LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - When David Walsh took a job with the Department of Public Works and Services as a third class operating engineer in 1979, he thought he would probably work in Fort Simpson for two years.

Thirty years later, Walsh is now the chief operating engineer for all of the Deh Cho communities for the department and is still living in the village. Walsh was one of 21 territorial government employees recognized for their years of service during the long service award ceremony that was held in the village on Dec. 9.

Long-time employees of the government of the Northwest Territories in the Deh Cho were honoured for their service at a ceremony in Fort Simpson on Dec. 9. Employees with the longest tenure include, from left, David Walsh, Margo Wrigley, Michelle Cholette, Rod Gunderson and Fred McPherson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"I appreciate working for the GNWT for 30 years," said Walsh.

For Walsh the best part of his job all these years has been the people he meets and interacts with on a daily basis.

"It's just a great group of people," he said.

Since applying for and becoming the chief operating engineer approximately six years ago when the previous chief retired, Walsh has been responsible for overseeing the high and low pressure boilers, ventilation systems and controls in all of the territorial government's buildings in the region. The buildings include health centres and all of the schools.

Walsh had the most years of service of all the award recipients at the ceremony. With 20 years with the Department of Transportation, Rod Gunderson, regional manager of highway operations, followed closely behind.

"Rod knows the highway system very well, probably more than the back of his hands," said Daniel Auger, the assistant deputy minister of the department who was on hand to present the award to Gunderson.

Gunderson has developed good relationships with contractors and local communities, said Auger. During community access roads projects he ensures there are training opportunities for local people so they get experience on the equipment and learn the techniques to maintain the roads, Auger said.

The private sector companies that rely on the winter road system also respect Gunderson, he said.

After 20 years of service, Gunderson knows exactly how much longer he will be working for the department. He has a retirement countdown clock in his office that was at 357 days as of Dec. 10. Before starting with highway operations in August 1989, Gunderson spent more than 14 years with the federal transportation design and construction branch, working mostly in Inuvik and Fort Simpson.

"I like working with the people and the oil and gas, all the needs of the system and the communities," Gunderson said of his current position. "The work is interesting."

While with the federal department, Gunderson said the highlight was getting new roads built. Within the territorial department it's getting the seasonal roads and ice bridges open so people can travel, he said.

"When the ice crossings are open people are happy," he said.

2009 Long service awards recipients

Department of Human Resources

Paul Simon - five years

Michelle Cholette - 15 years

Department of Municipal and Community Affairs

Malcolm MacPhail - 15 years

Department of Transportation

Mervin Simba - five years

Rod Gunderson - 20 years

Department of Education, Culture and Employment

Marion Storm - five years

Candy Brown - 10 years

NWT Housing Corporation

Ernest McPherson - five years

Department of Public Works and Services

Davi Lafferty - five years

David Walsh - 30 years

Dehcho Health and Social Services

Amanda Ocko - five years

Betty Ann Betsedea - five years

Kim Myers - five years

Tina Misevicius - five years

Debbie Norwegian - five years

Chris Misevicius - five years

Tina Gargan - five years

Irene Sibbeston - 10 years

Margo Wrigley - 15 years

Fred McPherson - 15 years

Barbara McLeod - 20 years