Yellowknife (Feb 14/05) - Once a vibrant, employees-only, self-contained living space for hundreds of employees of the adjacent gold mine, the Giant Mine townsite is now home to only five families.

Ted Bienias is one of the few remaining people living on site.

This summer, after the boilers are shut down and the homes are no longer heated, he said he and his family will move to where the work is for the company.

But in the meantime, he'll enjoy the idyllic, private surroundings the area over the lake offers.

"It's beautiful here. We have had bonfires down by the water and Christmas parties at the guest house," he said.

Security patrols around the area make for pleasant, peaceful surroundings, he added.

The family also enjoys the myriad of wildlife that make the area their home.

Memories of community spirit, friendly rivalries and adventures come to mind when Ken Hall recalls his childhood home beside Giant Mine.

"It was very much a close-knit community and an interesting mix of people," Hall said. "The neighbours would make newcomers welcome."

He recalls his apprehension back when his family first moved into the house at the mine townsite, where they would remain throughout his youth.

"It quickly became apparent that for a young kid, it was a real adventure growing up there."

During the summer, the children would build rafts to go out onto the lake or walk into the bush, which was their backyard, he said.

"We would go hunting ptarmigans and rabbits in the winter."

With plenty of children around, and perhaps because of the isolation, Hall said the kids seemed to play together regardless of their ages.

"You quickly became part of the community. Over the years, we've established some of our closest friendships with people who lived there," Hall said.

The area itself was self-sufficient, he said.

"The mine site had a commissary, like a general store. There was also the rec hall where we loved to go to play ping-pong and watch movies."

Also on site was a cafeteria, laundry service and the volunteer fire department.

During the heydays of the mine, the population reached a peak of about 50 families plus about 250 single miners.

Once the last families have moved on, the city, which holds the lease to that parcel of land, will have to decide what to do with it.

Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the eventual long-term use of the townsite land has yet to be formalized.

Ideas tossed around for the land include a marina to complement the boat launch and a landing area for float planes or private groups utilizing the land, he said.

"Right now there are options, but no decisions," Van Tighem said.

The decision will ultimately be made by city council.

However, because the mine will still be operating at a reduced capacity by a contractor, Van Tighem said he didn't know if the buildings would be used by them.

Land complements boat launch

Van Tighem said the main reason the city acquired the land was for the boat launch, which has now been completed.

The Mine Heritage Society is leasing the recreation hall on the mine site and the cruising club has a formalized lease for a portion of the land, he added.

Wayne Bryant, a member of the NWT Mining Heritage Society, said they are planning to develop a museum and interpretive centre on the A-shaft site and have taken over five of the buildings.

"I can't speak for the rest of the board, but I don't know if we could handle taking over the townsite as a heritage area," Bryant said.

"But what's going to happen (to the townsite) I don't know."

Hall said with mining being a major part of Yellowknife's history, preserving memories of that era is indeed a worthwhile effort.

"Money is going to be the bottom line there. Who would pay for renovating and maintaining the buildings?" Hall pondered.

The mining heritage society has already collected thousands of artifacts.

The old rec centre will be the first to be renovated, said Bryant.

"There will be displays there. There will be a little restaurant and tea room and we will give tours of the A-shaft and power plant."

There are also plans for a heavy equipment display just before the city dock.