With less than 90 days until the North’s most popular music festival, Folk on the Rocks has revealed their second wave of artists who will be in attendance.

The first wave was announced on Friday, March 22^nd, and the third wave is scheduled to be announced on May 17^th.

Here are the newly announced artists;

ALADEAN KHEROUFI:

Coming from an Algerian background, Aladean has skills with multiple instruments, and has also been a songwriter, arranger, producer, recordist, and a DJ. His music is described as being full of varying emotions, but with an optimistic edge.

AURORA FIDDLE SOCIETY:

A Yellowknife fiddle group that performs all across the North Slave region.

BABE CORNER:

A relatively new group, Babe Corner released their debut LP in 2023. They have proven to be unafraid of competition, and are quickly becoming one of Canada’s fastest growing indie groups.

BEATRICE DEER:

Coming from Montreal, Beatrice fills her music with deeply personal emotions born from her half-Inuk, half-Mohawk heritage. She has seven studio albums to her name, with her latest full of traditional Inuit children’s songs.

BEGONIA:

A JUNO nomination, two Polaris Prize nominations, multiple number 1 songs, and named as one of NPR’s “Artists You Need to Know.” These are some of the accolades achieved by Begonia. Some of her recent music touches on topics of sexuality, self-discovery, acceptance, and empowerment.

BOOGEY THE BEAT:

With a well established history of collaboration with other artists, Boogey excels at boosting the sounds of his friends and colleagues. He makes use of a strong percussive beats and drums, adding in vocals and other instruments as he goes along.

CLEREL:

Beginning as a local performance in Montreal, Clerel Djamen has since used his voice and guitar to create an EP with Japanese-Canadian guitarist Kento Kataoka in 2019. More recently, Clerel has released a digital 45 and a Francophone project, and appeared as a contestant on the Canadian version of The Voice.

GINALINA:

Over her career, Ginalina has managed to claim nominations for four JUNOs and 5 Canadian Folk Awards. Her signature is family folk music, as well as children’s books that celebrate family, nature, community, and culture.

GNARWHAL:

A four-piece rock band that weaves in touches of fuzz rock and progressive metal. Getting their start right here in Yellowknife, the band is credited with helping to restart interest in heavy music across the Territory. Their self-titled debut album helped to earn them a nomination for the 2023 Western Canadian Music Award.

HALEY BLAIS:

With addicting tunes that are both humorous and defiant, Haley has amassed over 20 million streams on online platforms around the world, and has even sold out entire venues in the US and UK.

MATTIE LEON:

A skilled guitarist and pianist, Mattie is always brushing up on those skills to keep himself sharp. Coming from Hamilton, Ontario, he is inspired by the songwriting styles of the sixties and seventies, giving a nostalgic twist to his new sound.

NIX & MENNO:

Best friends since childhood, Nix and Menno discovered similar tastes in music, and ended up teaching each other new skills and practices. For almost thirty years, the two have performed in more than twenty countries, earning several songs in Top Ten positions on Singles lists.

NORTHERN MOSAIC NETWORK:

An NWT staple, the Northern Mosaic Network is putting together a Performing Arts & Queer Justice Camp with Folk on the Rocks. The camp will see two Canadian artists, one from the NWT, teaching their skills to young and aspiring artists, while also discussing issues that currently affect LGBT youths.

SKYE WALLACE:

Drawing inspiration from multiple rock foundations, Skye’s work makes her talent undeniable. With music filled with self-introspection, Skye guides her audience through her own process of owning her past mistakes.

TANYA SNOW:

A Yellowknife singer and writer from Ranklin Inlet, her throat singing began when she was in her late teens, and she has kept those skills sharp ever since. She will be performing alongside Al Be and Andrea Bettger, the trio improvising with other instruments along the way.

THE DANDY LIONS:

A Yellowknife based folk music group.

TROUBLESOME 96:

A Zimbabwe native now living in Yellowknife, Troublesome 96 has an unmatched love for music, and has lived his whole life taking in every part of the human experience that he can. He hopes that his music will inspire and empower others to follow their own dreams.

The post Folk on the Rocks 2024: Second Wave of Artists Announced appeared first on My True North Now.

The Arctic Winter Games are off to a good start for Team NT.

In the first full day of events, the NWT athletes were able to score four gold, seven silver, and four bronze ulus.

In the Dene Games, 32-year-old Shawna McLeod was able to win gold in Stick Pull in the open women’s category, which is the first time this age category has been present at the games. This was Shawna’s first time playing in the games in nearly two decades, after she previously competed in 2006. She stated that she felt overwhelmed but proud to be competing again, and to have won the first ever open female gold medal.

The silver ulus for Stick Pull went to Robin Catholique and Canan Olvera.

Over in Speed Skating, Lochlan Dunn made a 1,000 metre dash to take the victory in the under-19 age bracket. Dunn was attempting to break the previous speed skating records set by Sage Acorn in last year’s games with the 500 metre and 777 metre times.

