Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (July 22/02) - Gjoa Haven residents will be shopping in style come the new year.

Tony Scott, manager of the Qikiqtait Co-op, said last Monday that Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. will build a new store on the ashes of a fire in May that destroyed the warehouse.

Seven youths broke into the Kitikmeot community co-op's warehouse and accidentally set it on fire. Aircraft chartered from Churchill, Man., replenished supplies.

"We pretty much kept up with the demand. We had a couple of charters coming in. The only delay was weather. We're catching up now," said Scott, who has been running the store since June 1.

Scott said Arctic Co-operatives plans to construct a 6,000-square-foot building that will provide space for a new co-op store, as well as office space.

The store currently being used will be joined to the new facility.

Most of the materials for the new co-op are scheduled to arrive in Gjoa Haven by sealift during the second week of September. A refrigeration system will be flown in.

"The plan is to be up and running by the end of December," he said.

By expanding the co-op by 2,000 square feet, ACL is creating more jobs for the community.

"We're obviously looking at an increase in the workforce because we'll generate more sales," said Scott.

Terry Thompson, an official with Arctic Co-op's business support services division in Winnipeg, said the project will also create jobs during the construction phase of the new facility.

"All the labour will be local," said Thompson.

A new store had already been planned for the community prior to the fire. Thompson said money from the insurance claim will help cover construction costs.