Whitehorse Daily Star

Faro to receive new RCMP detachment

The Yukon government is moving forward with the replacement of another community RCMP detachment in the territory.

By Chuck Tobin on January 19, 2021

The Yukon government is moving forward with the replacement of another community RCMP detachment in the territory.

A project proposal for replacement of the Faro detachment has been filed with the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board.

Demolition of the 49-year-old detachment and construction of the new building is scheduled to begin this summer or fall, with completion set for the summer of 2022.

Sandy Watson, the strategic business and communication manager with the RCMP, explained Monday the estimated cost is $5.5 million, with 70 per cent to be covered by the Yukon government and 30 per cent to paid by Ottawa.

“The building is just old and worn out, and its days have come and gone,” Watson explained.

The RCMP are also planning to begin the demolition and replacement of the Carcross detachment this year.

Watson noted assessments conducted on detachments several years ago identified four that were in need of replacement, with Faro being the number one priority on the list. The detachments in Haines Junction and Beaver Creek were also identified as being in need of replacement, he said.

The new Faro headquarters is estimated at 214 square metres, or 2,303 square feet.

During construction, the Ross River detachment will be used to accommodate any need to lock up prisoners.

There are two officers currently stationed in Faro.

The building will be built to federal net-zero emission standards with the use of solar panels on the roof and geothermal as a heat source.

It will be built on the same site using modular construction units.

It’s estimated replacement will take six to nine months.

Watson said there are other detachments being looked at currently for replacement, such as the Old Crow detachment.

Comments (8)

Up 15 Down 4

HA on Jan 21, 2021 at 12:10 pm

Ditto what "I'm no Mathematician, but...." said. $2388.19/square foot is insane. You might as well flush your taxpayer dollars down the toilet...

Up 23 Down 2

I'm no Mathematician, but.... on Jan 21, 2021 at 11:24 am

Not a mathematician, nor a contractor, but $5.5 mil for a 2300 square foot, modular constructed building??? $2388.19 per square foot... I realize there are a few extras that a police detachment would need, that you wouldn't find in your typical 2300 square foot house, but 5 million dollars worth?? Maybe it's just me, but that price tag seems absolutely insane...

Up 6 Down 7

YukonMax on Jan 21, 2021 at 7:59 am

Okay! So I guess the trial is over and it didn't work out the way they wanted.
In the last announcement, the Ross River was suppose to become some kind of regional detachment. Faro constable, would be working under that detachment's authority with a satellite office in Faro.
Faro's demography has shifted considerably in the last 10 years or so and it's keeping their officer in the community more then intended.
However, it's not the first and last time we hear about a new detachment in Faro.
Faro sits on First Nation land, but it's the only Yukon community without a shared governance with the First Nation. Faro has no voice. Period.

Up 24 Down 6

Hahahaha on Jan 20, 2021 at 3:01 pm

Didn't this government promise this before then take it back? I smell an election coming soon. Let the Liberal vote-buying commence.

Up 19 Down 1

JSmonk on Jan 20, 2021 at 1:21 pm

Good! We should be rewarding the police for their good work.

Up 30 Down 2

jack on Jan 19, 2021 at 11:32 pm

I fear another untendered KZA project is coming.....

Up 24 Down 9

Guncache on Jan 19, 2021 at 7:33 pm

Let Ottawa foot the whole bill. Trudeau Jr is giving giving BILLIONS of $'s to foreign countries. His frivolous holidays would pay for all the detachments.

Up 6 Down 3

LOL on Jan 19, 2021 at 5:04 pm

LOL heard this one before....

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