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Back in action Arviat to host celebration for arena grand reopeningDarrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, Nov 7, 2012
The local arena was turned over to the Hamlet of Arviat on Oct. 22, and arena workers began flooding five days later. The arena had been closed since December 2011, after a renovation project went horribly wrong. The arena doors opened earlier this week and Coun. Gleason Uppahuak said an official grand reopening ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 12, with invitations sent to Arviat MLA Dan Shewchuk and Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak to attend. Uppahuak said the ice-making process is a lot faster with a new thermosiphon system in place. He said the system will mean about 10 additional weeks of skating each year. "We had a black Christmas in 2011 with our arena closing in mid-December," said Uppahuak. "We've been waiting a long time for this, so the community is pretty happy right now. "The thermosiphon system is impressive, being, pretty much, self-sustaining and maintenance free." Arviat has at least two major hockey events to look forward to in 2013. The Jon Lindell Memorial (JLM) senior men's championship returns in mid-January and, for the first time in recent memory, Arviat will host a major territorial event with the midgets battling for Nunavut hockey supremacy from Feb. 14 to 17. Uppahuak said hockey lovers in the community will be super excited to see full contact midget hockey played in Arviat. He said he expects large crowds at every game when the midgets take to the ice. "After missing a whole season of hockey, everyone should be really pumped for both the JLM and the midget territorial. "Lots of people who attend public skating, whether they play hockey or not, will also be very happy to be back on the ice. "Our local minor hockey association had a bunch of hockey equipment donated to it, so we'll be handing out free equipment during the reopening ceremony. "So, hopefully, everyone who wants to play hockey this year will be able."
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