Latest news with #ArcticWinterGames
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gold ulu heads to Hockey Hall of Fame to mark Nunavut's historic Arctic Winter Games win
It was an offer so special, David Clark thought at first it must be fake. But the offer was real, and now Clark's gold ulu from the 2023 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) is going to be displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Clark was the coach of Nunavut's U18 male hockey team when the team defeated Alaska at the 2023 games in Alberta to bring home the gold. It was the territory's first gold in hockey at the AWGs. "I couldn't be more proud," Clark said about his gold ulu going on display. "You know, like, I'm just a kid from Nunavut and I never thought I would go to the Hockey Hall of Fame for anything. "Getting my gold medal at the Hockey Hall of Fame and having those boys be part of it just means the world to me. I'm getting emotional just talking about it." The hall of fame's interest began with a recent visit from a group of young hockey players. Lee Barter is a youth hockey coach in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). He's helped to facilitate a youth hockey exchange where teams from southern Ontario visited Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and Rankin players visited the GTA. While the Nunavut players were in Ontario, they visited the Hockey Hall of Fame archives. Barter said the museum had set aside special Nunavut items like Jordin Tootoo's jersey. Tootoo is a Rankin-born former NHLer and was the first Inuk to make the major league. Barter said his team told archives staff that several of the players on prior exchanges had been part of the gold-winning AWG team, and the hall of fame was interested in acquiring a jersey or gold ulu to pay tribute to the win. "When they realized that there was a historic moment that had happened that they could commemorate, they were happy to reach out and we were excited to help make the connection," Barter said. Having had many of the players on that winning team participate in the exchange, Barter said it's been special to follow those players' progress as young athletes and see the AWG win. "We were very proud of them from here in Toronto, so we're obviously excited to see that they'll be celebrated at the hall of fame," he said. For Clark, the recognition shows the value of working hard and dreaming big. "I knew when we were going there, I said, 'we have the team.' We got the team and I believed when we left that, hey, we're going to win." A ceremony to induct Clark's gold ulu into the hall of fame will take place this summer in Toronto.
CBC
26-04-2025
- CBC
Complainant testifies at trial of former N.W.T. teacher facing sex-related charges
WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it. A Yellowknife jury heard this week from one of the complainants in a sexual assault trial of a former N.W.T. teacher. Neil Barry is facing three charges of sexual assault and three charges of sexual exploitation. Barry worked as a teacher in Tulı́t'a and Fort Simpson, N.W.T., between 2007 and 2017. The Crown alleges the sexual abuse involved four boys, then aged 16 to 18, whose identities are protected by a court ordered publication ban. The Crown prosecutor says Barry allegedly committed the sexual offences between 2007 and 2011. Testifying on Thursday, one of the complainants told the jury that Barry, now 49, sexually assaulted him in Yellowknife in the summer of 2009. The complainant, who was 18 at the time of the alleged assault, told the court that Barry was his school teacher and basketball coach in Tulita, and that his parents didn't live in the community. He described how, being away from his hometown, he had a parent-like relationship with Barry, and often talked to Barry about all his problems and concerns. The man told the court that in late spring or early summer 2009, he and Barry were in Yellowknife for the Arctic Winter Games basketball trials, sharing a hotel room. He said that one evening, they had consumed some alcohol and then went to bed. He then told the jury that later that night he woke up to Barry performing oral sex on him. He said he was shocked and froze, unable to call for any help. He said he pretended not to notice and gently moved away and over to a couch in the room. "This is the person I thought cared about me and was there for me," the man told the court. After the alleged incident, the complainant said that he brushed it aside and tried not to think about it. The man also described other sexual incidents that he said made him feel extremely uncomfortable with Barry. He told the court that he kept it to himself for years, feeling scared and embarrassed. But after having children of his own, he first told his wife about it. He said he later called the RCMP to report a sexual assault. Barry was officially charged in 2021 and is pleading not guilty to all charges. During the complainant's cross-examination on Friday, Barry's defence lawyer, Amy Lind, questioned the witness about how he could remember incidents that happened so long ago, and pointed out inconsistencies between his testimony in court, and what he told police about the incident. Lind said the man had told police that he waited for Barry to pass out that night, and had shouted at Barry after waking up to find him performing oral sex. Lind also told the court that the Arctic Winter Games basketball tryouts were held from December 4 to 6, 2009, and not in the spring or summer, as the complainant had testified. The man told the court that his emotions were running high when he was giving the police statement, and that the entire experience was traumatizing. He said the incident affected him and his family a lot, for many years. The trial continues Monday.
