As you may or may not be aware, Postville has been selected to host the 2020 Winter Sports meet from February 6th to the 8th, 2020.

The school is at the initial stages of preparing for this event and are looking to the community for their cooperation.

As in years past, there are six students and 1 coach from each of the north coast communities attending, (35 people in total); these individuals all are in need of billets.

Therefore, they are asking that if you could house a student for those three nights, or even a coach, please contact the school and leave your name, or contact either Howard Worthman or Mrs. Carmen Sheppard.

The opening ceremonies will be held at the school gym at 6 pm, Thursday, February 6th and all are welcome to attend.

Events such as, Outdoor soccer, Cross Country Skiing, The Labrathon , and Ball Hockey will be taking place throughout the community over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Show the Postville spirit and come and support the student athletics.

And don’t forget the Native games will take place on Friday evening at the school gym.

A full and complete schedule of events will be made public shortly before the events begin.

To give a helping hand, the staff has agreed to serve breakfast to the athletes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings.

The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is saddened to learn of the passing of John Crosbie.

John Crosbie was a prominent figure in both Provincial and National Politics since the 1960s, serving as a Provincial Cabinet Minister and as a Federal Cabinet Minister and then serving as Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

His Worship, Mayor Wilson (Wally) Andersen stated:
“John Crosbie served our Province and our Country well, there will never be another like him.”

The 12th Council, Management, and Staff of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay offer sincere condolences to John Crosbie’s family and friends.

In honour of his legacy and his contribution, flags in front of Town Hall will fly at half-mast until after John Crosbie’s funeral service.

The 17th Annual Inuktitut speak-off will be held in Nain this year.

Christine Nochasak is the Inuk Program Specialist.

She says there will be ten students that will be participating this year.

Nochasak says they have two judges from Nain so far, but would like some more judges from the coast.

To be a judge for the speak-off, you would have to fill out an application form.

Click here to hear more from Nochasak on the 17th Annual Inuktitut Speak-Off.

The Nunatsiavut Government is now accepting applications for the 7plex in Nain with the deadline for applications being January 22nd, 2020.

The purpose of the program/housing units is to provide housing to Nain families that are experiencing family violence or that are at risk of having one or more children taken into care of CSSD or that have had a child taken into the care of CSSD in circumstances where access to appropriate family housing would be one of the supports necessary or helpful in preventing family violence, avoiding CSSD intervention, preventing children being taken into care of CSSD or maintaining or restoring the integrity and health of the family.

Application forms are available from any DHSD office, the NG Community Liaison office (Nain) or you can contact Michelle Kinney at 896-5306.

If you have any questions or require additional information, you may also email her at michelle.kinney@nunatsiavut.com.

The Nunatsiavut Government Division of Tourism is seeking two community stakeholders to attend to the 2020 Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Conference.

This conference will take place in Corner Brook in February.

Anita Rich is the Tourism Development Officer with the Nunatsiavut Government.

They are encouraging business owners and community tourism stakeholders to apply.

This two day conference will be held on February 25th to the 27th, 2020.

If you are interested in applying, please send along a brief description of why you would like to attend to Anita Rich.

And deadline to apply is January 22nd, 2020.

To apply, you can call Rich at (709) 947-3604 or by email at anita.rich@nunatsiavut.com.

The UKâlalautta Inuttitut will be holding a pilot project for Nain residence.

Shirley Jararuse is the UKausinik Aulatsijik, Language Program Coordinator with the Dept. of Language, Culture & Tourism for Nunatsiavut Government.

She says right now, they are taking application forms for the evening Inuttitut classes.

This pilot project you will get to learn basic, low, intermediate level Inuttitut.

This is open to all Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries and has limited seats available for ages 16 years and older.

Jararuse says the evening classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings, starting January 23rd to March 26th, 2020 from 7-8 pm at the Illusuak Building.

If you are interested, you can pick up applications at the Illusuak building or email shirley.jararuse@nunatsiavut.com or robyn.martin@nunatsiavut.com.

For more information, please call 922-2051/2052.

The deadline date for applications is Friday, January 17th, 2020 at 4 pm.

Just a few months away for the 2020 Cains Quest Snowmobile Endurance race to begin in Labrador.

On March 7th, 2020, teams from across the world will be competing.

We spoke with Sarah Halliday who is the Director of Marketing & Communications.

She says the Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race has been described as the ultimate in extreme racing.

At 3,100 km of high energy racing in 2020, this race is the longest race of its kind in the world and promises to keep race fans on the edge of their seat.

Cain’s Quest is a true northern adventure that gives racers the experience of a lifetime.

Click here to find out more about the 2020 Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race.

The 7 plex in Nain is near completion and the applications are now available starting today.

Michelle Kinney is the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development with the Nunatsiavut Government.

She says this building is for parents who are trying to get their children back, who are in care of CSSD.

Kinney adds the parents and their children will be able to move in February, 2020.

Click here to hear more from Kinney on a update on the 7 plex here in Nain.

President Johannes Lampe announced on January 3rd that the Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the Constituency of Makkovik will head to the polls on February 4th to elect an Ordinary Member to the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

Nominations will close at 2 p.m. on January 20th, 2020.

Nomination forms can be obtained from Nunatsiavut’s Electoral Officer, Nannette Blake, by calling 709-899-0369 or by e-mailing nannette.blake@nunatsiavut.com

During the winter shipping period of January 22nd – April 6th, Vale NL will mark the ship’s track with coloured reflective markers, which are placed every 250 metres along the track where the track is straight.

These markers will be closer together in areas where the track turns, at the crossing signs and in the area of the star turn in Edward’s Cove. The reflective markers will be red on the north side of the track and green on the south side of the track.

The map sets out the location of the ice crossings, the pontoon crossing and shows which side of the track has the red markers and which side of the track has green markers. Vale, along with Sikumiut, has developed pontoon structures that are deployed after the ship has passed by. These structures are located near the Tabor Island and Taktok crossing.

Each winter, the ship will choose either the northern or southern route. Once the route is chosen, it will remain the same for all voyages during that winter.

The blue crossings will be constructed after the ship has gone into Edward’s Cove, and both the blue and the orange crossings will be constructed after the ship has left. Each safe crossing will be marked with lights and the sign will say whether the crossing is safe or not safe to cross. The pontoon structure is deployed after the ship has passed by.

If you do not know the ships activities, go to a crossing location and the sign will indicate whether the ship’s track is safe to cross.

How can you find out about the ship’s movement:

Call the Vale NL’s shipping information line at 1 877 922 SHIP (7447)

Listen to Okalakatiget Radio broadcast for regular updates.

Call Gus Dicker or Ron Webb at (709) 922 1999

The ship’s track marking and safe crossings will be constructed and maintained by Sikumiut.