INUVIK
After 11 years of making Inuvik his home, NorthMart store manager Cliff Stringer is moving on to another community.
NorthMart store manager Cliff Stringer is leaving Inuvik Jan. 25 to go work in Iqaluit. Inuvik residents say he will be sorely missed. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo
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The longtime resident has received a promotion that will see him run North West Company's biggest store, which is located in Iqaluit.
"I think it's going to be a sad day when I board the plane to leave Inuvik," said Stringer, who is originally from Newfoundland. "(Inuvik residents) made me feel at home from day one."
His most cherished memories of his time in town, he said, are from sitting down with the elders to sip on a cup of coffee and listen to their stories. That time, he said, reminds him of his childhood in Clarenville, N.L.
"When I was growing up we had a very close family and everybody came to our house and you would sit down and listen to the old folks telling stories," he recounted.
It's been great getting to know the residents in Inuvik, Stringer continued, adding he will miss knowing his customers by name and having them know his name.
"The customers weren't just my customers they were my friends too," he said.
Stringer is also sad to leave his staff, who have been amazing, he said. In turn, they are sad to see him go.
June Miranda, a NorthMart employee, said Stringer won't be easily forgotten.
"When I told people that he was leaving they actually stood and cried," Miranda said. "He is our Cliff that you go rest your head against or shoulders against and know that he would give you the strength to go on for the next day."
Stringer is known in the community for his friendly personality and generous spirit. Whenever an organization came to him asking for a discount he would almost always give them 25 per cent off.
Over the years, resident Ruth Wright has led a number of groups in the community and Stringer, she said, was always there to help by supporting her with donations of food and materials.
"He's just been a blessing to all of our little groups," she said. "I'm sorry to see him go, but he's going to do a wonderful job over there. I hope the new guy coming over will do a wonderful job here too."
Gord McMillan, food services manager for NorthMart, said Stinger is the best leader he has come across in all his years of working. None of the employees at the store can complain about how hard they work or how many hours they put in, McMillan said, because Stringer is always there working harder and putting in more hours.
"The guy's a worker," McMillan said. "He's well-liked, well-known. I know people that come in from other communities that stop to say hello to him and you don't see that with everybody in the store."
Stringer is set to leave Jan. 25. His wife, Kim Stringer, and two of his children will follow in the summer.