CBC
24-04-2025
- CBC
Jury trial begins for a former N.W.T. teacher facing multiple sexual offence charges
WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it. A jury trial began in Yellowknife on Wednesday for a former Northwest Territories teacher, facing multiple sexual offence charges. Neil Alexander Barry, now 49, is charged with three counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation. Barry worked as a teacher in Tulita and Fort Simpson, N.W.T., between 2007 and 2017. The Crown alleges the sexual abuse involved four boys, then aged 16 to 18, their identities are protected by a court ordered publication ban. The Crown prosecutor says Barry allegedly committed the sexual offences between 2007 and 2011. The incidents allegedly occurred in Tulita around 2007, where Barry was a teacher and a basketball coach. And in Yellowknife in the summer of 2009 during basketball tryouts for the Arctic Winter Games. Barry was formally charged in June 2021, but his case was delayed when jury trials were postponed because of pandemic restrictions, after which Barry's lawyer went on parental leave. He is pleading not guilty to all charges. In its opening statement, the Crown says while working as a teacher in Tulita, Barry often took boys into his house to help them with school and basketball and two of them ended up living with him and his wife at the time. The Crown told the court that victims allege Barry would make sexual jokes, play games and drink with them. One alleges Barry performed oral sex on him during a basketball trip to Yellowknife. Jurors also heard the agreed statements of facts. This included testimony from Barry's ex-wife, Kathleen Barry, who told the High Level RCMP detachment in 2020, that "things happened" between Barry and the boys. The two separated in 2014. RCMP began investigating shortly after, and started taking statements from the complainants. One complainant told RCMP that the offences occurred in a hotel room in Yellowknife during the 2009 Arctic Winter Games basketball tryouts and that no other witnesses were present during the alleged incident. The Crown also said throughout the investigation, RCMP took more victim statements, and corroborated evidence with witnesses, hotel booking records, and game rosters under Barry's name. An RCMP officer testified in court about her initial conversations with one of the complainants. She said she observed he was physically agitated, with "jiggly feet", while recounting the alleged incidents involving Barry. She said this behaviour subsided after talking about the incidents. Barry's defence counsel argued that these reactions are not indicative of guilt or innocence. The trial is scheduled to continue for the next two weeks.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Alaska Highway tolls, banning Trump Jr.: Yukoners advise premier on U.S. trade war response
Yukon's premier says he's been getting an "incredible" amount of advice and suggestions from Yukoners about how to retaliate against the U.S. for its punishing new tariffs — with suggestions ranging from putting on a toll on the Alaska Highway to banning American athletes from the Arctic Winter Games. Another suggestion Premier Ranj Pillai said he's been hearing is to bar Donald Trump Jr. from coming to the territory. The U.S. president's son has been known to do hunting trips in the Yukon. "Lots of Yukoners have reached out to me on this," Pillai said, about Trump Jr. "The legalities of that I think, first and foremost, have to be understood. "Are we banning one person? What are the legalities of that? You know, is that the right thing to do? How do you do that? And then who gets banned from the United States?" Pillai was speaking on Wednesday, a day after he announced some initial measures the territory was taking in response to the trade war launched this week by the U.S. president. The territory is updating its government procurement policies so that it buys more local goods and fewer U.S. goods, and establishing an assistance fund for local businesses. It will also no longer buy or sell American liquor products. Pillai said more measures will likely follow, but it's too soon to say what those will be. "People are so incredibly passionate about this, or concerned, or angry," he said. "It's incredible the amount of advice that we're getting from Yukoners, on all of these things. And we're just moving through it to see, you know, what's the most prudent thing to do at this time, and what the next step would look like." Elon Musk's businesses, the Arctic Winter Games The premier said another idea he's heard from a lot of Yukoners is to put a toll on the Alaska Highway for U.S. vehicles travelling through the territory. The highway connects Alaska to the lower 48 states, through the Yukon and B.C. Pillai said something like that is easier said than done, as it would require new infrastructure — for example, toll booths — new staff, and likely new legislation. "We've got to look at what our actions are and what legal tools we have to make those decisions," Pillai said. He also said people have been urging the government to punish businesses owned by tech billionaire and Trump appointee Elon Musk. Pillai said government officials are now reviewing whether to halt the territory's use of Musk's Starlink, or the social media platform X. As for banning Alaskan athletes from the next Arctic Winter Games — happening a year from now, in Whitehorse — the premier was cool to that idea. "That's not something that we've contemplated," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, NDP Leader Kate White floated the idea during an interview on CBC's Yukon Morning. She compared it to a decision made in 2022, about Russian athletes. Weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, in February 2022, the Arctic Winter Games International Committee announced it had "suspended Yamal, Russia, with immediate effect, following the attacks unfolding in Ukraine." "So if we're not allowing Russian athletes because of Putin's actions, are we going to have the conversation about Alaskan athletes?" White asked. "It's hard because we're talking about, I mean, the decision was made about Russian kids, right? So are we going to have to make the same decision about American kids?" Pillai argued that the games are an important event for positivity, and "building bridges" with friends in Alaska. "Look, at the end of the day, we need Americans to put ultimate pressure on the Trump administration," Pillai said.
CBC
19-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Federal, Yukon gov'ts give $2.9M for Biathlon Yukon facility in Whitehorse
Social Sharing When Whitehorse hosts the 2026 Arctic Winter Games a little over a year from now, the plan is to have a brand new, $2.9-million facility ready to go for biathletes. The federal and territorial governments on Tuesday announced new funding to build a two-storey facility for Biathlon Yukon. It will replace a trailer and outhouse that have been used for decades at the organization's training site on Grey Mountain. "The kids will be able to go to the bathroom now at –20, indoors," said Bill Curtis, president of Biathlon Yukon. "So this is a huge, huge improvement." Ottawa is chipping in just over $2.2 million for the construction and the Yukon government is providing $736,846. "When we think of infrastructure, most people will think of roads, sewers and water lines. And these are essential," said Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, at the funding announcement. "But recreational infrastructure is equally important. We must have the facilities to support people's ability to gather, to play, and to participate in organized sports." The new building will have meeting rooms, washrooms, showers, a kitchenette, and a secure storage room for the rifles used by athletes. It will also have improved accessibility and better parking. Yukon's Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn said the new facility will help Biathlon Yukon grow as an organization and "allow more children to find joy in the sport." "It is an unusual sport, but is a very Canadian sport. And I think it's something that you should get out and take part in, if you have a choice," Mostyn said. The goal is to have the new building in place by March 2026, when Whitehorse next hosts the Arctic Winter Games. Curtis said it will be a "very tight timeline." "We'll hopefully get construction started as soon as the snow is gone," he said.
