Fort Simpson (July 06/01) - There are many things tourists want to know when they arrive in Fort Simpson.

Graham Davis is the person who answers their questions, or at least tells them where they can find the answers.

Graham Davis

Davis took over as the manager of the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) when it opened for the year in mid-May. As of Saturday, 681 visitors had come through its doors -- more than half of them were from outside the NWT. So far, there have been delegations from Finland, Germany, Australia and Brooklyn, New York.

"I think I enjoy working in the tourism field. It's interesting to talk to people from all over the world and find out what brings them to this area," said Davis.

Davis is a former hotelier who has lived in Fort Simpson with his wife Rose since 1977, with the exception of the past few years.

Most tourists want to know the history of the community, what people do for a living here and what kind of wildlife exists in the area, Davis said. The majority are also interested in finding out more about local crafts and Nahanni National Park, he said. Those curious about history are in luck because the VIC staff work closely with the Fort Simpson Historical Society. Stephen Rowan puts on slide shows for anyone who is interested.

Davis, who also oversees administrative duties, and his staff of two summer students inform visitors of existing points of interest and tell them about local businesses.

"But we don't recommend one company over another. We just tell them everything that's available and let them make their own choices," he explained.

Not all tourists reach Fort Simpson with little background knowledge, Davis pointed out. Remarkably, many are aware of legendary prospector Albert Faille, and they often request to see the VIC's documentary on his life and times. Even more sought-after is the Pope's chair. A significant portion of the tourists know that Pope John Paul II visited Fort Simpson in 1987, and they can't resist looking over his chair, which was skilfully hand-crafted by carver Sonny McDonald.

"People are just amazed at the workmanship," Davis said. "It's certainly the most photographed artifact in here."