Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat ( Jun 12/00) - When Arviat's Bob Leonard first arrived in the Kivalliq with the Department of Public Works (DPW), little did he realize he'd still be calling it home in the next century.

Born in Portage La Prairie, Man., and calling all of Western Canada home, Leonard left DPW with his boss to form a contracting company in 1974.

"He lasted about six months and I'm still here," he says with a smile.

"I became a partner in Sali Homes in 1976 and stayed with them until '78, when I decided to start my own company."

Leonard and Associates general contracting and building maintenance has been a staple of the Arviat economic climate ever since.

Although he's worked across the North, Leonard has always called Arviat home.

"I've always pretty much stayed here, basically because I just never ran out of work."

Leonard cites the main reason for his success as being able to hang onto the same staff for years at a time.

"Most of my staff have never worked anywhere else, but I am starting to get a little competition from the government with all those high-paying jobs.

"Another reason I'm still here is perseverance, not giving up when times are tough."

Leonard says there's no comparison in the Arviat (then Eskimo Point) that first greeted him in '73 and the growing community now.

He lists the telephone, TV and the demise of fur harvesting as the most significant changes in the community.

"The biggest change has been, definitely, the death of the fur industry," says Leonard.

"That's really, in my opinion, the biggest change in the North.

"When I first came here as an apprentice carpenter, I had one of the lowest salaries by a large margin.

"Many people back then were making a good family living from the fur industry."

Leonard says decentralization has been good for Arviat.

He says not only has the community benefited from the government buildings, but also the jobs and the extra money decentralization has brought into town.

"Decentralization is going to create even more spin-offs and opportunities for a long time to come."

Leonard is also the chairperson of the local District Education Authority and says people often don't realize just how far-reaching the effects of employment can be.

He says that's the main reason it's so important to keep as much money from construction projects in the community as possible.

"There's the direct income to community residents, then there's the money they spend in the community with local stores and services, purchasing homes, utilities, all those types of things.

"But, you can also track local school attendance by the employment situation in town.

"When employed, families are more active. They're up early in the morning with things to do and the kids are off to school.

"A good economy and solid local employment impacts on many different levels and that's why I support local hire and supply so strongly."