Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Dettah leaders dug into an important new project last Friday - a sod turning for a new $3.5 million community complex.

Construction was to begin this week on the building, located next to the community hall, and be completed within a year.

"We are very proud we're going to have a new Dettah community complex," said Dettah Chief Peter Liske.

"The former chiefs, their dream was to have a new community hall, way down as far as Jonas Sangris and Joe Charlo. Today we're making history. I think this will bring everybody together."

The 12,000-square-foot facility will house 13 administrative offices and an archive room on the first floor and a new community hall with space for 400 people.

"The shape is a Dettah rose to signify the fine work of the Weledeh beaders. The roof will have fine petals to signify a rose, and there is an extension of one leaf," explained Yellowknives Dene CEO Jeanne Cadieux.

The leaf jutting out will hold a foyer as well as clinic rooms for medical personnel who come to the community. Because of the slope of the land, both the upper and lower floors will have ground-floor entry.

The shape of the building allows for the addition of a second leaf in the future, if there's a demand for it.

The new community complex will also feature a generator back-up. In an extended power outage, the building can be operated as an emergency shelter for the whole community.

The $3.5 million project is being funded through the Government of the Northwest Territories' Municipal and Community Affairs capital projects.