Fort Smith (Feb 14/05) - Northwestern Air Lease is heightening trade hopes between the NWT and Grande Prairie, Alta., by resuming two direct flights a week into Canada's Diamond Capital. The company cancelled the service back in 1999.

"Since that time there has been a significant increase in the population in Yellowknife and in diamond activity," said Northwestern Air Lease general manager Gord Bush.

Beginning in April, Northwestern Air Lease first officer Ted Kaye and other pilots will be making direct flights between Yellowknife and Grande Prairie, Alta. - Stephan Burnett/NNSL photo

The new service is expected to be up and running by April 1, said Bush, adding he was "taken aback" by the interest in Northern opportunities coming from the Grande Prairie business community. There has been so much excitement he was moved to give a presentation to the Grande Prairie Rotary Club on Feb. 11.

Around the club there's been a buzz for sometime now concerning the possibility of doing business in the North.

"We hear a lot about Yellowknife and the diamond mines and we're asked what are the opportunities?

"How can I do business here?" said Kevin Hilgers, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie.

A substantial connection already exists between the North and the Alberta community of about 40,000 residents.

"It's never a surprise to hear people are (in town) from the NWT," he said. "For people that may not want to live there, they can find housing in Grande Prairie and more realistically call Yellowknife a place of employment."

While the NWT is always anxious to increase its southern exposure - in part to help build its tourism industry - a study recently undertaken by the Grande Prairie Airport shows interest in travel to the North doesn't extend to the general public. Yellowknife was quite low in the rankings, said Grande Prairie airport manager Brian Grant.

"It's the business community that is driving this," he said. "We're becoming a regional retail and health centre."

Grant confirmed businesses in his community are interested in oil and gas opportunities tied to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Further, there is hope Northern medical patients might be brought to Grande Prairie and that more students might enrol in the regional college based there, as well.

The Grande Prairie endeavour signifies a big leap of faith for company owners - Fort Smith's Harrold family - said Bush, adding it might not be the last such move the company makes.

"We don't have a limitless budget," he said. "We are also considering an onward flight to Kelowna."

There's quite a bit of business going on between the B.C. community and Grande Prairie, which Bush said might make it the next logical expansion step.

"We'll see how this route does first," he said.