Inuvik (Oct 27/06) - Holly Norris remembers starting her business, Delta Sun Services, as a two-person project three years ago.

Today, the business has split into three parts; it is a catering service, an arena concession stand and a restaurant, which employs more than 12 people.

Inuvik's Holly Norris was recently honoured for her restaurant and catering businesses. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

It's for this reason Norris was recently honoured by the Business Development Bank of Canada, as the Young Entrepreneur of the year for the NWT.

Norris said her company originally started to fill a void in Inuvik since the town didn't have any catering services.

"I was working in a government office in Inuvik, and part of my job was looking after logistics, like catering," she said. "I always had difficulty finding people to do this, and so I decided to start my own business."

And she did with skilled cook and partner Brad Olynyk.

Norris said the business took off immediately. After two years of catering, she and Olynyk expanded Sun Delta by opening the Sunburst Bistro on Mackenzie street. They then acquired the contract for the concession stand at the local arena, where skaters and hockey players buy snacks.

Norris said having three businesses can get quite busy - especially when caring for her and Olynyk's three-year-old son, Tye Norris-Olynyk.

"Right now, we're pretty busy with the restaurant, concession and catering," she said. "But there has been so much support from our family, friends, and staff. Brad is awesome at what he does and we work so well together," she said. While the community of Inuvik might be a good place for business, it also has challenges, Norris said.

For instance, she said it can sometimes be difficult to work around the Dempster Highway closing when fresh fruit and vegetables become rare.

"You learn to work around it," she said.

Next week, Norris will attend a ceremony in Moncton, N.B., and meet other winners of the Young Entrepreneur awards.

Collectively, they will help launch a media campaign called Small Business Week.

The Business Development Bank of Canada, which is the award and event's main sponsor, is owned by the federal government.

Young Entrepreneur awards have been presented every year - to one person per province or territory since 1988.