Katie May
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - City council approved a development permit Monday to build a dementia care facility behind Aven Manor to house 28 beds and provide long-term care and a day program for patients with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

The proposed centre will be a continuation of the Aven Manor administration building on 50 Avenue, and will be built by Nahanni Construction Ltd. in partnership with Diavik Mines. The NWT government announced in April it will pay $15 million for the centre's construction. Nahanni expects to start building at the beginning of next month and complete construction by September 30, 2009. Council will hear any appeals against the permit for the next two weeks.

City hall e-mail updates available

The city is now offering e-mail subscriptions for residents and people around the world interested in Yellowknife city activities. Subscribers can get updates about the budget, job postings, bidding opportunities, council meetings and any new information as soon as it is updated on the city's website.

Gold Range designation in the works

The city's heritage committee has notified council that it is still working on designating the Gold Range Hotel as an official heritage site after members discussed the possibility at the committee's last meeting in May.

Some members said "social issues" in the area of the hotel should be fixed before the Gold Range becomes a heritage site, while committee chair Catherine Pellerin said during the meeting that a heritage designation is separate from any other issues.

The committee expects to have more information about the Gold Range to make a decision at their meeting today.

NWT Construction to pave streets

Council unanimously approved a $2.5 million contract from NWT Construction Ltd. to pave city streets this year.

Paving will include 49 Avenue (from 52 Avenue to 51 Avenue), 44 Street (from 49 Avenue to 50 Avenue) and Woolgar Avenue (from Bromley Drive to Byrne Road).

The construction company was the only one to put in a bid for the road work, but the city's director of public works, Greg Kehoe, said at the meeting the total estimated cost of $2,528,380 was in line with the city's expectations.

"It looks like what we believe to be a fair bid," he said.

Council decided to delay paving 50 Street for a year until the city's downtown enhancement committee comes up with a more concrete streetscaping plan for that area.

"Rather than do something and have them say, 'no we want something different' and having to re-do it next year, we'll just wait till next year," said Mayor Gordon Van Tighem.

The scheduled paving is expected to be complete in mid-September.