Polytechnic campus at Tin Can Hill possible, but Yellowknife college says it needs $400M to proceed

Results of an environmental assessment indicate that although Yellowknife's Tin Can Hill could potentially serve as the site for Aurora College's new polytechnic campus, the college says it still requires around $400 million in funding to move the project forward.

A media briefing held Tuesday on on the release of the environmental assessment report for the proposed Tin Can Hill site outlined what lies ahead for the polytechnic university.

"There are actually no next steps until the funding question," said Angela James, Aurora College president, during the briefing. "Current estimates for a new Yellowknife North Slave campus would cost a minimum of $400 million." 

In 2022, the City of Yellowknife signed an MOU earmarking Tin Can Hill as the intended site for a future polytechnic university campus. The project's progress depended on the results of a second environmental assessment, initially due in March but delayed due to the city's wildfire evacuation in 2023. 

The environmental assessment, which cost $164,600, identified significant arsenic levels in several soil samples from the site and the old Con Mine road. However, the report stated that the contamination is manageable if properly treated.

"The results of the assessment work at Tin Can Hill are not a cause for concern. Elevated arsenic in soil is known to be present in the Yellowknife area, particularly around the former Con and Giant mine sites," said Mike Argue, the director of post-secondary education with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. 

James stated that while the environmental assessment results make Tin Can Hill a viable location, there is no estimated timeline for campus construction. The transformation of the college to a polytechnic was initially forecasted to be completed by 2025.

"The biggest step, of course … is the funding source to build a campus … we have enough information with the environmental site assessment to proceed with the project," James said.

"However, it is quite a big ticket item in terms of funding. Again, this is an estimate of $400 million for a new build on Tin Can Hill. And those monies have not been secured or determined or found at present."

James said there are ongoing efforts to secure funding, including collaborations with the government of Northwest Territories and the federal government.

James added that the college currently has no information on potential funding from any other sources.