Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 05/99) - Talking to the average person about the Yellowknife economy results in some rather depressing talk. The attitude tends to be generally cynical, especially from people that have seen the city when it was booming.

Local business is a measure of local economy and according to Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce President Gordon Van Tighem, business has a natural ebb and flow.

"We've been seeing some of the ebb," says Van Tighem. "There nothing that can't be explained. It's natural."

As Van Tighem explains, the Yellowknife economy was bulletproof until the national recession in 1993.

"Since then it's gone through some swings," he says. "But the Yellowknife economy is a very lucky economy. When the bottom fell out of gold prices, there were diamonds."

After April 1, it will be a who-knows scenario, says Van Tighem.

"You need a real crystal ball. Whether we're at the bottom of a dip, or still tending downward, or on an upward swing -- who knows?"

Tourism, the diamond mines and the related secondary industries seem to be the bright stars on the horizon. Last year, the Business Person of the Year, (Yk Chamber of Commerce) was Bill Tait of Raven Tours.

And Van Tighem notes that even now, as the diamond mines develop and grow, Yellowknife is their supply centre.

The Chamber of Commerce is promoting Yellowknife as a place to do business after division, with our new neighbours to the East.

Local businessman Les Rocher, who has lived in Yellowknife all his life, is also optimistic about the local economy.

"It's a very bright future," says Rocher. "This is one of the last frontiers, it's underdeveloped. It's the breadbasket of Canada for natural resources."

Rocher adds that the area also has good, pure water and one of the most beautiful environments in the world. As well, he predicts tourism will continue to grow and the population will rise.

"Hopefully, independents from the East and the West will concentrate and work together."

There is, however, a valid contrary voice. Speaking from the other end of the spectrum is long-time Yellowknife businessman Sam Yurkiw, who believes that this city needs someone in government who can take control and turn it around.

"Unless we get somebody in government office or city office that can think business, we're done. We're done, I'll tell you right now," says Yurkiw.

"I've been 36 years in business," he adds. "I built this business (The Gold Range), plus five others."

Asked what this bleak outlook means for him, Yurkiw says, "You just don't sleep. You worry about it. You worked all these years for nothing."

Yurkiw insists that when it comes to mining companies, it's time for government to demonstrate leadership. Referring to BHP, he says, "they've given us nothing."

"And they (government) are going to screw that up too. Why? Because they're worried about caribou being able to jump over a certain hill. They have to sit down with them (mining companies) and say, 'You have to do this, you have to do that, so we can both survive.'"

For Yurkiw, it feels like half the city is gone.

"When you stand on the street after seven there's nobody there," he says sadly.