Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (July 13/01) - Bruce Leclair was surprised when he came to check out Fort Simpson three years ago.

"It was a very hot summer and it was a very nice community. I was surprised at the number of trees. I had an image of tundra."

Retiring Fort Simpson SAO Bruce Leclair will vacation in Alaska before returning home to Ontario. - Dave Sullivan/NNSL photo

He and wife Cindy jumped at the offer for him to become Fort Simpson's senior administrative officer.

The village was fortunate to recruit someone with so much experience -- 25 years in municipal government, working his way up after starting as a clerk's assistant.

Last week the 51-year-old resigned his Fort Simpson position and retired from the occupation of helping steer small-town politicians.

Sometimes inexperienced in how to best govern, municipal councillors rely on people like Leclair to guide them through the growing complexity of running a small town.

"It's been a very enjoyable three years. It's been a fabulous experience, I will miss it," he said at a recent village council meeting.

His said his biggest accomplishment was reigning in an $850,000 budget deficit. He even made it into a $250,000 surplus. Not by doing anything radical, he said, but "just through good budget management."

His advice to the next SAO, not chosen at press time, is "don't allow them to go back into a deficit situation."

While working away in his chosen career, mostly for small-town Ontario governments, Leclair's pension plan was being invested wisely.

Pension fund managers recently decided that many contributors, including Leclair, could start collecting their pension at age 50.

Some health problems like high blood pressure and cold weather asthma swayed his decision to take advantage of the early pension and kick back a little.

He's quick to add "I'll do something, I won't just sit with my feet up."

Leclair will be settling in Pembroke, Ont. He plans to spend more time on his photography hobby. That's digital photography. He's watched the technology improve to the point where, to him, digital is the way to go. He's got all the latest computer gear for that.

Before heading back to Ontario, where his two grown sons live, Leclair and his wife will embark on a three-week trip to the Yukon and Alaska. He says he simply must go because it's the only part of the North he's not yet experienced.