Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 19, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - On Oct. 29, Allan Flamand was sworn in as the first elected mayor of Enterprise, which also switched its political status from settlement to hamlet on that historic day.

Allan Flamand is the first mayor of the new Hamlet of Enterprise. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

For the next two years, the 57-year-old businessman - the owner/operator of Enterprise Plumbing and Heating - will lead the community as it assumes its new powers as a hamlet.

Flamand discussed the future of Enterprise - a community of about 90 people - in a Nov. 7 interview with News/North.

News/North: How does it feel to be the first elected mayor of Enterprise?

Allan Flamand.: It's an honour. It's a challenge. I've been here seven years. I've run my business out of here. My family, my son and my granddaughter are all living here. It's an honour and an opportunity to make a difference.

N/N: Will the community be using all the powers it now has as a hamlet or will that be a step-by-step process?

A.F.: It's going to be a step-by-step process. We want to make sure that whatever bylaws we make are going to be bylaws that we can enforce and bylaws that we actually could use. I mean there's no use making a dog bylaw if you don't have a dogcatcher, it makes no sense. There are lots of bylaws we could make that, at this point, don't make sense.

N/N: As a hamlet, you're starting from scratch in developing new bylaws. Is that a big responsibility for you and council?

A.F.: I think it's long overdue. It's more of a relief that finally we can take charge of our future as a community.

N/N: How valuable is your business experience in your new role?

A.F.: I think for the next two years, it's absolutely critical. I think my business experience over the last 40 years will definitely be a factor. I think businesspeople have a different way of looking at the world than the average worker.

N/N: What is the importance of Enterprise becoming a hamlet?

A.F.: For me, the proof will be in the pudding. My thoughts on becoming a hamlet are we're hoping we will have more control over land... and be able, hopefully, to cut some of the problems we're having right now with accessing land for building lots. That's a major thing. Having control over our infrastructure money, that's big. Now, we can get the money and we can build buildings that we know we need, and not have to run it by somebody in Yellowknife.

N/N: What are some of the ideas you and the new hamlet council have in mind for Enterprise?

A.F.:: There have been a lot of ideas over the years already in place. Now, it's just a matter of picking which one of those are priorities and then we're going to start setting our plan in motion. The thing that's different now that we're a hamlet is it's more like a business, compared to a settlement. So we have a lot more money as far as infrastructure money. We're now responsible for the infrastructure.... One of our first projects is to build some garages and expansions on our fire hall to put our loader in, to put our bus in and whatever future needs that we will have. The big push for the town over the history of meetings is a multi-purpose building to put our fitness centre in, our library in, and stuff that we have right now in the Visitor Information Centre. We're going to move all that stuff and get it in one building. We could then have a future expansion for maybe a hall and basketball. It could be a place where we could have dances or bingos. The idea that I'm going to put forward is that a multi-purpose building will be our emergency building for whatever reason if we need to bring all the people into one safe area. That building will be designed for that purpose.

N/N: Could the switch from settlement to hamlet lead to growth in the community?

A.F.: Without a doubt. We're going to be able to build our bike systems and our trail systems, our infrastructure and a multi-purpose building. We're going to make a place that people want to come to, not only to live, but for business. When we do our trails and parks and get access down to the river, we're hoping to become a destination and not only a place to stop for gas and a truck stop. If you have a family and a bunch of kids, we're going to be a really nice place to come to if you want a motel for the night. You can rent a bicycle and go for a bike ride down to the falls. Or, you can access the river and get on a rented raft and go down river to Paradise, where we can pick you up. I mean we could be a destination.

N/N: How much more funding will Enterprise be getting as a hamlet, compared to what it was getting as a settlement?

A.F.: I think I'd just say substantial would be a good word. But along with the extra money comes the extra responsibility to spend it properly. That's the key.

N/N: What makes Enterprise special and unique? Why do people choose to live here? Why did you choose to live here?

A.F.: When I first came up here, I looked at Hay River and I chose not to go there because of lot sizes. Here, our lot sizes are 100 foot by 150 foot deep, so we have substantially larger building lots. Enterprise is a crime-free community. And when I go out of town, my neighbours know I'm out of town and everybody watches houses for each other. So we're a close-knit community in that way.

N/N: People say everyone knows each other in a small community and that's literally true here, isn't it?

A.F.: It's absolutely true.