FORT SIMPSON - After years of silence and darkness, the lights are on in the Sacred Heart rectory and the rooms are being filled with the sounds of demolition.

Work has begun on the building now known as the Fort Simpson Heritage Centre. A three-person crew led by Stanley Nirlungayuk is stripping the interior walls.

Richard Tsetso helps fit a temporary wall into place to increase the structural integrity of the Fort Simpson Heritage Centre while interior demolition work is underway. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

This is the first step in restoring the building, said Martina Norwegian, president of the Fort Simpson Historical Society. The walls have to be assessed by a structural engineer to determine how sound the building is so it can be stabilized.

"As in any renovations you never know what's under the walls," said Norwegian.

Nirlungayuk is discovering exactly what's under the walls and it's not always pretty. "It's in pretty rough shape," he said.

Since starting on Jan 23, Nirlungayuk and his crew have already cleared the basement and most of the first floor.

In the basement they discovered the large beams that form the floor joists have rotted and the empty spaces have been filled with wooden shims.

On the other floors there is evidence of a number of previous renovations under the tongue -and-groove paneling that they're trying to save. Built in 1911 the structure is the oldest surviving building in the village.

A carpenter by trade, Nirlungayuk can point to places where the structural integrity has been compromised and notes the building isn't up to any fire codes.

For example, an extension added onto the back of the building is being supported by a thin beam. Nirlungayuk has set up some temporary support walls to keep everything in place while work is underway.

"It's a big place but it needs a lot of work," said Nirlungayuk.

Norwegian isn't deterred. Starting work on a project that has been planned since 1995 is exciting, Norwegian said.

Since just before Christmas plans for the building have been moving quickly, she said.

A building committee made up of Norwegian and Justin Carre from the Historical Society as well as Lynn Wharton and Larry Swartz from the Open Sky Creative Society has been formed.

Using initial funding of $39,500 from the Targeted Investment program of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, two consultants have been hired to write a business and implementation plan for the project. The documents will be given to funding agencies to give them an outline of the project. So far the Historical Society has also received a verbal commitment for funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Work on the building itself is moving quickly because the committee has until March 31 to finish spending $150,000 worth of funding from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment received in Oct. 2006. The committee is trying to pay for big items such as windows, doors and steel beams before time runs out.

"We're right behind the eight ball in making things move," Norwegian said.

Looking at the centre as a three-year project, Norwegian said the committee has two more years to finish everything.

She encourages anyone who is interested to take part.

"We aren't doing it for ourselves. We're doing it for the community."

The committee is always looking for suggestions, she said.

"We need all the help we can get," said Norwegian.