Justice

Featured, Justice, Law courts, Police August 7, 2024

Senior Beaufort Delta educator charged with sexual crimes against children

Education Council assistant supt. Richard Steven McKinnon’s alleged offences occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020


A senior employee of the Beaufort Delta Education Council has been charged with multiple sexual offences alleged to have occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020. Forty-four-year-old Richard Steven McKinnon, assistant superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, was arrested by RCMP on August 5 and subsequently charged…

Featured, Justice, News, Police July 19, 2024

Appeal court rules northern RCMP justified in abusing Inuvik drug dealer’s rights

‘This is not to say police have license to disregard Charter rights in some communities,’ says NWT Court of Appeal.


The illegal drug scourge “in the community of Inuvik, and in the Northwest Territories in general” is so bad, police might be excused if they are a bit loose with a suspected cocaine dealer’s Charter rights. The NWT Supreme Court’s bench has for years expressed frustration and disgust for outsiders…

Featured, Justice, News, Politics July 18, 2024

Decrease in pre-trial custody corresponds with increase of repeat offenders

'Perhaps we've been a bit too lenient at the expense of public safety,' says Premier RJ Simpson


Canada’s premiers have called on the federal government to review its recent changes to bail legislation, as it might not be closing  the revolving door for charged individuals. That was one of the asks from the Council of the Federation at the end of its two-day meeting in Halifax on…

Featured, Justice, News, Police July 11, 2024

Yellowknife-based Canadian Armed Forces reservist charged with luring a child

While charge is related to online actvity, the accused's employment places him in a position of trust and authority over youth


A Canadian Armed Forces reservist member who works with youth has been charged with luring a child, following an investigation by the RCMP NT Internet Child Exploitation (NT ICE) unit. Sixty-year-old Craig Routery a Warrant Officer with 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, stationed at Yellowknife, was arrested on July 8th,…

Education, Featured, Health, Justice, News, Politics June 13, 2024

Midwifery gets a breather as Finance Minister reverses some proposed budget cuts

Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek promises Behchokǫ̀ will be part of planned program expansion before end of 2027


The territorial government has partially reversed plans to cut nearly $1 million from midwifery services as part of its 2024 proposed budget. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek made the announcement at a committee hearing late Wednesday afternoon. “Midwives provide a valuable service to support health care in a culturally sensitive and…

Community, Featured, Justice, News June 12, 2024

‘I don’t want them to forget about Frank being missing,’ says mom Laura Kalinek

The Frank Gruben Pride Festival to honour the memory of missing Indigenous person


“Frank Gruben was a really outgoing person. He was caring. He would love to help people. If anybody needed help, he’d be there in a heartbeat and he really loved to speak his Gwich’in language,” says Laura Kalinek, mother of Frank Gruben. Gruben has been missing from Fort Smith for…

Featured, Justice, Life Style, News, Reconciliation June 3, 2024

Walking with Pride, with heads held high

The Northern Mosaic Network's 2nd annual Pride Parade attracted hundreds of people on the weekend


Hundreds of people from all walks of life celebrated the 2SLGBTQIPA+ community with floats, music, and pageantry through the streets of downtown Yellowknife on the weekend. Approximately 350 people formed the 2nd annual Yellowknife Pride Parade through downtown on Sunday, as the sun came out after a couple of days…

Featured, Justice, News, Police May 24, 2024

Breanna Menacho’s killer eligible for parole in six years for second-degree murder

Supreme Court justice shocked to learn Devon Larabie obtained alcohol, crack cocaine and even heroin in jail waiting trial


Devon Larabie will be eligible for parole from his life sentence for second-degree murder in the death of Breanna Menacho in six years, a Supreme Court judge has ruled. Justice David Gates was reluctant to accept the joint submission for 10 years before parole eligibility, but was legally restricted in…