SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There were plenty of treats but absolutely no tricks when the NWT Disabilities Council officially opened its new headquarters on Halloween.

Jen Winsor, left, Cornelius Van Dyke, chairman of the NWT Disabilities Council, Mayor Mark Heyck, Jacob Kudlak and Denise McKee all help cut the ribbon Oct. 31 to officially open the new NWT Disabilities Council headquarters in the Scotia Centre. - photo courtesy of NWT Disabilities Council

The new location is on the lower level of the downtown Scotia Centre.

The new space was jam packed as staff joined dozens of people from all walks of life who dropped by to see the new facility.

Virtually the only people not in costume for the big event were the political dignitaries who were on hand to mark the grand opening. They included Mayor Mark Heyck, Premier Bob McLeod and Glen Abernethy, minister of Health and Social services.

Heyck cut the ribbon to officially open the new headquarters, assisted by council executive director Denise McKee, office manager Jen Winsor, council chairman Cornelius Van Dyke and Jacob Kudlak, president of the "Best Buddies" program at St. Patrick High School.

That initiative pairs students with people who have disabilities, with the intention of promoting friendship.

"This is a very exciting day for us," said Denise McKee, executive director of the disabilities council.

"We're now back downtown where many people who use our services live. That means more of them will by dropping by," she said.

For the past five years, the council was located uptown near the Yellowknife Co-op.

"We had some minor accessibility issues there," McKee admitted. "They were mainly with the automatic door and a single accessible washroom."

Those issues have been addressed at the new location. It has an elevator to accommodate people who can't manage the flight of stairs, McKee said.

You can't always anticipate everyone's disability, she said, but she believes the new headquarters has most if not all of them taken care of.

"We've even addressed sensory issues with the lighting here," McKee said.

"This location was the best option to be found. It met our criteria list. And the feedback from the public in general as well as the people who use our facilities has been terrific. We're more visible here which is better for everyone," she said.

There are still some finishing touches to be completed on the new space but they are in the process of being finished, McKee said.

She pointed out that the new headquarters is well within walking distance of the Safe Harbour Day Centre which the council took over the operation of on Oct 1.

McKee said despite the change of location, the council's mandate remains the same. It provides education, advocacy and support for people with disabilities, the families and the caregivers, McKee said. The council provides services right across the NWT.

"We have a total staff of about 30 and an annual budget of about a million dollars a year," McKee said.

"We serve more than a thousand people a year across the NWT."

The disabilities council receives its funding from various sources including the territorial, federal and municipal governments as well as private donors including RBC and the Elks club.

McKee said at the end of the day, the disabilities council is all about people. "If this location is better for them, then it is better for us," she said.

Van Dyke also said it was a exciting, important day.

"We're very happy to be in a new space and provide better services for our clients," he said. "We have 1,200 square feet of space here. I'm not sure what it was at out last location but this has more capacity. We have overcome our accessibility problems here. What it means to me is that we're moving forward and I'm very happy about that."

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