Iqaluit dog yard users talk safety as council advances West 40 plans

Iqaluit residents with dog teams are asking the city to consider safety as council moves ahead with a plan to convert parts of the West 40 area into an industrial zone.

Councillors passed two bylaws through first and second reading Tuesday evening — an amendment to the city’s zoning bylaw, and an amendment to the general plan — which outline lots that businesses would be able to use for industrial purposes.

The proposed change brought out residents who have traditionally used this area located between the airport and the causeway for their dog teams.

A general plan map of Iqaluit’s West 40 area designates areas that are to be set aside as “open areas” (green) and industrial lots (purple). (Screenshot courtesy of City of Iqaluit)

While the bylaws also designate an open area where people can continue working with their dog teams, some worry that industrial use of the land could encroach on their dogs’ safety.

Three Iqaluit residents with dog teams in the West 40 area shared these concerns during a public hearing before Tuesday’s council meeting.

Cory Bell, who is Coun. Amber Aglukark’s husband, spoke on how people may interpret what the “open area” designation means — specifically, he worried people might read that as being space where they can leave boats and other machinery.

“That [area] designated as an open area may cause an interruption [to] the most recent traditional trails that people have been using,” Bell said.

Torsten Diesel said he’s worried about what could happen if a dog gets loose and wander toward the nearby industrial area. He suggested some sort of fencing could mitigate that.

“We cannot 100 per cent guarantee that there won’t be loose dogs, and we don’t want loose dogs and clients and outfitters and residents to have negative experiences with each other,” Diesel said, adding there has been some tension between dog teams and outfitting businesses.

Izaac Wilman told councillors his dog team is located on one of the lots that is proposed to be industrial.

However, he said, he has a meeting scheduled with city staff to discuss that, which planning director Mathew Dodds acknowledged.

When council was reviewing the bylaws, Dodds told members that “open area” is the “preferred designation” to ensure the dog yard is protected.

“We are continuing conversations with those affected by the amendment, including those that spoke tonight,” he said.

Councillors urged Dodds and city staff to engage with dog team owners as the area gets built up.

“I just want to ensure that those community members continue to be heard,” Aglukark said.

“This is a huge undertaking, and I credit that your team put a lot of time and effort into meeting with the dog team society.”

The two bylaws were approved unanimously and await final approval at a future meeting.