HAY RIVER - Gary Hoffman figured something was afoot when he and his wife were given free tickets to the annual gala of the Hay River Chamber of Commerce.

That's because the gala, held this year on Feb. 25, is when the town's Citizen of the Year is announced by the chamber, which does its best to keep the winner a secret.

Even with his suspicions, Hoffman said he was surprised to receive the Alfred Mansell Citizen of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since 1972.

"Hay River is a big community," he said. "There are a lot of good volunteers here. It's nice for people to be showing you appreciation, but it's very humbling at the same time because there are just so many people here that could be recognized or could be given this award."

Hoffman, 66, has lived in Hay River for 31 years, and has been involved as a player and coach with fastball and curling, along with being an active member of the Hay River Elks Club, a founding member and ongoing leader of the Hay River Television Society and a member of the board of directors of Sport North.

In 1999, he retired as head of the maintenance division of the Department of Transportation in Hay River.

Hoffman said, when people retire, everyone begins to ask when they are leaving for the south.

"We have no intention of leaving the North or leaving Hay River," he said.

Hoffman said people need a plan to keep busy in retirement.

"I think you have to," he said. 'You're not just going to stop after X number of years and go retire. To me, you have to have a plan."

His plan was to work part of the year and keep the winters for himself.

Hoffman works six months a year maintaining the golf course, and, in the wintertime, he volunteers to maintain the ice at the curling club. Throughout the year, he also volunteers to maintain and plow the road to the combined golfing and skiing area.

A Saskatchewan native, Hoffman has lived in the NWT for more than 40 years. He first came north to work with the engineering section of what was then the Department of Public Works and Highways in Yellowknife before moving to Hay River.

Hoffman was introduced as Citizen of the Year by Paul Delorey, the MLA for Hay River North and Speaker of the legislative assembly.

Delorey said Hoffman continues in retirement to be incredibly active in many positive and constructive community endeavours.

Another honour - the Customer Service Excellence Award - was also presented at the chamber of commerce gala.

It went to Niada Readman, a pharmacy technician at Ring's Pharmacy.

Readman, who was born and raised in Hay River, was praised for her patient and caring service to customers.

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