INUVIK
Meet the new boss at Inuvik Gas.

Kevin MacKay, left, welcomed his replacement as Inuvik Gas general manager Feb. 28. Brad Driscoll will take over March 7 as MacKay takes a new job in Calgary. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Brad Driscoll officially takes over for Kevin MacKay as general manager at Inuvik Gas on March 7 after a two-week transition and training period.

Driscoll, a veteran of the gas business, said he knows he's taking over what many would consider one of the most thankless jobs in town. But he's not letting that intimidate him. He dropped by the Inuvik Drum for an interview Feb. 28 as he introduced himself around town.

"I've heard that," he said in response to a suggestion that Inuvik Gas isn't the most popular company in town at the moment.

"I think that's starting to filter through. You know, though, there's always issues no matter who you're working with. I think the big thing is that customers know they can come in and chat about the issues."

Driscoll said his business philosophy centres on customer service and satisfaction.

"I think if we keep providing reliable, safe service, that's really all we can do."

"There's a lot of stuff going on outside, but we have to concentrate on doing what we do best, which is service."

He's still "getting up to speed" on the details of the Inuvik operation, but one of the things he found intriguing was the dual-source nature of the system.

"That's what intrigued me about the job. It's the opportunity to come and work on a unique system like this, and we've got some really good people here."

Driscoll said his job responsibility is to ensure Inuvik Gas is here providing that service to the town.

"My immediate plans are to get my feet wet with the community and the company," he said. "We've got an awful lot of information to transfer."

He said he's spent about "30 years in the distribution industry" and is a gasfitter by trade. He has ties to ATCO Gas.

"I'm from southern Alberta, and I've spent most of my career in Fort Macleod," he said. "Most recently I was in Lethbridge.

"I knew Kevin was here, and I knew there was an opportunity (to be general manager)," Driscoll said. "My wife and I discussed it late last fall, and we thought it would be an adventure. When the opportunity was actually put on the table, we said, 'Let's go up and take a look,' and we immediately felt at home in this town."

MacKay was spending two weeks working with Driscoll before leaving for Calgary.

"For me, I'm going to miss the town and the people. Everybody seems to know me, good or bad. I'll miss everything the town offers and just how welcoming it is. It doesn't matter what you do, you're still welcome in town. I'm going to miss that.

"I don't think there's any regrets," MacKay replied, when asked about his time in Inuvik. "I wish there was a permanent solution. I'm confident they're working on a solution, and I think the system has a lot of value."

That's an interesting comment, with the town in negotiations with Inuvik Gas over the purchase of the distribution system.

MacKay noted Inuvik Gas is the owner of a multi-source system that can operate off natural gas, synthetic natural gas, and liquid natural gas.

"The system has so much versatility to it," he said.

MacKay said he'll be keeping in touch with Driscoll in the immediate future, at least, to help coach him through the familiarization process.