Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Nahanni Butte (Feb 11/00) - The NWT Development Corporation would like you to know that Earl Bertrand is the first general manager of one of their subsidiaries who was trained on the job.

Bertrand would like you to know that his staff deserve plenty of credit for his success in managing the Nahanni Butte General Store.

"It's not so hard running the store. I've got good help," a humble Bertrand said of his subordinates. "It makes my job easier."

The Nahanni Butte General Store Ltd., is co-owned by the NWT Development Corporation and the Nahanni Butte Development Corporation. Besides being a general store, it also has a four-room motel, coffee shop and land and water taxi services.

Bertrand began as the new general manager on Dec. 1, 1999, after nearly seven years as assistant general manager. In his new capacity, he said he's primarily responsible for maintaining stock and overseeing accounting details, like "paying the bills."

The store goes through confectionary items the fastest, he noted. Products such as pop and chips sell the most along with an "unbelievable amount of bottled water." And things are busiest in the summer, he added.

"It's hard to keep up," he said. "But you meet a lot of people from all over the place ... it's pretty nice."

He can't talk about the job long without mentioning the incredible work by his staff. Ernest Isaiah, his assistant general manager, and clerk Delores McPherson are a big help, he said. Bruce Dauphinee is his cook, river boat operator and all-around handyman, he added.

Under the tutelage of then general manager Caroll Macintyre, Bertrand learned the business from start to finish, according to the NWT Development Corp.

Macintyre said Bertrand is a fine example of someone who has climbed the ladder of success.

"When I hired Bertrand I could see the potential in a young man who had the ability, dedication and desire to succeed and these attributes, plus hard work, has enabled him to reach his goal," he said.

When Macintyre left in 1998, Gloria Scribner was hired and she continued to instruct Bertrand on the finer aspects of computer control of the business.

He is the son of Elizabeth Bertrand of Fort Liard, and is married to Cathryn Marcellais of Nahanni, and they have three children, Megan, Lory and Joshua.