CORAL HARBOUR
A celebration was held to mark the 15th anniversary of Southampton Island's access road project this past month.

Elders Paulusie Nakoolak, Jerome Tattuinee and Johnny Nakoolak, from left, celebrate the Southampton Island access road project's 15th anniversary at the road's end near Coral Harbour this past month. - photo courtesy of Dino Bruce

The road has passed its midway point and now runs about 140 km from Coral Harbour to its current end.

When finished, the road, which started in 1999, will reach all the way to Duke of York Bay.

Financing for the project has been provided through the Hamlet of Coral Harbour and the Government of Nunavut's (GN) access road program.

A number of other organizations and GN departments have also chipped in from time to time.

The road is the vision of Louie Bruce, who saw it stretching across the island and bringing numerous benefits to the people of Coral Harbour.

Louie's son, Dino Bruce, said building the road has been a community project.

He said during the first 10 years, both the private sector and the hamlet worked on the road, with the private sector doing all the work in the past five years due to location.

"You don't see people who can be considered visionaries very often," said Dino. "Most of what you hear about are giant figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and what he did for his people in the (United) States, Louis Riel and his work for the Metis, and Tagak Curley and his vision of Inuit governing their own land.

"I don't want to put my dad on a pedestal, but he started this project with a goal of reaching Duke of York Bay and we're within three to five years of reaching that now.

"While many MLAs, mayors and other people were very helpful during the past 15 years, it was my dad's vision that started the project and has us so close to the end today."

A number of people who worked on the project have gone on to work for the hamlet, government, or mining industry as heavy-equipment operators.

Dino said a lot of hands-on training took place during construction, which benefitted those involved.

He said many thought the road would be impossible because of the distance.

"Now, in the summer, many elders are able to drive to where they hunted when they were younger.

"Coral being a community where the economy is not the greatest, hopefully, this road will help open doors in commercial fishing and tourism.

"In that sense, my dad saw something that would one day help people.

"More and more people are starting to realize this road belongs to everybody, which is also a big deal in benefits like being able to provide food for their families."

Dino said Coral is taking pride in the mammoth project nearing completion.

He said there will always be skeptics when it comes to a person envisioning something to better the future of others, but it can be strange to see people who once had doubts about the road now using it themselves.

"That does make you wonder a bit but at the end of the day, it's not about who supported this or that. It's about better living for everyone.

"It's also about better prospects for the generations that come after mine.

"One day the people and equipment involved in this project are going to be gone, but the road will still be there."

Dino said some people might think it's a stretch to compare the Southampton Island road to the people who built the Trans-Canada Highway or the country's railway system. But, he said, it's the same concept in that those people are long gone, but others still benefit from their efforts today.

"This is very similar because we live on an island.

"Once when we reach Duke of York Bay, there's also going to be a sense of connection to Repulse Bay by boat during the summer.

"People are also skeptical about tourism, but the road could help it become huge with all kinds of wildlife there.

"You've got bowhead and narwhal there, walrus, polar bears, fish - just an abundance of wildlife."

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