After years of efforts, lobbying and myriad phone calls, TetlSA国际影视传媒檌t Zheh GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Band Council is getting its own building SA国际影视传媒� and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a net-zero building too.

Speaking on behalf of Infrastructure Minister Dominic LeBlanc, NWT MP Michael McLeod made the announcement in Inuvik July 27. In addition to the funding for the new building, which will stand opposite of the Northern Store in Fort McPherson, the federal government is also chipping in $5.5 million to cover the costs of installing a solar array and battery system for InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 Midnight Sun Complex. Both of these projects, McLeod said, would aid the North in doing its part to help Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions a full 40 per cent by 2030, and to be completely carbon-neutral by 2050. In total, the two announcements add up to $12.5 million.

TetlSA国际影视传媒檌t Zheh Chief Wanda Pascal said she was grateful for the announcement.

SA国际影视传媒淗ai choo to Canada,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd thank you to Michael McLeod for his endless support to my endless calls.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now weSA国际影视传媒檙e just jumping from one place to another.SA国际影视传媒�

Dubbed the Community Wellness Centre, the net-zero building, which Pascal said will be the first in Fort McPherson, will also serve as a cultural gathering space for childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 groups, Elders and community celebrations. Designs are in place and construction is hoped to begin next spring.

Harnessing the power of the Midnight Sun

Meanwhile, the Town of Inuvik wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 left out of the announcement either. McLeod said part of the funding is going to retrofit the Midnight Sun Complex to draw power from a solar array.

Calling it SA国际影视传媒渁n important milestone towards reducing greenhouse gases and the townSA国际影视传媒檚 reliance on diesel,SA国际影视传媒� Mayor Clarence Wood praised the announcement.

SA国际影视传媒淭hank you to Infrastructure Canada for investment in our remote Northern community,SA国际影视传媒� the mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淭he significant contribution of $5.5 million for the construction of the 1,000-kilowatt recreational centre solar and battery storage project aligns with our community energy plan.SA国际影视传媒�

Wood added the retrofits, which are anticipated to be installed next spring, would cut the Town of InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 annual emissions by 363.2 tonnes.

With her term as chief wrapping up, Pascal noted she gleaned a great deal from the experience about how to squeeze infrastructure dollars out of Ottawa, and much of it comes back to persistence.

SA国际影视传媒淪omething that I learned over the past six years is you will have to practically claw at something if you want it,SA国际影视传媒漵he said. SA国际影视传媒滻tSA国际影视传媒檚 just like hunting caribou SA国际影视传媒� you have to go and get it.SA国际影视传媒