Infrastructure Plan for Cambridge Bay
2024 / 2025
The Municipality of Cambridge Bay will continue to work towards completing as many of the community infrastructure projects as possible. Priority projects will be: completion of the new arena, construction of new Youth Centre, completion of new sealift lay down area, renovations to the community swimming pool and Wellness Centre as well as continuing to lobby for a paved runway, repairs or replacement of the community dock and other priority projects as identified by Hamlet Council and Administration.
Housing
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Staff Housing - GN
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New
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Increase staff housing for GN staff and teachers
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Public Housing - Elders
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Renovate
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Improve Elders access to housing through walkways and ramps
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Public Housing
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Renovate
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Increase Energy Efficiency
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Public Housing
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New
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Build new public housing units to alleviate overcrowding and provide housing to for the jobs created by CHARS
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Staff Housing - Hamlet
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New
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Secure funding to design/build Hamlet staff housing units.
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Health
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Long Term Care
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New
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Establish Elders Nursing/Care Home
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Ambulance
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New
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Acquire ambulance/emergency vehicle, a cube van is currently being used for this purpose and it was never intended to be used as an ambulance and it is not and can not be properly set up for ambulance services.
*** New ambulance was received in the 2024 sealift.
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Addictions Center
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New
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The is no addictions treatment centers in the Kitikmeot, GN cancelled plans for addiction treatment and this should be revisited
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Long Term Care
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New
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test
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Solid Waste
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Fence - Landfill
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Renovate
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Fencing at both waste management facilities
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Incineration
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New
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The notion of the Municipality of Cambridge Bay continuing to "BURN" our garbage is no longer a viable option in our very sensitive Arctic Environment. Furthermore with infrastructure built or being constructed at various locations throughout the Municipality, it has become increasingly restrictive on when we can burn the garbage at the Landfill. Where once we could depend on northerly prevailing winds, we can no longer use that criteria. Currently we can only burn garbage when there is a north or west winds otherwise smoke and paticulates will come over our town and/or over the Municipal Water Lake.
Because of the environmental and health issues we face, we have embarked on developing a comprehensive Waste Management Strategy which includes a Thermal Oxidization System (TOS) facility.
The Municipality of Cambridge Bay generates approximately 5000 kg total waste output and an additional 1840 kg total sewage output per day. Construction of this incineration system will reduce waste delivered to the landfill by 90-95 percent.
In concert with a representative of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) located in Cambridge Bay, the Municipality reached out to jurisdiction where this type of system was employed. The Thermal Oxidization System (TOS) used in Barrow Alaska have proven to be an environmentally friendly way to dispose of combustible waste material. Barrow has a population of 4000 people, twice that of Cambridge Bay, and their waste using the TOS is reduced to five bags of residual which is used to shore up their landfill berms.
After significant internal discussion, a position paper was generated with the intent to reach out to companies that have said capacity, capabilities. The Municipality now have a shovel ready TOS Project for which we are activity seeking funds to construction. Cost of a TOS for Cambridge Bay with expandable capacity taking into various factors including population growth for the next 25-30 years cost a fraction of a new Landfill. Municipality representative together with others met with several Federal Government Departments officials at Infrastructure, Environment and the Prime Minister's Office regarding a TOS for Cambridge Bay, fully understanding the process by which the Feds funds projects in Nunavut. That being the Federal Government to GN to Municipality. The TOS is beneficial to the environment and has the potential to convert waste to energy, thereby decreasing the Hamlet's overall operational costs.
As the town grows and our water supply is threatened and our arctic environment and climate is threatened, we would like to be the Pilot Project for Nunavut to build and monitor the success.
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Sports and Recreation
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Arena
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New
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Working in concert with various stakeholders, the Municipal has commence with the construction of the New Cambridge Bay Arena. The design was completed in early 2020 with commencement phase of the Construction starting in August 2020. Initial objective was to complete the Project by Christmas 2020 taking a commercial business approach versus that of the typical infrastructure build in Nunavut. However with the continued impact of COVID 19 and other factors including that the depth of excavation of the ice rink foundation was deeper than expected level as stated in the Geotechnical Survey Report and took longer than initially anticipated, new NBCC 2015 Building Codes, cost of material going through the roof, the New Arena Project is now scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2022.
Notwithstanding the other elements which was unexpected including that of excavation of ice rink foundation being 3x deeper than anticipated, needing 3x more granular the initially budgeted, the continuance of COVID resultant impact on cost of material, labour. Nevertheless, once completed it is anticipated that the overall cost of building the Cambridge Bay Arena will be one-third that of what it typically cost the GN. For example the Arena in Rankin.
