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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Looking back over three decades, Lindsay Waugh said he's enjoyed running a small business in Fort Simpson.

Lindsay Waugh, right, is celebrating 30 years in business with Kiwi Electric Ltd. in Fort Simpson. His employees include Troy Bradbury, left, Byron Blyth, Bill Blyth and Dwayne Verge (not pictured). - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It's a great ride," he said. "It's been everything I might of thought it could have been."

Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of Kiwi Electric Ltd. Waugh has gone from being the owner and only employee, working out of an old Chevrolet pick-up truck, to having a staff of four that completes jobs across the Deh Cho and farther afield in the territory.

The history of the business has been tied to the development of Fort Simpson and other Deh Cho communities since 1983. Waugh and his staff have been involved in wiring almost every commercial building currently in the village along with many industrial, commercial and residential projects throughout the region.

Extra work on weekends

Waugh, who became an electrician in New Zealand, came to Fort Simpson by way of Mayo, Yukon, in 1977 with the Northern Canada Power Commission. In 1979 he took a position as an electrician with the territorial government. It was at that point he decided to do a bit of extra work on weekends and started Kiwi Electrical.

"There was an opportunity there," he said.

David Hewins, who owned an electrical company in the village, was in the process of moving. Waugh said that left local repair and servicing work available for his new company.

Thinking about the future

Thinking about the future, Waugh purchased property and constructed the log building that his business currently operates of on the corner of Antoine Drive and 97th Street between 1980 and 1981.

The following year he talked to his wife Pat about doing the business full time. Waugh thanks Pat for giving him the opportunity to realize his vision.

"I had that sense that I could maintain a livelihood for my family and be part of the growth of the community," he said.

Dennis Benoit joined the business in 1983, the same year Waugh decided to leave his government job and incorporate to become Kiwi Electric Ltd. The territorial government saw the need to support the growth of local business, he said, and allowed Waugh to do all of their electrical work over the next year.

Norm Prevost, Benoit's cousin, was the next employee for the growing business. Over 30 years Waugh estimates he's had approximately 20 employees, about 15 of whom started as apprentices.

Since the beginning, Waugh has viewed his business as a way to assist in the development of communities and enable people to complete their apprenticeships and become journeyman electricians.

"My job has been to enable," he said.

Waugh said he takes a lot of pride in giving people a chance to have a vocation and in encouraging them to develop their skills. If people have pride in the work they do they are able to be an active part of their community and contribute to it, he said.

It's also great to be part of the process of creating infrastructure for the communities the company is working in, Waugh said. Kiwi Electric has been involved in projects ranging from houses to schools to health centres to water treatment plants, buildings that provide all of the requirements that people need, he said.

Some of the projects the company has been part of include the Fort Simpson recreation centre, the renovations of Thomas Simpson School and Bompas Elementary School, the band complexes in Wrigley and Jean Marie River, the renovation of the Fort Simpson health centre and the solar panel array at the Fort Simpson airport.

The 30 years, however, have also brought challenges.

"It's not easy being in small business. It's a tough one," said Waugh.

Waugh spends much less time in the field that he used to. The majority of his time is occupied with the administration work that keeps the business running and finding enough new projects to keep his four current employees busy. Something that is a challenge, he said.

After 30 years, despite the challenges, Waugh said he has no intention of changing anything soon.

"We look forward to maintaining our services within the Deh Cho region," he said.

Waugh thanked the communities for their support over the years and his past and present employees for their diligence. It's great to be part of the growth of the communities, he said.

"You are appreciated. There's respect both ways," said Waugh.

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