Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Sep 08/03) - A new minimum security correctional facility opening here next year will emphasize treatment rather than incarceration.

The facility will be housed in a 4,000-square-foot building now called "The Hostel." It has been used to host training programs in the past and is equipped with a kitchen and bedrooms. Cost of renovations has not been announced.

The Nunavut government is leasing the facility from the hamlet for $1 a year. It will house up to 20 low-risk offenders from the Kitikmeot region who are now incarcerated elsewhere.

"It'll be good for some of our offenders here who don't need full institutionalization," said Cal Shaw, Kugluktuk's SAO. "And they may be able to address a lot of things better by having family and support around them. So, we're looking at it in a positive sense."

The centre will also provide 12 new jobs in the community, which has been hit by the closure of Lupin Mine.

Everything from cooks to security to counsellors will be required at the new facility.

"More importantly," stated Kugluktuk MLA Donald Havioyak in a news release, the facility will provide "a Nunavut approach to rehabilitating members of our community."

Kugluktuk already has experienced health care professionals who can act as counsellors, said Shaw. "We're hoping we can sell a little bit of our service back to the Department of Justice."