Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Aklavik (Nov 25/02) - The Charlie Soupay Friendship Centre has closed its doors after the bulk of its funding was cut by the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority.

The centre had been receiving $150,000 a year for three positions, including the co-ordinator. But the centre recently fell into a deficit and proper accounting procedures weren't being followed, says the health authority's chief executive, Gerry Uswak.

Even with the deficit, the centre might have been kept open.

However, Uswak says, the main reason for cutting funding was under staffing.

"The services weren't being delivered to the residents and that's the ultimate reason for ending the (contribution) agreement," Uswak says.

The previous co-ordinator, Carol Arey, left her post earlier this year and another employee was on sick leave, leaving one employee funded by the authority and another employee funded by another agency, Uswak says.

The centre closed its doors in August. On Oct. 10, the health authority met with community representatives, and Uswak says it is now up to the community to decide if the centre should be revived, or if the services it had offered should be offered in another manner.

The Charlie Soupay Friendship Centre, which was not affiliated with other friendship centres in the territory, had been offering programs related to alcohol and drug addiction, mental health and family violence.