"It's good to live in this country," says Jamal Ahmed, who has been in Canada about five years.

Ahmed left Somalia after graduating with a degree in political science from the National University of Somalia, when he got offered a scholarship to an American university.

Ahmed didn't like life in the States, moved to Canada to study at the University of Alberta.

Like any other student, he needs money to study, so he's driving a cab in Yellowknife for the summer.

Mohammed Mohmoud is living here for a completely different reason. "I came to Canada for asylum," said Mohmoud. "The system (in Somalia) changed, I didn't like the way it changed."

Mohmoud was working for the Somali government in different positions, including consul-general.

When a new government regime came into power, he had to flee with his whole family, for fear of repercussions.

Canada gave him and his family political asylum, and moved them to Edmonton. He eventually came up here to work, and was joined by his family when he was settled.

It's a similar story for Yusuf Mo'Alim Hashi, who arrived in Canada on Oct. 21, 1988, and still celebrates that date every year.

Hashi came to this country to escape the hardships of Somalia. "There is not enough education there," he said. He wasn't too fond of the dictatorship, either.

Hashi has made the best of the nine years he has had in Canada.

After receiving his Canadian citizenship certificate, what he calls "the most important document you can have," he became an entrepreneur. He and his girlfriend opened Sunshine Cabs, which Hashi said is doing quite well.

Although the Somali community in Yellowknife doesn't have a formal association to call their own, Ahmed said that Yellowknife Somalis are very close. Hashi agreed, adding that they "get together a few times a year" to cook Somali food and listen to Somali music.

Like anyone who lives in this city for a long time, Somalis know the population tends to be very transient. Some plan to leave, some plan to stay. Hashi plans to stay.

"Not in the near future," said Hashi, about the possibility of leaving Yellowknife, "The Northern people are so friendly."

Ahmed though, will be leaving here at the end of the summer to complete a master's degree in social work.

Mohmoud, meanwhile, plans to stay here in Yellowknife, until at least his kids get their education. "It's a good place. I've been here since 1990," he said. "I will go back (to Somalia) when the kids go to university."

He added that he would like to take his children to Somalia to visit before that. "I want to take the kids back to learn their culture, their roots. But right now, my priority is a good education for them."

Hashi has many good things to say about Yellowknife and feels more at home here than anywhere else in Canada, though he concedes that he, and his Somali friends, doesn't like the cold.

But then, who does?