Construction - Northern News Services

Transcription

Northern
consTrucTlon
Residential•Industrial•Government
2016
Ground broken on new hospital in Yk
p7
Cambridge Bay research centre
p14
Aquatic centre for Iqaluit
p18
2 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 25, 2016
NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2016
NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 25, 2016 3
photo courtesy of Clark Builders
photo courtesy of Rowe's Construction
A truck hauls an excavator to Norman Wells over the Tulita ice bridge.
Clark Builders has been working on a four-storey, 19-unit public housing project on Moyle Drive in Yellowknife, initiated by NWT Housing Corporation.
Construction expected to
shrink 20 per cent by 2020
More people working but territories still struggling to compete with southern companies
by Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
NWT/Nunavut
According to the latest economic forecast from the Conference Board of Canada, the
NWT construction industry
employed an average of 1,985
workers in 2014 – up two per
cent since 2009. This represented approximately seven
per cent of the total workforce. However, this number
is anticipated to contract by 20
per cent by 2020 as construction wraps up this year at the
Gahcho Kue diamond mine,
the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk
Highway and the Mackenzie
Valley Fibre Optic Link.
Smaller projects which
will provide slight relief
include the Diavik A-21 pipe
and Ekati's Jay Pipe project,
which is scheduled to start
construction by the end of the
year. A boost to the industry
is anticipated when Avalon
Advanced Materials begins
development of its Nechalacho property and construction
begins at the Prairie Creek
and NICO properties.
In Nunavut, construction accounts for 13 per cent
of the territory's economic
activity and has contracted
by about a fifth, according
to the report – largely as a
result of the Mary River mine
completing its development
phase. In 2015/16 there were
810 employed by the industry;
however, the majority were
fly-in, fly-out workers.
Promising projects include
development of Agnico
Eagle's Amaruq deposit and
construction of its $1.2 billion
Meliadine gold mine which is
expected to take three years
and give the industry an 18
per cent boost.
NWT and Nunavut Construction Association (NNCA)
vice-president Jack Rowe said
project focus for the territories varies from year to year
and typically follows a departmental trend but the overall
amount of construction has
remained relatively consistent. Currently in the NWT,
he said, the demand seems to
be for health care facilities,
whereas a few years ago precedence was given to schools.
Because so much of the territory's infrastructure requires
upgrades and rehabilitation,
he said the government seems
to be tackling one sector at a
time.
"We've seen a new health
facility in Fort Providence,
a new health facility in Hay
River – there's a new one
going in Norman Wells right
now, there's a new one going
into Fort Resolution and of
course Yellowknife," he said.
"They probably looked at
their requirements and tried
to focus on replacement of
assets and also maintenance."
In Nunavut the trend is
See Industry, page 5
NNSL file photo
Construction on Iqaluit’s $40-million aquatic centre was delayed last summer because of ice conditions blocking the sealift but it
has been going full-throttle since then.
ON THE COVER:
Construction on Iqaluit's $40-million
aquatic centre was delayed last summer
because of ice conditions, but it's been
going full-throttle since then. The frame
is taking shape as crews work around
the clock, often at great heights.
Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
Nunavut & NWT Construction 2016
www.nnsl.com
Iqaluit: 867-979-5990
Yellowknife: 867-873-4031
STORIES BY
Meagan Leonard
Business Features
Airport on target despite setbacks
Roof fire caused $1 million in damage to new terminal building last fall
Percentage of Nunavut capital spending by department
April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017
Ju
2. stic
3
% e
Office of the Legislative Assembly
.40 %
t
en
nm
ro
i
v
En 6 %
1.
)
AC
e
nc
Culture and Heritage 0.03% *
Family Services 0.03% *
Office of the
Legislative Assembly 0.40%
Environment 1.60%
Justice 2.30%
Finance (NAC) 3.00%
Health 8.40%
Education 13.40%
Community and Government Services 16.2%
Nunavut Housing Corporation 19.40%
Economic Development
and Transportation 34.70%
(N
na
Fi %
3
Health
8.4 %
Economic
Development and
Transportation
34.7 %
Education
13.4 %
* Value too small for graphic representation.
Source: Government of Nunavut
Community and Government Services
16.2%
Nunavut Housing Corporation
19.4 %
photo courtesy of the Government of Nunavut
A new terminal building set to open in 2017 is part of the $298-million Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project. The Government of Nunavut
directed more than $77 million for construction in its 2015/16 capital spending plan.
by Meagan Leonard
Iqaluit
Iqaluit's new $300 million
airport is still scheduled to
open in August 2017, despite a
few hiccups over the past year.
Those visiting the site will
now notice a number of additions – a large sweeping terminal building being the most
obvious. Construction of that
structure was set back last
year after a roof fire caused
$1 million in damages Sept. 5.
Airport director John
Hawkins said the blaze started
during some torching work
and affected approximately 10
per cent of the roof. Although
it was contained, the destruction was extensive enough to
require replacement of the
Styrofoam insulation layer.
He said engineers and contractors sealed it for the winter and repairs are scheduled
to be completed after a sea
lift arrives this spring, adding
they will not know the full
extent of the damage until it is
inspected at that time.
"There's potential for water
or other damage to kind of
migrate underneath what's
visible, so they'll do some testing of that," he said.
Costs incurred will be covered by the Government of
Nunavut's private partner PPP
Canada, not borne by taxpayers and it is not expected to
affect the overall construction
time line, said Hawkins.
"The interior work was all
carried on, so there will be
some additional work but it
can all be carried on concurrent with other work," he
said. "It won't put the schedule
back."
Another worry came in
October when the last sea
lift of the season departed
before its cargo could be fully
unloaded due to early-forming sea ice on Frobisher Bay.
Hawkins said luckily they
had enough asphalt leftover to
continue with scheduled work.
"The ice is something you
have trouble anticipating,"
he said. "There was enough
(asphalt) in town and on site
that it will not impact their
start up of paving next year
– by the time they start that
up the ships will be arriving
again."
Last year, two new taxiing
lanes were constructed leading from what will be the
new main apron out to the
runway, along with significant expansion where the terminal is located. The combined services building was
also erected and closed in and
interior work has began. Construction has begun on some
airport movement surfaces,
taxiways and aprons along
with crushing, blasting and
making aggregate for asphalt
production.
A culvert to divert a stream
in front of the terminal building was also completed, said
Hawkins.
PARKING APRON
TO BE EXPANDED
This year, expansion of the
apron – an area where planes
are parked, loaded, boarded
and refueled – will be completed, tying it to the northend of the runway and taxi
way. The taxi way, connecting
the runways, apron, hanger
and terminal, is also scheduled to be repaved. Repairs
and excavation to the current
apron will be completed once
the new additions are operational. Hawkins estimates
most ground work will be finished in 2016 and the remaining structural work early next
year.
"We expect the buildings
by this time next year will
be in the curation process, so
all the systems will be in and
operating and tested and verified," he said, adding services will be transferred to the
new terminal next summer.
"Passenger operations should
begin in August."
Estimated to be completed
by late summer next year,
the project features a new
airport terminal, expanded
plane parking, new lighting
systems, an upgraded runway and a combined services
building to house fire-fighting vehicles, snow plows and
other heavy equipment.
Unlike the old terminal,
the new 100,000-square foot
building will have the terminal and parking lot on
the same level, negating the
need for the multiple staircases present in the old
design. Washrooms will also
be added for passengers who
have already passed through
security, along with an additional baggage carousel.
The public-private partnership (P3) is being funded
by Nunavut, ($68.7 million),
Public Private Partnership
Canada ($77.3 million), and
the remainder by business
group Arctic Infrastructure
Partners – a consortium
comprised of InfraRed Capital Partners Ltd., Bouygues
Building Canada Inc., Colas
Canada Inc., and the Winnipeg Airports Authority.
The group will construction
and operate the airport with
the Government of Nunavut
making payments for approximately 30 years – at which
time it will assume full ownership.
Approximately 20,000
arrivals and departures move
140,000 passengers a year
through the city.
fact file
Summary of economic development and
transportation capital expenditures by region
Region
Headquarters
Qikiqtaaluk
Kivalliq
Kitikmeot
Total
Amount
$63.3 million
$0
$3 million
$2 million
$68.3 million
Nunavut transportation projects
Capital estimates
Small craft harbours
$500,000
Iqaluit International Airport improvements
$59.8 million
($77 million 2015/16)
Taloyoak air terminal building
$2 million
Transportation equipment and facilities
$1.7 million
Small capital ($250,000 or less)
$800,000
Kivalliq Regional Visitors Centre
$3,000
Percentage of Nunavut capital spending
by department - April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017
Department
Percentage
Culture and Heritage
0.3%
Family Services
0.3%
Office of the Legislative Assembly
0.4%
Environment
1.6%
Justice
2.3%
Finance (NAC)
3.0%
Health
8.4%
Education
13.4%
Community and Government Services 16.2%
Nunavut Housing Corporation
19.4%
Economic Development/Transportation 34.7%
Source: Government of Nunavut
Projects change with the climate
As permafrost melts, new construction standards are being developed
by Meagan Leonard
NWT/Nunavut
Construction companies
in northern communities now
have a new set of standards for
infrastructure development in
regions affected by climate
change and permafrost.
The Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative, a $2.5-million project
spearheaded by the Canadian
Standards Council, involved
consultation with industry experts to determine the
effects a warming Arctic
would have on current and
future buildings.
Mike Burns, assistant deputy minister of Public Works
and Services, was one of the
project's contributors and
says one of the main challenges they're seeing in the
territory is increased precipitation and heavier amounts
of snow accumulating on
building roofs. Over time, this
increases the chance of structural collapse and damage to
communications equipment,
in addition to interior leaks
and mold.
Burns said when they
began inspecting buildings
in the territory to determine
whether they would be able to
withstand a larger snow load,
they found up to 18 at risk.
"We went in and we
improved the roof structure
in those buildings and beefed
them up to deal with a potential increase," he said. "There's
more snow in the North than
there used to be but you can
actually see it and measure it."
When it comes to people's
perception of how buildings are affected by climate
change, Burns said most
envision crooked structures
sinking into the ground. In
reality, he said this phenomena is usually the result of
aging infrastructure used past
its lifetime resulting in rotten
wood foundations.
"It wasn't a case of they
were failing due to permafrost,
they were failing because they
were past their useful life,"
he said. "Some of what you're
seeing on the foundation side
might be more related to the
aging of buildings."
Over the last few years
Burns said work has focused
on measuring precipitation
and permafrost degradation
to determine the rapidity of
change so new standards can
be applied to future infrastructure. The result of this
work has been the development of four new standards
for use in the NWT around
thermosyphon
supported
foundations, heavier snow
loads, permafrost degradation
and community drainage.
THERMOSYPHONS
FOR REFRIGERATION
Thermosyphons refrigerate the foundation of buildings
constructed on steel or wood
piles through a heat transfer
system. Burns said the challenge is ensuring the technology can keep pace with the
rate the permafrost is thawing.
"If it starts getting warmer than was anticipated the
system might not have the
capacity to keep the building
stable," he said. "We looked
at developing standards so …
(people) will have the tools
to project the capacity of that
system and keep it stable for
the life of the building."
photo courtesy of the Department of Public Works
Climate change has led to changes in the composition and accumulation of snow in many NWT regions.
The increase of heavier snow requires additional maintenance and building design measures be taken.
The standards also aim to
address techniques for dealing with permafrost in the
past, which are not effective
in today's environment. For
example, many people used
to push snow around their
homes to keep the heat inside.
"Unfortunately what this
does is keep the cold air out
from under the buildings
in (those) that are elevated
and therefore doesn't allow
the cold to penetrate as far
down as it should and keep
the permafrost frozen," he
explained.
Drainage, when left
uncontrolled, can also do significant damage to a building
in the North.
"If it gets in and around a
building that's got a permafrost foundation, it can easily
deteriorate the permafrost or
cause it to thaw or cause the
building to lose its foundation," he said.
Thirty years ago, buildings were not constructed
with climate change in mind,
Burns explained. The active
layer – the top area of soil
that thaws each summer and
freezes again in the fall – was
much shallower. To ensure
buildings remain stable,
wood or steel piles are frozen into the permafrost below
the active layer. When this
zone thaws in the summer,
it grabs the sides of the piles
and attempts to force them
upward. As long as the piles
are deep enough, the frozen ground counteracts this
shift. However, as the active
layer becomes deeper, the
amount of heaving becomes
exacerbated and piles must
be buried deeper. With old
infrastructure, this becomes
problematic, says Burns.
"Originally, you might
have had two thirds of your
piles below the frozen ground
and one third in the active
layer and above the ground,"
he said. "If that changes dramatically and you go 50/50,
now you have a lot more
upward force on the pile trying to lift it and the amount
you froze in the ground may
not be able to counteract that
anymore."
He said under the new
standards, builders are
required to go 30 to 40 per
cent deeper for pile foundations – they are projecting
at this level, a structure will
remain stable for up to 50
years. They are also adding
mechanical freezing technology to piles to help offset
melt in the event climate
change happens more rapidly
than expected.
In terms of implementing
the new parameters, Burns
said he does not anticipate
it will affect the overall cost
of construction in the North.
He said recent strides made
in infrastructure energy efficiency will reduce operating
costs and therefore offset the
minor capital costs of new
buildings. Most simply need
to be replaced because they
are old, he said.
"If the buildings are at the
end of their useful life anyway and due for replacement,
then there wouldn't necessarily be a cost," he said.
"We would incur more in
the cost of the foundation for
that building but we've also
reduced the energy costs."
Burns said there will be
an upcoming training session on the new construction
standards held in Yellowknife
by the Canadian Standards
Association where communities, municipalities and
government will be provided
with information on how to
apply the new standards to
upcoming projects.
Industry tackling
one sector at a time
Construction, from page 3
toward large-scale public
sector initiatives such as the
$143-million Canadian High
Arctic Research Station in
Cambridge Bay and transportation projects such as the
Iqaluit air and marine ports. A
new $40-million aquatic centre is also being constructed
in Iqaluit and is scheduled
to wrap up in 2017. He says
they have also seen a lot of
community infrastructure
upgrades, including the construction and repair of public
housing units.
"In Nunavut they've got a
mixed bath, they've got some
federal projects … but they
also have a lot of housing projects and … a lot of upgrades
to infrastructure," he said.
He said they are gradually
seeing more Northern companies take on projects, especially in Nunavut. Last year,
he said the association worked
closely with the departments
of Public Works and Industry,
Tourism and Investment to
make changes to the Business
Incentive Policy – a program
that gives preference on government procurement to businesses owned and operated
within the NWT.
BUSINESS INCENTIVE
POLICY
Registered companies
can receive a favourable bid
adjustment over non-BIP
companies. The bid adjustment is based on the value
of the contract with up to
15 per cent eligible for contracts up to $1 million. Many
local organizations – including NNCA – have been lobbying the government to
change the 20-year-old policy
and develop a new system of
awarding contracts. Rowe said
they wanted to ensure changes
to the legislation would not
affect its overall purpose.
"You'll always be measured by your success or failure of your ability to retain
the benefits but there's some
things that may or may not
be able to be done in the
North," he explained, adding
not all services are currently
available here which requires
going south for some projects.
"If people identify there's
something being done in the
south or stuff they're doing in
our neighbouring jurisdictions
is being imported, maybe
that's an opportunity for a
Northern business."
He says competition with
southern jurisdictions remains
the industry's biggest challenge – especially as Alberta's
economy slows and there is a
larger number of companies
looking for tenders. Rowe says
a smaller amount of available
funding from the GNWT will
also affect which projects are
able to move forward in the
near term.
"The marketplace is slowed
up in most of the jurisdictions
in southern Canada and so it's
a pretty easy market to bid
into," he said. "There's been
no secret made that they're
talking about $150 million
cutback, that probably tells
you that larger capital projects
photo courtesy of Clark Builders
The steel structure goes up at the Northwest Territories Geological Survey's
new geological storage facility in Yellowknife. Located near the airport, this
facility will house geological collections, including 12,000 boxes of drill core
donated by industry, thousands of rock, stream and lake sediment samples,
and glacial till samples.
will probably be delayed or
re-profiled."
Looking forward as some
of the current projects wrap
up this year and next, Rowe
says he would like to see a
shift to enhancing energy
infrastructure.
"We're hoping to see an
expansion on the hydro," he
said. "We're hearing that Saskatchewan might draw power
off the Taltson system …
where are we at for that?"
Although the economy
and Northern construction
industry has not been viewed
with optimism lately, Rowe
says the territory has made
great strides over the last
two decades, particularly in
terms of training and hiring
its own workforce, and the
evidence is apparent in many
communities which have seen
improvements to their stan-
dard of living and availability
of services.
"Look at a place like Behchoko and look at the community pre-(mine) and now – it's
a whole different dynamic,"
he said. "If you drive around
the community, there's more
places with a Ski-Doo and a
boat and a new pick-up than
there ever was so that tells
me that we have more people
working."
Two ports for Nunavut
Large harbour infrastructure projects in Iqaluit, Pond Inlet receive federal backing
by Meagan Leonard
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Iqaluit
Two marine port projects
have received the green light
from the federal government
and should begin construction
some time in 2017, according
to Nunavut's Department of
Economic Development and
Transportation.
