Lli Goline/Norman Wells

The Sahtu Got'ine Regional Health and Social Services Centre and Sahtu Dene Necha Ko Long-Term Care Facility in Norman Wells held an official opening today.Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy and Infrastructure Minister Wally Schumann attended the opening of the new combined health and social services and long term care facility.

MLA Daniel McNeely, chiefs representing Sahtu communities and Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Chair Jim Antoine were also in attendance.

Visitors celebrated the opening with a tour of the facility, which boasts an 18-bedroom long-term care facility. It also offers traditional healing in parallel with existing programs and services.

- Ezra Black

GNWT marks A21 pipe extension

NWT

The GNWT marked the official opening of the A21 kimberlite pipe at Diavik diamond mine and a four-year $350-million private investment to the mining industry Aug. 21.

Both Rio Tinto and Dominion Diamond Corporation contributed to the monetary assistance which will ensure an important source of incremental supply and that production levels remain steady in the coming years.

The opening of the pipe and investment will not extend the life of the mine.

Wally Shumann, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment joined Indigenous groups, joint venture partners, and Rio Tinto employees to celebrate the new funding for the mining industry.

- Simon Whitehouse

Edmonton unit helps Fort Smith detonate explosives

Thebacha/Fort Smith

An unit specializing in explosives had to be flown into Fort Smith from Edmonton recently after a local homeowner found blasting caps on their premises.

Fort Smith reported that the homeowner was preparing for a move when they located the small amount of explosives, which are commonly used for mining and road construction.

The Edmonton unit took the explosives to a local firearms range in Fort Smith to detonate them. The public was in no time in danger during the response.

- Simon Whitehouse