Hay River (Apr 25/05) - George Low has two claims to fame in Hay River.

The first is as a fisheries management biologist for the Western Arctic region with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, a position he has filled since the early 1980s.

George Low, a DFO fisheries management biologist in Hay River, is also well-known for his stained glass creations. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The second is as a stained glass artist

Low says he was introduced to stained glass about 10 years ago.

"My wife forced me to go to a course," he recalls with a laugh. He loved the art right away, he says, explaining he always liked drawing.

"But I really enjoyed doing my own designs in stained glass. It's more of a graphic art."

Low and his wife, Barbara, who sews and does other crafts, formed Aurora Borealis Crafts last year. They operate the business out of their home.

"Right now, I can't keep up with the demand," he says, noting his work is sold at various locations.

In his day job, Low says he oversees the area south of the Arctic Circle. "Basically, I'm responsible for managing sustainable fisheries in my part of the NWT."

That includes working closely with the resource users, including commercial fishermen and aboriginal harvesters.

His duties include establishing quotas, setting season openings and closings, and making rules for fishing gear.

Low first moved to Hay River as a fisheries management technician from 1975-1982, collecting data from Great Slave Lake.

In all, he has lived in Hay River for 30 years.

"They kept wanting to move me to Yellowknife and other places, but I kept resisting that," he says. "I love living here."

In Hay River, he also met his wife and they have raised three children.

Low is originally from Norway House, Manitoba. The community is about 400 km north of Winnipeg.

"It's sort of like a small town in the territories," he explains.

"There's not a whole lot of difference."

In 1971, Low graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, specializing in fish and wildlife, from the University of Guelph.

Right out of university, he was hired by DFO in Winnipeg. That work included fish resources studies in the Mackenzie Valley and the Delta.

Low, 59, says he can retire with a full pension in a year and a half, but he has no definite plans to do so.

"I don't intend to retire when I retire," he adds. "I intend to continue to do things."