Iqaluit will see its $84 million deep water port come to
fruition by 2020 after it was
announced $63.4 million in
federal funding would be allocated to the initiative. Pond
Inlet will also receive $30
million to construct a small
craft harbour. Both projects
will have 75 per cent of their
costs covered through the
Building Canada community
infrastructure initiative, with
the territory required to provide the balance.
Although construction of
the Iqaluit port was originally
scheduled to begin this summer, time constraints around
environmental and regulatory
approvals, along with preliminary geo-technical work
have now pushed the start date
back to 2017, said Jim Stevens
assistant deputy minister.
"We don't yet know whether we'll be able to do good geotechnical assessments on open
water. We may have to wait
until this fall to put a rig out,"
he said, adding the Nunavut
Impact Review Board process
will take a number of months.
"There's still about six months
of process that has to go and
by that time we're basically
back into the winter season
and we can't do much in terms
of construction."
Nevertheless, he said
once the legislative assembly
approves its share of the funding in late March, the procurement process for engineering
and environmental services
will start immediately.
Although he could not say
the exact number of construction jobs the project would
create, Stevens estimated it
to be "in the dozens," adding
contractors will be required
to explain how they will
maximize Inuit training and
employment. The number
of jobs will also depend on
the construction method they
decide on, he explained, as
some of the work may be
completed out-of-territory and
shipped in later.
SEVEN PORT DESIGNS
In 2006, a proposal was
developed for seven port
designs – including Iqaluit –
but the $41 million project
was scrapped. Stevens said
many of the elements from
the original concept have been
maintained, including a dock
for single-vessel moorage and
small craft harbour improvements. The design will also
involve construction of a deep
water port at the south end
Polaris site and upgrades to
the existing breakwater allowing increased dock space and
24-hour access to open water.
An additional sea lift barge
landing will be incorporated
along with a lay down area
for the sea lift. Stevens said
this will require a significant
amount of blasting as the
existing small-craft facility
will be overhauled and the
area excavated to make way
for floating docks and more
boat access at low tide.
"We have a tidal range here
photo courtesy of the Government of Nunavut
A diagram shows plans for the new marine port in Iqaluit set to begin construction in 2017. The project
will include a deep water port and improvements to breakwater infrastructure which will make it easier to
load and unload freight.
of about 12 metres and at
low tide vessels can't access
water," he said. "We are anticipating excavation of a channel to get to open water during
low tide."
He said savings from the
various upgrades will amount
to around $1.5 million annually for sea lift companies
as turn around time for supply delivery will decrease by
about a week. He added cargo
is often damaged or lost as
it is being transferred to the
smaller barges which bring
supplies to shore. Stevens says
he anticipates this will be
reduced as well.
"Right now all the re-supply is carried on barges from
the mother ship to the shore
and that is subject to tides,
it's subject to ice problems,
wind and waves," he said. "In
some cases we've had ships
stay here upwards of two-plus
weeks waiting to unload. With
a deep water port we anticipate a boat being able to get to
the dock and taking a maximum of seven days to turn
around."
For the general public it
means increased boating safety and easier access.
"People will be able to get
out into their vessels a lot better without kind of transferring through open water (and)
fuelling will be a lot safer," he
said. "There's a lot more com-
fort to going to your boat that's
tied up at a fixed dock verses
moored out in the open water.
Despite all but one of its
25 communities being located
along the coast line, Nunavut
has very little marine infrastructure.
Currently only Pangnirtung has a small craft harbour
with docking facilities – completed in 2013 to accommodate the local fish processing
plant.
SAFE HARBOUR
FOR POND INLET
Stevens said the Pond Inlet
project will be similar to Pangnirtung in scope.
"The principal objective is
to provide safe moorage and
harbour for our small craft
vessels," he said. "It's a Northeast wind that seems to cause
all the problems with ice and
waves up there."
The project would support
economic development on
Baffin Island while increasing
food security and availability of fuel and other goods.
Stevens said it will be espe-
cially beneficial to the tourism
industry as the community
hosts a high number of cruise
ships each year.
"Right now cruise ships
moor out in Eclipse Sound
and transfer a lot of passengers via Zodiac boats to basically unprotected beaches," he
said. "There have been occasions where passengers have
to climb over rocks because
that's the only area where the
wind or waves are not affecting the beach that day."
Approximately $10 million
in funding would come from
the territorial government;
however, in order for the project to proceed, it needs federal confirmation. The lands
in question are also currently
owned by the coast guard and
would have to be transferred
to the Government of Nunavut.
Pond Inlet MLA Joe
Enook, who was part of the
delegation, has been advocating for the port since 2013
when a storm caused thousands of dollars in damage to
equipment in the community.
What is a P3 and how does it work?
photo courtesy of the Department of Health and Social Services
A rendering of what the new Stanton Territorial hospital will look like when
complete in 2018.
A public private partnership, or P3, is a procurement approach designed for large
scale infrastructure projects. Under a P3, the private sector takes on a major share of
the risks in terms of financing, construction, performance and long term maintenance.
A government will specify what it is looking for, leaving as much scope as possible to
the private sector which can then work to develop the most innovative design. In this
way, the government does not pay for the project until it is built. Following construction, the private sector operates and maintains the infrastructure and the government
pays a substantial portion over the life of the asset – but this is dependent on performance. Therefore if costs exceed projections, there are delays in construction or
performance issues arise, taxpayers are not on the hook. This arrangement typically
lasts 20 to 30 years, after which point the government may take over ownership and
operation of the asset.
In a traditional procurement bid, the government prepares detailed design specifications for a project and then tenders it to a contractor. With this model, the government
assumes responsibility for any design flaws, cost overruns and delayed construction.
The government is also responsible for the asset's operation.
Governments tend to favour the P3 model for large projects because it allows the private sector to assume a greater role in the design, building, financing and operation
of public infrastructure. It brings new expertise and innovation to projects and reduces
the risks and costs typically borne by the government.
Source: Public Private Partnership Canada
Ground broken on new hospital
Construction on $350-million project expected to be complete within two years
by Meagan Leonard
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
Construction is well underway on the new Stanton Territorial Hospital after ground
was broken on the $350-million public-private project last
fall.
The new facility, which will
replace the existing Stanton
hospital next door, is expected
to be built within two years
and fully operational by 2021.
Original project plans
described additions and renovations to the current facility
which would have doubled its
size over five years; however,
last fall the GNWT revealed
an entirely new structure
would be constructed instead.
"Construction on the new
hospital … will see the current facility replaced by a
new purpose-designed facility that will address patient
needs and provide high-quality health-care delivery," said
then-finance minster Michael
Miltenberger.
During the bidding process, proponents were not
required to adopt the original design and could suggest
alternative concepts. The only
requirement was the existing
hospital not be demolished.
Successful bidder Boreal
Health Partnership proposed
a stand-alone facility with the
old building used to accommodate complementary commercial ventures.
Increasing to 27,000
square metres from the current 13,300, the new hospital
will have 100 inpatient beds
and expanded emergency,
outpatient, and dialysis services to better serve its 47,500
users. It will include a larger
medical laboratory, additional
space for diagnostic imaging
and surgical procedures, along
with more exterior parking.
It will not however, accommodate out-patient rehabilitation, extended care services
or the finance department.
A previous design included
a 1,281-square foot rehabilitation centre but now it
will be housed in a secondary building along with an
18-bed extended care facility
expected to be constructed in
2018/19 for long-term respite
and palliative care.
In January, the GNWT
signed a contract with developer Ventura Stanton Inc., to
re-purpose the existing hospital as commercial space. Some
of the revenues from leasing the space will be shared
with the territorial government. The contract includes
a $13-million retrofit of the
existing structure which will
see renovations to the interior and exterior, a new roof,
sprinklers, ceilings, lights
and conversion of the heating plant. Possible uses for
the building include: medical,
dental and other health professional offices; general or business offices, restaurants and
food services, retail, gyms
or sports facilities, education
facilities, child care, art galleries and cultural facilities,
accommodations for visiting
medical workers, residential
housing, long term care or
assisted living, nursing home
or hospice and hotel accommodations. Liquor and tobacco sales, firearms sales, gambling and adult entertainment
would be prohibited.
Under the public-private
partnership (P3) Boreal
Health Partnership will shoulder the upfront costs and risks
of the project. This is estimated to have saved the GNWT
approximately $174.5 million
or 25 per cent compared to a
traditional procurement.
