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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Since the launch of a wood pellet heater behind the Yellowknife Community Arena and Curling Club last fall, a relatively constant layer of soot and ash around the back of the building has left some citizens unnerved.

Linda St. Amand stands with her pet dog, Nicky, as she walks him on her usual route along the path behind the Yellowknife Community Arena. Since the launch of a wood pellet burner in that location, parts of that path have been coated in ash. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

It falls right along a path that goes by the nearby dog park and behind the arena.

"It looks like it's blowing towards the dog park," Linda said St. Amand, who walks her dog, Nicky, along that path in the mornings. "What happens if my dog eats it or if I breathe it in?"

The ash, although it looks bad, is actually non-toxic, according to a Yellowknife veterinarian.

"The worst that could happen is the dog would get dirty" said Dr. Tom Pisz of the Great Slave Animal Hospital.

According to Grant White, the director of Community Services, and Mark Henry, the city energy coordinator, the ash build up was expected when they put in the heater and everything is "operating within specifications."

The smoke from the heater is ventilated through a stovepipe and while it is high up, it expels a lot of smoke and ash, and that ash builds up in the area around the pipe.

White said there is no planned effort to clean up the mess, saying that it is not harmful but just the standard byproduct of burning wood.

"It's just ugly" said St. Amand.

Despite the aesthetic drawback, the wood pellet heater is cheaper and much more energy efficient and environmentally friendly