Iqaluit (Feb 20/06) - Mold found in the walls of the Kitikmeot Boarding Home in Yellowknife was cause for some renovations.

"I saw workers carrying out large plastic bags with moldy materials in them," said a Cambridge Bay women who was staying at the home last week.

The Lena Pderson Kitikmeot Boarding Home serves as a housing location for Nunavummiut, mainly from the Kitikmeot, when they go to Yellowknife for medical reasons.

Manager Marilyn Paradis said once the mold was located, the proper authorities were contacted.

"I called Worker's Compensation, and they performed an air quality check," said Paradis.

The mold was found during the week of Jan. 25, and renovations began on Feb. 1.

The extent of the damage found its way from the laundry room exhaust to a nearby stairwell, she said.

The stairwell and hallway that were being worked on were sealed off from the rest of the home, Paradis said.

Tanya Fraser, the communications officer for the Worker's Compensation Board, said the area was cleaned and met requirements set by the board.

"The mold was found, isolated and removed with ease," said Fraser.

The air in the building is safe, and there is no danger to anyone using the boarding home, said Fraser.

Representatives of the boarding home, which can house up to 40 people, say they have never received any formal complaints regarding the matter.

"We would rather complaints came straight to us from now on, instead of running to the newspaper," said Nancy Campbell, director of communications for the Nunavut health department.

The boarding home is owned by the Nunavut Government, and the Enokhok Development Corporation.

The home sees 1,000 people in and out of its doors every month.