Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - It's not often that Hak Mujcin wears a suit, so when he does, you know something is up.

The owner of Hak's Autobody in Old Town, Mujcin is more likely to be seen in his customary jeans, flannel shirt and ball cap.

Hak Mujcin, owner of Hak's Autobody in Old Town, and his wife, Heidi, stand in the garage of the body shop where he proudly displays a copy of the November 2007 Collision Repair Magazine that features his picture on the cover. Hak said wearing the suit wasn't his idea.

But when Collision Repair Magazine called him last summer and asked him if he'd be willing to pose for its front cover, as well as do an interview for a feature story in the magazine's fall issue, Mujcin was happy to oblige, after some initial reservations.

"It took a little convincing," said Mujcin of wearing the suit, as he sat in his office at the body shop, self-consciously casting a glance at his flannel shirt. "Let's just say it wasn't my idea."

The article - boasting glossy pictures of Mujcin posing at the top of Pilot's Monument in a black suit and sharp tie - traces the story of his rise from director of a Ford dealership's collision repair unit to owner of his own shop in the late 1970s.

Mujcin, who was born in Bosnia and emigrated with his wife Heidi in 1973, moved the business to its current location in Old Town in 1982.

"I like this part of town very much," he said. "It really has a 'Northern' feeling to it. And that's what we're all about."

The shop, measuring 7,600 square feet and featuring two spray booths, has only five people on staff: Hak, his wife, his sons Mirsad and Senad (both repairmen) and an apprentice, Dylan Wheaton.

The Collision Repair Magazine article had a lot of lavish praise for the shop.

"Those who have seen Hak's Autobody first hand say it compares favourably with just about any shop in Canada," reads the article at one point.

Despite such kind words, however, Heidi said the staff is not letting the recent press go to their heads.

"We are who we are," she said.

"We've worked really hard to get to this point. The article doesn't change anything. We'll continue on as we have."

Mujcin said he thinks the article - while focusing on his business - will also, in a small way, serve as an advertisement for Yellowknife in general.

"I think it's good for the town as a whole," he said.

"It helps spread the word that there are a lot of good businesses in Yellowknife, places just as good or better than anywhere (down south)."