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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A request for proposals to build the sports fieldhouse has gone out nationally, councillor Bob Brooks told city council last Monday night, with a deadline of Jan. 30.

"Hopefully shovels will be in the ground sometime in the spring or summer of 2009," said Brooks, a longtime fieldhouse supporter and fieldhouse development committee chair.

Brooks added the facility, so far budgeted for $5 million in 2009 and $11 million in 2010, will provide much-needed indoor recreation space.

And it will provide seniors with an indoor walking track, added Mayor Van Tighem, "so they don't have to go through the mall."

McMahon Frame Lake Trail now official

City council voted unanimously Dec. 8 to rename Frame Lake Trail after former Yellowknife mayor Pat McMahon, who died this summer.

While city council had expressed resounding support to rename the trail in an earlier committee meeting, it had yet to decide on what the new name would be.

Councillors voted at last week's meeting to rename the trail McMahon Frame Lake Trail.

The decision was met with applause, both from council members and from the public in attendance, including McMahon's widow, Murray McMahon.

"I'd like to give my best regards to Pat, a long-time friend," said city councillor Bob Brooks. "I can't think of a better way to honour her memory."

Brooks added McMahon was instrumental not only in creating the trail, but in promoting its use.

McMahon was mayor from 1987-1994. The trail runs past her family home on Dakota Court.

Current Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem presented Murray with a McMahon Court street sign that night.

Earlier in the year, council voted to name a street in the new Niven Lake development after the former mayor.

Still no downtown Christmas tree

City councillor David Wind once more asked administration Dec. 8 whether Yellowknife would get a Christmas tree downtown.

Wind first called for the revival of a Christmas tree installation at the intersections of 50 Avenue and 50 Street in early October. At the time council opted not to support the move, siding with administration's recommendations that the tree would pose a hazard. Dennis Kefalas, director of public works, then said he would look into other locations. When questioned by Wind Monday, however, Kefalas said the search had not proved fruitful, including the effort to secure a spot for the tree at the Greenstone building as previously suggested.

"There has not been any movement on that," said Kefalas.

"I find it very disheartening ... to hear nothing will happen this year," said Wind.

Kefalas responded administration would continue to look into getting a live tree downtown "so we wouldn't have to cut down a regular tree each year."

"A live tree will hopefully grow up to be big enough to be noticed by everybody," said Kefalas, adding it would take a few years.

"I guess I'll just wait to see what sprouts up in the coming years," replied Wind.