DEH GAH GOT'IE/FORT PROVIDENCE - The Hamlet of Fort Providence's senior administrative officer has been given an inaugural award that celebrates achievements by local government administrators.

John McKee, right, the president of the Local Government Administrators of the NWT presents Susan Christie of Fort Providence with the first Outstanding Local Government Administrator in the Northwest Territories Award last month. - photo courtesy of Brian Desjardins

Susan Christie was presented with the Outstanding Local Government Administrator in the Northwest Territories Award at the Local Government Administrators of the NWT (LGANT) annual general meeting on Oct. 27 in Yellowknife. The award was designed to recognize and celebrate the work of communities' senior administrative officers and band managers, said Brian Desjardins, the executive director of LGANT.

Across the territory there's a lack of awareness of what people in these positions do, Desjardins said. Communities in the North also have difficulty recruiting and retaining senior administrative officers and band mangers. The new award is part of the recognition program developed by the Public Service Capacity for Local Governments Initiative LGANT is a part of.

"It's all about trying to create awareness of their roles and responsibilities and celebrating their position," said Desjardins.

It was her nomination form that got Christie noticed by LGANT's board of directors. Christie was nominated by both the Fort Providence mayor and council and also by the hamlet's staff.

"It goes to show you how important and how valued she is to her council and to her administration," Desjardins said.

"She was truly the perfect candidate and perfect fit for the first award."

Christie was aware she'd been nominated but said it came as a surprise to be chosen to receive the award.

"Certainly it's a great honour," she said.

Christie, who is originally from Fort Providence, began working for the hamlet 21 years ago as a trainee for the newly created finance comptroller position.

There was a two-year training plan in place but after only one year Christie's trainer left.

"He felt I could handle it," she said.

Christie became the finance comptroller, in charge of all of the hamlet's finances, a position she held for the next 17 years. The hamlet had a low staff turnover so there was little room to try something different, she said.

Christie's chance came in 2003 when the then senior administrative officer Albert Lafferty took an 18 month temporary assignment with another organization. Christie moved into his role.

"I absolutely loved it," she said.

When Lafferty left the hamlet's employment in September 2007 Christie officially became the senior administrative officer.

Christie said she enjoys many things about her job but primarily the diversity the role brings.

"There's just so many different areas of responsibilities and challenges," she said.

Christie has to consider all aspects of the hamlet including recreation, public works, administration and protective services. She said she gets a lot of fulfilment knowing she's helping the people of her community.

The hamlet is fortunate to have such a dedicated and committed senior administrative officer, said Paschalina Nadli, the hamlet's mayor.

"She goes above and beyond the call of duty," Nadli wrote in an e-mail.

"Her dedication is shown in all the hard work that she does on behalf of council."

As part of the award Christie will receive $1,000 for professional development. Christie and Nadli have also been invited to attend the NWT Association of Communities annual general meeting next summer in Tuktoyaktuk where Christie will be recognized in front of elected community officials from across the territory.

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