NNSL (Dec 05/97) - Premier Don Morin and Mayor Dave Lovell were among a group of politicians and other dignitaries to fly to Rankin Inlet on Wednesday to attend the funeral of territorial Finance Minister John Todd's eldest son, Ian.

More than 800 people from across the NWT packed the gymnasium at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik high school Wednesday night to pay their respects to Todd, who died in a house fire Nov. 30 near Cornwall, Ont.

Peter Balt of the Evaz Group, a company with close ties to the Todd family, gave a moving eulogy that described the 29-year-old as a charmer who made a good impression on everyone he met. After the internment, guests went to the Siniktarvik Hotel for a reception.

Ian Todd, who worked in the cargo department at First Air, was attending flight school in Ontario in hopes of getting his pilot's licence. He died when a fire broke out early Sunday morning.

Four other men, all in their 20s, were also in the house at the time, but Todd was the only one who failed to escape.

Fire officials are considering the fire an accident.