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A historic occasion Deh Cho Bridge expected to affect life in Fort Providence and the NWTRoxanna Thompson Northern News Services Published Thursday, December 6, 2012
An estimated 500 people participated in the ceremony that marked the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge that spans the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence. The afternoon began with a fire feeding ceremony near the bridge site followed by a ribbon cutting, a plaque unveiling and a walk across the one-kilometre structure. The Merv Hardie ferry then made its final crossing on the river. Berna Landry was chief of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation on Aug. 24, 2007 when a ceremony was held in Fort Providence to mark the beginning of the bridge construction. "I never thought I would see the day when it would be complete," she said. Landry joined the crowd that walked over the bridge. Crossing over the arch of the bridge was like going over a new horizon, she said, adding that it was a historic day for Fort Providence. Landry was also one of the Fort Providence residents who, along with official delegates, were on the final crossing of the Merv Hardie. "That was ever emotional," she said. Leaving the old When Iain Leishman, who was captaining the ferry, blew the horn it was a symbol of leaving the old and going into the new, said Landry. The band will now have to think of new economic projects for the community, said Landry, who's a band councillor. At the community feast later that day, Chief Wayne Sabourin said the fact the bridge had opened and there is no more ferry hadn't sunk in for him yet. "I've been going back and forth on the ferry almost all my life," he said. The opening of the bridge will be a huge transition for the community, said Sabourin. "We have to go with the flow and see what comes out of the new year." There will be some benefits including not having to rush to make the ferry and not being delayed while waiting to cross the river, he said. The bridge also means that Fort Providence will be accessible 24 hours a day, every day of the year. "We're open to the rest of the world," he said. Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli also sees some additional benefits for Fort Providence including capitalizing on the year-round traffic through tourism related services and businesses. The bridge will also give industries around Yellowknife the opportunity to expand, he said. "It marks an era of change in the North." The bridge, however, won't be without its challenges. Nadli expects the access provided by the bridge will result in increased social problems in Fort Providence. It's something the community will have to plan for in order to mitigate possible impacts. Hopefully the territorial government will provide support in this area, he said. While addressing the crowd gathered in the Deh Gah School gymnasium before the feast, Premier Bob McLeod also spoke about the benefits the bridge will bring to the territory. Residents want to see the territory become more self-sufficient and this is one step towards that, he said. The bridge provides a more permanent transportation link for residents and will also allow goods to move to market more efficiently. There are also environmental benefits, including no longer having trucks idle while waiting for the ferry, said McLeod. Growing up in Fort Providence, McLeod said he never imagined one day there would be a bridge across the river. "It's a great day for Fort Providence and it's a great day for the NWT." McLeod thanked the community leaders for their support of the project and the members of the territorial government who helped make the bridge a reality. During the evening portion of the ceremony Ruskin Construction Ltd., the company that constructed the bridge, announced that it is donating $25,000 to Fort Providence to be used for upgrades to the local arena, as a way of saying thanks to the community.
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