Concerns have been raised over the use of public parks after a private function took over a large portion of Somba K'e Civic Plaza, a popular public space last week.
Nancy Vail said she was upset to come across a private event that was barricading the public from using the space Aug. 9.
Dominion Diamond Corporation was celebrating 20 years of operation at the Ekati Diamond mine with a private dinner in which a number of high-profile dignitaries and entertainers attended.
Vail said it appeared the event took up close to three-quarters of the often frequented green space outside city hall.
“On Thursday afternoon when they started setting up, probably about mid afternoon, they set up a big canopy in the middle of Somba K'e,” said Vail. “Then they barricaded off the area with
steel barricades, and had tables all covered in white linen.”
Vail said that when she and a number of other onlookers asked what was happening, event security told them that the event was only for invited guests and that the barricades were “mostly to keep homeless people out.”
Vail said she heard the security guard tell a passerby that the event wasn't for the public but she said that from outside the barricades she could still watch the entertainment that was provided.
As with many municipal facilities – such as the Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, school gyms, sports fields, the ski chalet and ice rinks – Somba K'e is available for rent. The website shows that anyone can rent that space by the hour or in half-or full-day intervals ranging from $66 to $528.
The guidelines state that rental of the amphitheatre includes use of the surrounding lawns.
The facility is routinely used for events, such as the weekly Farmers Market, Music in the Park, Canada Day, and this weekend, the NWT Pride Festival. Later this month, the space is home to the NWT SPCA Memorial Walk, Run and Carnival.
But a large private event such as the Ekati 20th anniversary isn't common.
“It just reminded of the Calgary Stampede, like the performers were allowed to eat with the dignitaries but nobody else was,” said Vail.
“Someone asked why the public wasn't allowed and they said it wasn't for the public ... I noticed there was no media there and I couldn't understand that because it was such a big deal.”
Premier Bob McLeod and Wally Schumann, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, spoke at the dinner. The public officials' appearance was listed in a weekly notice issued by the GNWT.
However, when asked for details about when the politicians would be speaking at the event, a Yellowknifer reporter was told by cabinet communications it was a private event – not for the public.
This week, a spokesperson claimed wrong information was provided to the newspaper.
“There was misunderstanding and we should not have provided comment on that. If anything we would encourage the media to attend any event,” said Krystal Pidborochynski.
“Ministers attend events all the time that are hosted by outside organizers and we always list the events they are attending or speaking at on the distribution list that media gets weekly ... though there are many instances where event organizers may have attendance restrictions for their event which could include media.”
Pidborochynski noted that for this particular event, it would have been up to Dominion Diamond to decide if media access would have been available.
NWT MP Michael McLeod was in attendance and tweeted out photos from inside the tent.
Dominion Diamond did not respond to a request for information as of press time. The 20th anniversary event event had not been publicized through normal channels.
As part of the 20 anniversary celebrations elected officials also travelled to the Ekati Mine site early last week.
Ekati mine site is located in the Lac de Gras region, approximately 300 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife.