Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 02/98) - Callers from around the world often get to talk to the true power behind the throne when they phone Yellowknife City Hall -- Rosalie Power that is.

And, over the past three years, Power, administrative assistant to Mayor Dave Lovell has heard from them all. There was the time Jerry Seinfeld's production company gave the mayor's office a call.

The reason for phoning? Jerry and the gang wanted to make a commercial about bagels here in Yellowknife.

Or, the time a Hollywood producer thought he'd give the city a call. His request? He wanted to know if the city could lend him some icebreakers for a movie he was making.

Really.

It's all in a day's work for Power, who has been at Lovell's side at city hall since 1995.

"I worked with the mayor for 10 years (in the GNWT) before that," she said. "I tell everybody I do everything."

As the mayor's assistant, Power, who has lived in the city for 23 years, says calls come in from around the world. During long cold snaps, American and Canadian reporters will check in; African students write asking for city souvenirs, the list could go on.

Power refers the calls and requests to the proper areas of the city and GNWT and then waits for new ones.

"You never know who I'm going to talk to," she said Monday.

As if all this wasn't enough, she also helps Lovell prepare speeches, gets correspondence ready, you name it.

When not "running" city hall, you'll find Power busy, along with her husband, James, greeting tourists at their bed and breakfast, Gill-Power B&B. And, she also works weekends at a city book store.

She's one busy Yellowknifer -- and "Powerful."