Couple oversees country's most northerly truck stop
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 07/01) - It was only when he asked if it would be OK to order a shipment of lobster tails that Steve Wilhelm learned there was a limit to the culinary adventures to be had at Canada's most northerly truck stop.
It's a place where three squares -- and all the snacks you can eat - are served each day to the Nuna Logistics winter road crews at the company's camp at Lac de Gras. It's also the last stop on the 12-hour plus drive to the Lupin mine.
"They want to keep the truckers happy and we want to keep the workers happy," said Wilhelm, the camp cook.
"If they're eating well, they'll be happy."
Eat well they do. The fare includes prime rib, tiger prawns, smoked oysters, Cajun dishes, black forest cake and fresh apple pie, just to name a few of the taste treats.
The prawns were part of a shipment of seafood Wilhelm ordered from an Edmonton supplier.
Wilhelm's partner, Colleen Connolly, prepares most of the pastries.
Wilhelm has worked for Echo Bay for three years and Connolly for the past two.
Connolly and Wilhelm provide a choice of three dishes each evening and not many of those on day shift are late for the 5:45 p.m. meal. Lunch is served from noon to one and breakfast from 6-8 a.m. Since Jan. 3 the two have been sharing the load of cooking for the 30 regulars in camp last week. When traffic's rolling, Wilhelm and Connolly cook for 50 people, "not including the truck drivers."
By that time, hopefully, they will have two helpers in to share the load. Until then Wilhelm will continue working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., not bad compared to Connolly's 12 hour split shift.
The Lac de Gras camp opened three or four days before their Jan. 3 arrival.
"They lived on TV dinners until we got here," said Connolly. "They were happy to see us."
Workers at the camp who were asked about the food said it was one of the best things about working there.
"It's usually pretty good," said Connolly of the reaction of workers to the meals served. "If they have anything bad to say I have my rolling pin in back."
