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INUVIK - New video conferencing technology in Inuvik could mean the end of costly business trips to the south.

A partnership between the Western Arctic Business Development Services (WABDS) and the Town of Inuvik has resulted in $15,000 worth of state-of-the-art video conferencing tools.

The Midnight Sun Recreation Centre has new capabilities for video conferencing needs. From left, Ron Rogers, Derek Lindsay, Sara Brown, Brent Kay and Colin MacGillivray test out their connection to the south. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

WABDS general manager Brent Kay said the addition to the complex will enhance his organization's ability to participate in conferences.

"The conference centre now offers the services to serve the needs of the community, to facilitate access to experts and programs from southern Canada and to attract conferences to Inuvik," said Kay.

The new equipment is being based out of the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.

"We'd like to call it the Midnight Sun Convention Centre now," said mayor Derek Lindsay.

According to Kay, all the equipment was funded by the department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

The initiative came from the Northwest Territories Community Futures Association of which seven communities are members.

Currently seven communities in the Territories are capable of this video conferencing: Inuvik, Yellowknife, Whati, Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Simpson and Norman Wells.

Kay said the potential uses of the equipment are endless.

In other communities, the equipment is located in the offices of the local Community Futures branch.

Kay said the Inuvik branch offered the town the opportunity to install the equipment in the complex, and it accepted.

The mayor said the meeting rooms where the equipment is being kept are usually empty.

"Most of the time these rooms are vacant and unused so now we've found a venue for opening up a market," he said.

Lindsay said he hopes the territorial government will use the equipment for their video conferencing needs.

"I hope the GNWT will use it to its full extent which should save the government a lot of money I believe," he said.

Lindsay said having top-quality video conferencing will affect all groups in the Territories.

"We'll be able to sit down here and have face-to-face meetings," said Lindsay.

"We'll also be using this for the Petroleum Show."