Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Jul 10/98) - Bruce Leclaire took the first step towards officially becoming Fort Simpson's new senior administrative officer Monday.

The first reading of Bylaw 507, declaring Leclaire to the post, was carried out during the village council meeting Monday evening.

For the past three years, Leclaire, 47, had been the chief administrative officer in the area of Parry Sound, Ontario. All told, he has been involved in municipal government in Ontario for the past 23 years, having also served in West Carleton and Nepean.

He said he and his wife, Cindy, who will arrive later this month, decided to come to Fort Simpson to see another part of Canada.

"All my experience had been in a small section of Ontario," he said, adding that his two sons, Adam and Kevin, have moved out on their own.

By leaving Ontario, Leclaire said he will be relieved to be distanced from the struggle to retain reasonable service levels in the face of budget reductions and downsizing.

Having just arrived last Thursday, he's not sure what exactly is on his plate here yet.

"I'm just learning and looking forward to dealing with the issues facing the village," he said.

Fort Simpson Mayor Norm Prevost said Leclaire was the right candidate for the job because of his track record.

"We wanted somebody with gray hair and a lot of experience," Prevost said.

To his surprise, Leclaire's introduction to the North has included some sweltering conditions.

"I left 30 C temperatures in Ontario," he said. "I was looking forward to a little cooler weather."

His trip to Fort Simpson proved to be a memorable, if not traumatic experience. Upon takeoff from Edmonton last week, a bird struck the engine of the 737 in which he was flying. Having a window seat near the damaged motor, Leclaire could see flames shooting out of it until it was shut down. The plane circled back towards the airport for a landing and, Leclaire later found out, nearly collided with the control tower because of the intensifying fog. Instead, the pilot was diverted to Calgary where ambulances and firetrucks awaited the impaired jet.

"It was quite an experience," he said.

Six weeks earlier, Leclaire had been fogged in when he attempted to leave to interview for the SAO position.

"I was beginning to wonder whether I should be coming up here at all," he laughed.

He is to formally become the new SAO upon the second and third readings of bylaw 507 during the next council meeting on July 20.