Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Hay River (Mar 11/02) - Few were surprised to learn Ron Cook is Hay River's Citizen of the Year. The 59- year-old is retiring after 20 years as the town's first recreation director.

Ron Cook: Hay River's Citizen of the Year

News/North: What did you do before you were a recreation director?

Ron Cook: I started as a social worker and probation officer. Two-and-a-half years of that, then I was the first manager for the Hay River Housing Authority for a couple of years.

N/N: Why did you go from that to arena manager?

Cook: I was pooped out, getting tired of dealing with people in trouble all the time. In recreation, you're working with healthier individuals. You're able to work from a positive perspective. One of my frustrations was dealing with the court system.

N/N: Do you see a link between that kind of work and what you do as recreation director?

Cook: Recreation provides a lot of opportunities for people to be involved with positive activities. I would suggest that a lot of kids who are involved with sports, if they didn't have the opportunity they'd be in trouble with the law.

N/N: What was it like when you started as recreation director?

Cook: I was hired initially as the arena manager. So the first job was getting the arena in good shape. In '85 we put a million-and-a-half bucks of work into it.

N/N: Do you remember your first budget, and what is it today?

Cook: We've likely expanded tenfold. Now it's about a million dollars a year. We've come a long way in 20 years.

N/N: What would you say was your biggest accomplishment as recreation director?

Cook: I guess just working with the community to make sure we have programs in place. Working with the different clubs, the scheduling to make sure everyone gets a fair share. Not just the arena, but there's the ball fields, bingos.

N/N: You haven't mentioned the trail system.

Cook: They're a nice part of our town. The big push was actually started by the Kiwanis Club. From there it expanded, the town got involved.

N/N: You got things done. You would have to have some persuasion abilities to get all that land set aside.

Cook: It wasn't just me.

N/N: To what do you attribute the town's enthusiasm towards recreation and having a lot of facilities?

Cook: The council has always been very pro-active in assuring there are the best of facilities.

N/N: Recreation budgets are often the first cut in lean times. Why not here?

Cook: That's one budget that seldom gets cut here because this town recognizes the value of good facilities and good recreational opportunities. All you have to do is look at what we've got. The best golf and ski facilities in the territory. One facility with a pool, an arena, community hall and curling rink all in one. That's unbelievable.

N/N: What will you do now that you're retiring?

Cook: Catch up on my fishing, golfing, travel. That should take care of the first year.

N/N: Were you surprised to be named citizen of the year?

Cook: I suspected something. My buddy Barry Ashton phones me and says "I've got two extra tickets to the banquet, would you be interested in going?"

Then he says "my wife's not here and I've got to use the tickets." I felt like saying you're wife doesn't eat so much that she needs two tickets.