Construction is anticipated
to be completed by 2018. The
new building will meet the
demands of territorial population growth through 2050.
fact file
Stanton renewal by the numbers
Value of construction contract: $300 million
Total capital cost: $350 million
Value of contract with Boreal Health Partnership:
$751 million
Estimated cost of traditional design and build:
$1.1 billion
Savings through public,-private partnership (P3):
25 per cent ($290 million)
Construction start date: Fall 2015
Construction completion date: Late 2018
Fully operational: 2021
Number of beds: 100
Total size of new building: 280,000 square feet
Source: Department of Health and Social Services
Yellowknife hospital
history
1937: Cottage hospital and first-aid station built at
Con Mine, in which Dr. Oliver Stanton and his wife,
Ruth Stanton, delivered the first babies born in the
mining community
1942: Sixteen-bed Con Mine Hospital built, which
remained the city's primary hospital until 1947
1947: Construction begins on Red Cross Hospital
beside Frame Lake near the present location of the
Yellowknife RCMP detachment on 49 Avenue
1948: Red Cross Hospital opens on Jan. 6
1960: Red Cross leaves and the hospital is renamed
Stanton Regional Hospital
1966: Stanton Regional Hospital burns to the ground
on May 22
1966-67: The Elks Hall in downtown Yellowknife
becomes an emergency hospital, with the downstairs
clubroom serving as an operating room and the upper
level used for the ward
1967: Stanton Yellowknife Hospital opens on Franklin
Avenue with 37 beds near the present location of
Aven Manor
1969: More hospital beds added
1984: Funding for the current $43.6-million hospital
is approved
1985: Architect's rendering is approved
1986: Construction begins
1987: Interior work continues and parking lot is
established
1988: Current Stanton Territorial Hospital opens
Source: Department of Health and Social Services
Canol Trail cleanup begins
Local crews working to collect, dismantle 1,600 kilometres of tangled telephone wire
by Meagan Leonard
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
After years of lobbying by
Sahtu residents, the federal
government has initiated a
project to clean up hundreds
of kilometres of tangled wire
and refuse along the Canol
Heritage Trail.
Constructed during the
Second World War, the
355-kilometre trail weaves
its way through the Mackenzie Mountains from Norman
Wells to Whitehorse. The trail
was originally used as a pipeline by Canadian and American armed forces to transport
oil from the Sahtu to refineries in the Yukon.
Although it was only in
operation from 1943-44, the
service road moved some
225,000 tonnes of equipment
over the old Athabasca River
route from Waterways, Alta.,
to Fort Fitzgerald near present
day Fort Smith. Approximately 30,000 civilians and 1,300
service men helped bring the
project to fruition.
After it was abandoned,
1,600 kilometres of telephone
wire was left behind along
with other refuse, including
rusting trucks and rotting
pumping stations. Today most
of the original road has vanished in several places due to
landslides and washouts but
the trail is still passable on
foot, ATV or horseback and
attracts serious hikers from
across the continent.
Now as part of a larger
remediation effort to promote
the trail as a tourist destination, a large clean-up project
has begun.
The pipeline is listed on
the federal government's list of
contaminated sites and small
sections have been cleaned
up since 2009. The remainder
of work will be executed by
the Doi T'oh Territorial Park
Corporation and is expected
to take around four years
to complete due to seasonal
restrictions and major river
crossings impeding travel at
certain times of year.
Last August, a crew of 13
started work to dismantle, collect and consolidate the telephone wire which over the
years has become a hazard
to both hikers and wildlife
– specifically moose and caribou whose antlers become
entangled. Over the years a
number of animal carcasses
have been recovered after they
became trapped and perished.
Brush cutting with saws and
chainsaws will be required to
access wire, including handheld heavy duty wire cutters
and ATVs for transportation
of crews and wagons. Work is
divided into five zones which
NNSL file photo
Participants in the annual youth Canol Heritage Trail hike reach the 36-mile pump station last July. The
federal government is funding remediation of the trail to remove thousands of kilometres of tangled telephone wire left over from its use as a transportation corridor during the Second World War.
will be addressed depending
on weather conditions and
available funding. Crews were
divided into three teams, each
made up of two cutters and a
bear monitor.
During the 2015 season, a
temporary camp was established along the trail and
moved with crews. It included
soft-walled tents, a kitchen
and personnel quarters and
employed a head cook, cook's
assistant and general labourer
to assist with the collection of
firewood, water, mobilization
and bear monitoring. Crews
work on a two-week rotation
and are transported to and
from base camp using fixed
wing or rotary aircraft.
In 2015, work began in
Zone 5 near the airstrip at
Mile 222 and moving toward
the Ekwi River at Mile 180.
Some wire removal from
Mile 222 to the Yukon border
was also started. The second
phase saw crews move to the
airstrip at Mile 80 and 90
near the Andy Creek Road
Maintenance Camp and work
toward 131. Phase three will
see crews work from Mile 80
to 50. Phase four will begin
at Godlin Lake with crews
camping at Mile 170 and moving toward Mile 131. Each
phase was estimated to take
approximately two weeks to
complete.
According to a project plan
submitted to the Mackenzie
Valley Land and Water Board,
the wire will be "securely
stored" until the full trail
remediation program can be
initiated in the future.
High speed Internet this summer
Remediation completed after erosion, trenches found along fibre optic cable route
fact file
Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link by the numbers
$84 million: cost of construction
1,154 kilometres: length of fibre optic line to run to Inuvik
north from Fort Simpson.
40: Number of NWT residents employed by the project
in the first month of construction, not including residents
supporting the project by providing camp and catering
services.
187 kilometres: length of fibre optic line established
following a little more than a month of construction.
300 kilometres: approximate length of fibre optic line
established after two months of construction.
20 years: length of time Northern Lights General Partnership
has been contracted to oversee the ongoing operation of the
system.
Development timeline
2011: Feasibility analysis completed
2012: Business case completed
2013: Request for expression of interest closes in April
2013: GNWT makes a $7-million commitment to continue
advancing the project
2015: Construction begins on Jan. 14
2016: Contract calls for project to be completed by the
middle of this year
March 2016: Lead contractor announces it is firing
subcontractor Rohl Enterprises, alleging shoddy construction
Source: GNWT Department of Finance
NNSL file photo
by Meagan Leonard
NWT
A landmark initiative to
bring high speed Internet to
communities across the territory has entered its final construction phase despite controversy and a legal dispute
between the contractor and
the company it hired to lay
cable along the route.
Estimated to be complete
later this year, the $84-million
project will see 1,154 kilometres of fibre optic cable
installed underground from
Fort Simpson to Inuvik. Each
community along the way will
have a "point of presence"
established which will give a
boost to the transmitted signal
and allow for distribution. An
extension to Tuktoyaktuk is
also planned at a later date.
Construction is being
managed by Northern Lights
General Partnership, a consortium consisting of Ledcor
Developments Ltd., including
Ledcor Technical Services, of
the Ledcor Group and Northwestel, which is owned by
BCE Inc.
In March 2016, Ledcor
announced it was firing and
suing its primary subcontractor Rohl Enterprises after
continued deficiencies in the
cable's installation. Approximately two-thirds of the fibre
link was installed by the
company. A week later, Rohl
counter-sued Ledcor, stating
issues with the link's installation resulted from poor plan-
ning and a "faulty" design.
Ledcor has said it will complete the repairs and remaining work itself while shouldering the cost.
Construction has been progressing in three stages: along
the all-weather road from the
south to Wrigley, the winter
road from Wrigley to Fort
Good Hope and continuing
along the winter road through
Fort Good Hope to Inuvik.
The winter 2015 construction season saw 220 kilometres of cable installed south of
Inuvik, along with line along
the winter road between Fort
Good Hope and Tulita. Last
summer, cable was installed
from McGill Lake near Fort
Simpson to Wrigley.
Crews saw-cut along the
winter road and through the
forest installing submarine
cable up to one metre below
the surface along the allweather road and 30 to 60
centimetres along the winter
road using a trench method.
Once the cable is laid, the
trench is immediately backfilled and graded. In areas of
permafrost, the cable is placed
in the active layer, reducing
the potential effects on the
permafrost.
In the southern portion
leading up to Wrigley, cable
is laced through a 1.5-inch
high density polyethylene tube
plowed into unfrozen ground
during the summer season
beginning in early June.
Horizontal drilling was
used to run pipe under the
Workers tear up the ground in Fort Simpson last July so operators could lay fibre optic cable in the ground.
They worked their way along the highway and up the road to Wrigley.
Liard, Mackenzie and Great
Bear rivers.
Throughout the last year,
Ledcor has had to complete
remediation work along many
areas of the cable after discovering cases of erosion,
along with trenches and pooling water. In May, inspections
by the Department of Lands
found 95 per cent of the trench
from Campbell Creek, south
of Inuvik, to the end of the
fibre link, was not covered,
with 10 inches exposed in
some sections. Cable was also
visible at 10 creek crossings
with spring run-off causing
erosion and silt buildup. In the
area between Norman Wells
and Fort Good Hope, erosion had loosened cable boxes,
creating pools of water which
caused boxes to tilt and float
following wet conditions over
the summer.
