Iqaluit (Mar 13/06) - - Recreation facilities are often the cornerstone of communities. Without them, residents would be without great feasts, junior hockey games, craft fairs and Christmas celebrations.

More often than not, the facilities in Nunavut's communities are not up to snuff.

However, in the territory's hubs, it seems the facilities are pretty much okay.

Recreation co-ordinator Bobbi-Jo Grover wants to make it clear the facilities in Cambridge Bay "serve the needs of the population."

The Cambridge Bay arena has an ice rink with a 200-person seating area, a "small" weight room, and a two-sheet curling rink and lounge.

There is no ice-making machine, but the natural cooling system in the Arctic suffices. The rink is open October until May.

"All the facilities are old. The last reno done was in the 1980s and the actual facilities do need a lot of work."

Grover says the flooring in the weight room needs to be fixed, and it would be nice to have a bigger space. A new Zamboni to polish the rink ice wouldn't hurt, says Grover. She also suggests a better air-circulation system in the curling rink.

The community hall is brand new after a fire gutted the old one a few years ago. It seats 250 people and considering the population of Cambridge Bay is 1,700, the hall "isn't large enough, but we work with the school and can accommodate between the two facilities," said Grover.

The crowning facility is the youth centre, built two years ago.

The four foot deep pool is open only two months of the year - July and August - which is common around these parts.

"Cambridge Bay could definitely use a better pool."

As far as outside facilities go, there is an outdoor basketball diamond and a brand new basketball court.

"We have a multi-use complex called the Rankin Inlet community centre," said John Hodgson, Rankin Inlet senior administrative officer

This has a 60-by-30 foot pool, open from June to September.

"It's full all the time and we have to turn away kids all the time," said Hodgson.

There's also a curling rink and the community hall all stuffed into one nice little package.

"The curling seems to have dropped off here, it's not very busy," observed Hodgson.

The air circulation system in the hall is "sub-standard," Hodgson said. "It doesn't have an air-handling system, just fans. This means the only time the air is changed is if someone opens the doors."

"When it's full in there for square-dancing and stuff, it gets pretty stuffy," said Rankin Inlet resident William Tudlik.

Complex maintainer Joseph Innukshuk estimates the hall can fit about 350 people in it. The complex has an arena with an artificial ice maker.

"Most communities don't have that. It kills us in power," said Hodgson.

But he said it's worth it.

The ice-machine was installed three years ago, said Innukshuk.

"There are less cracks on the ice so it is less dangerous," said Innukshuk. "They cannot ignore the rink now because they are having too much fun."

Tudlik has been playing hockey in Rankin since he was 11. The rink is very important to him and "it's important to most kids because they love to play hockey and stuff like that."

All three agree the dressing rooms are old, but are large and ample.

Besides that, there's a youth centre separate from the building, two baseball parks, an outdoor volleyball court and a moto-cross bike track.

Considering the place of many fish is also the place with the most people in the territory, it's expected the city will have the most recreation facilities.

The swimming pool is open year-round, but is quite small and often really busy.

There is no set community hall, but the Anglican Parish Hall is generally used for community functions. As most others in the territory, it's packed at Christmas.

The Abe Okpik Hall in Apex is also available for community events.

In addition to the curling rink and lounge, there are two arenas, although the Arctic Winter Games arena floor has been sinking since 2003.

With $329,000 needed in repairs, the rink has been virtually unplayable this season.

This squeezes all the hockey players, speed skaters and figure skaters into the Arnaituq Arena.

But for assistant atoms and bantams coach Laurie-Anne White, this is not all that bad.

"I love the old arena. I think it is great. The ice is a little softer and it's all around a good arena," said White.

She said the AWG Arena had "different ice" and although many people liked it, she prefers the original.

She says it's downtown, close to home, well worn and "traditional."

"My only complaint is because there is only one arena now there is not a lot of public skate times."

She says combining the curling rink, community hall, pool and arena into one complex would be ideal, especially in terms of cost savings to the public and individuals.