Norman Wells (Dec 06/04) - Things are booming in Norman Wells these days.

The value of building permits has jumped to more than $9.3 million in 2004 from $4.3 million in 2003 and only $573,000 in 2002.

population estimated at 800 with seasonal oil and gas workers, population can jump to 1,200 labour force of about 522 unemployment rate of 2.7 per cent municipal expenditures from 2004: $3,315,041; planned capital spending totalled $105,000

To put that into perspective -- that's about $11,625 for each of the town's 800 residents.

Community officials have no illusions about why there's so much growth: it's largely due to the petroleum industry and the push to get ready for the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline.

Elected a little more than a year ago, Mayor Ann Marie Tout -- who also manages the Enbridge oil pipeline running between the Wells and Zama, Alta. -- can't help but smile when talking about what's going on in her town.

"That's one of the primary reasons I ran for office last fall: to help increase development," she said. "It's not without its challenges. It's important to me that we approve development looking 20 years down the road, not just at short-term needs."

The community is looking at changing some of its zoning bylaws in an effort to balance the need for immediate growth with the goal of making it sustainable.

"We want everyone to help decide how we want the town to look in the future," said Tout.

Everywhere you turn, construction crews are hammering and that activity is spurring other businesses, too.

The Mackenzie Valley Hotel is home to what co-owner Jane Han said remains the only Chinese restaurant in the Sahtu. It's a busy place nowadays. She knows the building boom is a good thing for her family's operation.

"People in the community are getting richer," she said. "That means they can eat out more frequently."

At the town's commercial hub -- the Square -- the new owner of Creations gift shop, Linda Kerfont, has seen the same trend. This fall the store became the only Sahtu distributor of Aurora Canadian diamonds.

"Between Sept. 2 and Nov. 11, we've sold 49 pieces of diamond jewelry -- there's a lot of money in Norman Wells," she said. "We've got a special order piece coming in next week that's a two-carat ring worth $15,000."

One of the biggest shifts in the Wells, however, is not the development or personal wealth, but in the people themselves.

For years the town's population was seen as largely transient -- moving in for two years to earn large paycheques before returning to the south. More and more residents are opting to stay long-term, citing the natural beauty and close-knit community as a great place to raise a family.

For Ron Raynor, a consultant with the municipality, this point was driven home at the Remembrance Day ceremony while he was surrounded by some 200 Norman Wells residents.

"Wow this is different -- 25 per cent of the population is out here for this," he said. "You'd never see that in Calgary or Edmonton."