Vale Newfoundland and Labrador has issued a Shipping Notice to the Public for today, May 5, 2021.

Please note the pontoon bridges at Taktok and Tabor Island will be removed on Friday May 7, 2021. A follow up notice will be sent on Friday once we have received confirmation from Sikumiut that the work is complete.

There will be no safe ice crossings after both bridges are removed from the ships track.

Extreme caution should be exercised around the ships track.

Further shipping information will be available at 1-877-922-7447, the Vale Shipping Information Number 709-922-4437.

You can also visit the Vale web site at www.vale.com/canada.

Memorizing the past years and now what its like today is so different or have changed so much, and even the weather.

Speaking with our Inuit elders is always so interesting to hear.

Click here to hear Nellie Winters of Makkovik.

Today (Tuesday, May 4), Newfoundland and Labrador has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is related to international travel.

The third new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The fourth new confirmed case is a female in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is under investigation.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

Because of today’s cases and out of an abundance of caution, Public Health is asking passengers who travelled on Air Canada Flight 678 that departed Montreal and arrived in St. John’s on Saturday, May 1 to arrange COVID-19 testing. To arrange testing, passengers can complete the online self-assessment and referral tool available here or call 811.

There are four new recoveries, three in the Eastern Health region and one in the Western Health region and 1,042 people have recovered. There are two people in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 56 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 56 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 32
· Central Health – 10
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 2
· Western Health – 12

To date, 134,296 people have been tested. There are no new presumptive positive cases.

There will be a Mother’s Day Bingo this coming weekend.

It will be held on Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 3pm, open to all women ages 16 and up with a maximum limit of 95 people at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

Bingo cards will be selling for $20 each, $100 games, $500 mini, $1,5000 to go along with 50/50 tickets for a dollar each.

No children are permitted, sweets and tea will be served at half time break.

There will also be a Best Mother’s Day Shirt Contest with prizes of $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd, and $50 for 3rd.

Participants must wear your shirt to the bingo.

There will also be a door prizes with 5 draws for bingo vouchers.

For more information, please contact the Recreation Department at 922-2690 or 2691.

The Recreation Department is busy planning the Summer Recreation Program for this year.

The registration will begin on Monday, May 31st starting at 6pm with a fee of $30 and you must wear a mask.

This is a first come first serve basis, and only parents or guardians can sign your children up for this program. Parents will be notified for the start of this program.

Please note that they have not yet been approved for any funding for students yet, and the acceptance into this year’s program will depend on the number of students funded.

There is a registration limit of 15 spaces available for ages 5-7. (For any child attending school in September 2021 that will be turning 5 before December 31, 2021.)

There is also a registration limit of 15 spaces for ages 8-12.

After this number has been reached all other children will be put on a waiting list.

For more information, please contact the Recreation Director Lisa Ivany or the Recreation Assistants Mary Maggo or Edward Harris at 922-2690/2691.

Jens Haven Primary School in Nain held their very first KinderStart session for this 2020-2021 school year.

On Friday, May 7, they will hold their second KinderStart session. There is a total of 4 sessions.

The groups and times of the sessions remain the same as the sessions held on April 23rd.

In the morning group they begin at 10:00-11:30am, and for the afternoon group they will begin 1:15-2:45pm.

A reminder to parents that snacks must be nut and tree nut free.

Please call the school at 922-2813 if you have any questions.

COVID-19 vaccination appointments are now available for individuals 60-years-old and older and pregnant women in all health regions in the province.

Qualifying individuals are invited to book an appointment to receive their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Appointments can be booked online through the health authorities’ portal, or by phone call.

Western Health – 1-833-703-5470
Central Health – 1-833-961-3749
Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1-833-960-3643
Eastern Health – 1-833-951-3884

A full listing of vaccine clinic eligibility and how to book can be found at the Government of NL’s COVID-19 website at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

Nunatsiavut Government is in the process of providing a woodstove replacement program, for the first time.

Nick Mercer is the Regional Energy Coordinator for NG.

He says applications are available for Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries at their local community offices.

The liaison workers can help the beneficiaries fill out the applications forms.

Mercer says the applications are available now in May, through June and July.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear Mercer give you more information.

Today Monday, May 3, Newfoundland and Labrador has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Western Health region under 20 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The third new confirmed case is a male in the Western Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The fourth new confirmed case is a male in the Western Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There is also one new confirmed case of COVID-19 on the ship anchored in Conception Bay. This means a total of 13 crew are confirmed COVID-19 positive. The ship and crew are following Public Health orders as directed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Testing of all crew is finished. One crew member is in hospital, while the rest of the crew remain onboard. There is no risk of community spread. The province is continuing to work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Eastern Health while the ship remains anchored in Conception Bay.

While we understand the recent increase in COVID-19 cases is concerning, it is not unexpected given the epidemiology elsewhere in the country. We want to assure the public that the recent cases are isolating and there is no concern of community spread at this time. We are seeing increased travel into the province. We encourage those travelling to the province to make themselves aware of the Public Health guidelines and to follow the appropriate isolation protocols. We ask that everyone, including those travelling into the province, remain vigilant and continue following Public Health guidance.

There are no new recoveries and 1,038 people have recovered. There are two people in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 56 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 56 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 31
· Central Health – 10
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 2
· Western Health – 13

To date, 133,930 people have been tested.

There are no new presumptive positive cases in the province.

The 2021 High Efficiency Woodstove Replacement Program is a one-time program, open to residents of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, and Rigolet, who are beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claim Agreement who meet the requirements of the program.

It is open to all households that meet the program requirements and make less than $100,000 a year will receive a high efficiency woodstove for free. All costs covered by the program.

Households that meet the program requirements and make more than $100,000 are still able to qualify for a woodstove but will need to pay 25% of the stove and installation costs.

For an application, please contact your local Community Liaison Officer:

In Nain – Rutie Dicker at 922-2942 ext. 222 or email her at rutie.dicker@nunatsiavut.com.

In Hopedale – Ethel Hunter at 933-3777 ext. 231 or email her at ethel.hunter@nunatsiavut.com.

In Makkovik – Carol Gear at 923-2365 ext. 201 or email her at carol.gear@nunatsiavut.com.

In Postville – Betty Vincent at 479-9880 ext. 221 or email her at betty.vincent@nuntsiavut.com.

In Rigolet – Paula McLean Sheppard at 479-3383 ext. 206, or you can email her at paula.mclean-sheppard@nunatsiavut.com.

Applications are accepted during May, June, and July 2021 and can submit them to woodstoved@nunatsiavut.com.