Yellowknife (Mar 26/03) - Seniors activities will be spread across the city while the floor at the Baker Community Centre is being replaced.

Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors president Allan Falconer hopes the centre won't be closed for more than two months. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

As of April 1 the doors will be closed for eight weeks to replace the linoleum and sub-floor, fix the damaged drywall and repaint the five-year-old building.

In February a water pipe began to leak undetected until it had flooded the whole building, said Allan Falconer, president of Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors.

YACCS owns the building, which is located beside the society's other complexes -- Aven Manor and Aven Court.

"It had done quite a bit of damage and wasn't noticed until people walking down the street saw the water running down the road," he said.

The approximately $100,000 in damages should be covered be insurance, he said.

"Hopefully the damage is minimal."

He said a preliminary investigation by contractors found the linoleum and sub-floor had water damage. It appears a water line either rusted out or blew off but didn't cause enough drop in the building's water pressure to raise the alarms until the entire building was flooded, he said.

The Yellowknife Seniors Society and the NWT Seniors Society main offices are based out of the location.

They will share a suite at the Naoka Inn, until the repairs are finished.

The regular Yellowknife Seniors Society activities, like the Saturday morning tai chi and Friday Lunch with the Bunch will be hosted at other venues, said seniors society executive director Martha MacLellan.

Tai chi will be held at Mildred Hall, while Lunch with the Bunch will be at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

"You can't shut down and start up these programs," said Falconer, adding it takes a long time to establish a program.

"It would be a real loss for some seniors if (the activities) shut down completely."

"The people who drop in for forms and information will be impacted," said NWT Seniors Society executive director Barb Hood.

"The day-to-day contact for drop-ins will be of the most concern."

Until the work is complete, the Yellowknife Seniors Society will be at the Naoka Inn -- 4950 54th Street -- in Suite 102.

Both society phone numbers will remain the same.