INUVIK
On his first day of work as director of finance at Aurora Campus, Doug Robertson remembers sitting in his office with the door closed and trying to figure out how to work the phone.

On Dec. 23 Doug Robertson plans to retire from the position of Aurora Campus director after 14 years with the college. - Elaine Anselmi/NNSL photo

Luckily, he said, figuring out the phone system was far from the only thing he learned in his 14-year career at the college.

He moved from finance, through various transfers, to the role of campus director - the position he'll retire from on Dec. 23.

Of the job, he said, "It's the best move I've ever made."

Originally from Montreal, Robertson and his family have been in the territory for nearly 25 years, spending time in Fort Simpson and other communities, before moving to Inuvik 16 years ago.

"I came here with the North West Company in '98," said Robertson.

A few years later, he applied for the director of finance position at the college - a major change from his career experience with the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, coming straight out of high school.

"I don't know if I knew what to expect," Robertson said. "I remember when I did my interview for the college, for the finance position, I thought it was all over and they handed me an assignment. I had to reconcile a college bank account."

Looking back, he said it was a fitting test for a prospective director of finance.

"I was really taken aback. I had never balanced a bank account in my life," he laughs. "I guess I did all right because they offered me the job."

Over his career, Robertson has been a part of various major facility changes with the college, as well as the acquisition of the mobile trades training lab that he said have been memorable experiences. He also had the opportunity to complete a master's degree in leadership through Royal Roads University.

Now, Robertson says it is the right time for him to retire.

"I'm feeling very excited. I've been telling people, a good sign is that from the minute I settled on the date and told my employer I was planning on retiring, I haven't had a single moment of regret."

Robertson and his wife bought a retirement home in Newfoundland, but with their eldest son and his family living in Inuvik, he said they'll certainly be back. While he'll miss people in Inuvik, there are few better sounding places to retire to than Heart's Delight, N.L. And, Robertson said he's expecting a lot of visitors.

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