by Kirsten Fenn

Northern News Services

Ulukhaktok artist Maggie Alanak was in good spirits when she came knocking on the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre door Wednesday morning.

She planned to sell her handcrafted ookpiks, mittens and slippers to the centre like sheSA国际影视传媒檚 done every month for the last two years since moving to Yellowknife.

But when staff told her theySA国际影视传媒檒l no longer be able to sell her goods at the centre because it shuttered earlier this month, Alanak began packing up her things, wiping away tears as she contemplated what to do next.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 so heartbreaking,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding she sells many of her crafts at the centre and relies on the money she makes there to put food on her table and pay her bills.

SA国际影视传媒淯s Inuit people sew a lot and if more places like this shut down, where are we going to sell our crafts?SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is where the tourists go, number one, to ask for directions and stuff. I think this is really important that they keep this building going.SA国际影视传媒�

Alanak is not the only local artist taking a financial hit with the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 closure May 15 due to structural issues.

More than 60 artists, 20 retailers and several musicians, authors and photographers sell their work at the visitors centre in Yellowknife, according to executive director Tracy Therrien.

In 2016, the not-for-profit that owns and operates the centre purchased $537,000 worth of local products ranging from small $20 items to $200 sculptures, she said.

With the centre moving to a temporary location in the foyer of the Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre, the Northern Frontier Visitors Association will no longer have room to sell merchandise.

Craig Scott is also affected by the change.

For six years heSA国际影视传媒檚 been selling his Arctic Harvest birch syrup at the visitors centre, where he said he makes 50 per cent of his revenue.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is our big market,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding itSA国际影视传媒檚 the go-to place for many Northerners selling niche products.

He doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what heSA国际影视传媒檚 going to do next but said the government needs to find a proper space for the visitors centre.

SA国际影视传媒淭ourism is a very important part of our economy,SA国际影视传媒� said Scott, adding he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 think a SA国际影视传媒渟keleton staffSA国际影视传媒� at the museum SA国际影视传媒渋s going to cut it.SA国际影视传媒�

Another man who stopped by the centre Wednesday morning to talk with staff worries the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 closure will have a trickle-down effect on businesses in the city.

Henry Zhang, manager at the NWT Diamond Centre, said the visitors centre directs many tourists to his business.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not good news to us,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding he believes the visitors centre needs its own building downtown as tourism is on the rise in Yellowknife.

According to data provided by Therrien, the number of visitors passing through the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 doors doubled between 2014 and 2016, from about 25,000 to 50,000 people.

Although the current building is closing due to structural issues, the decision to shrink the visitors centre has a lot of people confused.

SA国际影视传媒淧laces close down when business is down. Places do not close down when things are the best theySA国际影视传媒檝e ever been,SA国际影视传媒� said Tyler Dempsey, assistant manager at the centre. SA国际影视传媒淭his thing has reached a level that itSA国际影视传媒檚 never reached before SA国际影视传媒� yet now is the time to abruptly shut it down?SA国际影视传媒�

Northern Frontier Visitors Centre Association board members have said they've been seeking increased government support for years.

According to the associationSA国际影视传媒檚 2016 financial statement, merchandise sales accounted for nearly 66 per cent of the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 revenue.

The GNWT contributed about 10 per cent of the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 operations revenue while the city contributed 5.5 per cent.

In a news release issued Wednesday, Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Wally Schumann announced visitor information services will continue at the museum in the short term while a longer-term solution is sought.

His department has agreed to cover the costs of the associationSA国际影视传媒檚 move to the museum and SA国际影视传媒渢he interim storage of its assets.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒�Our immediate focus has been on finding a place and way for the (association) to deliver the visitor information services on which their association and funding is founded,SA国际影视传媒� Schumann stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer when asked whether he is concerned about the impact on local artists and retailers.

SA国际影视传媒�In the interim, there are a number of outstanding stores and outlets in Yellowknife that buy and sell local arts and crafts,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The city has also pitched in an extra $17,000 to help the visitors centre this year.

But Therrien said there were SA国际影视传媒渘umerousSA国际影视传媒� spaces downtown the visitors centre could have relocated to with most of its exhibits, retail items and staff. She said the GNWT and city told the centre there was no funding.

Therrien said the centre has liquidated $50,000 in inventory and will be selling off the rest of its assets.

Its retail space at the Yellowknife airport will remain open, said Therrien. She explained it carries a smaller selection of items than the visitors centre.

Cleaning out the now-desolate visitors centre, where only empty shelves and stray items awaiting packing remain, has been SA国际影视传媒渉ellSA国际影视传媒� for Therrien.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has destroyed us emotionally, mentally,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he impression weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting is we hand out maps and guides. We offer a tremendous amount of services.SA国际影视传媒