Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (July 13/01) - Metre by metre, the town is getting closer to its own Trans Canada Trail pavilion.

Inuvik's recreation director, Theresa Ross, said last week that the town must sell at least 544 metres of trail to qualify for a pavilion.

The route The Trans Canada Trail begins its NWT route in Fort Smith. From there it takes: NWT highways west to Fort Simpson The Mackenzie River to Norman Wells The Canol Road into the Yukon and on to Dawson City. The Dempster Highway to Inuvik The Mackenzie River to Tuktoyaktuk

Each metre of trail costs $40 to sponsor, and it can be purchased through the town office or the Trans Canada Trail Foundation.

During the recent Inuvik Petroleum Show, individuals bought about 10 metres of trail, and Petro-Canada agreed to purchase another 50.

Ross said that the town is probably within 100 metres of the minimum requirement. She said such a pavilion would be the size of a small kiosk, with panels featuring the names of those who bought piece of the trail, covered by a small roof.

"It doesn't mean we should stop there," Ross said of the 544 target. "If we get more names, we can get a bigger pavilion, we can add panels and stuff like that. That would be ideal."

The trail foundation makes the panels for pavilions.

"We need to put it up," Ross said, "so there's some cost to us in terms of labour and stuff like that."

Currently Norman Wells is the only NWT community with a pavilion.

Ross said that if enough trail is bought within the next few weeks, the town may be able to get a pavilion in place this fall. She said the recreational boat launch area would make a good site for residents and visitors alike.

Ross said some existing trails may be formally included within the main route, and that trails may be expanded or new ones made. She pointed out that the town listed trail development as a high priority during a vision-planning workshop last month.

"I really want to get it through," Ross said, noting she has worked on this project since before last year's Trans Canada Trail Relay.

"I've just been sort of chipping away at it over the years, so it'll be nice to see something tangible at the end of the rainbow here. The work will always continue, but it'll be nice to reach this one goal."

Ross noted the trail foundation provides funding for trail building (including signage and promotion), and that the town can access these funds through the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.

More information and maps of the entire routes are available on the web at www.tctrail.ca.