N & L has reported that one person died of COVID-19 and added hospitalizations have fallen since last week’s update.

The provincial’s latest numbers released Wednesday at noon, show 15 people in hospital, including 5 in critical care. Last week 19 people were in hospital with 6 in critical care.

The person who died was in the 80’s category from Eastern Health.

The province also reported 173 new cases of COVID-19 since last week’s update, but the numbers don’t reflect the true prevalence of the disease since it only records positive PCR tests done by provincial health authorities and does not include rapid tests done by the public on their own.

The province is approaching another milestone in the pandemic, with Thursday marking the 1,000th day since Newfoundland and Labrador registered its first presumptive positive case, on March 14, 2020.

In the days since then, 279 people have died from COVID-19 in the province.

The Recreation Department will have a best decorated house contest for the community of Nain.

The contest will be on December 23, 2022, with judging starting at 7pm.

Judging is not solely based on lights, but the creativity used in decorating your house, and judges will be looking for items made by the homeowners.

Houses will be judged by the attractive use of light and color, originality and creativity, use of non-lighting decorations, overall effect, creating a theme, novelty or use of music, festivity, and most effective use of lights.

1st place winner will get a $150 Franks gift certificate and a $150 Northern gift card, 2nd place winner will get a $100 Northern gift card and a $50 Franks gift certificate, and 3rd place winner will get a $50 gift card donated by Northern.

To register your house, call the Nain Inuit Community Government Office at 922-2842 by December 23 at 4:30pm.

It’s that time of the year when many people are traveling to be with family and friends for the Christmas holidays.

Air Inuit recently released their schedule for the 2022-2023 Special Holiday flights to Nain.

The first flight is scheduled to depart George River on Tuesday, December 20th at 10:45am and will arrive in Nain at 12:30pm.

On the same day, it departs from Nain at 12:40pm and arrives back to George River at 2:05pm.

Air Inuit returns to Nain on Tuesday, December 27th and arrives to Nain at 12:10pm, and departs to George River at 12:40pm.

And the last flight to Nain for the Christmas holidays will be on Wednesday, January 8, 2023.

It departs George River at 10:45am then arrives to Nain at 12:10pm.

Lastly, it will depart from Nain at 12:40pm, and arrives back to George River at 2:05pm.

With 30% Christmas discount for Nunatsiavut beneficiaries from Nain to George River or Kuujjuaq, return tickets are $858.05 for adults, and $611.40 for children ages 2-12, and Seniors ages 60 and up.

From Nain to Kuujjuaq, adult return tickets are $1,255.67, and $895.42 for children ages 2-12, and Seniors 60 and up.

To book your flight, you may call the Air Inuit reservation desk at 1-800-361-2965.

Labrador Marine Inc. (LMI) announced that with Monday’s departure of the Kamutik W from Goose Bay for ports to Nain, the 2022 season is drawing to a close.

The Kamutik W made 26 trips to the north coast and 8 trips to Black Tickle during the 2022 season. By the end of this trip north, all freight and cargo for coastal ports will have been delivered. As in previous years, passenger service continued until season’s end.

“The 2022 season marks the first time in three years that LMI has operated the service without public health travel restrictions that were imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said LMI President and CEO Peter Woodward. “Private vehicle traffic increased, passenger numbers were up, and cargo shipments were consistent with 2021. Those numbers will be adjusted slightly when December totals are finalized, but things have returned to normal. And it’s gratifying to know that we have delivered all freight and cargo destined for coastal communities.”

People planning to travel late in the season should be aware that there may be schedule changes due to weather conditions and the need to conclude freight operations. Passengers with reservations will be contracted by email should be a change in their itinerary.

Labrador Marine Inc. has begun planning for the 2023 season and has scheduled the first sailing to depart Goose Bay on Sunday, June 11 at 2pm. LMI will consult local government officials and users of the service as it commenced planning for next season.

The Youth Centre will be going ahead with their annual 12 Days of Christmas starting tomorrow.

We spoke with Cathy Dicker who is the Team Lead.

She says youth ages 13-30 can start going to the Centre starting Thursday, December 8 until the 19th at 8:30pm.

There are different activities planned for each night such as board game night, pool night, decorating the Christmas tree, and more.

Dicker says hopefully people will show up, participate in the activities, and have fun. Snacks will be provided.

Youth can also bring their stocking to the Youth Centre for Christmas.

There was an article written about Christmastime in Northern Labrador in December 1986.

Sam Metcalf from Labrador lived in Ottawa and worked in Inuit cultural and linguistic programs and taught Inuttitut at Ottawa University and Memorial University.

Click here to hear the article from Metcalf from December 1986.

The OKâlaKatiget Society still has two employment opportunities for the positions of a full-time permanent Executive Director and Television Producers.

Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director co-ordinates all administrative and policy activity to ensure that the OKâlaKatiget Society meets its goals and objectives.

The television producer films and produces television shows for broadcast via APTN.

For more information or if you would like to apply, you can call our office at 922-2955.

Do you listen to our OK radio? We want to hear from you! Complete a survey for a chance to win 1 of 12 $100 gift cards.

The survey is open to anyone in Canada until Sunday, December 11 and winners will be announced via Facebook on Monday, December 12, this year.

This project is supported by Memorial’s Public Engagement Accelerator Fund.

To complete the survey, you can check out the OKâlaKatiget Society’s Facebook page.

Jordan’s Principal makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need when they need them.

Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.

Jordan’s Principal is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.

Since 2016, the Government has committed $2.36 billion toward meeting the needs of First Nations children through Jordan’s Principal.

They also have staff across the country dedicated full-time to Jordan’s Principal; they work closely with the local coordinators to make sure all requests are processed as quickly as possible.

A request for a group of children with similar needs from multiple families or guardians can be submitted by a community or a service provider. Examples of the types of services a group can request are:

• Speech therapy
• Educational supports
• Medical equipment services, and more

Requests for Inuit children can be made through the Inuit Child First Initiative at www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng.

For more information, you can contact the national call centre at 1-855-572-4453, which is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The month of December has arrived!

Holidays can mean different things to different people. No matter what you are looking for, we are here for you.

From compassionate support to recipes and gift ideas, you can turn to us.

For many people it is a time for reflection or a chance to give back And for some it can be a difficult of the year.

If you had been diagnosed with cancer or a loved has,, or someone you cared about died from cancer, the holidays can be challenging.

At the Canadian Cancer Society, we understand that the holidays can mean different things to different people. No matter how to spend the holidays this yea, know you can turn to us.

From proving information and compassionate support to anyone who needs I, to sharing heathy recipes, to meaningful gift ideas.

We know cancer affects all of us and for some, it can impact us during the holidays, we offer a support system for people with cancer and their family, friends and caregivers.

If the holidays difficult because of a death loved one, know that you are not alone. Coping with grief can be painful – take care of yourself and give time to grieve. Everyone grieves in their own way.