WEBEQUIE — Construction work is underway to repair the airport terminal building in Webequie First Nation.
Contractors were seen on-site at the remote community’s airport, located about 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, on Aug. 1, putting up the framework for new interior walls while construction fencing surrounded the structure.
The passenger building was badly damaged after a fire in April. Two 13-year-olds were charged with arson and mischief. Nishnawbe Aski police said at the time the estimated damage was around $500,000.
Police and firefighters from the First Nation were deployed to put out the blaze and stop it from spreading to other nearby structures.
Most of the exterior structure, including the roof, appeared to still be intact, but with large holes in several of the outside walls. Construction materials like lumber and metal siding were on pallets on the ground nearby.
The interior of the structure had already been gutted.
Glen Wabasse, the community's economic development officer, said restoring the passenger building is important for the airport's operations, as currently there is little to no shelter against the elements, like hot weather or rain, when people are waiting at the runway.
