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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - One key message emerged during Mayor Gord Van Tighem's state of the city address at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce's luncheon on Friday: stay positive.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem spoke Friday at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce's luncheon, telling businesses to keep their heads up as the world moves into times of economic uncertainty. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

The mayor acknowledged to members gathered at the Chamber's luncheon for his annual state of the city address that businesses and residents alike are moving into economic uncertainty in 2009, both on regional and national levels.

Yellowknifers, however, should remember an old slogan "Northern latitude, different attitude," he said.

"Life looks good here compared to a lot of other places in the world," he said.

Van Tighem reminded attendees when he arrived in 1992, mines were having trouble with low gold prices and housing prices were plummeting - jobs were few.

"We grew from that and we'll grow from this," he said.

Van Tighem also revealed another nugget of information: he'll be running for mayor again next year.

"I've got my wife's permission," he said, adding he hopes to give 2010's state of the city address as well.

Van Tighem is set to become the city's longest serving mayor should he win a fourth term this October. He was first elected in 2000.

While both Ellie Sasseville, executive director of the chamber, and Jon Jaque, president of the chamber, weren't present for the luncheon one board member, Andreas Tesfaye, was on hand to emcee and represent the chamber. He said the speech was constructive.

"It's actually really, really assuring for business and for companies in town," he said, adding the mayor did well to mention construction projects in the city will be moving ahead as planned.

"I think the mayor really spoke well on those spots and I think he gives us a lot of confidence," he added. Yellowknife doesn't need a doom-and-gloom scenario, either, said Tesfaye.

The mayor "was giving us a good news scenario for what's coming up. I think that's exactly what this town needs. It doesn't need to be kicked in the teeth while we're down," he said.