Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 20/05) - Buffalo Joe was recently named Business Person of the Year by the NWT Chamber of Commerce for showing dedication and leadership in the business community.

Many of Buffalo Airways boss Joe McBryan's 200 employees and friends are just finding out about it now because he doesn't talk much about his awards.

"On Joe's daily commute from Hay River to Yellowknife, in a DC-3, half of the plane will be filled with friends and community members," said Ken Bews, Buffalo's chief pilot.

"If someone needs to visit family in hospital, Joe flies them up for the day."

The same goes for the students at Buffalo School of Aviation. McBryan started the school six years ago so students wouldn't have to go south to learn to fly a plane, said Jennifer Breckon, flight attendant manager at Buffalo Airways.

"If Joe hears of a student having a problem - financial or otherwise - he will talk with them and work it out," she said.

The tough exterior McBryan likes to hold up really covers his soft and shy side, she said.

McBryan learned to fly a plane before he could drive a car. One of the people who taught him to fly was Merlyn Carter, who was killed last week near his Nonacho Lake Fishing Camp on the Taltson River.

McBryan said he didn't want to accept the award.

"It's the dedicated and long-term employees who make the business," he said. "It's not a one-man show."

"Joe wants to do everything with aviation," Bews said. "Buffalo is the most diversified air carrier in Canada."

"He is trying to work out environmental protection for communities," he said. "If there is a fuel spill, a plane needs to get there right away to spread a chemical to stop it - Joe is trying to figure out a way to do that."