Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Oct 19/05) - A war of words in Baker Lake has ended with the community receiving a brand new concrete pad.

The Baker Lake District Education Authority (DEA) and hamlet council became involved in a dispute with the Nunavut government when they learned a decision had been made to tear down the old Jonah Amit'naaq school's concrete pad.

Many in the hamlet viewed the pad as a valuable piece of infrastructure that could be converted into a multi-purpose recreational facility.

To others, it was an accident waiting to happen.

Simeon Mikkungwak, DEA chair, said although he's extremely happy with the outcome, the struggle was frustrating at times.

"Members of some departments kept citing safety concerns as the reasons why they wanted the old pad removed," said Mikkungwak.

"But we had analyzed the same safety concerns and knew we could address them if we were given the chance.

"As an elected official, I'm just happy things worked out the way most people in the community wanted them to."

During a conference call this past week, the Department of Education committed to build a new 60 x 80 ft pad for the community.

The department and the hamlet will each contribute $30,000 to the project, with Education and Community and Government Services (CGS) picking up any additional costs once a firm budget is established. Should construction costs be lower than $60,000, the hamlet of Baker Lake's costs will be reduced by 50 per cent of any savings.

The hamlet and DEA are also expected to draft and sign a memorandum that indicates how the pad will be used and maintained, with a focus on its ability to be a community asset beyond school hours.

Should a fence be required, the hamlet will be responsible for all related costs of its construction.

The spring/summer of 2006 has been set for the pad's construction.

Mikkungwak said the concrete pad will go a long way towards meeting the ever-growing recreational needs of Baker's youth and the rest of the community.

"We could host concerts during the summer and cultural events throughout the year.

"That would allow elders and youth to interact in a positive environment, which leads to youth learning more about their culture."

Mayor David Aksawnee said council felt the community needed a concrete pad bad enough to commit $30,000 to the project.

The $30,000 was originally to be used to upgrade the old pad.

"Giving youth more to do is always a concern in Baker, and the hamlet has to take advantage of any opportunity to build on its existing recreational programs," said Aksawnee.

"I was absolutely appalled to learn a decision to remove the old pad was made without any consultation with hamlet council or our DEA.

"At first it looked like something we could work out locally, but then it became this big political issue.

"That's not what I wanted to see happen when we put our support behind the project."

Bill Olson is the acting principal of the new Jonah Amit'naaq school.

He was put in the position of opposing council and the DEA on the restoration of the old pad unless a significant number of safety concerns could be addressed.

Olson said he informed all parties involved from day one that his only priority was student safety.

"The old pad sat next to our new school for two months as a work site with no fencing around it," said Olson.

"My stance right from the beginning was either make it safe or tear it down.

"I told both the mayor and Simeon (Mikkungwak) if the hamlet and DEA were able to make it safe to use, I would have no problem with a recreational pad in the community."

CGS is in charge of producing a revised drawing showing the new pad at its 60 x 80 ft dimensions.

The department will also confirm the pad's location with the DEA and hamlet office, taking into consideration student safety and any legal set-backs.

"No matter how you look at this, the primary area of concern is safety," said Olson.

"Kids already lit a fire under the old pad one night, and that was definitely a safety concern for me with the close proximity of our school."