Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 06/02) - A 95,000-square-foot community centre proposed by the Elks Lodge would cost about $16 million to build, and construction could start as early as next spring.

Members of the Elks tried to sell city councillors on the idea at the Monday priorities, policies and budget committee meeting. They petitioned council to lock up the land where the Gerry Murphy Arena sits for one year. In that time, the Elks would assess the feasibility of going ahead with the project.

One of the reasons driving the push for the centre is the lack of a convention centre in Yellowknife.

"There's a big demand for meeting rooms in this town," said Elks Exalted Ruler Bernie Feodoroff. "It's unreal. There's just not enough meeting rooms."

The Department of National Defence would have a 10 per cent stake in the building.

Feodoroff said financing the building would not cut into the Elks' significant annual community fundraising contributions.

"We anticipate the Elks getting the revenue from bingos as usual" which goes to charities, he said. The building would pay for itself, through convention centre fees.

The presentation struck a chord with councillors, who responded with a round of questions about the facility and the land it is intended to sit on.

However, council will wait for an administration study on possible uses of the Gerry Murphy site before responding to the Elks.

Until then, any plans for the building are entirely preliminary.

Council has earmarked $235,000 for the demolition of the Gerry Murphy in 2003.