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Hamlet complex coming to Kugaaruk
New community centre, art hub creates space for young population

Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, November 14, 2016

KUGAARUK/PELLY BAY
Kugaaruk is getting a new hamlet office, or, "hamlet complex," as it will be known.

The modern building will include council chambers, administrative offices and an area for displaying carvings and Inuit artwork in the foyer. The building will also have a community space.

"The community centre was key," said senior administrative officer Gordon Dinney.

"It's really a focal point for the small community. We have a population of about 975 people. The average age is 18 years. It's a young town. You can imagine the need to have infrastructure that addresses the need of younger people to meet and gather. We need recreational activities, we need places for people to go."

Construction began in September, and has wrapped up for the year. It's expected to be done next year but work could run into 2018.

The bones of the 930 sq. metre building are built with finished footings, pilings, flooring and walls, and all closed in to be protected from the winter elements.

The current hamlet building was built in the early 1990s.

"We had been doing some previous work on the old hamlet office, and in the process it was determined that it was more feasible to construct a new hamlet office with a community hall attached to it," said Kevin Niptanatiak, Kitikmeot regional director of infrastructure for Community and Government Services.

The building has a budget of $11-million, and is fully funded through the GN's capital planning process, he said.

The primary contractor is Iqaluit-based company Kudlik Construction Ltd. and the project should see lots of employment provided to residents of the hamlet.

"We are very optimistic with this project that we will get a high local labour turn out," said Niptanatiak.

"It's designed to be built using the capacity of the community, of the trades, as much as possible," said lead architect Simon Taylor of Yellowknife-based company Taylor Architecture Group.

The company visited the community early in its planning process to create interest and gather contact information to provide to the contractor. He said upwards of 50 people were initially interested and they saw considerable carpentry skills in Kugaaruk.

While the building won't be large, Taylor said it is designed to appear spacious.

"It's large, it's open, it's got nice lighting. It has nice southern views, it's got views to the hills, it's got views to the seas. It's a very transparent facility, so it will be open and bright but will also seem quite safe."

The foyer is meant to be a "gathering spine" for the community, said Taylor.

"It's a multipurpose space that can be used during the day by members of the community to come in and have a coffee and sit down and chat."

The new complex will not have a gymnasium like the old building but this gap is filled by the gym at the hamlet school.

The modern facility will also be wheelchair accessible and much more energy efficient.

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