Paula White
Northern News Services

INUVIK (May 07/99) - If there's one thing that Jerry Veltman is good at, its numbers.

But in fact, Veltman is good at more than just numbers, and that's why he was hired as the town's new director of finance.

Last week was Veltman's first week on the job. He arrived in Inuvik just over a week ago, on April 24. He came up from Picture Butte, Alta., "a small community just north of Lethbridge... where it actually was snowing yesterday."

Veltman knows what the weather was like in Picture Butte because his wife, Antje, is still there. She will join Veltman here in mid-June. He said she is looking forward to travelling the Dempster Highway at that time of year.

The move North means the Veltmans are leaving behind more than just their home. They are also leaving behind six children, most of whom still live in and around Picture Butte, and 13 grandchildren. And it wasn't easy.

For their children, that is.

"Some didn't believe it at first," Veltman smiled. "And then, 'what aren't you taking up there that we can take off your hands.' It was no problem getting rid of things once they found out."

In actual fact, Veltman said the children's reaction was positive.

"Three of the kids are planning trips up a year from now."

Veltman jokingly attributed the decision to move North to a mid-life crisis. He said he and his wife figured they had about six to 10 years until retirement, so they began to look for a new challenge.

"My wife actually picked the ad (for the job) out of the paper and said let's look at this. So I applied and here we are," Veltman explained. "My wife had always talked about having a good look at the North. So we figured that's as good a way as any, to move up for awhile."

Veltman has an extensive financial background. He has been self-employed for the past 22 years, running a public accounting practice, doing books for small businesses and personal taxes. He has a certified general accounting designation. As director of finance, he will be responsible for managing virtually all the paperwork that goes through the office, including financial statements and, of course, the town budget.

"A fair amount of money goes through a place like this," he said. He added he is looking forward to the challenge.

Veltman and his wife are originally from Brampton, Ont., so they are no strangers to travelling around.

"It's not that far (to Picture Butte)," Veltman said. "We'll probably be out once or twice a year to visit."

And so far, he's not bothered by the late sunsets.

"I think the total darkness will probably bother me more than the light."