Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - Like most people with a post office box, Sean Whelly receives a variety of things through the mail but only one confuses him.

Sean Whelly said he's puzzled when he receives A Voice From the Valley in his Fort Simpson mailbox because it's unsigned. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL phot

The item in question is a newsletter titled A Voice from the Valley, which is distributed by the village of Fort Simpson. The confusion comes from the fact that the newsletter is unsigned and is printed on plain paper without a letterhead, said Whelly.

While he has no problems with the information in the newsletter itself or the fact he receives it, Whelly said he'd like to know precisely who the person behind the voice is.

"No one seems to take responsibility directly for the letter," he said.

The first time he received A Voice from the Valley, Whelly said he thought Mayor Duncan Canvin was writing it but didn't inquire further. The turning point came when the information in the newsletter became interspersed with opinion, Whelly said.

"That's when I started to think someone's name better be attached to it," he said.

People have a right to know whose opinion it is, whether it is the mayor, the council or the mayor on behalf of the council, said Whelly.

If the village is paying for the newsletter to be distributed in the mail, taxpayers have a right to know who is taking responsibility for the content, he said. The village's senior administrative officer Tom Matus confirmed that the village pays the Post Office rate of $57 for every 500 distributed.

Whelly said he's not certain if a signature and letterhead have been left off intentionally or if it was just an oversight.

"They should be happy to put their name on it," he said.

Whelly's not the only one who has questions about the mailout.

"Nobody really knows who's putting it out," said Norm Prevost, a resident of Fort Simpson.

"Even Saans puts their name on their junk mail," he said.

A Voice from the Valley was created as a tool to keep people informed of developments in the community, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

The original idea was to create a coffeehouse-type newsletter that would include articles from other services including the recreation department. Currently the letter covers day-to-day business in the village, said Canvin.

From the first edition it was made clear that the village council was producing the letter, said Canvin

"It shouldn't be a mystery," Canvin said about the authorship.

The phone number for the village office is included at the end of every edition so people can call with comments, he said.

"We welcome all comments and Mr. Whelly's is simply one comment and we'll try not to get it into his mailbox if he doesn't want it anymore," said Canvin.

Canvin writes 90 per cent of each edition. The letter is then given to council members who have the chance to revise it or add points before it's printed.

There's no letterhead on the newsletter because it would take up too much space, said Canvin. Canvin said he tries to keep each edition on the back and front of one sheet of paper. At the moment there are no plans to add a letterhead or signature, but council might raise the issue, said Canvin.

Overall, A Voice from the Valley has been well received by community members, he said.

"People say 'Hey this is good and we enjoy it,'" Canvin said.