However the need for the other components of the Cambridge Bay Multiplex continues to exist including that of a larger Community Hall and Swimming Pool.
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Swimming Pool
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Renovate
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The Hamlet would like a well insulated pool to allow for a longer swimming season and possibly offer a swimming program through the schools.
Unfortunately the Municipality does not have the capital dollars to fund all of the required work and as such staff is trying to reach out to various entities in their attempt to secure necessary required dollars.
Summer 2021 is the second year in a row where by there were no swimming activities at the pool due to impact of COVID in sourcing a membrane as a longtime solution versus that of our prior practice of patch work. This patch work involved a liner replacement.
This further highlights the need for formalize approach to ensure the integrity of the facility is in tact and safe for use.
The building envelope around the swimming pool is not insulated and as such this will be a major or first step in the attempt to expand the season.
The Municipality retained the services of a local contractor in 2020 to repair the damages to the pool structure. This work included extensive work at the corners where the integrity of the frame was compromised. We bought some rigid insulation and will attempt to place said insulation on the bottom of the pool infrastructure before we acquire and install a ruggedize membrane.
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Adult Education
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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NAC Campus
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New
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Build new Mine Training Centre, the Kitikmeot has some of the highest mining activity in Nunavut but there is no training centre in the region for Inuit to train for those job opportunities. With TMAC Resources and Sabina Gold and Silver moving closer to production, construction on the Mine Training Centre has taken on more importance. Many residents in the region do not want to travel outside of the region for training.
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NAC Campus
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Renovate
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Expand NAC
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Cultural School
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New
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Establish cultural training/education facility and/or Elders teaching centre o support and encourage Inuit culture in Cambridge Bay to revitalize Inuinnaqtun, with the participation and knowledge of our Elders.
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Municipal Infrastructure
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Parking Garage - Hamlet
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New
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Construct new combined service garage for municipal works and fire fighting vehicles and activities.
The current Hamlet fleet of vehicles and equipment includes water trucks, sewage trucks, two (2) garbage trucks, two (2) fire trucks, an emergency response vehicle, a backhoe, dozer, grader, skid steer, snowblower and numerous pick-up trucks and SUV’s. As the community of Cambridge Bay continues to expand, and the population continues to increase at a dramatic rate, there is increasing need for additional vehicles delivering municipal services. As an example, the Hamlet currently operates three (3) water trucks and three (3) sewage trucks seven (7) days a week. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Spare Water and Sewage trucks come on line so as to offset the increase demand for municipal water/sewage services. With the continuous growth and expansion the community has experienced, we deliver almost 84 million litres of water annually. However, the Hamlet does not have the storage space necessary to park these vehicles safely, out of the elements and thus ready to go at a moments notice particularly responding to any emergencies.
With the increased population, on-going construction and growth of the community, there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the community. This increase in vehicles has placed significant strain on the ability to have vehicles serviced and repaired in the community. The Hamlet of Cambridge Bay mechanic and hopefully eventually an NLCA Apprentice Mechanic will be on staff as we strive to keep up with the demand for mobile equipment maintenance services.
The absolute need for increase garage storage to park the Fire Trucks so they are always ready, our patient transport vehicle allowing for quick access when called, and heavy equipment and all water/sewage trucks is immediate. The Municipality has identified this need in our ICSP for many years and thus we are now at a critical time where it is imperative this request receive a high priority within the Government.
Without or even delayed water and sewage services fosters an unhealthy environment including that of proper sanitation for our residents.
Our staff are already stressed with the increase demand to do more and more to meet Cambridge Bay growing population demand and is further stretch with effects of COVID 19 including increase use of water as part of ones effort to keep their space sanitized.
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Hamlet Office
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Demolish
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Decommission or re-purpose Hamlet office/arena when a new mulitpurpose facility is constructed.
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Commercial Facilities
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Storage Facilities
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New
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Lack of storage (warehouse) space. Often, the Municipality has temperature sensitive material, like soil stabilizer/dust suppression material, hydrocholrite for water treatment and such which we need to store inside.
Unfortunately the Municipality has no heated warehousing facility and thus much rely on others for storage of these type of material. This storage comes at a cost and thus the Municipality must pay from limited O&M dollars to pay for these storage or from project(s) funding and for which there are no recoverable. The O&M Budget is already stretched and thus monies spent for this type of storage reduces or takes away from other work including that of road maintenance or repair of vehicles.