[caption id="attachment_68606" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lochlan Dunn in the Speed Skating Event.
(Photo provided by Team NT)[/caption]

In the under-15 Speed Skating bracket, Seiya McEachern took the gold, and stated that he felt like his hard work was paying off. He said that he doesn’t need to win every gold, but instead, he will focus on improving his skating ability and building good sportsmanship.

In the Snowshoe Biathlon, Carys Lyall claimed the gold, while teammate Sophia Tousenard placed in second. After the race, Lyall commented that their interest in the Snowshoe event was a recent one, having only learned about it two years earlier and becoming incredibly excited for it.

Other Team NT medals include Maisey Murray taking the Snowshoe Biathlon silver in the U18 category, and Elliot Fast taking snowshoeing bronze. Jaxin Coombs won the bronze medal in Ski Biathlon at the U15 level.

In Arctic Sports, James Williams won the silver medal in the triple jump, and Carolynn Fegusson and Grayson Marchori each took bronze ulus in Snowboarding.

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The Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting funding proposals for the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

The Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund provides Indigenous and non-profit organizations with funding for renovations to existing buildings to preserve or expand licensed centre-based early learning and child care programs.

This funding supports the preservation, expansion and creation of centre-based child care spaces in communities across the Northwest Territories. Funding priority will be given to communities with limited or non-existent early learning and child care programming.

The deadline to apply is March 13, 2024.

The post GNWT Accepting Proposals for 2024 Child Infrastructure Funding appeared first on My True North Now.

On Friday, December 8th, MLAs Shane Thompson and R.J. Simpson were both officially sworn into their new roles at the 20^th Legislative Assembly as Speaker and Premier, respectively.

[caption id="attachment_67608" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly in their first session.[/caption]

The Speaker, elected by all Members, assumes the position of highest authority in the Legislative Assembly and represents the Legislature in all its powers and proceedings. Like all Members of the Legislative Assembly, Speakers are first elected in one of the 19 territorial constituencies. Members elect the Speaker by secret ballot at the beginning of the first legislative session following a Territorial election or at any time a vacancy occurs. While in this position, the Speaker still attends to the tasks of an MLA in responding to the concerns of their constituents.

[caption id="attachment_67606" align="alignnone" width="300"] Shane Thompson sitting in the Speaker’s chair for the first time.[/caption]

The Premier is the head of government in the Northwest Territories. The role of Premier includes chairing Cabinet meetings, assigning portfolios to ministers and disciplining ministers. The Premier also develops consensus with other ministers and serves as their spokesperson on matters that do not fall within individual portfolios.

In a statement, R.J. Simpson said that he is “honoured that members of the 20th Legislative Assembly have placed their trust in me to be the next Premier of the Northwest Territories. Excited to lead our territory at such a critical time, I look toward the next four years with hope, confidence, and urgency to get things done.

“In my eight years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I’ve learned that collaboration is the best way to effect real, positive change. By working with fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly, Indigenous governments, community leadership, and public servants across the territory, we can propel the NWT towards a brighter, better future where residents, communities and economies prosper.”

[caption id="attachment_67609" align="alignnone" width="300"] MLA R.J. Simpson, now the Premier of the NWT[/caption]

In a one-on-one interview, Simpson shared why he had decided to throw his name in the ring for Premier.

“This was actually my second run for Premier, as I ran for Premier at the start of my second term. I just felt compelled to because I felt that I could make a difference. I saw the issues in the Territory, I thought there were ways we could address them, and I wanted to make sure that we did. I figure if you wanna get something done, you should do it yourself.”

Simpson also shared that there is a sense of excitement from Hay River residents about having a Premier from their very own neighbourhood.

“I’ve heard from many many constituents and I haven’t even had a chance to get back to them yet. There is a lot of excitement and I’m really happy to be a part of that. I wouldn’t be here if not for the people of Hay River. You can’t even be elected as an MLA without a good group around you, a good team around you, and support from the community, so right from election to MLA, right up to my election as Premier, they’ve been very supportive, and it’s been great to be able to represent the town and be the first Premier out of Hay River!”

Friday’s first session also saw each of the MLAs give quick statements where they thanked their constituents and allies, as well as stating some of their main priorities that they wish to tackle in the years ahead.

The post Shane Thompson and RJ Simpson Officially Appointed as Speaker and Premier appeared first on My True North Now.

Premier Caroline Cochrane has issued a formal statement regarding the sudden passing of Chief Edward Sangris:

“I, along with residents of N’dilo, Dettah, Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories, am saddened to hear of the passing of Chief Edward (Eddie) Sangris.

“I remember Chief Eddie from when we were children, and he would travel from Dettah to Yellowknife by dog team. He was proud of his Dettah home then, and he continued all his life to represent his community. Hailing from a strong line of Dene leaders, he would go on to become a prominent leader in the territory, where he would serve as a Yellowknives Dene Chief for 16 years.

“Throughout his leadership, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) celebrated many great achievements including the introduction of a housing strategy designed to improve the wellbeing of YKDFN members, and the successful growth of the Det’on Cho Corporation, which has strengthened the economic self-sufficiency of the YKDFN. He guided his community through various challenges including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires.

