Staff Picks: CBC N.W.T. remembers 2015

As we approach the end of the year, CBC N.W.T. gathered some of the staff's most memorable moments and stories from 2015. 

Justin Trudeau in Yellowknife

The highlight of the year for me, I guess, was recording a TV interview with Justin Trudeau during the election campaign.

It was January, in the morning, and I had to come in early with Randy Henderson. We shot the interview and after I got a picture with him and posted it to Facebook.

My mom said, "Wow, he's going to be our next Prime Minister." She was right about that.

- Randall McKenzie

Traveling to Gameti

Travelling to Gameti this summer was a 2015 highlight for me. The community was rich in both culture and stories, and people opened up their homes to share both.

This picture captures a special moment: elder Maron Apples took the afternoon to show me her smokehouse and sample some of her dry fish.

Maron has been fishing in the lakes off Gameti nearly her entire life, and has proudly raised her children and grandchildren on the food she harvests from the land.

- Rachel Zelniker

David Suzuki in Deline

I think the highlight for me this year would be David Suzuki going to the Tudze, or Water Heart, conference in Deline this summer.

He brought his wife. He drum danced. He was just one of the people there.

You're always seeing him on TV and you never think that you'd ever meet him, and then he's with your people and he's drum-dancing with your people.

- Leitha Kochon

A dying man's wish

It's a rare honour to get to ask someone to reflect on life and death when they're at the end. I got to do that with Hark Wylie. His parents built and opened the Wildcat Cafe. Against his doctor's orders, he travelled to Yellowknife to reconnect with his earliest memories and his identity.

I saw the community roll out every bit of kindness and red carpet they could for Hark. And it touched his heart. He broke down talking about how special it was. And I broke down listening to him. 

He was looking death in the eye with peace in his heart because he'd known the love of family, he'd worked hard and honestly, and he had a special bit of Northern adventure at both ends of his life. Hark Wylie is still alive, fighting to have one last Christmas with his family. Godspeed, Hark.

- Loren McGinnis

​Hand games on a plane 

This past April, on an otherwise uneventful flight to Fort Good Hope, I got to witness an impromptu one-on-one hand games competition between young Cole and Taylen McNeely.

There's lots to say about what this means for culture and family and the uniqueness of northern air travel, but in this reflective time of year I'm struck by how these two kids seized a small moment and squeezed in some fun.

It was a stuffed, loud, chilly, bumpy flight and these two were having a hoot. These guys reminded me to enjoy all the little moments in a day.

- Peter Sheldon

​Philippine Basketball League 

Imagine walking into a gymnasium filled with dozens of people. You're there to observe and report what is, in essence, a cultural festival — one of very few in attendance of your race, and holding a camera and microphone, you stick out like a sore thumb. It's obvious you don't belong, yet you've never felt more welcomed.

Such was my experience reporting on Yellowknife's exploding Philippine Basketball League. League officials and players opened doors and hearts, allowing me to not just see their unique league/community gathering, but become a part of it. With every reason to be wary, they allowed me in, unreservedly. As we enter 2016 with an influx of new Canadians due to the crisis in Syria, it's a timely lesson we could all stand to learn from.

- Garrett Hinchey

Heartbreaking news

Reading the newscast is not always easy. I knew on the morning of August 26, it would be one of those days. Two heartbreaking stories were in the news that morning.

First I read a story about four members of a family in Pond Inlet who died in a tragic tent fire. Then I read a story about six-year-old Yellowknifer, Malcolm Austin, who had just died of cancer. I only got through the first line, then shut off the mic. I couldn't do it. I was devastated, especially after having interviewed Malcolm.

Loren McGinnis told me to leave the studio before he got emotional too. Then he finished my job. No matter how much you prepare yourself to get through something tough, sometimes you just can't do it. 

I still thank the stranger, a listener, who brought me a coffee soon after.

- Juanita Taylor

CBC job cuts 

A sad memory of 2015 was a round of job reductions. Budget cuts and revenue shortfalls hit home. A handful of staff received notice in the spring that the jobs they performed would no longer be funded.

For some, there were options to remain with CBC North and take on different responsibilities. Resilience was vital for those directly affected. It was also difficult for co-workers to watch the months-long process unfold.

It was a bittersweet year of change. Reflecting on the challenges our teams face is as important as our achievements. None of it is possible without our people.

- Allan Gofenko

20th anniversary 

One of the more memorable Northbeat shows we did this year was our 20th anniversary special. We brought back some of the original people who put Northbeat to air, including former CBC North regional director, and the architect of the show, Marie Wilson, as well as the original hosts, George Tuccaro and Paul Andrew.

It was a stroll down memory lane for me and I'm sure many of our long-time viewers — from hearing the original theme, to archival footage and a look at the behind-the-scenes crew who put it all together. 

It's hard to believe two decades have gone by since our first show. I only hope we'll be here two decades from now serving our audience. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our Northbeat viewers!

- Randy Henderson