SAMBAA K'E/TROUT LAKE - When Rick Phaneuf arrived in Trout Lake in 2005, the Sambaa K'e Development Corporation didn't have much to boast about.

The corporation consisted of a decrepit truck, an old computer, a kitchen table in the corner of the band office and a box of unanswered mail, most of which was from Revenue Canada.

After more than five years as general manager, Rick Phaneuf is leaving the Sambaa K'e Development Corporation. - photo courtesy of Brenda Jumbo

"Revenue Canada was on the brink of seizing the store," Phaneuf said.

One of Phaneuf's first tasks as the corporation's new general manager was to appease the government agency and buy some time. Over the next five years and five months, he accomplished a lot more than that.

When Phaneuf started, the corporation was achieving sales of approximately $280,000 a year. Last year the corporation made close to $3 million in gross revenues. It has more than $1 million in assets including heavy equipment, an office, a new hotel, a guest house and secured contracts.

"We put a lot of work in the Development Corporation," Phaneuf said.

At the end of the month, Phaneuf will be leaving the community and his position as the general manager to join his wife of 32 years, Lorraine, in Yellowknife. Five years is too long to be apart, he said.

"It was hard to let him go," said Dennis Deneron, the president of the corporation's board. Phaneuf has done "excellent" work for the corporation and the board wanted to keep him, Deneron said.

"He did lots for the community."

Phaneuf counts this season's winter road project among the corporation's greatest achievements.

"It's like a two lane highway out there now versus the buffalo path we called a road before," he said.

Also high on his list is the corporation's response to the Northland Utilities diesel fuel leak in the spring of 2008. The equipment, manpower and enthusiasm from staff were instrumental in saving the lake from contamination, said Phaneuf. The general manager is also proud of the $2.9 million in wages the corporation has paid to community members in the last five years. With a staff that can range from two to 30 depending on the projects that are underway, the corporation is the largest employer in Trout Lake, as well as the Sambaa K'e Dene Band's largest asset.

A lot of the credit for the corporation's success is due to the board of directors, he said. The board currently consists of Tony Jumbo, Helen Kotchea, Ron Kotchea and Brenda Jumbo in addition to Deneron. The board has gone through a lot together, including the loss of two key employees in the past two years, Phaneuf said.

"We've had our high points and our low points. We've had our feasts and famines."

After five years, Phaneuf said he is sad to be leaving the community.

"I've made a lot of good friends here over the years. I'll miss them," he said.