Iqaluit recreation centre plans go public

Residents of Iqaluit had a chance this week to check out the city's proposed plan for much-needed recreation facilities, including a new swimming pool.

About 40 people of all ages attended a public forum Monday night to learn more about the plan from city officials and consultants.

"It's pretty apparent with the great turnout that we had that recreation facilities are a hot topic in Iqaluit," said Amy Elgersma, the city's recreation director.

With a population of close to 7,000, Iqaluit is one of Canada's smallest capital cities but is quickly growing in size, prompting calls for more recreation facilities.

Residents like 20-year-old Jeremy Kanayuk, who sat in the front row for Monday night's presentation, say Iqaluit does not offer many recreational outlets, especially for young people.

"Who'd want to go to the bar on a Monday and get drunk and play pool? We've got to work in the morning, but there's like nothing else to do," Kanayuk said.

Questions remain

The city is proposing to build an aquatic centre that would replace the aging swimming pool inside the Astro Hill complex.

The plan also calls for an indoor field with artificial turf, multipurpose rooms, a walking track, a climbing wall and a downtown youth centre.

But many questions remain about the plan, such as whether the Arnaitok Arena would have to be torn down to make way for the new facilities. If so, there is also the question ofwhether a new ice rink would be built to replace the old arena.

The location of all the new facilities is also up in the air, although city officials say they would try to group everything at the Arctic Winter Games complex and at the site of the Arnaitok Arena.

As well, cost is a big unknown at this time. City officials say they will have to borrow millions of dollars for the new buildings.

Elgersma said the next step is to come up with drawings of what the facilities would look like, then proceed with a plan to pay for them.

Residents will have a final chance to have their say on the new facilities early next year.