amount of time between when the lead testing took place and when the information was shared with families and the public. "Why was there a two-month or three-month period before they said, 'OK, now we've got to action this and do something, give them bottled water to drink, make it known to the school staff and the parents'?" Francis asked. "We didn't get an email until May." In his conversations with other parents he says their frustrations are largely the same, about the delays in getting information. "It's a pretty serious thing if you're knowingly letting staff and students continue to drink tap water," he said. An independent investigation found that the territorial government was slow to act when it detected lead in the schools' drinking water because two of its departments failed to understand the health implications of the situation. The first set of results showing the high levels came in January and the results of re-tests came in March, yet the decision to turn off the taps and inform families and staff didn't come until May. In June, the territory's chief public health officer said students and staff could get tested for lead levels in their blood. As of last week, there had been more than 80 requests for lead testing appointments, the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) said in an email. Blood samples that are taken during an appointment are not processed in the N.W.T. but are sent to Alberta. Results are often returned five to 10 days after the appointment, and any abnormal results will be sent to the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer, wrote NTHSSA. Parents 'wanted some real accountability': MLA Kieron Testart, the MLA for Range Lake, said he has spoken to over a dozen worried parents and teachers since the news of the lead levels was shared. "It became very clear that people were very upset and they felt like the government was not forthcoming with the information," Testart said. "I heard from concerned parents and teachers that they wanted some real accountability around why the decisions were made the way they were made and who ultimately is responsible." Testart doesn't think it's likely that the lead issue will be fixed by the time students return to school in September, but says he will continue to fight for government accountability. It's still not clear why there were higher lead levels in the two schools' water. In an email this week, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment said it would have an update next week that "should provide greater clarity" and outline next steps. Francis's son will have follow-up testing to monitor the lead levels in his blood, and to ensure there isn't an increase. Francis says he'll be keeping an eye out for any further updates on the situation.
CBC
14 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
This Yellowknife music festival has a $274K deficit. Organizers think it can bounce back
Shrinking grants, rising costs, and a settlement against a former employee have hurt Folk on the Rocks' finances. But organizers believe the popular Yellowknife festival can recover.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ollie Williams on what's next for Cabin Radio
People in Yellowknife will soon have a new option on the FM dial. The CRTC approved an FM licence for Cabin Radio. The popular Yellowknife-based company streams radio online right now and runs a news website. Soon, Yellowknifers will be able to tune in.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Minister Chartrand announces investment in events that help Yellowknife small businesses build capacity
CanNor funding of up to $150,000 for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce supports two capacity building events for small businesses. YELLOWKNIFE, NT, July 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Small businesses are at the heart of Northern communities and have a deep understanding of local needs and resources, enabling them to offer authentic products and services to both residents and visitors. Today, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced an investment of up to $150,000 to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. Delivered through CanNor, this funding will support two annual capacity building events for Yellowknife's business community over three years. This includes a Small Business Week each fall and a Trailblazers Symposium coinciding with International Women's Day. Vibrant small businesses enrich the lives of Northerners and contribute to a strong, united Canadian economy by keeping economic benefits within the territories. Supporting projects like this aligns with CanNor's commitment to help create dynamic economies that support prosperity an elevate Canada's North. Quotes "To build a strong Canadian economy, we need small businesses to keep innovating, not only for their local communities but for national and international markets. Our new government is supporting initiatives that strengthen small business capacity so they can continue to drive growth in our economy." - The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for CanNor "Projects like this help entrepreneurs build capacity, find local solutions, and grow with confidence. In turn, this strengthens our local economy and helps us all choose Canada." - The Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations "We're grateful for CanNor's continued investment in our events, which serve as platforms for delivering capacity-building support to our local business community. With a focus on training, leadership development, and strengthening connections, our sessions are designed to meet the needs of our members. This year's programming is shaped by feedback collected through membership surveys over the past several years, ensuring we reflect the priorities of the business community we serve." - Tracy Peters, Manager of Member Relations & Program Coordinator, Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Quick facts CanNor is investing $150,000 through the IDEANorth program. IDEANorth makes foundational investments in economic infrastructure, sector development and capacity building to help position Northerners to take advantage of Canada's innovation economy. Total project costs are $225,000, including an investment of $52,500 from the Government of the Northwest Territories, with remaining costs covered by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. Associated links Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Stay connected: Follow CanNor on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) View original content:
CBC
7 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Emergency plan 'worked great,' despite performer's encounter with lightning: Folk on the Rocks
Folk on the Rocks says its emergency response plan "worked great" after a thunderstorm forced the Yellowknife music festival to shut down early last Friday – and it has followed up with a local performer who had a scary experience with lightning. "Lightning hit the tent and I got shocked pretty good," Benji Staker, who performs as Hughes, told CBC News on Saturday. The annual three-day outdoor festival kicked off Friday with its Warm the Rocks event in the beer gardens at the Folk on the Rocks site. However, after the thunderstorm started, organizers made the decision to evacuate the site at around 8:30 p.m. Straker said he and his wife and two others had sought refuge from the storm under a tent with sound equipment when it happened. He'd been leaning against a metal equipment box at the time, and said it felt like someone punched him in the head and kicked him in the butt. "I felt fine right away," he said. "I think everybody else was kind of more concerned." Straker said many people pulled him aside at the festival to ask him what happened and if he was OK. "I'm having fun with it," he said. "They're wondering why I'm not stuttering and why I don't have, like, a white stripe on my head or, like, spider veins." "It's obviously nobody's fault. Maybe ours, for getting under a metal frame tent. But whatever, it is what it is." Teresa Horosko, the festival's executive director, said in an interview Thursday that the festival has spoken with Straker about what happened. "The static charge in the air when lightning is present is intense and it is possible to feel some shocks or some effects from that static charge," she said. "We've discussed that with him and also have opened up that conversation for anybody else who has been on site who may have felt some static charge." Asked whether the festival's emergency response plan worked, given what happened, Horosko said it's something she's been asking herself too. "Did we do enough, and quickly enough? And I think, ultimately, yes." Horosko said the festival had been monitoring the storm for a while and an evacuation didn't seem necessary at first. But then the wind changed, a low pressure system moved in, and things started to move quickly. "I think back on that moment a lot. If I had done things a little bit different … would we not have had those instances? And I can't guarantee that those wouldn't have happened. Like static charge in the air is a big thing when there is an electrical storm. And I think ultimately we made the right choice when we made that choice." Horosko said staff and volunteers did an "incredible job" clearing the site, and she's thankful to the audience for paying attention and being co-operative. Though she's satisfied with how the emergency response plan worked, she does hope to make some updates to it. "It was our first time doing an evacuation because of a thunderstorm. So going to edit that a little bit and also have a more detailed re-opening plan." The festival has described shutting down early on Friday as a "devastating financial loss." Horosko said the 19+ event brings in about a third of the festival's sales – through drinks at the beer garden and merchandise. Though attendance on Saturday was "big," the cool Sunday forecast meant fewer attendees.
