Repairs to the Northern Frontier Visitor's Centre won't necessarily spell a return of visitors services to the building, which shut its doors in 2017, in need of tender loving care to remain safely open to the public, say officials.
Visitors services associate Meyha Deanne Oake provides information at the city's temporary location, which has brought in 13,733 visitors since it opened.
The building, which sits over the edge of Frame Lake sank further into the muskeg, posing major structural issues.
Since March, visitors services have been held in the basement if Yellowknife city hall, where visitors can still get their Yellowknife pin and a certificate that they've travelled North of 60.
Visitors to the Northern Frontier Visitor's Centre reached 50,233 walk-in vistors in 2016, said the department of industry, tourism and investment in an email.
The city tracks its visitor numbers through a guestbook, which visitors are encouraged to sign. Since it opened eight months ago, the centre has received 13,733 visitors between October and March.
The lower numbers reflect that buses no longer stop at the centre to allow clients to buy the same retail offerings available at the Northern Frontier centre, said Drew Williams, spokesperson for the GWNT's department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
“The city hall visitor information centre is pleased with the number of visitors it is receiving,” he said.
The GNWT is expecting a report commissioned into delivery of visitor services to wrap up in September, said Williams, adding there are no plans to resume operations in the old building.
The repairs to the building were too great for the visitor's association to bear – over the years, they sought funding to keep the building in operation.
As owners of the building, the GNWT recently assessed its structural issues and invested $125,000 to mend the structure.
The GNWT is studying structural needs and potential options for a future occupant, but no decision has been made around who that might be, said Williams.
The department has presented to groups in Yellowknife who may need space.
Upon completing its review of required structural improvements, the GNWT will work to meet prospective groups engineering needs, said Williams.
The city's responsibility for providing visitors services was extended until the end of September, with territorial support to the tune of $161,000 annually.
The basement location is about to get free bikes for tourists to travel around the city and it still offers brochures, tourism information and photographs of iconic Yellowknife locations.
However, limited information on the fate of the basement location has been shared with staffers, beyond the September extension date.
The city is completing its review of what visitors services are required in Yellowknife on a long-term basis.
On Monday, an independent firm will present options for a Yellowknife visitors services strategy.
The GNWT “has every confidence” in the city's vision for visitor's services and hopes to have a viable solution in place by the fall.