“Being a leader is frequently challenging. Chief Eddie led with passion, love and a great sense of humour. It was an honour to know him, and to work with him. My condolences to Chief Eddie’s family.”

The post Premier Cochrane Speaks on Passing of Chief Edward Sangris appeared first on My True North Now.

The cold weather is almost hear in the NWT, and drivers will soon have to start taking the proper winter preparations once again.

Winter weather can take a heavy toll on vehicles, so it's key to make sure that they stay in proper working order.

When preparing for winter, there are several factors of the vehicle to make sure are up to the task.

Battery:

- Making sure the motor is in good working order. Motors need a fully charged battery to start in cold weather
- Cleaning the battery posts and checking the charging system and belts
- Replacing weak batteries before they fail

Lights:
- Making sure that all lights work and that the headlights are adjusted properly
- Making sure that the headlights are in the proper position. Many new vehicles aim headlights automatically, so they need to be inspected by a professional to ensure they're in the right position

Brakes:
- Doing a thorough brake check to make sure they're in top working condition. Pulling, a change in pedal feel, or unusual squealing or grinding may mean that the brakes need repair

Exhaust system:
- Checking for leaks that could send deadly carbon monoxide into the vehicle

Heating and cooling system:
- Checking the radiator hoses and drive belts for cracks and leaks
- Making sure the radiator cap, water pump, and thermostat work properly
- Testing the strength and level of the coolant/anti-freeze, and making sure the heater and defroster work well

Windshield wipers:
- Making sure that wipers are in good condition and replace blades that streak
- Using wipers designed for winter
- Filling up on winter washer fluid in the -40°C temperature range and carry an extra jug in the vehicle

Tires:
- Making sure the tires are at the correct pressure
- Making sure winter tires have at least 4mm tread depth for the safest winter driving.

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After serving two terms as a councillor for the City of Yellowknife, Deputy Mayor Stacie Arden-Smith has announced she is joining the race to be the next MLA for Great Slave. 

"I have the courage, the smarts and the compassion to get the Legislative Assembly back to work on what really matters to Northerners," Arden-Smith says.

Councillor Arden-Smith says she plans to work to strengthen relationships with communities and First Nations, while focusing on entrepreneurship, small businesses, and homelessness concerns. 

"When it comes down to it, not enough has really changed in four years," The councillor says. "Yellowknife hasn’t had a strong advocate in the Legislative Assembly and I know that my experience as a City Councillor will serve me well as an MLA," she adds. 

Should Councillor Arden-Smith be elected in November, the City of Yellowknife will be required to appoint a replacement. 

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The NWT Legislative Assembly has announced the appointment of an Acting Equal Pay Commissioner on the recommendation of the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly. 

Ms. Renée Caron will serve as Acting Commissioner beginning on October 30, 2023, until the end of a "competitive process" by the 20th Legislative Assembly, to recruit a new commissioner who will serve a four-year term. 

According to the Legislative Assembly, the Equal Pay Commissioner is responsible for ensuring the right to equal pay for work of equal value in the Public Service Act is protected. 

Additionally, the Commissioner receives and investigates complaints about the right to equal pay for equal work. 

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Housing NWT has announced that tenants have finally begun moving in to the Nordic Arms apartment building in Yellowknife, with all tenants scheduled to move in by the end of the month.

Housing NWT is working towards making public housing more available throughout the city by by providing fair access to quality housing supports for those who need it most. The Nordic Arms building was acquired last year, allowing the company to have direct control over how the units were managed, as well as making sure that public funds stay in the territory.

Between March 2022 and May 2023, Housing NWT conducted significant repairs and renovations to the building, hiring only local contractors. Project costs were approximately $1.3 million and included a range of building upgrades and improvements, including new sprinklers, fire panels, electrical distribution upgrades, and flooring replacements. Approximately $300,000 of this work was funded through a contribution from Finance Canada.

The purchase of Nordic Arms does not represent an overall increase to the number of public housing units in Yellowknife. Instead, a corresponding increase of private market rental units will become available as a result.

Previously a market rental building, two of Nordic Arms’ 24 units will remain market units under Housing NWT. The remaining 22 are designated for public housing.

Housing NWT plans to continue operating this building as a mixed-use public and market facility. As vacancies naturally come up, all units may eventually be used for public housing, with the local housing authority allocating tenants based on need.

The post Housing NWT Opens Nordic Arms Apartments to Tenents appeared first on My True North Now.

The Workers Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) has announced they are deferring the scheduled September 30 installment payment and waiving legislative penalties for any late payments. 

According to the WSCC, employers required to pay their fees on September 30 can now make that payment on October 31, with no penalty. 

"The recent wildfires and community evacuations in the Northwest Territories has placed added pressure on them [small businesses]," WSCC Acting President and CEO Harmeet Jagpal says. 

According to the WSCC, employers are required to pay to fund the WSCC compensation system, which provides security benefits for injured workers. Payments are made by one-time payments or on a payment schedule. 

The post WSCC defers September installment payments for employers as part of wildfire support appeared first on My True North Now.