Thomassie Kowcharlie longs for the days of skating and playing hockey at the arena in Sanikiluaq. The community has been without a dedicated space for recreational activities since a fire destroyed the arena in 2023 and a subsequent fire razed the attached community hall a year later.
While some activities have relocated to the high school gym, hockey has not been able to make the move. Kowcharlie expressed a desire for the facilities to be repaired, stating, “We just want to play sports. I hope they will make an effort to fix it.”
Robert Hedley, the senior administrative officer of Sanikiluaq, revealed that the community has recently engaged Hardy Construction to clear the debris from the community hall, which has been an unsightly presence for the past two years.
Hedley mentioned that the hamlet has received bids for a reconstruction project to rebuild both the arena and community hall, with a decision on the contractor expected by early next week.
He expressed hope that the cleanup of the burnt structure would be completed within the year, and construction of the new facilities would take approximately two years, aiming for the best-case scenario to address the community’s pressing needs.
During an interview in mid-September, Hedley emphasized the significant impact of the lack of recreational facilities on the community, highlighting the absence of hockey tournaments and opportunities for children in the past few years.
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“Recreation is a consistent financial challenge for hamlet operations, but it plays a crucial role in keeping the community connected and thriving,” Hedley remarked.
He also noted that the loss of the arena and community hall led to a decline in job opportunities in the area, such as Zamboni drivers and recreation assistants.