Remediation efforts have
been underway since last year
and trenches were back-filled
and water diversion beams
installed in the Beaufort Delta
prior to a September deadline set by the Department of
Lands.
Industrial, government and
scientific organizations have
all pledged to purchase portions of the link's bandwidth
when it comes online. Northwestel also intends to migrate
some of its current services
to the fibre link and add new
services for local businesses
and consumers. It will also
be used to expand cell phone
service along the route.
Former finance minister
Michael Miltenberger told the
legislative assembly the line
would improve community
infrastructure, enhance gov-
ernment programs and services and "allow more of our
residents and businesses to
join the 21st century and communicate in real-time with the
rest of the world."
Currently, Inuvik bounces
microwaves along a string of
radio towers to Whitehorse.
The service is slow and has a
low bandwidth, making it less
reliable than fibre optic technology. Residents have been
left without Internet, debit
and credit card services when
radio towers are knocked out
by storms.
Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk
highway nears completion
Final construction season wraps up this month;
highway to open in 2018 after two-year wait to let road settle
by Meagan Leonard
Inuvik/Tuktoyaktuk
photo courtesy of the Department of Transportation
An excavator works on construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway in February 2015.
The third and final season of construction on the
$299-million
Inuvik-toTuktoyaktuk highway began
in early January with more
than 300 employees working
around the clock.
By 2018, the 145-kilometre
highway will connect the two
communities in Canada's first
road to the Arctic coast. Not
only is it the culmination of
more than a decade's work by
the territorial government, it
follows a promise made during confederation nearly 150
years ago – to connect the
country from coast to coast
to coast.
The project is a joint venture between contractor EGT
Northwind and Inuvialuitowned companies, E. Gruben
Transport of Tuktoyaktuk and
Inuvik's Northwind Industries.
Currently, there are between
320 and 330 workers on site –
70 per cent of them from the
NWT. Employment peaked in
March 2015 at around 600
jobs.
This season involved hauling and placing 1.4 million
cubic metres of material to
construct 50 kilometres of
embankment. Contractor EGT
Northwind also installed four
bridges and 19 major culverts
with the goal of seeing the
north and south construction
zones join up toward the end
of this month when the construction season ends.
Russell Neudorf, deputy
minister of transportation,
said crews will be working to
finish subgrade construction
before the early-stage road
is left to settle until 2017.
During this curing process,
a smaller number of workers will shape and pack the
highway before covering it in
surfacing gravel during the
fall of 2017. Around 30 staff
will be required over the next
year to complete this process,
Neudorf said.
Construction of the neighbouring Dempster Highway
from Dawson City, Yukon, to
Inuvik took nearly 20 years to
complete and utilized methods more appropriate for
southern infrastructure which
resulted in extensive permafrost damage in some areas.
Neudorf said his department
took what it learned from this
and applied it to the Inuvik-toTuktoyaktuk highway.
"The science around permafrost and the concerns and
general knowledge about permafrost has advanced quite
a bit since the Dempster was
constructed," he said.
If done correctly, the permafrost beneath the road
should remain frozen yearround – although it requires a
little more work as all the fill
has to be hauled in, Neudorf
explained.
As a result of a $669,000
contribution from Transport
Canada, two sections of the
highway also contain experimental permafrost technology. The south section is testing
Continued on page 11
Workers travel along the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway during construction in
February 2015.
photos courtesy of the Department of Transportation
Permafrost an expensive problem
Ground, soil or rock that has sat at a temperature of 0 C or less for more than two years
is called permafrost. It can range from a few metres thick to more than 700. In northern
climates, road construction must be completed during the winter before the active layer
above the permafrost begins to thaw.
As the climate becomes warmer, heat is transferred from the groundwater to the
permafrost beneath the highway leading to degradation and ultimate deformation of
the highway.
The cost to repair and maintain permafrost sections can be between $22,000 to
$36,000 per kilometre, per year – approximately 10 times as much as non-permafrost
sections.
New highway technologies being tested in the NWT and Yukon use different methods
of displacing heat to protect the embankment slopes and maintain stability beneath
the road. In the winter, cold air can be drawn into the embankment through a culvert,
while warm air exits. In the summer, these outlets are blocked. Embankment insulation
can also be used to promote air circulation and reduce the effect of solar radiation on
exposed slopes.
From page 10
the performance of drainage
structures with a goal of minimizing the impact of water
drainage on embankments by
transferring heat and reducing
ice. The north section is utilizing a geo-textile reinforced
deep fill embankment. This
will hopefully add stability
to deep fills constructed with
ice-rich materials in permafrost terrain.
The embankments in these
zones are equipped with more
than 70 devices to monitor
ground temperature, including
eight bridge monitors. Data
collected from these test sites
will be used to inform future
highway construction.
Although it is still too early
to determine full results, Neudorf says since it was installed
last year, those sections of the
highway have stayed frozen.
Completion of the highway will not only open up to
motorists the Arctic Ocean,
but provide greater access to
services and a lower cost of
living for those living in the
region – Neudorf says he is
also expecting it to boost the
tourism industry.
"Those driving up the
Dempster Highway will be
able to carry on all the way to
Tuk and dip their foot in the
Arctic Ocean," he said, adding
highway access to the Beaufort Delta will make the area
more attractive to investors
when the oil and gas markets
recover.
"These things are cyclical and it will rebound and
the highway will be there to
accommodate that exploration and development when it
returns," he said.
Recently the highway has
received international acclaim
with articles and photo essays
in the Toronto Star and New
York Times. Neudorf said
for many people, the North
is still the final frontier and
continues to fascinate southern audiences – constructing
a highway in total darkness
at 40 below through wild terrain seems both romantic and
crazy.
"It's the fact we're choosing
to construct a road to a community that's that far north
and the big challenges that
come with that construction,"
he said. "Generally, others are
interested in what people are
like that choose to live in
the North and make this their
home."
The Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk
highway is the first section
to be built of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The next
320-kilometre section from
Wrigley to Norman Wells is
awaiting funding approval
from the federal government
and will cost approximately
$700 million. It is unclear
when construction on that
project can begin.
Crews work on construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway during the
2015 construction season.
fact file
Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway project by the numbers
$299 million: cost of project, split between the federal government ($200 million) and the
GNWT ($99 million)
$783 million: estimated value of project to Canada's gross domestic product
144.5 kilometres: length of highway
313: number of workers employed as of March 2
70: percentage of workers hired from the NWT, most of whom reside in the Beaufort Delta
86: number of employees working on the north site
132: number of employees working on the south site
70: number of workers trained as rock truck and excavator equipment operators
130: number of workers trained as Class 1 and 3 drivers, equipment operators, summer
students and apprentices
10: number of workers trained in heavy equipment operations
$35 million: approximate amount invested by the construction company in new equipment
during the first year of construction
More than 60: number of pieces of equipment on site at any given time, including 40-ton
articulated rock trucks, 20-ton compactors, graders, dozers, loaders and excavators
43: number of subcontractors involved in the project
94,899: total number of days of employment on the project as of Feb. 15, 2016
68,104: total number of days of employment for NWT workers as of Feb. 15, 2016
359: number of large culverts to be installed, including 19 bridge-sized culverts
8: number of bridges
37: number of stream crossings
5.8 million cubic metres: amount of embankment material required
262,000 cubic metres: volume of material hauled over 10,916 truckloads, or
approximately 15 trucks per hour, in January on the northern end of the highway
141,000 cubic metres: volume of material hauled over 5,875 truckloads, or approximately
nine trucks per hour, in January on the southern end of the highway
Every 13 to 16 minutes: frequency of gravel truck arrivals delivering embankment material
from the quarry
1.7 to 2 metres: minimum height of embankment
35: number of land use permits and water licences issued for the project
286: number of environmental mitigation measures the project is bound to honour
Source: GNWT Department of Transportation
Health centre first of its kind
New health and long term care facility coming to Norman Wells
by Meagan Leonard
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
Construction of a landmark health centre and longterm care facility for the
Sahtu region is anticipated
to wrap up this fall making
it the first of its kind in the
territory.
The $35-million project is
a joint venture between Clark
Builders and the Tulita District Investment Corporation
and will see all of Norman
Wells' health services amalgamated into one facility,
including the medical clinic,
home and community care,
mental health and addictions
services, rehab, medical laboratory and 18 long-term care
beds, two of which have been
earmarked for transition care.
The two-storey, 4,000
square-foot centre is constructed on steel piles using
concrete, aluminum, glass
and wood. It will employ 88
staff along with 29 new positions. These include cooks
and cook's assistants, cleaning and infection control personnel as well as staff to run
day programs.
Patricia Kyle, CEO for
the Sahtu Health and Social
Services Authority, said she
received her first tour of the
construction site this spring.
