Kugluktuk recreation centre to get $300K upgrade

Kugluktuk's recreation complex,which houses the community's arena, community hall, youth centre and local radio station, is getting a $300,000upgrade.

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency is providing $225,000 through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, with the Hamlet of Kugluktuk footing the bill for the remaining $75,000.

Bill Williams, Kugluktuk's economic development officer, says the money will improve the building's infrastructure, but it will also make it possible to improve services.

"Now, we'll be able to have a full oven, of a commercial nature, to really cater to our large feasts, especially in the winter," Williams said.

"We also have other programs, like our MFT [moving forward together]program that does cooking programs with our youth, working with healthy meals, so it's going to really expand our capability with our programming, with a full useable kitchen."

Williams says the recreation complex is "probably the most important building in town," which is full of children and youth a lot of the time.

"Our youth centre, which was created a couple of years ago,is really a hub for our youth."

While this funding will go a long way, Williams says the community has another item on its wishlist.

"I think one of the biggest things our community would love to see eventually is artificial ice, just because being one of the warmer communities in Nunavut, we do have a shorter ice hockey season."

The facility, which was built in the 1990s, also received $637,603 in upgrades paid for by the hamlet and CanNorin 2013.