SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two Northern businesses are being awarded for their contribution to the economy of the North.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod (centre) presents Don Morin (left), president of Aurora Village and Ragnar Wesstrom, owner of Enodah Wilderness Travel and Trout Rock Lodge with the Business Development and Investment Corporation's Outstanding Business Performance Award during a luncheon at the Silver Room of the Yellowknife Inn on Monday, Feb. 21. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

On Monday during a luncheon at the Yellowknife Inn, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod presented Don Morin, President of Aurora Village, and Ragnar Wesstrom, owner of Enodah Wilderness Travel, with the Business Development and Investment Corporation Outstanding Business Performance Award.

The award was divided between the two tourism companies for expanding their businesses and contributing to the economy of the NWT.

"I'm very proud. It's been a long road. It's been over 20 years and we are very happy with where we are at now," says Wesstrom.

"We appreciate the GNWT with the programs they offer for marketing," says Wesstrom. "It is difficult to run a tourism business up here without any kind of support when we are so far away here and competing with the rest of the world," says Wesstrom.

"It feels good," says Morin. "I was just thinking that we started our business with almost nothing and have grown to a company that attracts people from all around the world," he says.

Both companies have found opportunities to expand their business over the years. Enodah Wilderness Camp started as a tent-based operation in 1990 and now accommodates 28 people with activities ranging from aurora viewing, canoe & kayak trips, snowmobiling and fly fishing.

While Aurora Village is famous for its aurora viewing, they have also expanded to offer dog team rides, snowshoeing and snowmobile excursions.

Wesstrom and Morin both agree that it is the attraction of the Aurora Borealis that brings tourists to the North. "This is the best place in the world to see the aurora and it is the only place in the world that is set up specifically for viewing the aurora," says Morin.

In an interview at the event, Minister Bob McLeod commented on the health of the NWT aurora tourism sector.

"I think everybody has come to the recognition that Yellowknife is the best place to come for aurora viewing and we provide the best service," says McLeod. "I think we are almost back to where we are prior to the attacks on September 11, 2001. After the attacks, tourism went right down, and then there was SARS and then the economic downturn, but I think we are back to where the numbers are starting to increase."

This is the first year of the awards, focused on the North Slave region. Each year a company from a different region will receive the award. It hasn't yet been decided which region will be selected for 2012.

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