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On the drawing board
Plans call for Children's First Centre to be completed
by December and open in January 2013Katherine Hudson Northern News Services Published Thursday, February 2, 2012
Last Wednesday, Aviva announced its 12 winners whose projects will receive a piece of the $1 million up for grabs. The Inuvik project didn't make the cut. Two days prior to the announcement, Peter Clarkson, who holds a seat on the centre's construction committee, gave council a rundown of what the town should expect this year – which is leading up to a tentative January 2013 opening. Half-complete plans for construction – 50 per cent drawings – are complete so the cost of some construction, mechanical and electrical equipment can be collected. "It'll make sure we're in the ballpark of the $4.5-million budget we've come up with, including in-kind work," said Clarkson. The close to 125 pilings will be inserted into the ground in February and March, according to Clarkson, and the steel work will begin in April – such as capping the pilings and placing the high beams on top. "Construction would start in May and go from May to the end of December. We've talked to contractors in town and they feel that would be lots of time to get that done," said Clarkson. By the end of December, the building should be complete. Clarkson described the building as a "very simple, one-storey building" with a sloped roof and straightforward mechanical and electrical design to ensure the ongoing operating costs are as low as possible. He said it is designed to be energy efficient. The 95 per cent drawings will be completed this month – allowing the committee to get solid prices to hire local contractors. The Children First Society has banked about $3 million through fundraising and donations, including $2.3 million from the Town of Inuvik. Clarkson said there is about $1.5 million left to raise – which includes soft commitments of about $500,000. The project will provide a permanent home for early childhood education in Inuvik. The Inuvik Child Development Centre, Aboriginal Headstart, Totspot Daycare and Inuvik Preschool will all be housed in the new facility. As of September, the current early childhood centres will need a place to go until the Children's First Centre opens its doors in January. "We don't have any other options right now. If we don't get it built, we're going to be in trouble. I'm confident we're moving forward and there's been a lot of community support and good will," said Clarkson. Coun. Jim McDonald voiced concern at the Jan. 25 council meeting about the speed the project is moving along without all the funding solidified. "The big concern is the budget. There is still a fair bit of money that needs to be raised. They're still short a million-plus on their budget ... Surely there's a point of no return and you get that far and we have to start pouring money in and that's the biggest concern I would have," he said. Coun. Terry Halifax said the Children First Society didn't choose the timeline and that the town is dealing with an urgent situation. "Fifty-two per cent of our preschool kids are going to be on the street in September. This isn't their choosing. They would have rather have another year," he said. Mayor Denny Rodgers said temporary space must be made available for the early childhood centres, stating "hopefully they can secure some space in the new school." Maryissa Camacho, executive director of the Inuvik Child Development Centre, said there is a wait list of 52 children for their centre alone. "It's too bad that this building is going to get torn down but it'll be nice to get ... everyone in the same building. It's more spaces for kids too, which will be excellent," she said. As for the Aviva Community Fund, there is still hope for the centre to acquire some funding. Paula Guy, chair of the Inuvik Child Development Centre and director of the Children First Society, said the society would apply again in the fall with a smaller, more focused project. "When we're further along in the project, then maybe we'd submit for the outdoor space or a specific classroom," she said.
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