As an interim measure with no anticipated GN funding for storage facilities of any kind the Municipality continue in its quest looking at Municipal facilities which perhaps can renovate to meet NBCC 2015 Building Codes.
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Traditional Economy
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Traditional Foods Processing Facility
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New
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Build new meat and fish processing plant to increase harvesting and marketing opportunities for country food.
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Traditional Foods Processing Facility
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New
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Establish facility to shear musk ox wool and process leather
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HTO Office
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New
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Build new facility to house HTO office
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Quarry - Soapstone
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New
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Establish soapstone and carving stone quarry, lack of available soapstone
In 2012, Geologist from GN-EDT conducted extensive investigation as to location of possibly soap stone deposits in the Cambridge Bay area however there has been no follow-up since that time as to harvesting said soap stone.
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Airports
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Runway
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Renovate
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Upgrade, lengthen and pave Airport runway.
In the absence of roads and marine infrastructure, air links provide Cambridge Bay with a lifeline to the south.
In 2010, the Government of Nunavut commissioned the Cambridge Bay Airport Master Plan. The Master Plan identifies short-term (1 – 5 years), medium-term (5 – 10 years) and long-term (10+ years) priorities for improvements and renovations at the Cambridge Bay airport. Of particular interest to the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, is the medium term (5 – 10 year) recommendation to pave the airport runway, apron and taxiways.
As the regional hub for the Kitikmeot region, Cambridge Bay has experienced a steady increase in the number of scheduled flights, charter flights and cargo flights. As our population continues to increase, the number of flights to and from Cambridge Bay will continue to increase accordingly.
Transition existing gravel runway, apron and taxiways to "hard surface" allowing for improve flexibility in the types of aircraft that airlines could use to serve Cambridge Bay. Additionally increase the length of runway to a minimum of 1800 metres allowing for Canadian North 737-400 type aircraft to operate on said runway. Work with Nav Canada allowing for installation of additional navigation system such as an ILS thereby allowing for reduce minimums for safe aircraft operation. This increased flexibility will lead to improved service to the community including but not limited to reduce missed approaches due to inclement weather such as fog or reduced ceiling and visibility and will decrease flight costs and cargo rates.
As Cambridge Bay is the hub for the region's medevac, the ability for an aircraft transporting a patient to a hospital in Yellowknife or Edmonton to operate into the airport is of the utmost importance. It is essentially a matter of life or death.
Other than for some work on the airport lighting, the Municipality has no knowledge of any continued work within the past year on the Airport Rehabilitation Project. This make over 3-years since last significant work was completed. Full runway overlay has not yet been addressed.
We have been notified by Canadian North that they have phased out one jet and the other will be phased out July of 2021. At that point we will have only ATR traffic. We are already seeing the effects on medical travel and food availability in the stores and on the increased length of time for mail delivery.
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Maintenance Garage - Airport
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New
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Relocate airport maintenance building to accommodate the expansion of the airport terminal
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Other
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Outdoor Sports Park
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New
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Build an Outdoor Sports and Adventure Park comprised of a baseball diamond, BMX park, skate park, playground, outdoor skating rink and basketball court.
At present, the playgrounds located within Cambridge Bay are insufficient to meet the needs of youth in the community. The playgrounds are undersized, the equipment is outdated and they do not address the various age groups wishing to utilize the facilities.
Cambridge Bay is home to an ever-increasing number of basketball players and fans of the sport. Currently there are senior leagues and youth leagues run throughout the school year in the Kilinik High School gymnasium and the level of interest in the sport continues to grow. At the recently completed Arctic Winter Games, held in the South Slave region of the NWT March 18 – 24, 2018, more than half of the players selected to represent the Team Nunavut Basketball Team were from Cambridge Bay.
Unfortunately, there is only one (1) outdoor basket court in Cambridge bay and it is only a half court size with a single basketball hoop. This limits the number of youth that are able to participate in basketball activities during the summer months when the Kiilinik High School gymnasium is not accessible and it leads to youth playing basketball at extreme hours of the day and night. Multiple full size outdoor basketball courts are required to allow youth of varying ages and skillsets to participate in the sport of basketball in the community.
Interest in the sport of baseball has declined in Cambridge Bay in recent years. This decline can be directly attributed to lack of adequate baseball diamonds and facilities. The only baseball diamond in the community is located at the Kiilinik High School. The backstop and fencing are in disrepair and leading to the facility not being utilized. Development of this new Outdoor Sports and Adventure Park will include construction of a new baseball diamond. This will directly lead to revitalization of the sports and will encourage healthy living and social wellbeing for our community residents.
