DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Businesses in Fort Providence had a mixed week as a result of the closure of ferry service on the Mackenzie River.

Fort Providence was one of the communities cut off from supplies delivered by road for nine days while the Merv Hardie ferry was not in service. - NNSL file photo

The Merv Hardie stopped running on Nov. 17 because of low water levels, severing Fort Providence, Yellowknife and Behchoko's road-based resupply routes for items including gas, heating fuel and groceries. Service resumed nine days later on Nov. 26 after water levels rose to 149.8 meters above sea level.

"It slowed us down considerably," said Dave Wilkes, general manager of Big River Service Centre.

Located outside of Fort Providence just before the ferry landing, the centre's core business during the 10-day closure were five drivers who were stranded along with their transport trucks. When the ferry started running at 6 p.m. the drivers were among the first people in line waiting to get across the river, Wilkes said.

Unlike many gas stations in the affected area, Big River didn't run out of fuel. The station had fuel in reserve when the ferry closed and could have continued serving customers, with a one jerry can per customer limit in place, until Nov. 29, said Wilkes.

The station had approximately 6,000 litres left when the ferry reopened and received a fuel delivery the following afternoon. Wilkes said, at the request of the local RCMP detachment, the station was prepared to shut down when levels reached 4,000 litres to reserve the remainder for essential services.

The primary inconvenience caused by the ferry was a beer shortage. The bar at the service centre ran out of beer on Nov. 19 after an expected order didn't arrive in time, said Wilkes.

"We weathered it nicely," he said about the overall experience.

In Fort Providence the lack of ferry service actually benefited the Snowshoe Inn and Cafe.

"We're busier than we would have been," said Linda Croft, the motel, food and beverage manager.

Between 15 and 20 rooms at the inn were filled with members of the Deh Cho Bridge construction crew who were caught on the wrong side of the river from their camp. A helicopter brought a load of clothes and supplies for the workers who were literally stuck with the clothes on their backs, Croft said.

For the first two days of the closure the inn was also serving travelers who waited to see if the ferry would open. By the third day they started to leave, Croft said.

Business was also brisk at the Snowshoe Cafe because a lot of residents who would normally make regular trips to Hay River and Yellowknife were staying closer to home, she said. At the adjoining Snowshoe Lounge staff tried to make residents forget they were stuck by hosting a DJ dance on Nov. 19 and a free UFC event on Saturday night.

While many people are used to being isolated by the river, it didn't stop local gossip about when the ferry would be back in service, Croft said.

"The rumours are crazy," she said on Nov. 25.

The hamlet's two grocery stores were slightly affected.

The Northern Store ran out of fuel for two days but gas was available by Saturday morning. The store used Buffalo Airways Ltd. to charter loads of groceries and dry goods to keep the shelves stocked.

At Aurora Market many customers were unaffected by the ferry, said co-owner Alicia Washburn.

People were coming in asking for milk and eggs as if nothing was happening, she said. The grocery store ran out of those items as well as some produce over the nine days.

Washburn said she didn't see any signs of customers buying more food than normal to hoard it.

"It's pretty calm here," she said.

Similar ferry closures have only happened three times in the last 20 years, said Earl Blacklock, the manager of public affairs and communications and with the Department of Transportation.

In each case an ice dam formed up river of the ferry before a dam forms down river, a reversal of the normal order, causing low water levels, said Blacklock.

When the ferry re-opened it ran round the clock over the weekend giving first priority to vehicles carrying food and fuel.

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