Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Jun 07/99) - Janice Braden and the Iqaluit Beautification Society are going to bring a new look to the capital of Nunavut over the next two years.

Along with continuing their push to clean up the litter strewn around the streets and trails of Iqaluit, Braden said they were working on getting society status to enable them to apply for grants to host different events, including a two-year stonemasonry project.

To begin this summer on a smaller scale, with a weekend workshop and smaller projects, Braden said two experts in stonemasonry would fly up in July and teach interested residents how to build with stone.

"It started as an idea to bring stonemasonry skills to the North and to teach people how to do it so we can use our rock and natural materials from up here," said Braden.

She explained that people could use their newly-learned skills not only around their own homes, but that the group could build benches, casings for stop-signs and durable garbage cans around the community.

"One of the problems the town has had for a long time is garbage. They tried to put up garbage cans in the past, but either the ravens get in there or else the cans get kicked over," said Braden. "We're looking at a real solid structure and we're looking at peppering those around town."

Braden added that she also hoped to piggyback on the work of Canadian artists who are going to be brought in to participate in the carving symposium this summer.

"(The artists are) going to have these great new sculptures in front of buildings, but they're not going to have landscaping around them. We're looking at working with them to plan projects so there will be the sculpture and then benches, garbage cans, something to protect the sculpture," said Braden, who helped form the Beautification Society last spring.

The municipality has already agreed to help out as much as they can with the stonemasonry project and they've volunteered to provide hauling or water services. Braden said their participation was generous and that if everyone got involved in the project, it could easily change the community for the better.

"Stonemasonry has a really strong place up here. Stone on the side of the road instead of gravel can help keep the dust down and it can help keep the tundra protected when you have pathways that are nicely defined."

For more information about the summer project and workshop, contact the Beautification Society.