Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 7, 2007

REPULSE BAY - The Naujat Co-op in Repulse Bay is involved in two construction projects it hopes will bring more employment to the community and make it a popular destination.

Manager John Kaufmann said the projects are an office building for Parks Canada and a four-plex for Co-op staff housing and rentals.

He said this is the biggest construction project the Naujat Co-op has taken on.

"We're well into the project now, so the initial trepidation has been replaced by excitement," said Kaufmann.

"It's going to be a real benefit to the community to have Parks Canada here because it will create badly-needed jobs and help put Repulse on the tourism radar.

"Parks Canada will, in time, have up to seven people working there.

"The building will also house visitors who come through for various projects and studies at the park."

The Co-op has done small construction projects in the past, such as hotel renovations and constructing its own store in co-operation with Arctic Co-operatives.

Kaufmann said Naujat Co-op also built a warehouse and a garage, making the new projects a natural extension to what it has already been doing.

He said the Co-op will be able to expand its hotel once its own building is done.

"Our manager and assistant manager have lived in the hotel for a number of years.

"Once we've finished the expansion, hopefully, they won't have to share a room any longer when we're busy.

"We'll have at least 18 rooms available when this is completed, which should make us more attractive for conventions and other organizational meetings.

"Right now the larger centres are often selected for bigger meetings because of the hotels they have, but, if we can provide more rooms, we might receive more of that business."

The Co-op received the cement and rebar during last year's sealift so it could be poured during the summer and ready for this year's ship, which brought in the remainder of the material.

There are 10 local employees on the job in addition to a contract foreman, electrician and plumber.

Kaufmann said the Co-op's mandate is to have as many local hires as possible.

He said the operation is locally owned and it's local people he wants on the job.

"The town needs jobs and we do whatever's possible to ensure our local members get dibs on available work.

"Parks Canada has a 10-year lease on the new building, which is ahead of schedule.

"The turnover is scheduled for July 1, but, the way things are going, we could be ready as early as sometime in March of 2008.

"The four-plex will probably be ready in February."