SanikiluaqSA国际影视传媒檚 new bridge for all-terrain vehicles will connect residents to their traditional hunting and fishing grounds, and it will benefit the small island community in more ways than that.

The $100,000, 12-metre bridge, which will be positioned along the six-kilometre trail that stretches behind SanikiluaqSA国际影视传媒檚 new baseball diamond, has yet to be installed, but it has already been constructed.

It was put together in late September and early October by Sanikiluaq residents Kenny Pearce, Moses Ippak, Alexandra Arragutainaq, and Johnassie Amitook. Montreal-based steelworkers Justin and Joel Cote, who are nephew and uncle, also pitched in.

The structure will replace an existing bridge that has fallen into disrepair.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was put together as it should be by two steelworkers and four locals,SA国际影视传媒� said Ron Ladd, the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 senior administrative officer. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l install it when we get time.SA国际影视传媒�

Ladd expects the bridge to have a ripple effect in the way it helps the community.

One clear benefit, he said, is that the four locals who partook in construction now have experience building bridges. Three of those residents, he added, were recruited after they helped with construction of SanikiluaqSA国际影视传媒檚 new floating dock, and two of them had previously helped assisted in building the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 baseball diamond and soccer field.

When community members pitch in on these kinds of projects, they become more skilled, and may discover they have interest in fields like construction, architecture and engineering, according to Ladd.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey now have perspective putting a floating dock together, putting a baseball and soccer field together, and now theySA国际影视传媒檝e got perspective putting a bridge together,SA国际影视传媒� he explained. SA国际影视传媒淧eople are gaining experience, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the key.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey enjoyed it, and learned from it, and now we have more skilled people here, which is wonderful,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t makes a stronger community and future projects.

SA国际影视传媒淭he guys from Montreal had very positive things to say about the community, and not only that, theySA国际影视传媒檙e happy we got some workers that learned things, worked hard, and got the job done,SA国际影视传媒� Ladd added.

The bridge is also a sign of progress for a community that, situated in the southeast of Hudson Bay, has at times felt isolated and forgotten, he noted.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople are very delighted that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been able to move projects forward in a community that felt left out,SA国际影视传媒� he said, pointing to other new projects like the floating dock, food bank, and local women and childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelter. SA国际影视传媒淚 hate to say it, but before I arrived, the community didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a lot of projects going and now this [bridge] is one of many projects.

SA国际影视传媒淲e didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the infrastructure. Now weSA国际影视传媒檙e happy to say that we do have the infrastructure with the various partners we have in the federal government and Government of Nunavut. Without their support, we wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to do any of it, and now weSA国际影视传媒檙e starting to feel comfortable that we have the opportunities that other communities have had.SA国际影视传媒