CLASSIFIEDSADVERTISINGSPECIAL ISSUESSPORTSOBITUARIESNORTHERN JOBSTENDERS

ChateauNova

http://www.neas.ca/


NNSL Photo/Graphic


Canadian North

Home page text size buttonsbigger textsmall textText size Email this articleE-mail this page

Costly joy ride for hamlet
Vandals cause more than $10,000 in damage at Rankin Inlet arena

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, Sept 05, 2012

RANKIN INLET
An act of senseless vandalism may delay the opening of the Rankin Inlet arena this year.

NNSL photo/graphic

Recreation worker Cody Tulugak displays the type of pipes destroyed on the floor of the Rankin Inlet arena when vandals drove a Zamboni over them this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

A group of young offenders forced their way through the back door this past month and took the Zamboni ice-cleaning machine for a joy ride on the floor of the arena.

The Zamboni did serious damage to a large section of exposed pipes (refrigeration lines) that are part of the arena's artificial-ice-making system.

Rankin rec co-ordinator David Clark said refrigeration pipes are not the most durable and, with no concrete floor to protect them, every pipe the Zamboni drove over was destroyed.

He said there can't be any leaks in the system, so every damaged pipe has to be replaced.

"I'd say up to 30 per cent of the pipes on the floor area have to be replaced," said Clark.

"To cut out and replace the damaged areas, we're talking about 12,000 feet of piping.

"We've already placed an order for the pipe and we expect it to arrive on the barge scheduled to arrive in the middle of this month.

"Once the pipes are here, we'll get right to it and concentrate all our efforts on getting the arena open on time, but there's no guarantee."

Clark said the replacement parts alone cost more than $10,000, not including shipping or the labour to install them.

He said it's still not known if the hamlet's insurance will cover the cost.

"We had people on the ice skating about the second week of October this past year, so we're going to do everything we can to have the arena open at the same time this year.

"I've never had to put in replacement pipes, but my crew and I will be working as hard as we can to open on schedule and we can only hope everything goes smoothly."

Clark said it's very disappointing local youths would do something like this, especially with the arena being such a focal point of the community during the winter.

He said the youths responsible for the act probably aren't involved in sports and couldn't care less about those in the community who are.

"It's pretty sad, actually, but the damage has been done, so now we have to focus on repairing it.

"We can only do our best, but I can promise we'll be working our rear-ends off to get the work done once the replacements parts arrive.

"There's no guarantee, as I understand it, any of this will be covered by insurance, but we're working on it and will just have to wait and see what the outcome is.

"One way or another, the work will get done."

E-mailWe welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.