News quiz April 26 | Mushers, voters and trouble in Puvirnituq

It’s time for the pre-election news quiz, and just like with Monday’s vote this one is also multiple choice. Let’s go!

1. One of the risks Nunavut Quest mushers faced as they prepared to set out Tuesday morning was that there was a polynya nearby. What is a polynya?

A. An area that never fully freezes because of the water flowing below it.
B. A snowy area known to have rocks that are close to the surface.
C. An area known to attract polar bears and other large animals.

2. Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88, made history by being the first pontiff to visit Nunavut in 2022. Only one other pope has visited Canada — who was it and when did he come?

A. Pope Benedict XVI, in 2010
B. Pope John Paul I, in 1978
C. Pope John Paul II, in 1984

3. Recently, Nunatsiaq News wrote about the operators who handle calls to the RCMP in Nunavut. On average, how many calls per day do RCMP across the territory receive from Nunavummiut requiring police assistance?

A. 124
B. 96
C. 181

4. Like everyone else across Canada, residents in Grise Fiord are preparing for Monday’s federal election. Which of these characteristics makes Grise Fiord unique in Nunavut?

A. Only one other community is located further north than Grise Fiord.
B. It is the smallest community in Nunavut.
C. Every Dec. 25, Grise Fiord is the first stop Santa Claus makes on his annual gift-giving flight around the world.

5. It’s been an unusually difficult winter for people living in the Nunavik community of Puvirnituq. What’s the problem?

A. A deep freeze that has plagued the community for weeks shows no sign of letting up.
B. A boil water advisory has been in place for more than a month.
C. Mechanical problems have forced trash collection trucks off the roads for the past three weeks.

It’s a long flight no matter where you are headed when you leave from Grise Fiord. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Answers

1. A — A polynya never freezes due to the water current below. It can pose a risk to travellers unfamiliar with the area.
2. C — Pope John Paul II visited Canada three times, first in 1984, again in 1987 when he dropped into Fort Simpson, N.W.T. and a third time in 2002.
3. B — On average, 96 calls come in each day from people asking the RCMP to respond to some sort of incident. Over a year, that works out to a total of about 35,000 calls, or nearly one call for each of the approximately 40,000 people who live in the territory.
4. B — With approximately 140 residents, Grise Fiord is the smallest community in Nunavut.
5. B — The problem is in the water, as in efforts to thaw out a frozen water pipe have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, some water trucks in need of repair are waiting on parts to be delivered. So a boil water advisory put in place March 20 remains in effect.