Mould at the Cambridge Bay arena has worsened to the point that the facility may not open at all this season.
The Hamlet of Cambridge Bay is not allowing the public to use the arena until safety assurances can be made.
Marla Limousin, senior administrative officer in Cambridge Bay, said officials with the Department of Community and Government Services told her a decision on the status of the arena will be made by the end of this week.
NNSL file photo
Mould has been known to exist in the arena for several years, but the problem has been growing more extensive.
Federal money – $4.2 million from the Government of Canada's Small Communities Fund – was announced on Feb. 29, 2016 to remove the mould and to make other repairs. Despite the passage of more than 20 months, the proposed work on the arena has not been done.
Nunavut News has repeatedly asked for answers from the Department of Community and Government Services but none have yet been provided.
The arena, which was built in the 1980s, usually opens during the first or second week of December.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, people's reactions vary to different types of mould. Some people experience severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, and fever. Others may have skin and/or eye irritation, nasal stuffiness or may begin wheezing when in close proximity to mould. Some studies have made a link between mould exposure in children and the development of asthma.
Nunavut News will provide more information on the status of the Cambridge Bay arena as it becomes available.