by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 31/97) - The pain may not yet be over, but middle- and long- term prospects for Yellowknife are bright, says Dave Lovell.

In an interview last week, the mayor considered the year gone by and the future of the city he has called home for 40 years.

The big three concerns confronting the city right now, said Lovell, are the threat falling gold prices pose to the city's two gold mines, the diamond mines being constructed north of the city and the transfer of responsibility for health and social services to the city.

Government job cuts have created some pain in the last few years, and with sagging gold prices there may be more hurt on the horizon, but Lovell is confident there's a bright future beyond the clouds.

"My major, absolute worry right now is gold prices," said Lovell. "If Con or Giant closed it would be a short-term disaster. There's no sense in trying to hide that."

Lovell said mine closures would be something the city would not "bounce back from -- we would claw our way out of the hole."

"But if you look at a five-year horizon or a 10-year horizon, I think it's going to be damn good."

Lovell pointed to signs of promise ahead. Though government and gold are suffering, Lovell said the other of the city's top three industries, transportation, is on the rise.

He noted two new hangars currently being constructed on the airport property, saying transport is one industry that demonstrates the trend toward less reliance on government.

"This is not a one- industry town... what we've got is not only a diversified economy, but a whole new industry opening up in our backyard," said the mayor.

The city, along with the territorial government, has been lobbying hard to be home to industries connected to the diamond find.

It will not be long before the success, or failure, of that lobbying effort is known. Lovell said he anticipates that BHP will soon be making decisions regarding marketing and sorting of the diamonds it extracts from its mine 300 kilometres north of the city.

"What happens in the next two to three months will affect the city for the next five years," said Lovell.

Independent spirit re-emerging

The reduced reliance on government shows in more than business, said the mayor.

"There's more of a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-on- with-it attitude in town," said Lovell, noting the increasing roles of non-government organizations such as the Side Door and the Women's Centre.

"People always used to think government could solve their problems. Now I think they realize government can't wave a magic wand, that when they have a problem the answer isn't to phone the minister."

Lovell said the city is a safe place to live, but recognized there is a growing concern about violence, and youth on downtown streets late at night.

"This is really serious and I don't know what the answer is -- if I did you wouldn't be able to shut me up -- but I know it's not a curfew," he said.

Paper cuts

Through the year Lovell expressed his dissatisfaction with editorials and stories in letters, not for publication, addressed to the publisher.

Commenting on the paper's coverage, Lovell said, "If I was to name the strengths and weaknesses of this community, I would put the Yellowknifer as one of the weaknesses."

He echoed a sentiment expressed by the leaders of a number of community volunteer organizations at a fall public meeting on youth violence, saying the paper plays up the bad and underplays the good of the community.

"(Publisher Jack) Sig (Sigvaldason) ran a God damned good paper, it gave the good and it gave the dirt, but I always felt it was backing the community. I don't have that feeling any more," said Lovell.

He added that one of the things he finds particularly irritating is how front page headlines play up articles that do not support them.

"My own guess is there just isn't that much news here for three papers a week," he said.

New Council

In November, Lovell won the closest election victory in Yellowknife history. Though he finished more than 500 votes ahead of the nearest of three alderman vying for his seat, he was only six votes ahead of challenger Matthew Grogono.

He and Ald. Blake Lyons are the only carry-overs from the former council.

"On the positive side, we don't have Dick Peplow," said Lovell, referring to the outspoken alderman who resigned his seat late last term to move to Ontario.

"There's a real good background of experience on this council," said Lovell. "It's a younger council and I think that's a plus."

The flexibility of approach that comes with youth will be in demand during this period of change, said Lovell.

The variety of backgrounds, including business, labor and environmental advocacy, ensure that more than one approach to challenges will be voiced.

"I don't mind if there's dissent, as long as it's not vindictive," said Lovell. "We've got a council here with people that will speak out and hold each other accountable."