YELLOWKNIFE - For many visitors to Yellowknife, Darryl Nilson is the first person they meet.

Waiting with his large white bus outside of the airport, Nilson greets guests staying at three of the city's busiest hotels.

Darryl Nilson says the hardest part of his day is starting his vehicle at -40C with the wind blowing. "Once I get going in the morning, it's alright." - Stephanie McDonald/NNSL photo

For the past eight and a half years, Nilson has driven a shuttle bus between The Yellowknife Inn and the city's airport. Last April he won contracts with the Explorer Hotel and Capital Suites to include them on his shuttle run.

"I saw an opportunity and knew there was potential job-wise," said Nilson.

Providing a service for three hotels rather than one was "more efficient, better for the environment, and a good service for all of them."

Nilson's workday starts early, with his first hotel pickup at 6 a.m.

A typical day includes 20 to 24 trips between the three hotels and the airport. He estimates he drives 100 to 150 people a day, and on busier days this can jump to as many as 250 travellers.

Often his day doesn't end until 10:30 p.m. Luckily his two kids and wife are "very flexible and tolerant."

Nilson's favorite part of the job is the people he meets and the friendships he's built over the years.

"It's not just ‘Hi, how are you?' It's ‘How's your family? What's going on in your town?'" he said.

Being his own boss is another attraction for Nilson, something he derives a great deal of satisfaction from.

"You are only as good as your last day of work," he said.

In the last eight and a half years, Nilson has watched trends in NWT tourism and industry through the passengers on his bus. A shift away from gold to diamonds has been prominent. He saw a dip in Japanese tourism in the wake of 9/11 that lasted for two or three years, but has since been on the rebound.

The caribou hunting industry has flourished as has oil and gas since Nilson started on his route.

Regular passengers include government employees and in the winter months, ice road workers.

Some of his more memorable passengers have included former Maple Leaf hockey player Tiger Williams, hockey legend Gordie Howe and speedskater and Olympic medallist Katrina LeMay-Doan. He also regularly drives several of the Nunavut MLAs passing through the city for meetings.

"Darryl is an ambassador of the hotel," said Capital Suites general manger Warren Berg.

"He provides an accommodating product for our customer base.

"He is a jack-of-all-trades."

Not only does he shuttle guests between the hotel and airport, but he provides information about the city along the way, said Berg.

"He is a hands-on owner that provides an unbelievable service," he said.