A non-profit heritage groupSA国际影视传媒檚 long-running dream of turning a piece of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 past into a multi-use museum is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The Yellowknife Historical Society SA国际影视传媒� a newly re-branded collective committed to the preservation of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 cultural, economic and natural history SA国际影视传媒� has kicked off construction at the former Giant Mine recreation hall.

It's a once-bustling community hub the society hopes to transform into a museum and interpretive centre.

Since late July, local contractors SA国际影视传媒� overseen by Yellowknife Historical Society president Walt Humphries and secretary-treasurer Ryan Silke SA国际影视传媒� have worked to remove weather-worn wooden siding and hazardous material from the red-roofed rec hall, which sits near the Giant Mine site and the Great Slave Cruising ClubSA国际影视传媒檚 boat launch.

Built in 1953, the recreation hall was the go-to leisure spot for Giant Mine workers and staff living at the townsite.

The latest phase in the hallSA国际影视传媒檚 face-lift, Humphries told Yellowknifer, is a crucial step in the societySA国际影视传媒檚 bid to breathe new life into storied space.

SA国际影视传媒淥nce we get the walls done then weSA国际影视传媒檝e got the building enclosed and itSA国际影视传媒檚 weatherproof, then we can work on it in the winter and in the summer. Before we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have power and we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have heat. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why itSA国际影视传媒檚 important,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The current construction is part of the societySA国际影视传媒檚 ambitious $1.5-million plan to transform the aging recreational hall into a museum that showcases YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 local history SA国际影视传媒� mining and more SA国际影视传媒� complete with a planned exhibit hall, tea room, library and gift shop.

The Yellowknife Historical Society hopes to complete the project by 2020.

With two to three years of work ahead, the initiative is still in its infancy, but the society plans to install new windows, doors and siding to the rec hall by the end of the summer.

Once the exterior is complete, itSA国际影视传媒檚 on to the inside.

SA国际影视传媒淎fter the walls are done, then we can start on the electrical and the interior of the building,SA国际影视传媒� said Humphries.

While construction is well underway, the projectSA国际影视传媒檚 completion hinges on the on the support of private and government sponsors.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e dependent on funding and weSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping to get it done in two or three years. If the money comes in itSA国际影视传媒檒l be done fast; if it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 itSA国际影视传媒檒l be done slower,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Recent progress on the project follows years of hiccups and false starts. The Yellowknife Historical Society SA国际影视传媒� formerly dubbed the NWT Mining Heritage Society and YK Spirit SA国际影视传媒� made repairs to recreation hallSA国际影视传媒檚 roof and foundation in 2007 and 2010, but remediation work at the Giant Mine site stalled development for 10 years.

Now, with the completion of new windows, doors and siding a month or so away, Humphries hopes to fill the revamped rec hallSA国际影视传媒檚 walls with markers and memorabilia of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 rich past SA国际影视传媒� and in doing so, he aims to fill a demand.

Aside from the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which focuses of the history of NWT as a whole, Humphries said there, SA国际影视传媒渋s no Yellowknife museum.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hen people come up here they want to see some of the local history and some of the local colour - thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we plan to concentrate on,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is no group thatSA国际影视传媒檚 preserving Yellowknife history and local history and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing."

While the Giant Mine remediation process will continue near the site of in-the-works museum, Humphries said he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect it will interfere with the museumSA国际影视传媒檚 development. He also stressed the proposed museum will stand well away from any potentially contaminated land.

As for what Yellowknifers think of the societySA国际影视传媒檚 plan to re-purpose the rec hall, Humphries said heSA国际影视传媒檚 received positive feedback.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople are supportive and enthusiastic.SA国际影视传媒