Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 17/05) - Between answering her cell phone and dealing with last-minute concerns, Inuvik Petroleum Show co-ordinator Melissa Perkins maintains a smile and her composure to put the finishing touches on the town's biggest event of the year.

Inuvik Petroleum Show co-ordinator Melissa Perkins stands in the empty arena Tuesday morning - a day before the fifth annual petroleum show kicks off. Yesterday and today, this space hosted exhibits and two receptions for more than 700 conference delegates and exhibitors. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

While she works year round in conjunction with two administrative assistants to organize the two-day conference and trade show, "Come January a lot of time is dedicated to planning.

"From there it's full-throttle."

The show began as a 60-exhibitor show with approximately 350 visitors in 2001. This year there are more than 120 booths, 280 exhibitors, 440 conference delegates and between 300 and 400 visitors were expected to visit each day.

According to Mayor Peter Clarkson, the cost of putting on this year's show is about $400,000. "And $70,000 of that is spent on catering alone."

The expense is worthwhile considering the economic spinoff of hosting 700 people in a town with a population of 3,500.

After visiting energy trade shows and conferences with Boot Lake MLA Floyd Roland in the fall of 2001, Clarkson says he came up with the idea for Inuvik to host its own show with an eye, "To bring everyone, government and industry, under one roof."

And the Inuvik Petroleum Show was born.

"Each year we try to have a different theme relevant to what's going on here," added the mayor. "(The theme for) the first one was 'creating benefits for the North.'"

Chair of summit

The theme for 2005's show is 'Roles and Responsibilities for the Mackenzie Gas Project.' Former Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault chaired a 'pipeline summit' during the show that included players with a stake in the $7 billion project from industry, aboriginal and territorial governments.

The arena has been transformed into a reception hall and exhibition area. It's Perkins' job to ensure everything is in place for exhibitors to arrive and set up their booths.

"In terms of absolute all out, I don't remember the last time I had a day off," she says between phone calls.

"The most challenging aspect is just handling the capacity," added Perkins. "It's a lot different than simply planning a conference, each day there's a reception with a lot of logistics involved."

The petroleum show wraps up today (July 16).