The Nunatsiavut Government is advising that there is still low COVID-19 activity in the community of Nain with no recoveries since the last update on February 21. There are no known cases in any other Labrador Inuit community at this time, and there are no hospitalizations due to the virus.

Public health officials continue to stress that it is likely the virus that causes COVID-19 will continue to present itself in all Labrador Inuit communities, and that activity may or may not be documented or reported. Residents have to assume the virus is present and to continue to follow all public health protocols.

The Nunatsiavut Government will continue to provide updates on COVID-19 activity, but will not be reporting case numbers as they may not be accurate or could identify infected individuals, especially if activity is low in any given Labrador Inuit community.

Individuals with symptoms, with no known exposure to the virus, should contact 811 or complete the online assessment tool at COVID Assessment and Referral to determine if testing is required.

Also, as of yesterday February 24, there are 38 (plus 2 since last update) confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in Voisey’s Bay.

There are 63 (minus 11 since last update) close contacts in isolation.

All positive cases and close contacts are in isolation.

These are official numbers. The next update will be end of day on Monday, February 28.

The Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government went live on Wednesday, February 23 for an important announcement.

The Minister in charge of Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault and the President of Nunatsiavut, Johannes Lampe signed a protocol of agreement to work together on the feasibility of establishing an indigenous protected area near the Torngat Mountains National Park, north of Labrador, as part of the initiative of Imappivut Marine planning from the government of Nunatsiavut.

Click here to hear the audio of the questions and answers from both the Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government.

Updates are coming within the next month from the Department of Education on the accessibility of daycare in the province.

Currently, regulated childcare in the province costs $15 per day. That cost is decreasing further in January 2023 to $10 per day.

Education Minister Tom Osborne says with the decreased costs there has been an increase in demand for childcare spaces.

He says a long-term plan is in place to help deal with that, which involves the College of the North Atlantic opening up “hundreds” of spaces for the training of more Early Childhood Educators across the province. He notes some of that has already begun, such as with spaces in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

In the short term, Osborne says the plan involves plans for pre-kindergarten.

He says an announcement will be coming in early March. He says opening pre-kindergarten spaces will in turn open more daycare spaces for kids up to four years old.

In addition to pre-kindergarten and the creation of new spaces at CNA, Osborne says the department is also working on the retention of ECEs.

He says they are working on a wage grid for workers that will see the wages of many ECEs increase. An update on that is also coming next month.

The TaKuaKautik Food Bank give away will be going ahead this evening.

The new Food Bank hours for the giveaway will be from 5 to 8pm at the Warehouse.

If you did not receive a bag in January but need a bag now, please provide your name to Megan Hudson.

If you have Food Bank bags, please return them to the yellow container on the steps at the Warehouse.

The Students On Ice Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of their summer program, Students on Ice: Cape Breton & Sable Island.

30 youth ages 14-24 will join experts and local knowledge holders to learn about how communities, ecosystems and research intersects.

This program is open to youth in Canada and full scholarships are available.

Each day, participants will visit protected and conserved areas, including National Parks, National Wildlife Areas, Indigenous Protected Areas, Marine Protected Areas, and a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Please check out our website for more information.

Applications close February 28, 2022.

The Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut government went live yesterday for an important announcement.

The Minister in charge of Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault and the President of Nunatsiavut, Johannes Lampe signed a protocol of agreement to work together on the feasibility of establishing an indigenous protected area near the Torngat Mountains National Park, north of Labrador, as part of the initiative of Imappivut Marine planning from the government of Nunatsiavut.

Click here to hear the audio of the announcement from yesterday from both the Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government.

Tune into tomorrow’s AtjiKangitut when we air the questions and answers portion of the audio.

Government of Canada and Nunatsiavut government went live this morning for an important announcement.

Today, the Minister in charge of Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault and the President of Nunatsiavut, Johannes Lampe signed a protocol of agreement to work together on the feasibility of establishing an indigenous protected area near the Torngat Mountains National Park, north of Labrador, as part of the initiative of Imappivut Marine planning from the government of Nunatsiavut.

We will be airing the live announcement from both Government of Canada and Nunatsiavut Government tomorrow.

Pink Shirt Day aims to reduce bullying by celebrating diversity in all its forms and through supporting workplaces, communities, and schools to be safe, supportive, welcoming, and inclusive of all people.

Gemma Andersen is the Mental Health and Addictions worker in Makkovik.

Andersen says they have been doing 8 different challenges, on their Makkovik DHSD Facebook page.

The grand prize at the end of the challenge is an 82-inch pelican sled, which will be drawn today.

Pam Campbell is the Mental Health and Addictions worker in Rigolet.

They have been doing a “Kindness Campaign” on their Facebook page that started on Wednesday, February 16th until today, February 23rd.

Each day, they would draw prizes for anyone that participated in the campaign.

Here is each challenge that happened through the week:

– On day one, people would write a kind note to someone they’d appreciate
– For Day two, they would help any elder in the community
– On day three, anyone can paint a picture or draw a color of what kindness means to you
– Anyone would do something kind for someone else that’s outside their household for day four
– For day five, people who participating would do a positive affirmation for themselves.
– Today, anyone will be wearing pink to show support of pink shirt day

Andersen adds they also done a draw yesterday for anyone in the community to get a chance to win a pink hoodie.

Mental Health’s Pink Shirt Day in Postville this year is being held virtually due to COVID restrictions.

Barbra Edmunds is the team leader of NDHSD in Postville.

She says that they post a mental health calendar for day-to-day basis activities.

Today’s activity is to post a selfie in the Facebook page wearing a Pink Shirt, this gives them a chance to win a pink shirt in support of Pink Shirt Day.

If there are participants who don’t have social media, they announce for people to call in with their answers, or to drop into the DHSD building to get their pictures taken.

They have this activity directed towards adults, and young adults as the school didn’t order any shirts in for the younger age categories.

The school normally would hold the Pink Shirt Day activities, but due to COVID, the public aren’t welcomed into their B.L Morrison School as of yet.

They have a good amount of participants, anywhere from 15-20 participants comment on the Facebook page to enter their names in to win a daily prize.

Today, February 23rd, 2022, marks Pink Shirt Day and the Department of Health and Social Development in Nain and Hopedale have been doing challenges throughout the week.

Rutie Lampe and Elsie Russell are the Mental Health and Addictions workers at the Nain DHSD.

They say that they have been holding activities on their Nain DHSD Facebook page.

Lampe also shares some information on bullying and says that the draw for the final draw will take place at 3pm today.

Frances Boas is the Mental Health and Addictions worker in Hopedale.

She says they have been doing activities along with prizes since February 16th.

Boas adds that herself and Teri has cooking once a month and shares information on mental health and addictions.

Click here to hear more from Rutie Lampe and Elsie Russell from the Nain DHSD, and Frances Boas from the Hopedale DHSD.