Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - After complaints were made to Yellowknifer about youth entering the Akaitcho Hall demolition site, the contractor responsible for the job said adjustments have been made to secure the area.

Bob Valleau of Arctic Environmental Services, the local company demolishing the run-down 52-Avenue former school dormitory, said Wednesday the fence cordoning off the site was being repaired and would be finished by day's end.

A sign indicates hazardous materials inside Akaitcho Hall. - Michele Taylor/NNSL photo

Signs were posted outside the building clearly indicating "authorized personnel only". While lead dust - a hazardous material - is contained within, those wishing to enter the site needed only push the seven-foot chainlink barrier from Akaitcho Hall's wall to gain access. The fence was to be re-attached to the building.

According to Valleau, the demolition of the structure will begin today and the entire site will be cleared by the end of August. He also noted that the urgency to get the company's loader to the Aug. 3 fire at St. Joseph school also added to problems of securing area around Akaitcho Hall.

Director of the public works asset management division, Paul Guy, told Yellowknifer that the contractor has complained of vandalism. There is now a permanent security person posted at Akaitcho Hall and police are regularly patrolling the site after hours.

"Arctic Environmental is responsible for securing the site and we're aware of the problem and taking steps to secure the site," said Guy.

He asked members of the public to contact police if they see unauthorized people on the site.

Yellowknife building inspector Daniel Duval said that one of the many conditions for the demolition permit issued by the city was that, "Site safety is paramount.

"Kids going in there is absolutely a safety issue and if it's brought to our attention, measures will be taken for them to upgrade (the contractor's) safety preventions."