Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/01) - Long-time Inuvik resident and business owner Mohamed Elkadry died suddenly at his residence last week.

Born in Palestine June 1, 1947, Elkadry moved to Lebanon when very young, and moved to Canada around 1974.

He came to Inuvik around 1980, and owned The Roost restaurant, as well as Mid-Town Market and the Corner Store.

"He loved Inuvik," recalled employee and longtime friend, Abdullah El-Bekai.

"He liked the people. Everything in Inuvik he liked," El-Bekai said. "He told me many times, the people here are our family."

El-Bekai went to school with Elkadry and kept in touch over the years before he came to Inuvik about five months ago. He said Elkadry was very happy when he went fishing, which he did daily during the summer.

Yassir Alkhateeb and El-Bekai found Elkadry dead outside his home above The Roost Aug. 30. Akram (Alex) Daoud also saw Elkadry's body and said it appeared as though he was praying.

"I know 100 per cent that after the pain came to him, he was trying to pray," Daoud said.

He became an employee for Elkadry about five months ago and said he was really nice.

Elkadry's body was flown to Edmonton, where his funeral was held. Inuvik RCMP state his death is not considered suspicious.

Elkadry is survived by his wife Alia. The couple had two sons, Darwish and Tarik, and four daughters -- Katia, Amina, Shrefy and Sara.