Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sept 05/01) - Armed with a new logo and a new name, Braden-Burry Expediting Ltd., now calling itself BBE, is reaching beyond the borders of Yellowknife.

But the expansion is producing a few growing pains.

"Employee retention is a problem," said Bruce Counts, spokesperson for the Yellowknife publicly traded company, BBE. "We're in the same boat as everyone else."

Last week the company finished the paperwork for the purchase of its new $1.1 million Edmonton airport location. It has been operating its expediting and cargo business at the location since May 1 this year and keeps 20 employees busy.

"Canadian North was looking for someone to take over its cargo operation in Edmonton. It was perfectly located," said Counts.

BBE has signed five-year cargo service contracts with Canadian North. The Edmonton addition is one of many moves in which the company is taking advantage of the Northwest Territories' booming economy. But it hasn't always been so busy.

"In the beginning it was only seasonal, tapering off in the winter," said Counts.

Counts' eyes lit up when he explained that the jackpot came with the discovery of diamonds and the Ekati Mine.

"Braden-Burry really didn't start to become big until diamonds started happening," he said, explaining that while Ekati was under construction BBE moved 24 million pounds in an 18-month period.

Moving cargo and mine workers back and forth to Ekati keeps BBE's 20 Yellowknife employees busy. The company's runway sets down seven flights per week carrying workers back and forth from the mine. It also has 10 cargo-only takeoffs. In addition to the lucrative five-year Ekati contract, the expediter handles shipments for DeBeers.

To handle the busy schedule, BBE is building a $750,000 Yellowknife expansion and more than doubling the building's size. The new digs, complete with lounge and pool tables, should more than double seating, allowing for 117 people.

"Last fall there was one delay for three days," said Counts.

He said weather conditions can often hold up flights and leave travellers stranded for long stretches.

Work on the project is way behind schedule though.

"We hope by the end of the month that it will be completed," he said, blaming the hold-up on a lack of qualified tradespeople.

The new look comes with another price too. The logo change, including signage, and literature, rang up to $45,000.

BBE is publicly traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange (BBP).