Inuvik (Aug 11/03) - In what might seem an ironic twist, the demolition of a 45-year-old hospital in Inuvik is a big step forward, not only for the town, but also for the Gwich'in people as a whole.

'Clean around us' is the English translation of a Gwich'in joint-venture company, Ni'Khwindii Gwi'Zu'.

Cleaning around us is exactly what the company is doing in Inuvik.

Ni'Khwindii Gwi'Zu' is putting the finishing touches on a highly-sensitive, site-reclamation project -- the demolition of the 45-year-old Inuvik Regional Hospital.

The company is a joint venture between Chii Construction of Inuvik, owned by the Inuvik Native Band, and Arctic Environmental Services Ltd.

The two companies have had a joint venture to deal with environmental projects in the Inuvik area over the last four years. The demolition of the old hospital is the latest and largest in a series of projects, said Bob Valleau, a partner in the joint venture company.

The new hospital was recently completed and all occupants were transferred by the first of June.

"We came in once they were gone and commenced with collective salvage, followed by demolition.

"It's an eco-demolition with a large environmental component. We're dealing with lead paint, asbestos, mercury and all of the various products like glycol in the hot water system and the lead in the X-ray rooms," said Valleau.

When dealing with asbestos and lead, amongst other dangerous elements, proper handling is key.

The most interesting aspect of this job, said Valleau, is the Gwich'in are proving to be highly competent in tackling this type of work.

Of the compliment of 30 labourers working on the project, only three are non-aboriginal.

"The Gwich'in and Inuvialuit have come together quite nicely. After the environmental and safety training, everyone just went to work and it's been really excellent," said Valleau.

"The Gwich'in seem to excel at environmental work because they want to leave it clean for future generations and it is their land, so they take a great deal of interest and pride in doing it right, and it's on schedule and on budget," said Valleau.

Mixed emotions

While the demolition and handling of environmentally-sensitive material is a success story for Ni'Khwindii Gwi'Zu', it's also a story of mixed emotions for many people living within Inuvik and the surrounding region.

Most of the people living in Inuvik were born in the 45-year-old hospital.

Graham Riske, a physiotherapist working in the new Inuvik Regional Hospital, said while the demolition of the old hospital has been undertaken in a very orderly fashion, some people in the community are a little sad to see the old structure go.

"A lot of heavy things have happened at the old hospital over the years. Some have family members who have died there and virtually everyone since 1960 in Inuvik was born there.

"My sister lives here and all four of her sons were born in the hospital and I know she had some mixed feelings when it started coming down," said Riske.

Outside Riske's window, about 75 feet away, backhoes are tearing down walls and trucks are hauling away refuse.

"It's been very safe, nothing's flown over since the demolition but we have to walk through the dust every day," said Riske.

Riske adds the new hospital is beautiful, "it's well-equipped and very contemporary and quite bright. To go back to the old hospital would be pretty gloomy. Everyone's quite happy. It's very state of the art," he said.

Riske also provided praise to hospital move co-ordinator, Stella Van Rensburg. "She did an excellent job."

The demolition of the old hospital is now 90 per cent complete and the project is scheduled to be finalized by mid-August.