The Yellowknife Skating Club was set to make history Monday afternoon as the first user group to touch ice at the rink, but it wasn't to be.

"I'm not surprised," said skating club coach Brenda Backen. "We were just kind of holding our breath and hoping it would be open but... We might as well wait to the new year."

In interviews with Yellowknifer on Dec. 13, both community services director Grant White and Mayor Gord Van Tighem were confident the arena would be open for the Yellowknife Skating Club to use Monday afternoon at 4 p.m., but it was not to be.

White is now uncertain when the arena will be open for its first skate.

"Not yet, that's what we're working on now," said White.

City crews spent the weekend installing the first sheet of ice in anticipation of the opening date, but a problem with the arena's "life safety" systems dashed any hopes of skating on Monday.

A last-minute inspection on Sunday by PCL Northern Constructors -- the arena's project manager -- found several safety features were lacking or needed additional work.

Those systems include sprinklers, fire alarms, and fire-rated walls.

The growing number of failed start-up dates have become somewhat of an embarrassment for the city. Phase I of the arena -- or the first sheet of ice -- was originally scheduled to open for late September, then October, but a myriad number of delays -- from missing parts and equipment to staff shortages -- have pushed the opening date farther and farther back. All this while the arena went $2 million over budget.

Coun. Dave Ramsay said he finds the constant delays almost unbelievable.

"I don't even know why they bother setting a date for it.

"It's been a moving target since Day 1," said Ramsay.