An environmental site assessment at Tin Can Hill has revealed concentrations of arsenic and other metals in the soil, according to a GNWT news release.
The site is the proposed location for Aurora College’s new North Slave campus.
The assessment was to identify potential contamination on-site, evaluate risks to the people and the environment, and present remediation options.
The findings show arsenic levels, stemming both from naturally occurring rock formations and historic gold mining activities near the former Con and Giant Mine sites.
A risk assessment found the soil contamination could pose a health hazard to campus residents and young children attending a daycare more than three days a week. This could also impact small mammals, birds, plants and insects.
However, the report notes that these assessments are precautious and tend to overestimate the risks to ensure public safety.
Four remedial options have been presented:
- Avoid building residences or a daycare at the site.
- Conduct additional soil sampling in planned residential and daycare areas.
- Build residences and a daycare but first cover those areas with clean soil.
- Remove the contaminated soil before construction.
The Aurora College Board of Governors will make decisions on the whether to proceed as the site for the university campus or explore a new location.
Tin Can Hill has been a popular spot for hiking, biking and walking in Yellowknife. There is a Facebook group with about 1,400 members passionate about the area, some even designed a Tin Can Hill t-shirt, hoodie, and stickers.
Many are advocating to maintain the site for recreational purposes, including Great Slave MLA Kate Reid.
“I will continue to work with passionate Yellowknifers who want to conserve the area for recreational use,” Reid wrote in a post. “I will continue to advocate that governments need to listen to their residents and act responsibly, based on what Yellowknifers want.
