Jail to become site for arena
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 16/01) - The first of two rinks will open in September 2002 in the shadow of the Yellowknife Correctional Centre building.
In an almost step by step replay of the debate in last week's priorities, policies and budget committee meeting, Mayor Gord Van Tighem cast the deciding vote Monday night in favour of the YCC site.
The chosen site is "the safest investment for the community; I vote in favour," Van Tighem said to jeers from Mildred Wilkes, Yellowknife Education District No. 1 school board member.
Dr. Judith Knapp, superintendent of the district, said she was "disappointed" as she walked out of council chambers.
The school board invested heavily in preparations for locating the new arena beside their high school.
"We understand they had to look at the needs of the greater community," said Knapp.
The anti-YCC side said they had a contract to honour with the school board and than an arena beside the high school would revitalize the downtown.
The pro-YCC side said the high school site presented immense traffic problems, while the YCC site is cheaper and closer to the future centre of Yellowknife.
Most councillors argued that their opinions reflected the views of the majority of Yellowknifers.
Coun. Dave Ramsay said eight out of 10 people he talked to wanted the city to build the arena at YCC and that prompted him to reject his original choice of the high school site.
"I can't turn my back on what residents want ... it's too much to bear," said Ramsay.
"I must be speaking to the other two (people)," said Coun. Ben McDonald, who voted against the YCC site.
"Nine out of 10 people I talk to endorse the Sir John site," said McDonald.
The city has negotiated a draft agreement with the Department of Justice to build the arena beside YCC while it's still operating.
With the green light from council, Max Hall, senior city administrator, said he expected final talks to continue smoothly.
"I have no reason to believe it wouldn't be otherwise," said Hall.
In February city council voted to build an arena beside Sir John Franklin High school and enter into negotiations with the public school board.
But in March council decided to do geo-technical surveys on the YCC site. The YCC site proved to have slightly better geo-technical results and it would cost around $77,000 less to build on.
Knapp said the board plans to turn the site for the arena into a park for students at Sir John Franklin high school.
