Yellowknife (Oct 29/03) - The first ever fall forum for the NWT Leaders' Network was a great success, said Tara Taylor of the federal council.

The two-day event, held Oct. 22 and 23 at the Multiplex Arena, was put together by an organization committee of about 25 people from the municipal, territorial and federal levels of government.

"We are networking and learning about opportunities in the North," said Taylor. "People are thrilled to be in the Multiplex and it's been just great."

The forum was designed for people to experience leadership in action. High school students Mandy Lyons and Briony Wright, the only student volunteers at the conference, said this was more than just a couple of free passes from school for the two days.

"I have really learned what to look for when I get out in the workforce," said Wright. "It's just been so encouraging and a lot of fun," added Lyons.

A lot of their inspiration came from keynote speaker David Irvine, an international speaker and author from Cochrane, Alberta.

He said his two presentations on accountability and leadership were well-received by the delegates.

"Leaders need to be more real, get past the fads and the rhetoric," he said. "There is a sense of quality of life here in Yellowknife that is different. People are affirming. It has been really positive."

Irvine's best selling books, Simple Living in a Complex World: Balancing Life's Achievements, and Becoming Real: Journey to Authenticity, were a huge hit as well at the forum.

"People didn't really know what it would be about and then everyone would come running out after the speech to buy the books," said Lyons. "We are all sold out now, but people are still ordering them."

About 110 delegates participated in the conference. Taylor hopes it made a difference.

"It was a lot of work to put together, but I certainly hope we can do this again in the future."