Yellowknife has come a long way from a gravel landing strip to accommodate commercial flights. In the 50 years since commercial aviation first took off in this part of the world, the Yellowknife Airport has grown with it.

Today, aviation is as important to the North as it ever was. Exploration, resource development, expediting, medical treatment and tourism all rely on air transport.

Flying is still the only reasonable way to get in and out of most communities, whether it is to deliver essential supplies or visit family members.

Here in the North even take-out restaurant food is occasionally delivered by air.

A trip to the passenger terminal makes clear just how important air travel is to the daily lives of Northerners. There people are checking through groceries, books, baby strollers, dogs, fishing and hunting equipment, computer parts and televisions.

In fact, 10,500 tonnes of goods and 200,000 passengers went through Yellowknife Airport last year. Runways are being upgraded to incorporate the latest developments in guidance and location technology.

Today, Yellowknife Airport is the center of aviation in the North. It is important to Yellowknifers that it remains that way. The city cannot rely on either government spending or the mines in town to carry it into the future.

The hopes of the city hang on the development of new business in town. That means building a tourist industry and taking advantage of the growing interest in natural resource exploration and exploitation.

That requires maintaining an up-to-date, safe, efficient facility.

As well as being part of our colorful past, Yellowknife airport is essential to our future.

City voters have been blessed by a healthy field of candidates in October's city council elections. Eighteen are seeking a seat on the eight-member council and five want to be mayor.

The candidates represent a broad cross-section of the city and no one can complain about lack of choice. The only sour note is the lack of a race for seats on either school board. Although every seat was filled, all candidates were acclaimed. That could mean residents are happy with the way schools are being managed, or they are ignorant of the issues.

It could have been worse. In other towns in the NWT, the nomination period had be extended to attract enough candidates. For the moment, democracy is alive and well in Yellowknife.