INUVIK - A sporting goods store in Inuvik is growing as it moves ahead on several exciting initiatives.

Arctic Rim Sports Store sales clerk Brian Edwards stands by a rack of Choko snow machine helmets. The Inuvik store recently became a licensed dealer of Yamaha snow machines and boats and is planning a move early next year to a bigger location. - photo courtesy of John Curran

Arctic Rim Sports Store, which opened this past July at 71 Franklin Road, is planning a move to a bigger location, which will house a repair shop, early next year. The company also recently became a licensed dealer of Yamaha boats, motors, snow machines and other accessories.

The store is owned by Arctic Rim Distributors, which also owns Home Hardware Building Centre, Arctic Foods and V&S Options.

With more merchandise taking up the sports store, "we've outgrown this location," said Manager Terry Lehoux.

"We're going to renovate (the new location at 61 Mackenzie Road) and move up there because it's a bigger building. It changes quite a bit for us. It brings in a lot more clientele because now we're going to set up a shop where we're going to have all the parts, accessories, do warranty work."

The current store measures 2,300 square feet; the new venue will comprise 3,500 square feet, he added.

The garage was due to open this week and will create one new mechanic position, said Lehoux on Wednesday. The rest of the new store is being readied for an April or May opening, he added.

"Now that we're Yamaha, we're going to have boats and motors in the spring," he said. "We also have the Yamaha snow machines and ATVs. Generators, boat motors, kickers."

Prior to Arctic Rim becoming a licensed dealer, Inuvik residents seeking Yamaha vehicles and equipment had to shop for them in Whitehorse. Northmart is a Bombardier carrier.

"We had the opportunity. We have lots of storage space, lots of space to show it," said Lehoux.

Given recent headlines about the Mackenzie Gas Project, it may be a risky time for any business in the North - especially one in Inuvik - to be investing in new infrastructure.

A National Post article last week quoting unnamed sources claimed Ottawa has decided not to proceed with its investment in the $16.2 billion pipeline, although the GNWT and pipeline supporters were unaware of any dip in federal support for the project.

For his part, Lehoux said that while the pipeline's status does remain a concern, the short-term is looking good for Arctic Rim Distributors.

"Right now, with everything that's going on ... we're actually having a better year this year than we did last year in our (Home Hardware) store," he said. "Up here we have the new school being built, we have a new office building being built, there's housing being built."

Denny Rodgers, mayor elect in Inuvik, said businesspeople, while certainly mindful of the pipeline, should not put all their eggs in one basket.

"Obviously, everybody is hopeful of the pipeline and obviously it's going to bring a lot of wonderful things for the community, but people have been around here long enough to know that you can't hang your hat on one thing," said Rodgers.

"We're still a regional centre. We still can look at other opportunities, promote ourself as a regional conference centre, as business tourism centre, not just people driving up the Dempster Highway in their RVs."