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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A pleasantly surprised aviation representative, timely panels, presentations, and rubbing shoulders with the premier were all highlights at the NWT Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Yellowknife on April 3 and 4.

Hughie Graham, left, president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, with Premier Bob McLeod at the NWT Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting last week. - Bob Wilson/NNSL photo

Michael Olson, First Air director of sales, was named business person of the year at the chamber president's dinner on April 3, presented by incoming president Hughie Graham, who was acclaimed along with the rest of the board on Tuesday afternoon.

About 70 chamber members from across the territory attended the two-day annual meeting, held at the Explorer Hotel.

Newton Grey, who presented an annual report from the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce, said the annual meeting is important for keeping contact among businesspeople in every community.

"No man is an island," Grey said. "One of the best ways to promote business in Inuvik is to lean on our other territory members."

Premier Bob McLeod spoke on the first day of the meeting, and also attended the president's dinner and awards night on April 3.

Graham said the event was well attended with a good cross-section of businesspeople from across the territory.

"We can only build on this as we go forward," he said.

A "very, very, compelling nomination" led to Olson being named businessperson of the year, Graham said.

"Mike's got a great business history in Yellowknife and the North. He's got a great commitment to the business community, and a great commitment to the community," Graham said.

Olson said the award was a "great honour," for him and First Air. He said he was not expecting it at all. "I do get involved in a lot of different aspects within the community from chambers, to functions, to auctions, to -- you name it, we're there doing it. But it's part of my job and I love it. It's nice to be able to give back," he said.

Graham called Tli Cho Air, recipient of the Business of the Year award, "a great business story," after the recipient speech from Tli Cho Air president George Mackenzie.

"For him to say at one point they had snowshoes and dogsleds, and now they have airplanes, you know, that's a great business story," Graham said.

Tlicho Air purchased its first aircraft late last year and holds contracts with diamond mines Ekati and Diavik in partnership with Air Tindi.

Panels included a mining panel and an innovations panel with the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment as well as Alasdair Martin, vice-president of strategic development for Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., who presented on the Diavik mine's wind farm project.

The proposed 29 per cent NWT Power Corp. rate increase was a major concern among businesspeople at the meeting.

Judith Goucher, chief financial officer at the Power Corp., made a presentation about the rate hike to chamber members.

"We're all kind of wrestling with the price of fuel going up with all our businesses," responded Kelly Hayden, vice-president of commercial property with NPR Limited Partnership, following Goucher's presentation.

Bruce Croxon, a judge from business television show Dragon's Den, spoke about entrepreneurs and more in his keynote speech at the chamber luncheon, as the meeting wrapped up on April 4.

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