Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - With the first phase of construction almost complete for Jiewa Park outside Mildred Hall school, the organizing committee has hired a professional fundraiser to find the rest of the money needed.

Rod Gillard, a supervisor with Camco Construction Ltd., was at the Jiewa Park site in front of Mildred Hall school Monday. The company helped build this new civic plaza, and prepare the grounds for two new basketball courts. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

A Yellowknife firm, Tait Communications, will launch a fundraising campaign this fall, according to park committee chair Laurie Sarkadi. She said more than $1 million is still needed to realize the committee's plan. Nearly $300,000 has already been poured into the project.

The school looked at hiring a professional fundraiser last year, but it did not work. Mildred Hall's principal, Yasemin Heyck, said hiring a professional was the best option, due to the amount of money still needed.

"I wouldn't want it to fall on someone's shoulders who's just volunteering," said Heyck.

Sarkadi said as long as the money can be raised, she's hoping all the work can be done by the end of next year.

Two new basketball courts are being installed this month. Originally they were only going to have funds to build one court, but the city stepped up in July, giving an extra $28,000 needed to build the second court. Otherwise, Sarkadi said they would have had to wait until next year, and it would have cost more to bring in the equipment and personnel a second time.

Northland Utilities also stepped up to the plate, donating $30,000 worth of lighting for the courts.

The civic plaza is almost complete, with benches and a big chessboard.

A Dene/Metis cultural centre is also planned for the area. Sarkadi said the committee will meet with aboriginal language and culture teachers at Mildred Hall to discuss what should be included in the centre. Although the park is on Mildred Hall property, Sarkadi says it's intended for use by the general public and the centre could be made available for use by both school boards in the city.

With school started this week and construction under way, the area is still fenced off. Heyck said the construction shouldn't interrupt classes.

The committee is launching a website this month to give out information on the park, and help with fundraising.

Sarkadi said that with the majority of the heavy construction over for this phase, she'll be looking for volunteers to help out with the next phase that involves the installation of two playgrounds, and some landscaping.

Sarkadi is also looking for anyone willing to donate birch trees to the park, and an architect who could make a three-dimensional representation of the park.