Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 24/99) - Blake Lyons has left the building -- almost.

With almost 20 years of service as executive director of the Northwest Territories Teachers Association (NWTTA) under his belt, Lyons will be retiring effective Sept. 1.

At age 58, he says he'll be staying right here in Yellowknife.

"I want to spend more time with my family," he said Monday. "I'm going to stay here (Yellowknife). I want to stay in the North because the North is where the future is."

Lyons first came North from British Columbia -- he attended university with former prime minister Kim Campbell -- to take up his duties at the NWTTA in 1980.

He says he is particularly proud of the work the NWTTA and others performed in the creation of a family counselling assistance program for GNWT workers. This got up and running in the 1990s and Lyons says it has worked wonders.

Getting equal benefits -- especially in housing -- regardless of a person's sex, is another success area Lyons points to.

"It was an area that people reasoned well in," he said.

As to tough times, Lyons points to negotiations with the GNWT in 1994 and 1996, and recent agreements with both Yellowknife school boards. In an era of tough times and government cutbacks, he says, you know going into the negotiation session that all your members won't be happy at the end of the process.

"All you could do was work to lessen the pain," Lyons said. "I have the greatest respect for the people who sat on negotiating committees during those times."

In the future, Lyons says, a new dynamic will begin to affect Northern negotiations and future contracts.

"I see new employers emerging," he said. "(Like) divisional boards of education."

As for parting advice, Lyons, who also serves as Yellowknife's deputy mayor, says both unions and management negotiators should always ensure lines of communication remain open.

"Always have a working relationship because your obligation is to your members," he said.

Lyons said he wanted to thank NWT teachers, his family, friends and the NWTTA's Linda Golding for all their help over the years.

The association is currently searching for a replacement.