Hay River (May 17/04) - The NWT Chamber of Commerce has honoured some of its own.

Bassett Petroleum Distributors Ltd. of Hay River was named Business of the Year for 2004 during the chamber's annual gathering last week in Hay River.

Steve Bassett was shocked to see his business, Bassett Petroleum Distribution Ltd. be named Business of the Year. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Steve Bassett, the co-owner of the business with his wife, Georgina, admitted to being surprised by the honour.

"I'm shocked," Bassett said, adding he feels many other businesses are more deserving of the award.

Bassett Petroleum, which began operation 15 years ago, now employs 15 people in Hay River, seven in Yellowknife and four in Alberta.

The Businessperson of the Year for 2004 is Jim Excell, the former president and chief operating officer of Ekati Diamond Mine. He retired in December of last year.

Excell, who was not at the chamber's annual banquet, was praised for an excellent safety record at the mine and involving aboriginal people in the development.

The NWT Chamber of Commerce also chose a new executive on May 12.

New president is Mark Walker, the vice-president of customer services and sales with NorthwesTel in Yellowknife.

The other members of the executive are vice-president Ann Marie Tout of Enbridge Pipelines in Norman Wells, treasurer John Droog of PCL Constructors in Yellowknife, and Duncan Canvin, a former president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.

All were acclaimed.

They join past president Denise Burlingame on the executive.

Prominent among the new directors is former NWT premier Stephen Kakfwi, now a consultant in Yellowknife.

New president Walker says the chamber is excited about Kakfwi's participation.

"I think he can bring a lot of wisdom and understanding," Walker said, noting that could include the areas of aboriginal affairs.

The other associate directors are Cathie Bolstad of DeBeers Canada Mining in Yellowknife, Kevin Diebold of Whiponic Wellputer Ltd. in Norman Wells, Doreen Farrants of NTCL in Hay River, and Mike Hollick of Canadian North in Inuvik.

"The new team is looking forward to speaking on behalf of all businesses in the Northwest Territories," said Walker, who served as treasurer during the past year.

As the new president, he says he hopes to focus on the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline and the regulatory process surrounding it.

Other issues he hopes to concentrate on are taxes, devolution and possibly joining with the GNWT to approach the federal government on changing formula funding.