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Crowd welcomes aquatic centre
Former mayor honoured at ribbon-cutting

Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, January 30, 2017

IQALUIT
Under budget and on schedule, the Iqaluit Aquatic Centre opened its doors to the public Jan. 26.

As several dozen people gathered outside the entrance on a mild afternoon, a handful of leaders spoke about the importance of the new recreation facility to the community and to Nunavut.

"Today is a historic moment as we come together to give special thanks to everyone who helped make this aquatic centre a reality," said Mayor Madeleine Redfern.

"This community-driven project provides a much welcome and needed public space where residents, from infants to elders, can come together and participate in healthy-living activities. This is a world-class facility, not just for Iqalungmiut, but for our territory."

Community and Government Services Minister Joe Savikataaq, Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo and Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson also spoke of the importance of the facility. Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Monica Ell-Kanayuk and Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Paul Okalik attended.

"Living in the North, living in the Arctic, people sometimes feel like we have to compromise in terms of our infrastructure, in terms of our buildings, in terms of our enjoyment of life – this project proves we don't," deputy mayor Romeyn Stevenson said following the ceremony.

The idea of a new aquatic centre for the city was born even as the former municipal pool was being scheduled for closure in 2011. A referendum with a positive result spurred the city to make the dream a reality. The final price tag for the new building, construction for which began in March 2015, came in at $40 million, half a million dollars less than expected.

The late Jimmy Kilabuk, a former city councillor and mayor, was a long-time supporter of the centre. He was present in spirit as councillor Simon Nattaq recalled his efforts.

Nattaq said Kilabuk was dedicated to providing more activities for Iqaluit youth.

A fund, modeled after southern YMCA programs to facilitate the use of recreation facilities by low-income families, will be named after Kilabuk. A fundraiser, which raised another $18,000 towards that fund, was held the evening before. Approximately $100,000 from the REACH Foundation goes to the fund.

REACH – Recreation, Environmental leadership, Aquatic centre, Community building, Healthy living – was created in 2011 to raise funds and create awareness for new recreational facilities in Iqaluit, starting with the aquatic centre. REACH is now committed to raising funds to provide fee-assistance to families who may require support to access the facility, according to a city news release.

Redfern gave thanks to supporters of the centre.

"In particular, I'd like to give special recognition to our director of recreation Amy Elgersma, the committed and dedicated volunteers, a succession of city mayors and councillors, along with the steady support of our REACH committee and sponsors," she said.

Which is not to say the centre didn't have its naysayers – some opponents of the project questioned a $40-million building dedicated to recreation, citing crumbling city infrastructure.

"There was never any doubt in my mind it was the right thing to do," said Stevenson.

"There was doubt it was going to be achieved at times. The votes were often close. Sometimes it felt like there were more people against it than for it. But, no, it's absolutely the right thing to do. It doesn't take away from what those people say.

"There are other things in this city that need to be addressed, other problems that certainly need as much attention. But this is worth it to make Iqaluit feel like home, a place people can feel they can settle with their kids.

"It changes the whole face of the city and allows other things to be dealt with because people are here, it's their place to live."

The shrieks of pleasure echoing off the walls of the pool, and one mother who confessed to having "cried a little" as she witnessed her son playing in the water, suggested the city made the right decision.

Funding for the aquatic centre, which houses a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool, a multi-purpose room, elders' room, public fitness centre, fitness studio, as well as a food and beverage area, came from a variety of sources, including the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada and a $7.5 million loan.

There are 10 full-time and 15-part-time staff, though some positions still need to be filled.

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