Holidays are calm in Nunavut and Nunavik

The holiday season was relatively peaceful in Nunavut, police say.

“It’s been fairly quiet all around,” said Sgt. Mark Heneger of the RCMP’s “V” division, which oversees law enforcement in the territory. “There were very few incidents. Some minor liquor-related things, but generally speaking very quiet.”

The community that kept police busiest seems to have been Kugluktuk. According to CBC reports, a 55-year-old woman died there after a drinking party Christmas Eve.

The RCMP said homemade liquor was being drunk at the party, but until an autopsy is completed it will not be known if that was the cause of death.

The incident is still under investigation, and no foul play is suspected.

In another incident in Kugluktuk, local youths broke into the Northern store three times in one night Dec. 31. As many as 23 juveniles were believed to have been involved. One youth apparently had a key, allowing the kids to help themselves to video games, food and other items.

Some of the children, who were all under 18, were charged with breaking and entering and possessing stolen property.

In Nunavut’s capital the holidays were fairly placid.

“Iqaluit itself was very quiet and tame, which was nice for a change,” said Iqaluit RCMP Cpl. Bob Pilot.

On Dec. 23, an Iqaluit snowmobiler was medevaced south after sustaining serious injuries when his skidoo collided with a automobile on the roadway near Northmart. The victim was a 23-year-old male.

Police said alcohol was suspected as a factor in the accident, and charges may be laid after the investigation is complete.

The accident was the second involving a snowmobile that day. Earlier on Dec. 23, a snowmobiler suffered a dislocated hip after being thrown from his Skidoo when it collided with an automobile. Alcohol was not a factor in that accident, police said.

Another individual was arrested for drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.

In a drug bust on Dec. 21, two Iqaluit residents were arrested at the airport and charged with possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking.

Arrested were Damien Beauregard, 29, and Alice Pallister, 26. Both suspects have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Nunavut Court of Justice on March 12.

Police seized marijuana and hash oil in the arrest. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around $6,000.

Police say Nunavik was also relatively peaceful between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Repeated flight cancellations from the South meant shipments of alcohol destined for Kuujjuaq and the smaller communities never arrived.

“In Kuujjuaq a couple of days went by without any major calls,” said Kativik Regional Police Chief Brian Jones.

No major drunk driving incidents were reported. In Kuujjuaq cops had tried to educate residents about the dangers of impaired driving before the holidays. Patrons of the local bar were also able to use a free taxi shuttle service to return home.