As of March 15, the pilings
had been installed, along
with the structural steel wall
assemblies, floor slabs, vapor
barrier, roof membranes and
most exterior windows with
interior framing started. Originally scheduled for completion in May, that date has
been pushed back slightly.
"The design builder has
shared with us that they're
expecting completion of construction in and around November this year," she said.
One of the design's unique
features is the incorporation
of a long-term care facility, located in two adjoining
wings containing nine beds
each. There will also be two
beds reserved for palliative
and respite care. A team of
personal service workers,
cooks and day program staff
will be led by a registered
nurse. Visiting staff include
the community social worker,
environment and addictions
counsellors and physio and
occupational therapists.
DESIGNED TO BE HOMEY
Kyle said they wanted to
make it as homelike as possible in its design.
"In each wing or 'house',
there's a kitchen, living room
and dining room," she said.
"So residents with staff can
prepare meals together, share
meals together and participate
in day-to-day activities."
She said consultations
photo courtesy of the Department of Health and Social Services
The new $35-million Sahtu Centre for Health and Social Services and Long Term Care in Norman Wells is
anticipated to be finished this spring and is the first of its kind in the territory.
were held with an elder representative from each of the
Sahtu communities in January
on what they would like to see
in terms of interior design and
decor. Emphasis was placed
on incorporating aspects of
the landscape and community into the building's design
and colour scheme, she said,
with the palate and material
choices reflective of the natural environment – "warm
browns and greens, kind of
moss and trees, blues and
whites for water, sky, ice and
snow."
Large windows will ensure
ample lighting and views of
the land with a number of
courtyards and patios also
available to residents. There
will also be a program area
for foot care, hair care, spa,
chapel and entertainment or
activities.
"The elders really spoke
to the importance of colour
and the design also reflecting
nature – bringing the outside,
inside," she explained. "They
also gave some direction about
colours for the health and
social services side and really
talked about being inspired by
themes of healing and hope."
The building itself will
have aspects of a traditional
lodge incorporated into the
exterior with a large canopy
and community hub in the
entryway.
Although the facility will
primarily serve Sahtu residents, Kyle said she expects
there will be applicants for the
long term care accommodations from across the territory
– it will be determined based
on need, not location.
"The health and social
services centre will continue
providing care to residents of
Norman Wells and the long
term care is one facility for
all NWT residents," she said.
"Depending on the individual's
needs and options available for
them it could be residents from
anywhere in the territory at
this facility."
Community infrastructure will also be upgraded to
accommodate the new facility, including improvements to
sewer and water systems. The
possibility of housing units
has also been proposed.
Major projects in city's future
Bidding opportunities open for roads,
water, sewer projects in Yellowknife
by Meagan Leonard
Infrastructure investment
is high on the City of Yellowknife's priority list for the next
10 years, according to this
year's budget.
Repairing aging roads and
water and sewer systems will
be the focus in the near term
with larger community projects and facilities receiving
more than $100 million over
the next five years.
2016 PAVING PROGRAM
The city has fallen behind
on its road rehabilitation
projects and deemed its current level of investment to be
"insufficient," stating there is
an "immediate need to invest
$14.9 million in the existing system" to address roads
requiring overlay and reconstruction. This is expected to
be covered by a territorial
government investment of
$34.7 million over 10 years
on city capital spending.
Approximately $2.8 million has been allocated to the
repair and replacement of
asphalt, concrete and storm
water infrastructure in 2016.
New pavement in the city
has an approximate lifespan
of 20 to 25 years. Projects
scheduled for completion this
year include repairs to Franklin Avenue from 41 Street
to Wiley Road to fix several
dips and areas of concern at
the bottom of the hill into Old
Town. There are also some
cited safety issues near Fritz
Theil Park where the road has
subsided. Reconstruction in
this area will include painted
bike lanes and stabilization to
prevent further degeneration.
Paving in Kam Lake will
continue between Etthen
Drive and Taltheilei Drive in
the industrial park. A section
of Cameron Road between
Nahanni Drive and Taltheilei
Drive, originally scheduled to
be paved in 2014, will be
completed this year. The city
made a goal to pave one Kam
Lake street per year, with
Enterprise Drive, constructed
in 2011, the only remaining
section.
WATER AND SEWER
INFRASTRUCTURE
REPLACEMENT
The City of Yellowknife
has identified $3.5 million
to replace failing water and
sewer underground infrastructure in 2016. Systems
installed from the 1940s to the
late 1970s utilized pipes made
of cast iron and corrugated
metal that are un-insulated,
resulting in high maintenance
and repair costs. The city has
since changed its material
standards to insulated, ductile iron pipes, which have an
approximate lifespan of 50
years depending on permafrost conditions. The program
includes: replacing old pipes
and water mains with new
ones, replacing manholes,
hydrants and valves and stabilizing roads with backfill.
This work is often done in
conjunction with the road
paving program.
Specific projects scheduled for this year include: Con
Road between Rycon Drive
and 54 Street and Horton
Crescent – which will also be
resurfaced with asphalt and
concrete. Forrest Drive was
excavated and had its water
and sewer replaced in 2016;
resurfacing is anticipated this
year.
The city estimated in its
2016 budget that its capital
infrastructure expenditures
over the next 10 years will
total $191 million with $113
million needing to be spent
over the next five years.
According to documents
obtained from the city website, "it is projected that the
city will be caught up on
major backlogs by 2018."
Included in this plan are
a number of large-scale pro-
NNSL file photo
A construction crew works on a re-paving project near the Yellowknife Racquet club in 2014. A number of paving and water and sewer upgrades are
scheduled for city streets this year.
jects. Construction of an
$8.5 million multi-use outdoor recreation facility on
reclaimed land from the Con
Mine property is estimated to
begin in 2018 with completion
in 2021. This is intended to be
developed in conjunction with
a new subdivision on Taylor
Road with land sales used to
offset the project cost. A total
of $15 million is anticipated
to be spent over the next 10
years on municipal facilities
including parks and trails.
The Ruth Inch Memorial
Pool will require replacement
or upgrades by 2023. The city
is anticipating the design and
construction of a new facility starting around 2020 to
"meet the growing demand
for aquatic leisure." Based on
the cost of similar projects in
other Northern communities,
such as Iqaluit which is currently wrapping up construction on its new aquatic centre,
the facility is expected to cost
between $30 and $40 million.
An expansion of the current
pool is also being considered,
which would carry a slightly
cheaper price tag of $20 to
$25 million.
By 2017, current operations at the city landfill will
be relocated to a new cell at a
cost of $3.5 million. Reclamation of the old site will continue until 2025 with another
new cell planned for 2022 at a
cost of $4 million.
A new library has also
been forecast but not yet
received funding approval. A
cost estimate has not been
determined but is expected
to be offset from the sale of
the current space by $2 to $3
million.
Another large project will
involve replacing the water
pipeline running from the
Yellowknife River to the
water treatment plant. It is
expected to reach the end of
its life by 2020 with a price
tag of $20 million to replace.
The city intends to finance
this project through external
borrowing with construction
to begin in 2019.
Research hub breathes new
life into Cambridge Bay
Canadian High Arctic
Research Station
to be complete in 2017
by Meagan Leonard
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
photos courtesy of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Construction on the field and maintenance building is in full swing.
A 3D model of the CHARS site shows public spaces, laboratories, knowledge-sharing room, interview
rooms, kitchen, cafeteria and reception area.
Soon to be the largest
building ever constructed in
Canada's North, the Canadian
High Arctic Research Station
is well on its way to a 2018
commissioning date.
Construction of the $142.4
million facility began in the
summer of 2014 and is anticipated to wrap up in time for
Canada's 150th birthday in
2017. Once complete it will
include research labs, centres for technology, development and knowledge sharing, along with facilities for
teaching, training and community engagement. It will
house over 19 laboratories
and workshops, with office,
meeting, conference, dining,
logistics and accommodation
facilities.
Coming in at a massive
50,000 square feet, it will
require around 60 staff to
maintain, conduct in-house
research and deliver programming.
As of March 2016, representatives from Indigenous
and Northern Affairs Canada
said "significant progress had
been made" in its construction
with the two triplex accommodation units complete and
entering care and maintenance. The construction manager and Polar Knowledge
Canada staff are expected to
take occupancy this month.
The exterior of the field
and maintenance building is
complete and it is scheduled
for occupancy in November. The foundation or substructure of the main research
building was also finished
and structural steel (super
structure) erected.
It is meant to serve as
a hub for both Canadian
and international scientists
– providing a space for collaboration while improving
the information base regulatory approvals and resource
development in the Arctic. On
a local level, it will assist with
the development of community infrastructure, including
water and waste water treatment, roads and housing.
