SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Over the years Gary Steele has tried his hand at many different jobs -- carpenter, drilling for petroleum, and working in the diamond industry –- but five years ago he found a job that built on a decades-long passion.

Servicing firearms is a passion of Gary Steele’s, but Yellowknifers will not have the benefit of his expertise much longer as he is retiring to Nova Scotia at the end of the month. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

As a store clerk at Wolverine Guns and Tackle, Steele gets to indulge his love of firearms and of people.

"I really enjoy working with firearms and the people you can meet here are amazing," he said. "It's the people and the opportunity to help educate them about firearms. Some people take gun safety for granted."

Steele, who moved to Yellowknife more than 30 years ago, says though he is not a gunsmith, he is one of a limited number of people in the city who can professionally repair and maintain firearms.

However, at the end of this month Steele is retiring to a farm in his native Nova Scotia.

He said it has been difficult to find a replacement, and someone from outside Yellowknife may have to be brought in to fill his shoes because there is a shortage of gunsmiths in the city.

Steele said interacting with customers and giving them the basics of firearm safety and maintenance is the best part of the job.

"From the time I was 10 years old, my father was into firearms, so it was just a natural fit," he said.

Since 1989 Steele has been a big game guide as well as a fishing guide, and he may continue that role for visitors during his retirement in Nova Scotia.

"I'm going to be living right next to the Annapolis River, and there are a lot of tourists from all over the world that go there for the summer. So it's not out of the question to do some guiding," he said.

After moving to Yellowknife for work "like everybody else" he raised two boys and made lasting friendships here. But winter has finally pushed Steele and his partner to move on.

"Last winter clinched it for me; it was a harsh one. It sure helped make up my mind," he said.