Kitti Hall damaged in fire
Tuktoyaktuk to work together to ensure Christmas events still take place
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 1, 2014
TUKTOYAKTUK
Three youth have been arrested in connection with a fire that's resulted in the shutdown of Kitti Hall, Tuktoyaktuk's community centre, for the Christmas holiday season.
The fire broke out at the hall shortly before 3 a.m. on Nov. 26.
The volunteer fire department extinguished the flames but not before the fire ravaged the kitchen.
The estimated cost of the damage is about $300,000, according to the RCMP.
The building is insured but it will take time to fix the destruction.
Kitti Hall is the main space used for community events.
The only other area big enough to accommodate large gatherings of people is Mangilaluk School's gym, said Tuktoyaktuk senior administrative officer Terry Testart.
The hamlet had planned to hold numerous activities at Kitti Hall over the holidays but they will have to consider other options now.
"It's devastating," said Testart. "We had a complete schedule of holiday events ranging from meeting Santa, to giving out gifts to kids, drum dances, to feasts to dances."
The hamlet held a community meeting Nov. 27 to discuss other locations for events.
So far, the plan is to use the school gym and other facilities such as the youth centre.
However, events will likely have to be scaled back as even the school gym is not as large as the gathering space in the community centre.
The community is also working on plans to build outdoor skating rinks, said Testart.
The fire has really brought out the best in Tuktoyaktuk, he added.
"The reaction is positive, various organizations have come together and are working together for common calendars and everybody is willing to assist," said Testart.
"There's a common agreement with Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation, the hamlet and the district education committee to work together on using whatever resources we can for facilities to run events."
Tuktoyaktuk RCMP continues to investigate the suspicious fire.
The three suspects, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, have been released on a promise to appear in court.