It will also serve as a marine security outpost for the
Northwest Passage with plans
identified to improve the
effectiveness of underwater
observation systems.
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
A PRIORITY
The incorporation of traditional knowledge has also
been identified as a priority with a contract awarded
to the Kitikmeot Heritage
Society to create a data base
where researchers will be
able to share knowledge with
Inuit communities. Researchers will also be required to
demonstrate how their projects will use traditional
knowledge with all funded
projects to be carried out in
partnership with Northerners.
Students enrolled in Nunavut Arctic College's environmental technology program
in Cambridge Bay will be
trained to serve as future
research assistants.
"Scientists are encouraged
to work with community
leaders, elders, hunters and
other knowledgeable individuals to incorporate traditional knowledge into the
design and conduct of the
study," says a report from
Polar Knowledge Canada, a
Continued on page 15
A sneak peak at CHARS
photo courtesy of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
An interior view of the knowledge-sharing centre. The buildings are designed
to be angular and compact in response to the northern climate.
From page 14
subsidiary of Indigenous and
Northern Affairs Canada.
"Community input to the
research is important, as are
sensitive and sound researcher-community relations; all
must be clearly demonstrated
in project proposals."
SCIENCE CAMPS
FOR YOUTH
Science camps have also
started being offered for
youth in the summer as a
way of encouraging them to
pursue careers at the facility
after high school.
The project is a joint venture between construction
managers EllisDon Corporation and Iqaluit-based NCC
Dowland Construction Ltd.,
with design consultants
Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet and Associated Architects
and NFOE and Associates.
Both of the design firms have
previous experience in Arctic
construction and architectural
design – including science
and research facilities.
Construction was separated into smaller projects to
make them more accessible to
local companies and trades to
encourage local jobs and skills
development. A $55-million
Inuit Benefits Plan submitted by the construction manager will be used for Nunavut Tungavik Incorporated
registered firms, training and
capacity-building for Inuit.
As of March 2015, 26 work
packages had been awarded
with more than 65 per cent
of the value undertaken by
Inuit-owned or NTI registered firms. Approximately
150 jobs have been created
during construction, with the
majority filled by Nunavummiut and other Northerners,
complimented by southern
specialists.
The sustainable design
was developed using the Inuit
Qaujimajatuqangit (societal values) of respecting the
land and environment, providing for family, and working together for a common
cause using innovation and
resourcefulness. The main
research building will serve
as the centerpiece of the facility, connecting the main public entrance and a secondary entrance which faces the
community.
A large public area will
feature an atrium and reception space with meeting
rooms, casual seating and a
cafeteria. The middle of this
public space is designed in the
shape of a "qalgiq" or igloo
which will serve as the knowledge-sharing centre where
scientists and residents can
share research and traditional
wisdom.
The facility is expected
to achieve Gold certification
for the main research building along with the field and
maintenance buildings under
the Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system.
It has thus far managed to remain on schedule
and budget. The campus is
expected to be operational by
July 2017 with full commissioning in March 2018.
The federal government
has committed $46.2 million
for the station's science and
technology program along
with $26.5 million annually
for the centre's ongoing operations starting in 2018/19.
Main research building: ground floor
Animal necropsy lab: Tools, equipment and space to examine dissect and analyze
animal corpses allowing for study of Arctic wildlife such as waterfowl, seals, and
muskox.
Aquatics lab: Processing and analysis of aquatic creatures and plants ranging from
plankton to nine kg fish with tanks of various sizes.
Cold lab: Testing and analysis of insects, seed, snow and ice. Kept between -4 and
-10 C.
Digital imaging: Digital imaging and microscope work.
Knowledge sharing centre: Space where local residents and scientists can meet,
discuss and exchange scientific knowledge. Multi-purpose room can accommodate
events and includes recording, translation and broadcasting equipment. Will also
incorporate culturally-relevant artifacts.
Teaching laboratory: Space for teaching science and lab techniques where students
and community members can learn about topics such as the northern climate
ecosystem.
Reference collection: Includes samples of insects, plants and creatures found in the
Arctic ecosystem. Samples will be stored in formaldehyde with high density storage
cabinets for dry specimens.
Main research building: Second floor
Computer GIS: Support geographic information system, mapping and plotting to
manage data with multiple work stations.
Growth chamber: Allow scientists to study various types of vegetation and insects
in a controlled environment and conduct CO2 enrichment experiments. It will include
pre-manufactured growth chambers.
Field and maintenance building
Wood workshop: Space for building crates for shipping, support field science and
furniture repair.
Diving facility: Prepare equipment such as wet suits, dive tanks and marine
exploration equipment. Refill scuba tanks with compressed air and repair equipment.
Development of CHARS timeline
Spring 2007: Canadian High Arctic Research Station first announced.
Summer 2012: Federal government commits $142.4 million for construction and
equipment.
Spring 2013: Schematic design complete, construction manager contracted.
Summer/fall 2013: Design development.
Summer 2014: EllisDon Corporation, in joint venture with NCC Dowland Construction
Ltd., tendered and awarded the first 15 work packages, with more than 60 per cent
of the value of this work to be undertaken by Inuit-owned or Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.,
registered firms; sea-lift delivered to Cambridge Bay and construction began.
Fall 2014: Steel structure for one of the first buildings erected.
Winter 2014: The Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act received Royal Assent
on Dec. 16 and will come into force on a date to be determined by the Governor in
Council, at which time the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act will be officially
established as a new organization.
2014-2017: Construction of triplex housing units expected to be completed in the
summer of 2015 while construction of the central building gets underway; the field
and maintenance building steel structures are expected to be completed in 2016.
Summer 2017: The launch and operation of the research station is expected to begin
July 1 to coincide with Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation.
March 2018: Commissioning of the facility
Source: Polar Knowledge Canada
Cleanup ramps up at Giant Mine
Federal government to contract remediation manager sometime this year
by Meagan Leonard
NNSL file photo
The iconic Giant Mine C shaft headframe is all but gone now. Its deteriorating condition and the potential
risk it posed to site stabilization workers and infrastructure made its removal a priority.
Rehabilitation of Yellowknife's notorious Giant Mine
is in full swing as the federal government searches for
a construction manager to
oversee some $600 million
in clean-up related work at
the site.
A request for proposals will be posted in May,
according to officials with
Indigenous and Northern
Affairs Canada (INAC), with
detailed company proposals
and financial bids anticipated by the fall. Whoever is
chosen will be tasked with
the responsibility of posting
tenders and delegating work
to sub-contractors, including
a number of job packages
involving drilling, blasting,
environmental monitoring,
mine work and ongoing care
and maintenance. It has yet to
be determined when the work
will start or how many jobs
will be created.
The clean-up project,
which has been run by INAC
since the mine's insolvency
in 1999, involves decontamination of the defunct mine
which contains some 237,000
tonnes of arsenic trioxide as
a result of mining activities
which began in the late 1940s.
The focus of site remediation up until now has been
development of a storage
method for the arsenic trioxide created during mining operations as gold was
extracted from mined ore.
Today, the toxic dust is
stored in five underground
areas known as "stopes" –
large chambers whose walls
have been chilled to create
a zone known as a "frozen
block." This process ensures
no water can get in or out
of the underground vaults.
Another chamber, which is
currently empty, could be
used to store waste from
remediation activities.
Results from a freeze
optimization study initiated
in 2011 determined passive
freezing – without using an
external power source – could
be as effective as active freezing. Both techniques remove
heat from the rock, allowing
it to freeze; however, passive
freezing techniques utilize
"thermosyphons" – vertical
refrigeration tubes which use
gravity to exchange heat. The
study also determined the
chambers would remain safe
at a temperature of -5°C or
lower and multiple chambers
could be frozen together.
Both wet and dry freezSee Air, page 17
Giant Mine historic timeline
NNSL file photo
Wearing mandatory protective gear, Ken Hall
stands outside his childhood home at the nowabandoned Giant Mine town site where he lived
with his family from 1965 to 1980. Hall has fond
memories growing up at the mine. "It was a real
little community," he says. "You got to know your
neighbours really well."
1935 – Burwash Yellowknife Mines Ltd., stakes 21
claims, including the future Giant Mine.
1937 – Yellowknife Gold Mines Ltd., acquires Burwash's
assets, which become part of a subsidiary.
1948 – The first gold brick is poured and tailings
deposited into Back Bay.
1949-1951 – Airborne arsenic emissions estimated at
7,500 kg/day.
1950 – First studies into arsenic in surrounding
environment, leading to revised operations.
1951 – Arsenic emissions drop to 5,500 kg/day; arsenic
trioxide dust is pumped into mined-out storage chambers,
up to 250 feet below the surface.
1952 – Mill processes 400 to 700 tonnes of ore per day.
1953 – Tailings dam construction marks the beginning of
engineered tailings disposal.
