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23TuesdayJune182013HistoryLandmarksByJACKDANYLCHUKYellowknifecityadminis-tratorsarestilltallyingcostsoftherestorationeffortthatclosedthehistoricWild-catCaffortwoyearsbutwhateverthenaltotalisitwasworthitsaysMayorMarkHeyck.WithformermayorGordVanTigheminthecrowdthatturnedouttoseewhatmorethan500000accom-plishedHeyckcutaredrib-bontore-openthe75year-oldlandmark.Heyckthankedcontrac-torRickMuyresandpraisedhispainstakingeffortsthatwerecutshortearlierthisyearwhenthecityabruptlycancelledhiscontractbeforethelog-constructionexpertcouldputthenaltouchtowhatwasalabouroflove.Withouthisskillsethispassionthisprojectcouldnothavebeenpulledoffaswellasitwaswereveryappre-ciativeHeycksaid.Notonlywillthecurrentgener-ationenjoytheWildcatbutgenerationstocome.TheprojectaddedadeckwhichdoublesthecapacityoftheWildcat.AseconddeckmaybeaddedinfutureandtheseasonextendedforthecafwhichhastraditionallyoperatedbetweentheVictoriaandLabourDayweekends.MargaretPetersonwastherstpersonthroughthedoorofthediningroomoftherestoredcafwhichin-corporatedthelogsandceil-ingoftheoriginalstructuretocreatetheimpressionthatnothinghaschanged.ItsawonderfulplaceIvebeenwatchingtheprogress.TheydidwonderfulworksaidPetersonwhowatchedthebuildingdismantledandre-assembledlogbylogafteranewfoundationofsteelandconcretewasinstalleddriv-ingthecostbeyondtheorig-inalestimateof476000.Behindtherusticauthen-ticityofthediningroomaresparklingnewwashroomsonewithapicturewindowlook-ingontoasunnyterraceandamodernkitchenofgleam-ingstainlesssteelappliances.ChrisMcGuirethechefplanslotsofsimpleheartyfood.Nothingtoocrazy.Someporkdishes.Bacon.Hand-madepasta.Tostartwelljustbedoingdinners.Luncheswillcomeacoupleofweeksafterweopenandbrunchontheweekends.CouncilorAdrianBellwhoownedandoperatedapopu-larYellowknifecoffeeshopforseveralyearssaidthenewkitchenlooksbeautiful.TheresnothingIwouldhavedonedifferently.Thedeckisagreatadditionandthediningroomseemslarger.ItsbrilliantweshouldhavehadthisyearsagosaidWeledehMLABobBromleywhowassharingatablewithfriendsonthesun-splasheddeck.Bromleysaidhethoughttherestorationofthebuildingthatwasneverintendedtolastmorethanagenerationwasworth-whiledespiteacostthatmaybecloseto600000.Thereisavaluethatgoesbeyondthat.Thisjogsalotofmemoriesandplantsaseedofwhatthingswerelikeforthosewhodidntexperienceit.ThereisareasonwhyitwasduplicatedintheNationalMuseumofCivilization.Wehavetobecarefulwithpublicmoneybuttherearesomethingsthathavevaluebeyondmaterialvalueyoucanfeelheretodaywiththecommunity.Manyofushavevisitedtherestaurantforde-cadesandseentheexcitementoftouristsandold-timersheadded.BarbCameronworkedasadishwasherattheWildcatinthe1970saftertheOldStopeSocietyrescueditfromdecay.Weneverhadanythingevenclosetothis.Thisisagreatrestoration.Iapplaudthecityforforwardthink-ing.Thebuildingwasslatedfordemolitioninthe70s.Volunteershelpedthecityrecognizethatitwasanim-portantlandmark.Therewasneveranyques-tioninVanTighemsmindabouttheworthofrestoringtheWildcat.Itstheoldeststill-in-usebuildingintownsaidtheformermayorwhogrewupinCalgarywhereanybuild-ingover25yearswastorndown.Theylosttheirpast.ButherethispastisoursbutitsalsointheMuseumofCivilization.Itsinterna-tionallyrecognized.HistoricWildcatCafopensaftertwo-yearrestorationPhotosJackDanylchukFormerYellowknifemayorGordonVanTighemenjoystherestoredWildcatCafinthesun.YellowknifeMayorMarkHeyckcutstheceremonialribbontomarkthecafsreopeningafteratwo-year500000makeover.Theoldeststill-in-usebuildinginYellowknifeboastsanewdeckasafeatureoftherestorationefforts.