by Dave Salter
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 04/96) - Mayor Dave Lovell announced plans Monday for a new $6.3-million twin arena-youth centre for the city.

The complex will house a community centre and two ice surfaces. It's hoped construction will be completed in time for the next Arctic Winter Games, slated for March 1998 in Yellowknife.

The city already has approximately $3.5 million put aside for start-up costs. Remaining funds will come from government block funding, loans or fundraising.

Lovell cited two main reasons for backing of the arena project -- a lack of adequate facilities and teen restlessness.

He said the two current arenas ranks the city near the bottom when compared with western Canadian cities with a similar population.

He also said he hopes such a community centre will provide a home for bored teens.

"Right now we have one rink for every 9,000 people in our city. This will bump us up to one for every 6,000 -- which still isn't a lot, by any means.

"We also need a place where young people don't have to go, they'll want to go - a hangout," said Lovell, stressing the complex will not just be for skaters.

Lovell says the city has three tentative sites in mind: the trailer park at the bottom of the Old Town hill, federally-owned land between Sir John and St. Pat's high schools and an area near the Niven Lake sub-division.

"We're still in the early stages though," cautioned Lovell. "By March we'll have a real vision of what it'll be."

Ter Hamer, chairman of the Wade Hamer Foundation, played a leading role in lobbying the city for the new youth centre.

Hamer said he developed the concept in 1978 and made his first formal presentation to city council in 1991.

He also said that the youth centre will be more than a pair of hockey rinks, proposing a complex that would likely house various sporting and recreational endeavors.

"I'm not just an arena guy. I believe strongly in the youth centre. This is for the kids."

Hamer also quashed any thoughts that the city already has enough recreational facilities.

"They have to build this," he said. "Hopefully the community will get behind us and we'll emerge a better town. We're sending a message that Yellowknife is a great place to live and raise a family."