Curling is back in Aklavik !

We meant it when we said EVERYONE was there to celebrate!

all been waiting and waiting. Your patience is something you can be proud of!” David Krutko, MLA said the people of Aklavik are “ a winning community” at the Grand Opening of the Sam Arey Curling Rink.

It looked as if the whole community came out to celebrate the event, filling the facility so there was only room for standing and clapping. Youth Angus Edwards said “It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a curling rink, we are really excited. I just started learning this year, curling’s lots of fun.” Even before the grand opening, children and adults have begun playing, so eager they were to curl.

Aklavik Mayor Knute Hansen said, “This rink will be well used by all in our community and will contribute to the well being of all.” The winter activity that stopped for all age groups will now recommence, and Aklavik’s curlers who had conquered the challenges of having no curling ice, to become champions in bonspiels all over the NWT can now see “our youth continue these winning ways through this facility and never say die.”

Edward Charlie and his crew were thanked for their workmanship, as were public works, local funding committees, and the people who helped with the facility, the opening ceremonies and the feast. The Arey family – Manny, Peter, Ellen, Billy, Archie and Annie Banksland cut the ribbon and the Sam Arey Curling Rink plaque was finally restored to where it belonged, high on the Curling Rink’s wall after being kept in a home for a decade.

Evelyn Storr, who was the MC along with Manny, said, “Along with the rest of Canada we are celebrating the team that just won the gold medal at the Olympics. People in the small communities watch these games and they are touched by what’s happening with Canadians. We hope that one day some of these young people can achieve that level of curling and that can only happen with community and government support.”

David Krutko agreed, “This rink has been a long time coming, for two years we have worked to get the program going, especially when the government was cutting the budget.” He said, “All the young people here, now you have this curling rink, do use it, you can go places. The Canada Curling team had a dedicated young man from Aklavik represent them in the Olympics. It doesn’t matter where you come from.”

GNWT Barren-ground Caribou Management Measures

Resident harvesters, please note for the next six months:

1. You are only allowed to harvest bulls.

2. Caribou Tags for outfitters on the Bathhurst Herd fall range is being reduced to 1999 levels.

3. Caribou Tags for resident harvesters are reduced from five to two.

4. Delaying of public release of maps showing locations of satellite collared caribou by two weeks.

5. Enforcement patrols will be increased, and a major public education campaign will be launched.