Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 26/01) - Revenues of the Northern Frontier Visitors Association can't keep up with rising expenses.

"We have to look at fundraising to try and offset our expenses. Definitely we are in a position where we need to raise funds," said the association's general manager, Beth Harding.

"The building isn't going to close or collapse tomorrow but we need to think about capital expenses that may occur."

Yellowknife's visitors centre is owned and operated by the Northern Frontier Visitors Association. The not-for-profit association has 130 members from businesses interested in tourism.

"We aren't a city or a territorial building. We are a distinct entity," said Harding.

The association makes the just under $400,000 needed to operate through membership fees, gift shop sales, service contracts and by leasing out space in its centre.

"When power suddenly leaps up across the world that affects everybody, it also affects us. We have a huge building to heat," said Harding.

"Those things wouldn't have been budgeted for because who saw them coming?"

The visitors association owns the building. It was built in 1991 by fundraising as well as territorial government and city money.

"We're not at an 'or what' position yet. That's what we're trying to prevent," said Harding.

While she said she doesn't know what kind of fundraising was in the works, she agreed revenue needed to be found somehow.

"We're in a financial situation that if it continues to go this way for a number of years it would be very desperate."