Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (May 17/02) - Two weeks into her job, and already Sue Sibbeston is in the thick of it.

The peak tourism season is just around the corner, and the Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre supervisor knows it's time to get busy.

Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre supervisor Sue Sibbeston shows off the James Cree Trader and Merchant store, painstakingly restored in the centre's historical area. Sibbeston started her new job two weeks ago. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"We're the gateway to the Nahanni (National Park)," says Sibbeston. "So many coming here are on their way to the falls, or going on a river trip.

"They're coming to experience untouched nature, which there is a lot of up here."

Nonetheless, whether visitors only spend a couple hours in town or several days, Sibbeston's job is to make sure visitors know what Fort Simpson and the surrounding area has to offer.

Local walking tours need to be planned, information on Fort Simpson businesses have to be updated, tourism brochures must be pulled together and sorted.

Not to mention the fervour of activity that will come as the Dene National Assembly draws near, July 8-15.

"So far, Hilda (Visitor Centre assistant Hilda Tsetso) and I have cleaned, organized, basically updating information on Fort Simpson and local businesses, so that when visitors come in, we can give them accurate information, because that hasn't always happened in years gone by," says Sibbeston.

She notes that visitors come from far and wide.

A total of 20 countries, as far away as Australia and Brazil, 25 U.S. states, all of Canada's provinces and territories were represented last year. Despite the wide cultural and linguistic differences of these visitors, the majority of them have one thing in common.

"Most tourists are generally well educated, and have large deposable incomes," says Sibbeston.

"It's expensive to fly here generally. Very rarely do you get a car or RV with a husband, wife, and kids."

Pointing people in the right direction may not be everybody's idea of a fun job, but Sibbeston says it suits her just fine.

"I enjoy being around people, so the job is ideal in that kind of way."