Arviat (Mar 01/06) - Norman Illungiayok finds it a little easier to visit his favourite spot in Arviat these days.

Illungiayok, who uses a wheelchair, is a regular at the Mikilaaq Centre Drop-in.

A group of volunteers and funding partners came together to make the centre wheelchair accessible this past summer.

Centre worker Nadine Lamoureux says although others have made use of the ramp, Illungiayok was the driving force behind its construction.

She says the ramp allows Illungiayok to get into the lower half of the two-storey building, which houses all his favourite activities.

"Norman (Illungiayok) enjoys playing pool, soccer, foosball, music and lots of games," says Lamoureux.

"The upstairs is more for computers and smaller kids.

"The downstairs is where the action is, so it tends to be a lot more livelier."

Centre director Lynne Rollin says funding was provided by the department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and the hamlet of Arviat.

The parish council of St. Theresa Church paid for the gravel and the Mikilaaq Centre (under the Churchill-Hudson Bay diocese) covered the remaining costs.

She says volunteers did most of the work.

"The ramp was built during a few weekends at the end of the summer," says Rollin.

"We are happy and proud to be able to offer wheelchair access.

"It's even better to know, while different organizations helped to pay for the materials, people donated their time to make this project a reality.

"We have a concrete reminder of their caring and concern."

Lamoureux says Dennis Okatsiak is the only adult who comes to the centre from time to time and makes use of the ramp.

She says there is an elementary-aged girl in town who uses a wheelchair, but she hasn't come to the centre yet.

"I'm not sure if her parents realize the building is wheelchair accessible," says Lamoureux. "But Norman and his brother are regulars here and the ramp is a lot better for him. "A little help is needed to open the second door on the way inside, but there's always tons of people around to help if he needs it."

Illungiayok, who speaks mostly Inuktitut, is known as a quiet young man who's fun to be around.

When asked how he feels about the ramp, he says he's glad it was built.

"It feels good that I can go to the drop-in centre," says Illungiayok.