Repulse Bay (Aug 13/03) - The community of Repulse Bay will see its hamlet office building rise again after being devastated by a fire on Christmas Eve last year.

More than hamlet offices suffered.

The building was a multi-use facility like so many in the North, housing the community's radio station, the co-op cable TV, the community gymnasium, the post office, some rental offices, plus the hamlet business offices.

The hamlet office has 32 permanent staff members.

Repulse Bay has 650 people.

The estimated cost of damage is $3 million.

The insurance adjuster still has to liaise with the fire marshal about coverage, said SAO Brian McQuarrie.

"The insurance company has provided interim funds to the GN," he said.

"So it's going through the GN process."

The new building won't have the gymnasium, or the cable TV, McQuarrie said.

But it will contain all the other services and offices it used to.

Their community radio worked in conjunction with CBC radio.

However, the new radio station will have it's own spot on the dial.

The Department of Public Works and Services are currently handling the "finite details" McQuarrie said.

Ninety North from Iqaluit is the general contractor, and has already had people sizing up the site.

The ship carrying supplies should be in Sept. 1 with materials, and construction should start by mid-September, McQuarrie added.