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Training
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New
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Mayor, Council and Administration training and on-going professional development.
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Other
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New
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Build a community mortuary to assist family and friends grieve the loss of a deceased loved one.
Regardless of an individual’s beliefs and cultural background, losing someone that is cared about is never an easy experience. Moving through the stages of grief, sorrow and acceptance are essential elements of moving forward and fully mourning a loss is crucial for the health and wellbeing of those left behind.
When a death occurs in the community, it is essential to have a location where family and friends of the deceased can gather to mourn, share memories and honour the life of a loved one. At this time, the Municipality of Cambridge Bay has no such facility. There is a community morgue, located at the Health Centre, where the deceased are kept before being transported to the Community Hall for funeral services and on to the cemetery for burial. This morgue is an emotionally cold and cramped facility and is not conducive to allow family and friends to grieve, mourn and honour the life of a loved one. Furthermore, the morgue is directly adjacent to the Health Centre emergency room, resulting in significant disruptions and emotional distress for family and friends of a deceased loved one when paying final respects.
The Municipality of Cambridge Bay requires a mortuary facility to ensure the emotional health and wellbeing of our community residents. While there is a financial cost associated with building this type of mortuary facility, these costs are far outweighed by the benefits to residents social wellbeing; a death that is not fully mourned can lead to depression and other mental health issues, resulting in increased costs and strain on resources to the medical and mental health systems.
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Other
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New
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Establish land based corrections facility
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Schools/Daycare
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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School
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New
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Integrate Education Facilities (Daycare, Elementary and High School)
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School
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New
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Renovate Kullik Ilihakvik School, expansion is required to a meet community growth. The gymnasium floor needs to be repaired or replaced because the DEA does not allow the gymnasium to be used for community recreation events. The DEA is concerned with the condition of the flooring and the extra abuse opening the gym to the community would create. The Hamlet and community residents request access to the school gym for activates not suited for the community hall.
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School
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New
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Build New Middle School
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Day Care
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Renovate
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Expand Day care Facility there is 20 children on the waiting list
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Playground - School
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New
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Establish New/Upgraded Playgrounds at schools, the current playground is too small and in disrepair.
Since the Schools are under the jurisdiction of the GN, it is their responsibility to carry our any maintenance or upgrades.
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Power
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Power Plant
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New
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Power Plant will exeed capacity soon with the new CHARS facility, the plant should be relocated to the same area the tank farm is being relocated to
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Alternative Sources
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New
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Experiment with Wind technology
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Telecommunications
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Broadband
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New
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Increase internet connectivity bandwidth
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Roads
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Land Access Road
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New
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The current road to the Hamlet Office is not visible and not wide enough. Hamlet Staff continues to carryout maintenance with grading and sparingly adding granular on the road and parking lot. Improvements to drainage continues.
Existing descent grade continues to be a safety factor and one which the Municipality will require significant funding to correct. Road maintenance can only do so much to try combat this situation.
Though the Municipality took the initiative to partially address the egress for emergency vehicle(s) there is still need for significant road improvement including proper overlay which will require an estimated 2000 m3 of 3/4 inch granular with at least two (2) culverts.
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Land Access Road
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Renovate
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Renovate and upgrade the access road to Mount Pelly.
With some funding received, significant work was completed in 2020 on the west arm or locally referred to as the Gravel Pit access trail. Work,
Perhaps in 2022 the Municipality can secure additional funding to continue with work on the Gravel Pit road.
Though still trying to confirm Hamlet's responsibility as it is our current understanding with establishment of Ovayok Territorial Park that perhaps Kitikmeot Inuit Association or Nunavut Tunngavik Inc or even the Territorial Government has a bigger role on the maintenance of stated road.
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Roads - Municipal
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Renovate
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Pave and/or obtain alternative surface options for Municipal roads.
Road dust generated from high winds, increased vehicle traffic, erosion, permafrost degradation and other environmental factors present serious health issues for residents and visitors in Cambridge Bay. The limestone road base produces dust particles that are fine enough to pass into an individual’s lungs, leading to serious irritation or harm. One of the most damaging consequences of road dust is its effect on people’s respiratory health, especially that of young children and the elderly. In individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such asthma, emphysema or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), these health issues can be severe.
In addition to the aforementioned health risks, this road dust also poses significant road safety concerns. As plumes of dust are generated by winds, vehicle traffic and/or environmental factors, visibility can be obstructed, obscuring the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians. This can directly result in increased motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian injuries.
