Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 28/02) - There have been some design changes, but work is well under-way at Inuvik's new family centre.

The estimated $6 million complex will house a swimming pool, whirlpool, waterslide, lazy river, two squash courts, a cafe and a sauna.

Vic Davies, special consultant to the project, says the original design allowed for a fitness centre, but since that's being moved from the college into the existing recreation centre, they decided the extra space was redundant.

"We're not having a second floor," Davies said.

"The accommodations that were going in the second floor are already allocated for the existing building, so it was pointless."

Other changes to the plan included rearranging some of the amenities.

"We did some refinements to the whirlpool area and we moved the sauna and steam room closer to the change rooms," he said.

Mayor Peter Clarkson said the project is advancing on schedule, with the design committee just having approved the geotechnical survey tender and currently reviewing tenders for the architect.

Clarkson said the fundraising committee has begun several efforts to raise an estimated $1 million, including bingos, an auction and a new sponsorship program.

A new publication from the committee outlines various levels of sponsorship available to people and organizations who'd like to have a stake in the centre.

The Sponsorship and Gift Book offers a selection of sponsorship levels that would bear the name of the sponsor.

For a $250,000 donation the name of the centre can be bought as well as with the leisure pool ($50,000), lane pool ($40,000) and all other amenities in the building down to the change rooms ($10,000) or the lifeguard chair ($4,000).

The gifts include smaller items that would be required in the facility such as tables, chairs, lifejackets and hairdryers.

Davis says the sponsorship and gift plan has worked well at other projects he's worked on. "There is some sense of ownership there and you feel as though you are part of it," Davis said.

Design of the new facility is scheduled to begin this fall, with foundation construction to follow either this fall or in spring of 2003.

The centre is slated for completion in August 2004.