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INUVIK
As part of a national pilot project, a series of transportable cells have been deployed to the Inuvik RCMP detachment.

Peter Joice, project manager with the RCMP National Project Management Office, stands in one of the cells from the relocatable pilot project. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

The project is scheduled to last a few years, and feedback will be collected on the performance of the temporary cells for any improvements that need to be made.

Three units were sent to Inuvik from Salmon Arm, B.C., and while they are still not occupied they will be used by the Inuvik RCMP in a month's time.

"There are two styles of trailers," said Peter Joice, project manager for the RCMP National Project Management Office.

"The master unit holds office space that you can use for breathalyzers, booking photos, interviews and maintenance."

The base units each contain two cells, which are constructed based on the highest standards of safety.

"Standard cells are nine by nine (feet), these are a little smaller at eight by six," said Joice.

Each unit is entirely self-contained, including water storage, sewage holding tanks, mechanical systems and a furnace.

While the cells don't have bunk beds installed because the ceilings are lower than a standard cell, cots or mattresses can be added based on the needs of the detachment.

"All our cells are short-term," said Staff. Sgt. Jerry McKenna. "We're only a short-term holding facility for when people are in court or here overnight."

The cells have been designed to work across Canada, from withstanding frigid Arctic temperatures to being covered under three metres of snow, said Paul Blaser, from RBM Architecture based in Saskatoon.

"They're intentionally overbuilt to withstand any environment and they have 20 to 25 years of life expectancy," he said.

The project was developed as a response to the need for additional cost-effective cells that could be used across Canada to ease overcrowding or to be used for special large-scale events like the Olympics or G8 Summit. As an added bonus for the Inuvik RCMP, the cells have the potential to help with overflow during construction of the new detachment, due to start in 2013.

Installation of the temporary cells was sent out for public tender, with a focus on Northern experience, said Joice. Northwind Industries was awarded the contract for transportation and set-up.

"They pull like a dream," said Fred Bailey, who travelled to Salmon Arm to drive back with one of the trailers over the unforgiving Dempster Highway.

"Because they're designed to go anywhere, you can transport the units by barge, rail, road, anything available," said Joice.

"These are very solid structures."

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