July 14, 2000
VALERIE G. CONNELL
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — The last two barriers to construction of Iqaluit’s new arena and multi-purpose building by the Arctic Winter Games Host Society were removed by the Iqaluit Town Council at its meeting July 11.
The facility will be built on land now reserved for the Iqaluit District Education Authority next to Iqaluit’s middle school.
A development permit for the building had already been granted to the Arctic Winter Games 2002 Host Society with conditions attached.
The society was asked by the Town to approach Arctic College to discuss use of land on their property, and that they consider a proposal presented by Bryan Pearson, a long-time resident and former mayor of Iqaluit.
But in the end, Iqaluit Town Council passed a motion paving the way for the municipality to take responsiblity for the operation and maintenance of the building after the Arctic Winter Games in 2002 are over.
"We’ll be able to use it day after day," said Ben Ell, the Town’s deputy mayor. "[It] will not be used for only one time."
Councillor Lynda Gunn expressed disappointment that the facility could not be more centralized and suggested the town "look into a public transit system, even if it’s limited."
The land owned by Arctic College is not available, said Jerry Ell, president of the host society.
Ell said the society also looked over the plan submitted by Bryan Pearson and found it to be either missing pieces of information or ambiguous.
Ell said Pearson had recommended the use of recommendations from the Town’s old plans, and "some [were] outdated and some items not even made anymore."
Plans for the existing municipal building included an addition that would house a multi-purpose arena-type facility.