SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - By August 2010 gymnasiums around Yellowknife will be freed up to allow more users, as soccer players exit en masse to the new Yellowknife fieldhouse, according to city councillor Bob Brooks.

Breaking new ground, from left: councillor Bob Brooks, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, and Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert McLeod dig in at the official groundbreaking of the sports fieldhouse last Saturday. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the $17 million structure took place on site next to the Multiplex last Saturday, and was attended by members of city council, the GNWT and the federal government.

Brooks, a supporter of the project for the last five years and member of the Fieldhouse Development Committee, said the facility will have many benefits for the community.

"If you can keep the youth busy with structured recreation, then it's going to make for a much happier, healthier community," he said.

Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert McLeod enthused about the potential sporting success the fieldhouse is expected to bring.

"We may get a few more gold medals in the national competition because we'll have a place to train now," he said.

Vivain Hansen, an active member of the soccer scene in Yellowknife, said the facility would attract more teams to the city.

"The kids are very excited. Usually we have to travel down south to play in places like this. Now maybe we can get other teams to come up here," she said.

A member of the Fieldhouse Development Committee, Mike Roesch, said the venue will supply an alternative for kids who don't play hockey.

The structure will house two soccer pitches and an elevated walking/running track, as well as being certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building - thanks to the sustainable building measures included in the structure.

"It will be like an arena. An arena brings so many people to our community and brings so many opportunities. It's a chance to reach out to so many other kids who don't play hockey," he said.

Also attending the ceremony was Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who went on to announce the signing of the Canada-Northwest Territories Infrastructure Stimulus Agreement, in which $1.5 million has been pledged to promote infrastructure projects in the North.

She singled out three projects that will receive joint federal-territorial and federal-municipal backing. They include the repair and renovation of the reception building at Nitainlaii Territorial Park, the restoration of the utilidor system in the town of Norman Wells and the renovation of the Antoine Beaulieu Community Hall in Fort Resolution.

She signalled there will be more funding announcements to come.