ENTERPRISE - Brenda Bouvier is Enterprise's purveyor of fun.

Brenda Bouvier and her two-year-old son Atticus Lalonde check out the pool table at the new Enterprise Community Centre, where Bouvier is the events co-ordinator. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

As the event's co-ordinator at the hamlet's new community centre she has the difficult task of developing and implementing ideas that will appeal to a variety of tastes.

"Most of it is listening to people and just finding out what they want," she said. "You can't just say this is what we're going to be doing and hope people show up. You've got to kind of find out what they want and plan around that."

Bouvier said she is "definitely" looking for ideas from community residents.

"Everybody's ideas count and, if they want to do something, we can always work it into the schedule," she said.

Bouvier also occasionally takes a very direct approach.

"Sometimes I'll go and talk to specific people, like if I hear they want something done but they don't come to me," she said. "I'll go and knock on their door."

Bouvier is the first events co-ordinator at the centre, which the Hamlet of Enterprise officially opened on Dec. 11 and she says her new part-time job is keeping her busy.

"I'll be here usually between 3:30 and 7:30 and sometimes later," she said.

People have started to drop by for a number of activities – playing cards, using a computer, watching satellite television, and playing foosball, ping-pong and video games.

The centre still has to add exercise equipment and a library.

"It should be quite busy once everything is in here," Bouvier said.

So far, families, adults and children have been dropping in to the centre.

"It is being used," Bouvier said. "I'm hoping to see it be used more in the near future."

There have also been a couple of special events at the centre, such as a literacy event before Christmas.

Bouvier even had a birthday party there for her son Atticus Lalonde, who just turned two.

It's her goal to make the centre a focal point of the community.

"I'm hoping people will come in and use it a lot and do a lot of their events here," she said. "I already have a couple of baby showers planned for here."

Another upcoming event is a Literacy Night on Jan. 27 featuring a pancake supper.

Bouvier, a Hay River native who has lived in Enterprise for almost three years, said it is very exciting to be involved in establishing the programs at the centre.

Along with being an events co-ordinator, the 32-year-old has several other part-time jobs. She co-ordinates a tots program three days a week for the early childhood initiative operated by the hamlet, runs monthly literacy activities for the NWT Literacy Council, and occasionally cooks at Winnie's Restaurant.

Plus, she volunteers with the Gateway Jamboree Society, which stages a music festival each summer.

"I'm actually pretty busy, plus I'm a full-time mother," Bouvier said. "It sounds like a lot, but it fills my day."

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