INUVIK - The father of Inuvik cuisine, Gerhard Erler is leaving Inuvik after 17 years of service.

Originally from Austria, Erler first came to Inuvik in 1989 to work for the Raven's Nest, which was located in the Mad Trapper building.

Chef Gerhard Erler came to Inuvik in 1989 looking to start a restaurant. Since then he opened the Peppermill, helped at the Eskimo Inn and has had many catering contracts. He is now leaving Inuvik to be with his family in Calgary. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

"I got the word from a co-worker in Calgary that Inuvik was the place to be," said Erler.

Erler was working at a hotel in Calgary for six years before coming North.

"I came up and liked it here right away," he said.

Erler bought the Raven's Nest and re-named the restaurant the Peppermill.

"I had to have my own name, because it was now my business," said Erler.

"Things were hard because I was running a restaurant from electricity, there was no way to get gas heating then," he recalled.

It was in 1991 that he struck a deal with the owner of the Finto Motor Inn.

"We agreed that I could have the space and re-open the restaurant in his hotel," said Erler.

Being a chef was always something that Erler took seriously. Back in Austria, he remembers getting his start when he was 14-years-old.

"I spent many years working in Europe, the Fiji Islands and South Africa among others," said Erler.

Erler said he spent four years apprenticing to be a cook and pastry chef at the same time. He came to Canada in 1980, where he eventually found his gig in Calgary.

Erler said when he got to Inuvik, he knew his menu would be varied.

"I found out right away that I had to cook what the people of Inuvik like to eat," he said.

"I had some specials, but the entrees were all what people wanted."

At first, Erler thought fare like crab meat and lobster tails wouldn't do too well in the North.

"I was wrong, it was what the people demanded."

Working with wild game was a local flavour, but Erler also introduced many in Inuvik to international meats and foods.

"I brought in ostrich meat, quail, partridges, everything," said Erler.

"Unfortunately, some people thought it was weird food but it gave me that exposure."

Experimenting with different themes was also a goal of Erler while managing the Peppermill in the Finto hotel.

"I tried Mexican food and had a Mexican guitar player for the customers," he said.

"That was good, the people enjoyed that."

In 1997 when his family moved away to Calgary, Erler found it hard to be without them and in 1999 he left Inuvik to be with them again.

Erler was not gone long. The Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group called and asked him to manage the Eskimo Inn dining room and the new Peppermill.

"I came back in 2003 to work at both restaurants," he said.

"In 2005, I started working at the Eskimo Inn exclusively."

Now Erler finds himself with a growing family.

"My son has a daughter, so I am a grandfather now. I want to spend more time with the family in Calgary," said Erler.

When asked how he had enjoyed his time in the North, Erler said "When you live in one place for so long, there are obviously good reasons to stay."

Erler said he had spent more time living in Inuvik than he did in his hometown in Austria.

"I will be back in June to cater the petroleum show," said Erler.

"Inuvik will always be a home to me."