Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (July 22/02) - Denendeh Development Corporation (DDC) recently formed a joint venture with Calgary-based ECL Group of Companies Ltd. to capitalize on the expected economic boom in the North.

Denendeh K'ezhe is owned equally by ECL and DDC.

ECL is a 55-year-old family company that does extensive business in the Alberta oil patch and had $100 million in revenue last year through its ground transportation, environmental and oil field operations.

"We feel we can add value to DDC and to assist them in meeting their goals while making money doing it," said Tom Fredericks, chief executive officer of the corporation.

John Bekale, president of DDC, said ECL will provide immediate infrastructure for DDC especially in the transportation and environmental clean up fields.

"This is where we want to be," said Bekale. "Not just in transportation but environmental clean-up and the other venues ECL is involved in."

Fredericks and Bekale said ECL will be providing training to Dene youth, preparing the regions for the flood of jobs expected with the oil and gas boom triggered by the possible construction of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

"As we look down the road there are things like a possible Mackenzie highway," said Bekale.

"If you don't prepare, others will take advantage of it."

Denendeh K'ezhe is already looking at possible acquisitions, but things are still in the nascent stages, said Fredericks.

The two companies signed their deal last spring after an initial meeting at the Prospects North trade show in Yellowknife on Sept. 11.

Fredericks said shared values between the two company made them a perfect fit.

ECL has offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.

DDC is owned by all five Dene regions in the Northwest Territories. It was the main development arm of the failed Dene/Metis land claim.

Representatives from each of the five regions sit on its board of directors.

Bekale represents the Dogrib Treaty 11 Nation.