Notwithstanding the need for a completed overlay of ALL Municipal Roads, with the successful Road Pilot Project application under the GN Small Project Gas Tax funding program, though had only a few days of above 10'C weather, staff was able to carryout application of the Ecoluc 555 testing a section of one of the Hamlet main roads (Mitik Street). The initial section was under the Supervison of the Manufacturer representative with the second section completed solely by Hamlet Staff.
It is our belief that the Road Pilot Project was a success. Particularly after almost 72 hours of rain, the road held with no pooling of water and no potholes though resident continue to drive on the road.
There remains some Ecoluc 555 and which staff will carryout same process next year once the temp get above of close to +10'C.
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Social Gathering Centers
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Community Hall
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Renovate
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Addition to the Community Hall, growing community requires additional space.
The Municipality of Cambridge Bay has experienced extensive population growth in recent years and, as the regional centre for the Kitikmeot region and home of the new Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), this population increase is expected to continue. This population growth will dramatically increase the demand for use of the Luke Novoligak Community Hall. However, use of the Community Hall is negatively impacted by the size, occupancy restraints of the Hall and the lack of proper fire protection including that of a fully function suppression system.
There are many issues facing the community of Cambridge Bay for which our residents must be prepared. For example: population growth, housing concerns, land development, infrastructure requirements, municipal services and shipping and transportation are all topics that require public input and consultation. The Luke Novoligak Community Hall is the only location in Cambridge bay that is capable of facilitating these types of community consultations.
In the past, the Luke Novoligak Community Hall has been host to:
• Kitikmeot Trade Show and Conference (annual event with more than 200 exhibitors, delegates and guests) for which in 2021 this has been cancelled due to COVID 19 and limitation of travel to the Community as well as number of people gathering.
• Kitikmeot Inuit Association – Annual General Conference
• Weddings
• Funerals
• Weekly Drum Dancing and Throat Singing
• Public Meetings and Consultations
• Omingmak Frolics Activities
• Community Christmas and New Year's Celebrations
• Cadets Functions
• Arctic College – Opening and Closing Ceremonies
• Kitikmeot Mayor's Meeting
• Nunavut Association of Municipality's Meetings
• Nunavut Association of Municipal administrators Meetings
• Nunavut Water Board Meetings
• Nunavut Planning Commission Meetings
• Plus many additional Special Events, Banquets and Craft Sales
Improvements to the Community Hall is still very much warranted particularly for Cambridge Bay as a hub and growing community.
SHOULD WE DELETE THIS and REPLACE with CONSTRUCTION of a NEW C-HALL?
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Petroleum
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Tank Farm
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New
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Relocate QEC Power plant and associated Tank Farm away from community. There has been minimal communication from QEC regarding any movement on this requirement.
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Distribution
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New
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Improve fuel handling facilities for marine transport, currently fuel truck is used to deliver fuel to marine vessels causing risk for fuel spill
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Marine
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Small Craft Harbour
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Renovate
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Extend dock facility 50 feet to allow access to greater depth harbour
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Wellness
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Boarding Home
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New
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New boarding home for people of Kitikmeot on medical visits, the building that was slated for use as the boarding home is being used for another purpose. A new boarding home is required so the Kitikmeot Regional Health Centre can be fully utilized as originally intended.
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Community Wellness Hub
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New
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Existing wellness center is in the old Health Center and is 50 Years old with increase cost to operate and maintain. The facility is owned by the GN and Leased to the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay.
With any aged building that was built decades ago the building codes are far different then as it is now in the current NBCC 2015 codes. Hence potential safety hazard if building is not meeting the existing Building Codes. There is an increasing trend in O&M cost with Municipal staff essentially just conducting emergency type maintenance though the Municipality has a Preventative Maintenance program for the Heating Systems.
For the longest while the Municipality was unable to locate lease agreement with the GN for this facility. Only recently did we finally received a copy.
Only issue is that the Lease is expired and as such the Municipality is working with the GN-CGS Property to secure another lease.
The building is still aged with only reactive maintenance being carried out. The Municipality with some funding received from the Rick Hansen Foundation has embarked on upgrading accessibility access at the rear of the facility. Work has been delayed due to delays in securing Building Permit.
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Heritage
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Visitors Center
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Renovate
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Expand existing visitors centre
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Shelters
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Asset
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Action Required
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Problem Summary
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Group Home
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Renovate
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Enlarge Group Home
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