Fort Norman (Nov 29/04) - For the past 2.5 years, it's been Dave Lennie's voice giving pilots the weather as they fly into or around Tulita.

But that's no longer the case.

"I just found out I got a new job with B.J. Services," he said.

"It's a global company so this will likely mean a great chance to get out and see the world."

Born in Inuvik, Lennie has actually spent the past 12 years in Tulita living with his grandparents on his father's side. While he's excited about the new career in front of him, he can't help looking back a bit.

"My grandparents still look after me a great deal," he said. "They're family, so I'll miss them very much."

Lennie's grandmother often called him at the airport to give him advice about life, he said.

"She'll call me up out of the blue to tell me to go get my cholesterol checked," he said, adding it's going to take a long time to get used to his new life away from them.

For their part, his family elders understand he's interested in achieving more professionally than Tulita currently has to offer a young man.

"I told my grandfather and he's happy for me," said Lennie.

"He's sad to see me go, but he knows this opens up a world of opportunities for me."

Not sure of duties

What he'll actually be doing with B.J. Services, Lennie couldn't say for certain.

"I just found out I got the job," he said. "I'm not even exactly sure where they'll be sending me first."

The company is a large concrete outfit that primarily works with the petroleum industry -- although they do get involved in other projects as well.

"They mainly do work on pipelines and rigs," he said. "I believe I may end up back in Inuvik doing housing jobs to start while they train me."

Wherever he goes, there's one thing he does not plan to leave behind in Tulita: his truck.

"This beauty's coming with me," he said. "Maybe not right away, but as soon as the winter road opens."