Yellowknife (Mar 10/03) - Council remains committed to selling the name of the city's new recreation complex despite a plea from two councillors to name it after a person who played an important part in Yellowknife's past.

Coun. Wendy Bisaro said she was "appalled" by the priorities, policies and budget committee's recommendation to call the arena "The Multiplex" until a corporate sponsor pays $500,000 for a more permanent name.

"Temporary or not, this is a sad name for a building of this magnitude," she said. Bisaro said council should hold public consultations and name the facility after a prominent Yellowknife person. "We could still go after corporate sponsors," said Bisaro. "We could still call it something like the Widget Company Gerry Murphy Multiplex."

The motion to accept "The Multiplex" carried, but not without opposition from Bisaro and Coun. Kevin O'Reilly.

O'Reilly was also in favour of public consultations, and suggested council speed up adoption of a corporate sponsorship policy, last discussed by council in May 2002. "It would be nice to have some guidelines in place when we go to name this arena," he said.

Coun. Robert Hawkins warned that council could miss an opportunity to make some money off the name if they were to choose a public figure rather than wait for a corporation to pay for the honour.

"If we can find somebody to pay, we should welcome their money," he said.

Coun. David McCann agreed.

"Multiplex is just a base name and if it can provide an extra $500,000 to the coffers of the city I think it's worthwhile."