Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, May 25, 2007

FORT SIMPSON - Fort Simpson has been chosen to host next year's annual general meeting for the Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC).

Mayor Duncan Canvin announced the decision at the village council meeting on May 22.

The meeting will be held from May 8-10. The village last hosted the meeting in 2001.

"We have a reputation to live up to," said Coun. Tom Wilson.

Staff with the NWTAC still talk about the meeting in Fort Simpson as one of the best they've had, said Wilson.

Ramp needed

A motion to proclaim May 27 to June 2 as NWT Disability Awareness Week sparked a discussion about accessibility to the village office.

"The situation is deplorable," said Coun. Bob Hanna.

Council is discussing a disability awareness week, but the municipal office doesn't have a wheelchair ramp and isn't accessible, said Hanna. Hanna suggested that the village should look into previous plans that were made to build a ramp.

"I think it's a start," said Coun. Tom Wilson.

Wilson noted that work would still have to be done to the doors to the village office to make them wheelchair accessible.

Pool plans

Council has voted against investigating what would be necessary to turn the planned seasonal pool into an all weather facility.

In the beginning the village wanted a building that had the capacity to be made all weather but didn't want to purchase the extra equipment now like a large ventilation system, said Mayor Duncan Canvin. Dillon Consulting said it would cost $5,000 to investigate what would be needed.

"We're investigating something that we damn well can't afford," said Coun. Bob Hanna.

Hanna said the village will never be able to afford the building or the operation and maintenance costs of an all weather pool.

Request reviewed

Council is reviewing a request from the Fort Simpson Historical Society and the Open Sky Creative Society to move their offices into the upstairs room in the Visitor Information Center.

Both societies are working closely together on the Heritage Center project and would benefit from sharing the same office space, said Martina Norwegian who presented to council.

The Open Sky Creative Society currently occupies the smaller, downstairs office in the center and the Historical Society has an office in Dehcho Hall. Both societies plan to move into the Heritage Center when it's completed near the end of 2008, said Norwegian.

Both Coun. Candy Brown and Coun. Olinto Beaulieau suggested that a small rental fee should be charged for the space.

Arbour funds

Liidlii Kue First Nation will be receiving $30,000 from the Community Capacity Building Fund to help fund the construction of a new arbour at the Papal site.

Council passed a resolution to commit the money. The decision to use the money for the project was originally made at the tri-council meeting on May 2.

A donation

Village council is giving $500 to Liidlii Kue First Nation in response to a request for donations for this year's Aboriginal Day festivities.