PORT HARDY—PHSS Principal Steve Gray was in correspondence with the Port Hardy Council this week, requesting the district continue its support of the District of Port Hardy Community Spirit Award.
In previous years the district has offered a scholarship to a deserving student from the school, awarding a $1,000 bursary to aid future study.
"Your greatly appreciated past sponsorship has increased post-secondary opportunities available to our students, helping to shape and support their futures," read Gray's appeal.
The council agreed to once again offer a $1,000 award to a student who has participated in leadership programs or who has been involved in community leadership in some form, the recipient to be decided by the PHSS Scholarship Committee.
The possibility of splitting the money and granting two $500 awards was discussed, but the council felt that $500 could disappear quickly on a few textbooks while $1,000 represented a much more impactful sum.
Councillors also praised the amount of bursaries and scholarships available for local students, Mayor Bev Parnham adding that, "North Islanders are really incredibly generous when it comes to bursaries."
Wind farm
As wind farm components continue to stream to the North Island, Mayor Parnham commended the way the companies involved were handling the operation, saying Totran, the company contracted to do the hauling, was doing "an incredible job."
She also praised the transparency of the operation, with the hauling schedule being readily available to the public.
One change she would like to see in the operation was the addition of information boards at each end of the route to alert drivers that there were rigs on the road.
"If people are aware then they'll be watching for them," she pointed out.
Overall though, she praised the way the operation was being handled. "I'm really quite impressed," she said. "They really seem to be on top of everything."
Staff reports
In the reports section of the meeting Coun. Nikki Shaw said it was "really interesting reflecting on Idle No More. It was called a protest but for me it was less a protest and more of a unity walk."
Coun. Jessie Hemphill echoed her sentiments, saying that it was "really exciting to see so many people out." Hemphill also informed the councillors that a movie on the history of the Gwa'sala and 'Nakwaxda'xw people, produced by her mother, had received two very successful screenings.
The other councillors looked forward to viewing the production.
The Mayor's report highlighted the problem of contacting Winter Harbour quickly in the case of an emergency, due to the lack of cell coverage there.
She also informed councillors that the results of the aerial surveys, performed last summer with a view to mine exploration, would be released this week, and looked forward to seeing the data.