Fort McPherson (Feb 27/06) - Every year, women who work at the Fort McPherson housing association throw a birthday bash for the hamlet's favourite flirt.

Martin Vaneltsn enjoys a dance with Gladis Alexie at his birthday party, Feb. 17. The ladies who work at the housing association throw a party for Fort McPherson's favourite flirt every year. - John King/NNSL photo

Usually, the party for Martin Vaneltsn attracts a big crowd of family and friends, but this year he had to compete with Joint Review Panel hearings on the Mackenzie Gas Project.

It didn't seem to bother Vaneltsn, who used all the extra space to dance the afternoon away, while taking the occasional break for some cake.

Martin Vaneltsn turned 55 this year and when News/North dropped by, Vaneltsn was staging a grand jig - all his own style.

"He comes to the office every day and puts on his boots and goes to work," said friend Betty Firth.

Firth pulls out a file of Vaneltsn's "work" and smiles.

The file contains lots of paper with what looks like some serious note-taking, but upon closer inspection is mostly scribbles.

Vaneltsn may not be like the rest of us, but he knows how to make people smile and have fun.

"He's nice company and makes everyone at the office smile," said Shirley Wilson, who works at the office.

At the party, there was bannock, caribou soup, cake, and an assortment of other goodies for people to enjoy.

And of course a good helping of jigging.

"He would dance all day if he had the chance," Wilson said.

Vaneltsn doesn't spend all his time with the ladies at the housing office though. "He helps at the church and visits around and helps," said friend Gladis Alexie.

"He's always busy," she added before Vaneltsn whisked her away for a dance.