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INUVIK
The Town of Inuvik is gearing up for this year's annual Inuvik Petroleum Show, scheduled to be held June 18 to 20, and it's looking for volunteers to help make the 12th annual event a success.

David Ramsay: Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment scheduled to speak at Inuvik Petroleum Show. - NNSL file photo

"Every year, the Inuvik Petroleum Show relies on the strength of the community volunteers to make the event possible," said Jackie Challis, economic development officer for the Town of Inuvik.

The town is looking for more than 50 volunteers to sign up by tomorrow, June 8. Volunteer shifts are flexible, though all participants must be available for one of the three training sessions to be held June 10, 11 and 12, said Challis.

"Every year, people are appreciative and amazed at the calibre of work that is done by our volunteers," she said. "They are the strength of the show, for sure."

The Inuvik Petroleum Show was originally created to discuss and promote the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. In keeping with the current realities facing the pipeline and the Town of Inuvik, this year it is expanding to include presentations and discussions on resource development, as well as alternate oil and gas projects such as offshore drilling, said Challis.

"In the past, the (petroleum show) was created to create buy-in and support the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline," said Challis. "Certainly this year, we have not heard the most positive news (about the pipeline). So this year, while we are still examining the progress of the pipeline, we are looking at other relevant areas for Northern development."

Northern resource development projects slated to be discussed during the show include the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, as well as the proposed fibre-optic cable link down the Mackenzie Valley.

So far, registration is up this year from last year and the event is on track to draw in more than 500 delegates who represent the oil and gas industry and resource development from out of town.

The show is more than a conference for industry experts, it's a chance for the community of Inuvik to showcase itself, said Challis.

"Primarily, it is a business to business trade show, but it certainly takes everyone here to participate," she said.

While this may be an industry trade show, it has a huge impact on many Inuvik businesses, from airlines to hotels to stores, said Challis.

"We also hope that there is a lasting impact, which is getting people to come again," she said. "We're trying to promote Inuvik as a conference destination."

As part of this promotion, the town is putting a call out to this year's delegates, that if they return to Inuvik to hold a meeting of 20 or more people who spend at least one night in the town, they will receive a free booth at next year's show.

"Any time we have a conference, it's an opportunity for the community to showcase what it can do," said Challis.

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