Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Oct 30/02) - Smiling faces were everywhere on Oct. 23 when Arviat's Mikilaaq Centre reopened its doors for the first time in the past six months.

The old Catholic Church building is named after the late Father Lionel Ducharme, who was known as Mikilaaq and much loved within the community.

Ann Cadotte of Chatham, Ontario, will run the drop-in facility for the next five months.

She will be assisted by Jenny Kalluak, who has valuable insight and knowledge from the centre's past operations.

Lynne Rollin says the Department of Culture Language Elders and Youth financed building repairs and upgrades to some of its equipment and furniture.

"Visitors to the centre will be particularly pleased with the pool table, which was refurbished with new cloth and bumpers," says Rollin.

"We also have a new keyboard in the music corner and new computers and computer games."

Brighter Futures funding, accessed through the hamlet, is paying staff salary to ensure a safe environment for those who come to play games or learn new skills.

Rollin says the centre will be offering music lessons on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and practice time on Thursday nights.

She says the upstairs will offer computer and board games, a video night and free access to the music instruments during Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

"Every night people will be able to take their turn downstairs playing ping pong, foosball or pool.

"The canteen and small Christian store will also be open during these hours.

"The profit from those ventures will cover the utilities, which the Catholic Church covered in the past.

"The church still provides the building and the support of a few volunteers."

Rollin says centre staff speak for everyone who will enjoy the improvements to the drop-in facility when they thank those who helped make the project a reality.

"In addition to the assistance provided by the hamlet and CLEY, we greatly appreciate the efforts and donations of Nancy (Kip) Gibbons, Father Louis Legare, Qitiqliq High, Dan Burgess, Jimmy Main, William Angalik, Micheal Soentgerath of Calgary, and Ben and Ria Rops and the parish in Forest.

"Thanks are also in order for Bishop Reynald Rouleau for his unfailing support and trust in the vision that sustained the Mikilaaq Centre."