Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 05/98) - Doctor Ravinder Naib and his family are bound for Alberta.

As a general practitioner and anesthesiologist, "there are lots of openings for me in Alberta," Naib said.

"I think it's probably about time," he said of his decision to leave. "Nine years is a long time ... but there's no single reason (for leaving)."

He mentioned the ages of his sons -- 12 and eight -- as being one impetus to relocate now, as it would be more difficult to uproot when they are teenagers.

"I want to take them early so they can make friends and grow there," he said.

Naib visited Drayton Valley, a town of roughly 7,000 people, an hour west of Edmonton, during the March break. He expects to leave for a new life there as soon as the end of this month.

He has been practising medicine for 19 years. He came to Yellowknife from Trinity Bay, Nfld.

"I think this probably was the best," he said of his experiences in Yellowknife. "What will I miss the most? My operating room. It's probably a second home to me. We do lots there."

During his time in Yellowknife, Naib has worked at the Great Slave Medical Clinic and at Stanton Regional Hospital. In Drayton Valley, he will perform only emergency surgeries, such as caesarian sections and appendectomies.

"There's no comparison. The system here is very good," he said. "We have 10 or 12 surgeons here. You will not find this in any place in Alberta of this size. The fact that we have it is because we are a regional centre for the entire territory."

However, the hours in Yellowknife were relatively reasonable, he added. Whereas, in a small community a doctor is usually always on call.

"At least you know you'll get your time off," he said.