Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 11/00) - A closet athlete in the midst of suits. City hall clerk Debbie Euchner: talks about keeping city business under control and digging deep when it comes down to one ball, one frame and the ladies bowling championship.
 Debbie Euchner: |
Euchner: I've been the clerk since May. Prior to that I was deputy city clerk since June, 1996.
Yellowknifelife: What's the major difference between deputy city clerk and city clerk?
Euchner: Now I attend all council meetings. When I was deputy clerk I didn't have the duties I have now. I go to all the committee meetings, I interpret legislation, I'm more on the front line dealing with council and adminstration.
Yellowknifelife: What did you do before you started working for the city? Did you work in Yellowknife?
Euchner: I was born and raise in Yellowknife. Before working for the city I worked for Gullberg Wiest McPherson for 10 years. I left as office manager and book keeper, but I started as a legal secretary.
Yellowknifelife: Which is more exciting?
Euchner: The city has more variety and probably more challenges for me.
Yellowknifelife: What are some of the challenges you face?
Euchner: Well my job is to make everything run on schedule, getting agendas out, ensuring by-laws are accessible, researching items that happened in the past. I have a lot of deadlines to meet. I have to ensure the records of the city are kept as concise and accurate as possible.
Yellowknifelife: What are some of the highlights?
Euchner: Elections and by-elections are some highlights and the arena referendum because it affects my job directly.
Yellowknifelife: How so?
Euchner: I conduct all the elections and referendums for the city.
Yellowknifelife: Ever consider running for council now or in the future?
Euchner: Never. I'm not a politician. There are people cut out to be a politician, to be in the forefront. Your life is not your own, you're always on the job.
Yellowknifelife: Well I'm sure your life doesn't begin and end with city hall, do you have any hobbies, play sports? What do you do when you're not working?
Euchner: I'm a competive bowler.
Yellowknifelife: Why do you like bowling?
Euchner: It can be both and individual and team sport. It's something I enjoy doing and I'm good at. I get the opportunity to travel and represent the NWT. I've played on mixed teams, ladies teams and I was the NWT ladies champion.
Yellowknifelife: You're not the reigning champion?
Euchner: No I hurt my leg last year, but two years prior I was the singles champion and I've been on the ladies team six times.
(The injury) was a combination of jogging, bowling and baseball. I was out for a year and a half with a torn hamstring.
Yellowknifelife: Ouch. Where have you gone for nationals?
Euchner: St. John's, Hamilton, Sudbury, Red Deer, Calgary, Thunder Bay, Regina and Hull.
Yellowknifelife: How have you fared on the national stage?
Euchner: Last time I was an NWT rep I came in seventh, two years ago.
Yellowknifelife: What other sports have you played?
Euchner: I play slo-pitch. I pitch, catch and play the outfield for the Coca-Cola Bears in the commercial league.
Yellowknifelife: What's your favourite sport?
Euchner: In summer it's softball, in winter it's bowling and to watch on TV it's hockey.
Yellowknifelife: What would you say to detractors of bowling who say it's not a sport?
Euchner: They're probably people who think hockey and football are the only sports. But bowling does have a degree of skill and competition which is the definition of sport.
Yellowknifelife: What do you like about bowling?
Euchner: It provides a personal challenge and gives me the opportunity to meet other people, make friends and travel. There's also the adrenalin rush when bowling in your zone and it comes down to the final bowl on the last frame?
Yellowknifelife: Ever been in that situation?
Euchner: At the territorials I was in fifth place on the step-ladder (single elimination finals) and I beat everyone to face the top person. I had to beat her twice to win. In the first game was back and forth, the score wasn't very high but it came down to the last frame and she was leading and I beat her. The next game I bowled in the 300's and she bowled in the 200's.
Yellowknifelife: So how did you do it, how did you come from behind?
Euchner: It's hard to explain you have to buckle down and do it. You dig real deep and give it everything you have. Buy the second game the adrenalin and pep-talk came through and I beat her by a wide margin.
Yellowknifelife: How did you feel?
Euchner: On a high. It was incredible to come from behind from fifth place and taking the single's spot.
Yellowknifelife: What's your ultimate goal in the sport?
Euchner: To medal at nationals.
Yellowknifelife: Where do you see yourself in say...seven years?
Euchner: Still in Yellowknife. It's my home and provides me with opportunities. I like it here.
