Iqaluit’s AWG arena wins approval in principle

MICHAELA RODRIGUE

IQALUIT — A new arena and recreational building proposed for the 2002 Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit has won approval in principle from Iqaluit Town Council.

Two representatives from the group charged with staging Iqaluit’s portion of the 2002 Arctic Winter Games went to council this week with a wish-list for kickstarting the construction of a new arena and recreation facility.

They walked away with approval in principle for the new building, use of the lot next to the building that houses Iqaluit’s existing arena, and a new steering committee to guide design, construction and future uses of the new building.

The approval in principle will allow the host society to step up its campaign for raising the $3.5 million needed to build the new arena, said Iqaluit resident Dennis Patterson, who is working as a volunteer with the host society.

“If we get your support in principle, we’re very confident we can nail down the money,” Patterson told councillors before they voted. The society already has about $1 million in donations lined up as long as council approves the building.

Councillors did attach one condition to their approval. The host society must provide a fund-raising plan and show that they can come up with the necessary cash.

“I’m not going to be comfortable until I see a plan for how they’re going to raise the $3.5 million,” said Coun. Matthew Spence. “Our approval is conditional on them raising money and presenting a plan.”

Gilbert Normandeau, the general manager of the host society, said after the meeting he will have to prove to council that it has commitments for donations at each stage of design and construction.

The proposed building will be about the same size as the current arena and will share a wall. The main floor will include a 20,000-square foot arena that can seat 680 people. The two arenas would be used for hockey, figure skating and speed skating during the games.

After the games are over, the ice and bleachers would be removed and the surface used for other events, such at the Nunavut Trade Show. The top two floors are intended for use as a youth centre and for office space. Extensions could also be made to the building to include a new swimming pool.

Patterson told councillors the initial plans for the facility raised concerns within Iqaluit’s arts community and the Iqaluit Music Society. They were concerned a building designed to house an arena would make for a poor performing arts centre.

But Patterson said representatives from the music society have since said they need a smaller, separate facility and that they support the society’s plans for an arena.

“I think now they realize it’s just too big a space for the types of productions they want to put on,” Patterson said, adding that the host society will try to improve acoustics in the facility to help the music society.

“We sat down with them and we’ve agreed the needs are quite different,” Patterson said later.

But Patterson praised the project and said it’s different from other applications.

“It’s really a community project,” he said, adding that it should provide a long-term legacy to the community.

The Town also agreed to form a steering committee that will guide detailed design work for the building and be responsible for setting budgets, fundraising, public consultation, deciding on future uses, and who will eventually own the building.

The committee will be made up of three representatives from council, the host society president Jerry Ell, and three other representative from the host society.

The committee is expected to raise $3.5 million to build the facility, but it will also cost the Town money.

The host society wants use of the land tax free, and Patterson was unsure whether the society would require a lot lease.

If the Town takes ownership of the building after the game, it will bear the operating and maintenance costs. The Town has also set aside about $500,000 for a new water heating station within the building.

The Arctic winter games society plans to begin construction this year.