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INUVIK - For all things glass, Mike Hayden's your man. And no matter what the job, he's always game.

"There's something new with every job," he said. "It's never the same thing. It might be a piece of glass. But how it's going to be cut and where it's going to end up will be completely different from one job to the next."

Mike Hayden, right, cuts a section of glass at the Arctic Glass Willow Road shop on Monday while his boss Derrick Weitzel looks on. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Since last month the 43-year-old glazier has been the sole operator of Arctic Glass, the town's only fully-equipped glass services outfit. Located on Willow Road, it's the newest addition onto Derrick Weitzel's construction business, Arctic Builders Ltd.

Though its bread and butter lies with producing and installing thermal pane windows in residential, commercial and industrial units, Hayden, who has 22 years of experience in the business, is also equally equipped to construct and install glass doors, display cases, mirrors, shelving, glass walls, and tempered glass panels.

Looking for a way to further diversify his company, Weitzel recruited the Halifax-based tradesman after spotting his resume on the Kijiji website.

He also said his newest business add-on offers a convenient and needed service for Inuvik residents right in their backyard.

Instead of waiting an average of six to eight weeks for a window shipment to arrive from the South, and in some cases broken and the wrong size, Hayden provides an installation service that generally takes 26 to 48 hours to complete.

"There's nothing in this town we can't handle," said Hayden.

Serving the entire Delta, Hayden currently has 15 jobs scheduled throughout the region.

Both Weitzel and Hayden are hoping to expand the glass production unit with the intention of training and employing local residents.

"We think this will fly. This should really take off," said Hayden.

Arlene Hansen, owner of Originals on Mackenzie, was one of Arctic Glass's most recent customers, having mirror panelling and glass shelving installed in her store. Hayden is also in the process of recycling her old glass shelving into a polished cube display. She said she is she impressed with what's she seen and is happy to have such a service at her fingertips.

"It's wonderful to have a business like this," said Hansen. "I support local and I would much rather buy it from here than order it from Edmonton."