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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A new business in Fort Simpson is helping to fill what its owner sees as a gap in services.

Bob Norwegian opened Rabbitskin Ventures in the fall. The company offers a variety of services including Norwegian's skills as a certified journeyman electrician.

Bob Norwegian of Rabbitskin Ventures checks the wiring of a zone valve on a furnace in Fort Simpson - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The village lacks skilled tradespeople, including electricians, Norwegian said.

"We're really short on people."

There are lots of contracts keeping other companies busy, said Norwegian, who plans to target smaller electrical jobs for both residential and commercial clients. Many projects have been started and never finished because everyone is busy, he said.

In addition to electrical work Norwegian shingles roofs and installs wood and pellet stoves and chimneys. He also includes South Slavey translation and instruction of local history in his list of services.

"I can do just about anything," he said.

Norwegian also has a line of services geared more towards commercial clients and the oil and gas industry.

Norwegian spent 37 years in the oil and gas industry in southern Alberta.

During that time he worked as an electrician and senior control person looking after and troubleshooting problems with controls for natural gas transmission through pipelines. Some of his transferable skills include consulting for the oil and gas industry, commissioning and decommissioning oil and gas facilities and other buildings and providing project management, just to name a few.

Now semi-retired, the electrician said he started the business to keep busy. He has relied primarily on word of mouth to market his services.

"I didn't have to advertise much," he said.

So far he hasn't had any trouble lining up jobs.

"My list is getting longer as we speak," Norwegian said.

The opening of any business offering skilled tradespeople is a welcome addition to Fort Simpson, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

In a situation common to the rest of the territory, the village has a greater demand for than supply of tradespeople, he said.

"It seems the shortage of skilled tradespeople is evident by the amount of time it takes to get one," said Canvin.

The shortage affects projects in the village in a number of ways. In buildings under construction the sub-contracting is often being awarded to companies from other communities, the mayor said. In the case of the expansion to the village's fire hall the mechanical work was sub-contracted to a firm from Hay River.

Having out-of-town contractors work on projects raises costs because they have to account for costs of accommodation, meals and incidentals, he said.

The shortage of skilled tradespeople also means longer or delayed timelines for projects. Work on the fire hall was completed months behind schedule because the contractor from Hay River was busy with other jobs, said Canvin.

Having more tradespeople in the village won't put anyone out of a job, he said.

"I'm very confident there's lot of work to go around," Canvin said.