TTHENAAGO/NAHANNI BUTTE - Plans are set to move forward for the Nahanni Butte gymnasium project.

A request for proposals to construct the building was closed on Dec. 19. The bid prices are being reviewed and a recommendation to award the contract is expected to be made before Jan. 18, said Richard Mercredi, the regional superintendent for Public Works and Services, Fort Smith region.

The Nahanni Butte gym is expected to be built and completed in the lot behind the Charles Yohin school by December this year. - NNSL file photo

Only one company submitted a bid for the project. Arcan Construction Ltd. made a bid of $3,268,600 to build the structure.

Last April, during the planning stages for the project, officials with MACA said the tender would be awarded in October so construction supplies could be transported over the winter road this season.

A similar timeline can still be followed, said Mercredi.

The contractor will be able to move most of the necessary building material into the community over the winter road before it's closed in March, he said. Any supplies that are not transported in time are expected to be brought into the community by barge, Mercredi said.

Completion of the gymnasium is expected between October and December of this year.

Nahanni Butte is the last community in the Deh Cho to build a gymnasium.

The new structure will be 505 square metres (5,440 square feet), which be enough room for a gym equal to the size of two regulation-sized badminton courts or one regulation-sized volleyball court.

Members of the community were consulted last winter about how they would like the gym to look and what features should be included.

Residents of the community are excited about getting a gymnasium but many are holding back until they actually see work begin on the project, said George Tsetso, the recreation co-ordinator in Nahanni Butte.

"The excitement is there but they've waited this long," he said.

Youth in the community have been showing their eagerness and are asking about the sports that will be available in the new structure, said Tsetso.

"The kids are looking forward to all the sports they can't play (now)," he said.

As the recreation co-ordinator, Tsetso is planning on introducing the youth to many of the sports that they haven't had a lot of exposure to including basketball and badminton.

Many people only know the basic rules for the games so Tsetso plans to bring coaches into Nahanni Butte to offer clinics for both youth and adults so the whole community is introduced to different sports.

Tsetso expects that the gymnasium will also bring other benefits to the community during its construction.

"There will be a lot of employment," he said.

Tsetso hopes that young adults in the community will get involved in the construction project so they will have more respect for the finished building.

The gymnasium will bring many benefits to Nahanni Butte, he said.

"It's a big step for the community," said Tsetso.