FORT SIMPSON - Thanks to the passion of two youth, the community of Fort Simpson has been offered assistance towards the goal of building a skatepark.

Having helped Fort Simpson receive an award that offers assistance to build a skatepark, Steven Boutilier hopes the structure will be built so he can use his bike on it. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Let Them Be Kids Initiative has made a commitment that the village will receive the first of 10 skateparks or playgrounds the group plans to assist in building in the Northwest Territories.

The commitment came from Ian Hill, the founder of the organization, after he heard Steven Boutilier and Brittany Hardisty deliver a presentation at the NWT Recreation and Parks Association's conference in Hay River in June.

After their presentation on a trip from Fort Simpson to Norman Wells on the Mackenzie River, Hill talked to the two students.

Hill asked what Fort Simpson needs for kids and we said a skatepark, said Steven Boutilier, 15.

When Hill said he worked with a foundation that helps communities build skateparks and would be willing to do the same in Fort Simpson, Boutilier said he was a bit skeptical.

"We've been let down quite a few times so I said 'cool, I'll believe it when I see it,'" said Boutilier.

Many youth in the village would like to see a skatepark built and would be willing to help, he said. If a park is built Boutilier would like to use his bike on it.

Shane Thompson, a recreation development coordinator with MACA, presented the basis of the offer to the Fort Simpson village council during a special meeting on July 23.

Fort Simpson has been given a Helping Hands Award, from the initiative, one of 10 to be given to the Northwest Territories through the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.

The initiative will provide all the technical assistance needed to build the park including possible designs, said Thompson.

For every dollar the community provides for the park, the program will match it. Park development through the initiative also benefits from increased buying power because of an agreement with a supplier where every dollar will purchase $1.50 worth of equipment, Thompson said.

When it comes time to build the park, the foundation has stipulated that at least 75 volunteers will have to build it in one day.

The whole idea of the award is to get community involvement. If the community doesn't want to support the project it won't move forward, said Thompson.

"It's a community based, community driven project," he said.

If a skatepark was built in the village it would be the foundation's first project in the North. The initiative knows that the Northern situation is unique and is willing to work through the challenges, said Thompson.

"They're really keen on doing it right and doing it successfully," Thompson said.

Although he didn't have any exact numbers, Thompson said that he expects the project to cost between $10,000 to $15, 000 for the community.

Thompson noted that there have been talks before about building a skatepark but there never seems to be enough impetus.

"This is the initial push to get over the hump," he said.

The village's plans for a skatepark have been on hold until the concrete pad in the arena moves ahead, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

During the division of the Community Capacity Building Fund, it was decided that part of the money would be used for a skatepark in addition to a new pool and the arena concrete. The village planned that the skatepark pad could piggyback on the arena if some of the concrete was below the standard needed, said Canvin.

"We're very interested in seeing this thing move ahead," said Canvin.

Thompson suggested that a committee be formed to work together on the project and take any questions they have to the foundation.

The Let Them Be Kids Foundation is based in the United States with an office in Canada.

By the end of the summer the foundation will have helped complete 17 projects in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in the past 18 months, said Ian Hill.

The goal of each project is to help build community capacity and a sense of community between people.

"It's all about the community coming together," said Hill.

Hill said he's confident that if the community really wants and supports the skatepark the project will go ahead.

"There's a real find a way, make a way attitude in the Northwest Territories, said Hill.