With the new floor covering for the hockey arena at the Midnight Sun Complex, the Town of Inuvik is eying the potential to host more conferences and events to help support the local economy.

The new flooring, which sits on top of the ice, was used for the first time at the Northwest Territories Tourism conference early November.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think the conference gave Inuvik a good opportunity to show that we can host these events,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Jim McDonald, speaking at a tourism stakeholders meeting Thursday, Nov 24.

SA国际影视传媒淟eading up to the conference, there was lots of doubt and it was almost that they were doing us a favour that they would bring the conference to Inuvik and it was going to mean them running a deficit and all of the reasons why it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 workSA国际影视传媒� (But) we pulled off a great conference. It certainly shows Inuvik has the facilities and the people to do these type of conferences.SA国际影视传媒�

Jackie Challis, who used to work for the town and now runs her own company, Northern Eventures, said she heard great feedback about the event.

SA国际影视传媒淭he floor went down on a Wednesday and was back out on Friday so there could be Friday ice time. I would love for us to see more of those conferences here,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that the events should include shop-local programs, cultural performances, and more than just meetings in a community hall.

She said the town has almost outgrown the community hall space in the MSC, leaving only the hockey arena and East Three School as options for bigger shows.

Senior administrative officer Grant Hood talked about finding the happy medium between keeping the arena open for community use and opening it for bigger events.

SA国际影视传媒淧art of us wants to fill that place with something every weekend, but on the other hand it is a rink,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that the conferences donSA国际影视传媒檛 turn enough of a profit to cover the MSCSA国际影视传媒檚 $3-million-per-year price tag.

SA国际影视传媒淲e go into a hole on this building every year. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not trying to make up $3 million on four events.SA国际影视传媒�

He agreed with the suggestion for more outside activities for visitors to bring money into the local economy.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to think big,SA国际影视传媒� said Hood. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of littles can add up to a big. Maybe you look at even a 20-person thing coming in. Especially those groups, they like to spend money.SA国际影视传媒�

Busting the Dempster Highway myth

John Cournoyea, manager of tourism and parks for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment in Inuvik, said that a lot of tourists coming from Dawson City are visiting Tombstone National Park and then turning around, believing that the Dempster Highway is difficult to drive.

SA国际影视传媒淚t may take you a little longer but itSA国际影视传媒檚 not really that bad a road,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald, adding itSA国际影视传媒檚 discouraging to hear people turning away from that opportunity.

Either way, all tourism stakeholders seemed to think a rush is coming to Tuk this summer once the ferries open.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be overwhelmed,SA国际影视传媒� said Cournoyea.

He said Inuvik needs to develop a reputation so people want to visit.

Challis said the rush Tuk will be seeing this summer struck her on the highway opening Nov. 15 as more than 50 cars drove into town and community members watched from their homes or snowmobiles.

SA国际影视传媒淲hatever day our ferries open, get ready, Tuk,SA国际影视传媒� said Challis.