ARVIAT - Arviat residents looking for a ride home from the grocery store or the airport have a new option since Joe's Taxi Service started in early May.

Owner Joe Ishalook and another driver are offering taxi rides for five dollars per person for a ride in either a four-door vehicle or a 15-passenger van.

He said they make about $150 a day, excluding tips.

"In the fall, it should pick up. It's steady right now. It's slow but steady," he said.

Ishalook was in the taxi business from 2001 to 2004 before taking some time off.

"I am happy I have restarted the taxi (business) and I have customers that are saying 'welcome back,'" he said.

He added he is thankful to the customers as they are the one that keeps the business going.

Joe's Taxi Service is one of two taxi companies in Arviat, the other being Anthony's Taxi.

"Challenges are keeping the customers happy and it's hard to keep everyone happy," said Ishalook. "When we get busy days, then someone will wait a little longer to get to the next customer."

Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard said he has yet to ride in one of Ishalook's taxis but he said the vehicles are in good shape.

"The service is very welcome," he said. "Taxi businesses tend to have a struggle here in this community. So, we've had sporadic service, I guess, for some time so a new service is always welcome."

He added he is unsure of the issue explaining why taxi services tend to struggle in Arviat.

"We often go with no taxi service and then we may have too much taxi service. It sort of goes back and forth," said Leonard.

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