Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 08/98) - Over the next few days, many certified general accountants from across the country will get their first glimpses of the North.

Kent Ferguson is hoping the group comes away from the event with a greater understanding of the NWT.

Ferguson, a Yellowknife CGA, chairs the committee organizing the 1998 edition of the CGA-Canada's biggest meeting -- the national conference.

"We've tried to get a program that's Northern-oriented," Ferguson, past CGA-NWT president, said.

Delegates will have the chance to learn more about the type of business Northern CGA's handle -- like mining and aboriginal business -- and the distances Northern CGAs cover.

There's also time for delegates to learn about Northern art and the city's architecture as well as the North's unique political system.

CGA-NWT, with about 85 members and about 100 students, is one of Canada's smallest certified general accounting associations.

But, adds Ferguson, this group covers one-third of the country.

But before CGA-NWT got the chance to host the conference, it took some big lobbying, Ferguson added.

Back in 1995, Ferguson had to convince CGA Canada to pick Yellowknife. The NWT capital was up against Banff.

Ferguson believes Yellowknife won out because the meeting had never been held here before and people were ready for a different kind of venue -- different from Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa.

Though he admits wheeling in a feast of Arctic char, muskox and caribou during a multi-media presentation may have helped Yellowknife's cause.

CGA-NWT president Grant Hinchey said there has been a reluctance to have the conference in Yellowknife because the city lacks conference facilities similar to those in big cities down south.

But, added Hinchey, Ferguson made an excellent presentation for Yellowknife. And there was much support from the city of Yellowknife and the business community as well, he said.

About 250 CGAs are expected to attend Exact '98. Add family members and the conference could generate over 300 visitor to the city over five days.

The conference's opening reception is this evening.

Opening addresses by CGA-Canada president Eric Bartlett, Hinchey and NWT Premier Don Morin begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Tomorrow's keynote speaker is Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine.

Topics on the agenda range from environmental accounting to a tax update and from consulting to small and mid-size businesses to the changing role of the government comptroller.

Friday afternoon's plenary panel discussion will focus on changes in the NWT.

Saturday's president's brunch guest speaker is Audrey McLaughlin, the first woman to lead a federal party in Canada. McLaughlin was recently appointed circumpolar ambassador for the Yukon government.

On the social side, Friday evening's agenda includes a barbecue on Mackenzie Island followed by a midnight sun golf tournament.

For children, organizers have put together a program which includes a tour of Yellowknife and a visit to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.