Torngat Regional Housing Association continues construction on the two last new homes in Rigolet and Hopedale.

William Lucy is the Coordinator with TRHA.

He says in Rigolet they are doing trim work and painting and waiting on electrical work. The home should be done in couple weeks.

Lucy says they are waiting on their electrician to arrive and install switches in the last new home in Hopedale.

He added from the budget, TRHA has made a proposal to Nunatsiavut Government and is waiting on a response.

We will speak with Lucy again to find out more come next week.

OK Radio contacted each of the communities for an update on the ice conditions.

In Hopedale, we spoke with Ian Winters; he says there is hardly any change on the ice conditions since last week, except that the ice was watery, but has all drained.

AngajukKâk of Makkovik, Barry Andersen says the conditions from Big Island to Northeast area of Makkovik Bay is not safe anymore.

So, anyone would also like to notify his residents to use extreme caution in this area.

He adds that people are still using the Makkovik Bay towards Postville, but should still use extreme caution, be careful and take any communication device before travelling.

Charlotte Wolfrey is the AngajukKâk of Rigolet.

She says that there is usually ice over to Double Mer until end of May, but this year, there is none.

Wolfrey adds that when Double Mer Ice is gone, in weeks time later the bay is no good.

There are people still travelling to Upper Lake Melville, in through the belly caters but rarely much due to the bad ice conditions.

Also, the ice around the North West River area is bad as well.

AngajukKâk adds that everyone please be careful and check the conditions before going on the ice and be safe.

AngajukKâk of Postville, Glenn Sheppard says that they tested 6 areas in the town area on Friday, April 16th.

At the Big Point they’ve measured 22”.

At Sandy Point measured 24”.

The Powerhouse Point was measured 25”.

Tom Oliver’s measured 24”.

At Spruce Point they measured 28”.

And at the Big Dock area in Postville, they measured 24”.

Sheppard adds that the ice is incredibly soft, and he has seen big changes in over a night or two, and the colours even changed, as well as a lot of slush.

AngajukKâk also says that please be incredibly careful and use the ice at your own discretion.

The Smart Kamutik is sent out for repairs and SmartICE is unable to get ice conditions around the Nain area.

Rex Holwell Jr. is the Northern Production Lead for Smart ICE.

After last week’s run to Natuashish, Holwell says there was trouble with the Smart Kamutik.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 21 Holwell will travel to the town of Makkovik to train their operator.

By the end of this week the town of Makkovik will have an operator to operate the Smart Kamutiks.

As of today, he went to test out some fresh water Smart Kamutiks.

Holwell says the fresh water Kamutik runs good on ice roads, but it just needs to have no snow on the ice to properly work.

The Ethel Pijogge Memorial Festival is still ongoing in Hopedale.

Danielle Pottle is one of the organizing committee members.

She says that there were three teams for the Ethel Pijogge Heritage Dog Team race.

First place went to Perry Voisey of Makkovik, second went to Herb Pijogge of Hopedale and third went to Andreas Jararuse.

Herb Pijogge won the prize for the best-looking dog team.

Events will continue until Thursday.

Click here to find out more.

Today, Monday, April 19th, Newfoundland and Labrador has three 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 female in the Western Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is a contact of a previous known case.

The third new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 60-69 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

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

There are no new recoveries and 1,011 people have recovered. There is no one in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 25 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The regional breakdown of the 25 active cases is as follows:
• Eastern Health – 14
• Central Health – 0
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
• Western Health – 11

To date, 129,832 people have been tested.

Congratulations to 7 artists from Nunatsiavut and Sheshatshiu who will be featured this summer at a prestigious national contemporary art exhibition on the Bonavista Peninsula.

The Bonavista Biennale (bonavistabiennale.com) this year it is featuring a special project called REGENERATION / Piguttaugiallavalliajuk / USSANITAUTEN.

Showcasing the following artists from Nunatsiavut and Sheshatshiu:

Eldred Allen
Gary Andersen
Holly Andersen
Wayne Broomfield
Samantha Jacque
Melissa Tremblett
Jennie Williams

Special Project Coordinating Curator for REGENERATION is Jessica Winters, from Makkovik.

The Nain DHSD is holding an Ice Safety Awareness starting today Monday, April 19, until Friday, April 23, 2021.

The Department of Health and Social Development will post a question each day for the week.

All you must do is call or comment your answer to each question posted daily and please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

Please follow and like the “Nain Dept. of Health & Social Development” Facebook Page to see the daily questions.

The winner for each random draw will be commented on the question of the day post, and the draw will take place at 4pm every day.

The random draw winner can pick up their prize at the DHSD Office from Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Jane Merkuratsuk at the DHSD Office at 922-2126.

Members of the Vale’s Aboriginal Affairs department, partnering with Nunatsiavut Government, will be visiting your community to give an overview of the 2020 Impacts & Benefits commitments and highlighting upcoming job opportunities with the Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion.

They will be in Nain today Monday, April 19 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm located at the Boardroom at the Nunatsiavut Building.

They will be in the town of Hopedale on Tuesday, April 20 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm located at the Boardroom in the Nunatsiavut Assembly Building.

For Postville, they will be there on Wednesday, April 21, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm located at the Boardroom at Kaipokok Community Center.

For Makkovik, they will be there on Thursday, April 22 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm located in the Multipurpose Room at the Makkovik Arena.

For Rigolet, they will be there on Wednesday, April 26, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm located at the Strathcona Building.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance will be by request. To book your spot please email Trent Pottle at Trent.Pottle@Vale.com.

A mask or an appropriate face covering is to be worn.

Fitzgerald placed new restrictions on essential workers who frequently enter the province for work.

Starting today, all such workers will not be able to go directly to work as before. They must get a COVID-19 test first — which they can book as much as a week in advance — and self-isolate while they wait for a negative result before going on the job.

All essential workers must self-isolate when not on the job site, and they will also be required to get regular tests if they stay in the province for any length of time.

The Youth Centre held a Atigik Making Program for youth for two weeks.

Crystal Allen-Webb is the Youth Outreach Worker with the Nain Department of Health and Social Development.

She says that the program was delayed due to COVID-19.

They had Kelly McLean and Heather Angnatok as their instructor along with 4 youth who participate in the program.

She would like to add that she is looking for any suggestions that the youth might have for future programs.

Click here to find out more from Allen-Webb on the Atigik Making Program.