1957 – Arsenic removal from tailings effluent
commences.
1958 – Mill processing rate increases to 1,000 tonnes
per day.
1959 – Airborne arsenic emissions drop to 200-300 kg/
day.
1962 – Arsenic trioxide storage moves to mined-out
stopes located in the permafrost zone. The permafrost
later melted due to mining activity.
1970 – Surface land transferred to the Government of
the Northwest Territories, including Giant Mine.
1974 – Open pit mining begins.
1981 – New tailings effluent treatment plant commences
operation.
1992 – Explosion during labour strike results in the
death of nine miners.
1997 – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Canada (now Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada)
organizes a technical workshop to discuss management
of arsenic trioxide at Giant Mine.
1999 –Owner Royal Oak goes into receivership; Giant is
transferred to INAC and action plan begins to manage
arsenic trioxide.
2001 – Remediation work completed on former Back
Bay tailings beach. Abandonment and restoration plan is
submitted to Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.
2002 – Tests done to determine risk of current arsenic
releases from the mine site.
2003 – Public communications campaign is initiated
regarding management alternatives.
2004 – INAC announces it will proceed with the "frozen
block method" to store the arsenic trioxide dust.
2005 – Giant Mine becomes an abandoned mine
site. INAC and the GNWT sign an agreement to share
remediation responsibilities.
2006 – An intermediate and long-term remediation plan
is developed.
2007 – Det'on Cho Nuna Joint Venture is awarded a
multi-year contract for care and maintenance of the site.
Water licence is submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land
and Water Board.
2008 – The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact
Review Board initiates an environmental assessment.
2009 – Construction begins on freeze optimization study.
2011 – Freeze optimization study becomes operational.
Cladding is removed from the C-shaft headframe due to
safety concerns and conveyor gallery is taken down.
2012 – Public meetings are held in Ndilo, Dettah and
Yellowknife.
2013 – Project team proposes to treat minewater
to drinking standard. Water board issues a water
licence for site stabilization. Work begins on roaster
decontamination and deconstruction.
Source: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Air quality monitoring program to expand this year
Cleanup, from page 16
ing methods were also tested.
The wet method involved filling each chamber with water
prior to freezing, creating an
ice-cube-like block while the
dry method freezes the rock
around each stope or chamber. The dry method was preferred because it is easier to
reverse or remove the arsenic
if new technologies arise.
"The study showed that
there is no significant advantage to the wet method," the
report stated. "Both methods work to keep water and
arsenic trioxide from passing
into, or out of, the stopes and
chambers."
Changes to the air quality monitoring program can
be expected this year. Previous monitoring focused on
three specific zones: the main
Giant Mine site, along site
perimeters and at three community sites, including Ndilo,
downtown Yellowknife and at
the Great Slave Sailing Club
near the mine site.
After dust clouds from
tailings ponds made their way
across Back Bay to Ndilo in
May 2015, additional measures have been put in place
to prevent this during the
spring thaw. Several measures
were implemented this winter, including storing larger
amounts of dust control product, daily wind forecasting,
24-hour dust monitoring, and
additional water trucks being
sent to wet dry areas.
Surface design engagement has been ongoing since
early 2015 as remediation
teams meet with interested
parties to brainstorm ideas
for site development. Topics
of discussion include Baker
Creek, pits, soils and tailing
ponds – specifically the future
location of Baker Creek, tailings vegetation and contouring, stabilization of open pits
and what restrictions arsenic
levels may pose to future uses.
The project team is currently
in the process of analyzing
these options and their potential impacts before incorporating them into the final surface remediation plan.
Activities to reduce the risk
posed by aging infrastructure
were also undertaken at the
site last year, including stabilization of eight underground
stopes, deconstruction of the
C-Shaft headframe, installation of buttresses at the C1 Pit
to prevent water from Baker
Creek entering the mine and
continuation of roaster complex cleanup. Stope stabilization involves filling the empty
spaces with a paste comprised
of tailings, water and cement
which prevents rock collapse
and underground flood-
ing. By October of last year,
all of the empty stopes had
been filled with 60,000 cubic
metres of paste – "enough to
fill Yellowknife's Ruth Inch
Memorial Pool 100 times."
The iconic C-Shaft headframe was constructed in 1949
and was a part of the skyline for more than 60 years.
Deconstruction involved the
dismantling of five structures,
the screen house, conveyor
galleries, crusher house,
trestles and headframe. The
narrow, vertical hole reaching 650 metres underground
still remains and a cap was
installed over the shaft in
November.
Currently, water from the
site is treated by a filtration
plant constructed in the 1980s
and several improvements
have been made to that system. A new water treatment
plant is in the works.
Other highlights from last
year include the establishment
of a Giant Mine oversight
body in October. The group,
comprised of six community representatives, will be
responsible for providing public awareness and independent advice to the federal and
territorial governments and
regulatory authorities while
also managing a research program for the development of
a permanent solution for the
Giant Mine site.
Aquatic centre a feat of ingenuity
State-of-the-art facility expected to be complete by the end of this year
by Meagan Leonard
Iqaluit
NNSL file photo
Construction crews scrambled to finish 2015 season work on the Aquatic
Centre last fall after summer sealift delays set the project back by three weeks.
Iqaluit's 11-year dream of
having a state-of-the-art aquatic centre is finally becoming
a reality.
The $40-million project
was delayed three-weeks last
fall after heavy ice in Frobisher Bay slowed down sealift
delivery resulting in crews
working overtime past the
Nov. 6 season deadline for
construction. Despite this setback the project is still within
budget and on pace for a 2017
opening.
With the structure of the
building complete and weather-tight, construction crews
have returned to continue with
interior work. City of Iqaluit recreation director Amy
Elgersma said they were filling up the pools with water
during the first week of March
to test the concrete and she
expects the remaining work to
be finished by December.
"There have been some
small challenges here and
there but basically everything
has been going really, really
well," she said.
Previously, the city leased
pool space from the Frobisher
Inn and a small fitness centre
in a separate facility, which
was staffed by volunteers from
5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Both services will now be under one roof
at the new aquatic centre.
Elgersma said the city saw
demand for a larger facility
with extended hours to accommodate different schedules.
The new aquatic centre
will feature lap and leisure
pools, spray technology, a
water slide, one-metre spring
board, Tarzan rope, sauna and
whirlpool. The city has partnered with the local non-profit
fitness centre to incorporate a
fitness room and studio and
there will be a food and beverage area. An elder's space
will allow residents to hold
meetings or relax with family
while a multi-purpose room
will be available for training
sessions or private rentals such
as birthday parties.
Elgersma said the elder's
room in particular was an
important aspect they wanted
to include.
"We wanted to include
them in the facility and make
sure they had a space of their
own," she explained.
BUILT OFF THE GROUND
The facility is also a
remarkable feat of engineering and one of the first of its
kind in the North, Elgersma
said. Designed by Stantec
architecture in collaboration
with a pool specialist from
B.C., the centre is elevated one
metre off the ground. Piles are
buried 30 feet in the ground
and grouted to the bedrock,
which allows the 3,500 square
foot facility to be suspended,
maintaining cold air circulation without inhibiting the permafrost. This was particularly
difficult due to the combination of the high internal temperatures and humidity in a
dry Arctic climate.
"We wanted to make sure
with the possibility of climate
change, the pool wouldn't be
affected," said Elgersma, adding the city travelled to other
Northern areas such as Nuuk,
Greenland for ideas, but ultimately, still had to develop
an innovative approach to its
design.
"Iqaluit was unique. A
lot of the other communities
didn't have the same permafrost issues that Iqaluit has …
we'll be able to share some of
that going forward with other
Northern communities."
She said the city is also
hoping to achieve LEED
silver status for energy efficiency. LEED Canada rates
new buildings for their performance in water saving, energy
efficiency, material selection
and indoor environmental
quality.
Elgersma said the centre
will have low-flow toilets and
utilize "waste heat" from the
neighbouring power plant.
"They have big generators,
there are a couple of other
buildings that are on the system as well as nearby, so we'll
tie into that and we'll be able
to use the waste heat from
the power plant to heat about
80 per cent of the building,"
she said.
The city just received word
it had been approved for $4
million through the Building
Canada fund, which Elgersma
said will be applied to Phase
3 of the project. The centre
also received $8.25 million
from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' municipal
green fund, including a loan
of $7.5 million and a grant
of $750,000. In October, the
city issued $80,900 in change
orders to contractor Kuglik
Construction Ltd., to cover
higher insurance requirements, missing pool components, steel orders and credit
to the city for a change in the
pool's pump manufacturer.
Annual operating and
maintenance costs of the
aquatic centre are anticipated
to be around $2 million.
Caring for Our Homes
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Construction - Northern News Services

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