LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson lost two businesses in one week as the closure of cable company Senga Services was followed by an announcement from Fort Simpson Shuttle Service that it would be ceasing operation.

Fort Simpson's Senga Services has shut down after 23 years of operation. Owner Ivan Simons scales a pole to fix the cable knocked down by an oversized vehicle in July. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Senga Services Cable TV, a division of H.R. Thomson Consultants Ltd., stated in a Feb. 29 letter to customers that it is closing its doors, effective immediately. H.R. Thomson will remain in business.

As Fort Simpson's only cable television service, Senga Services' closure jeopardizes the future of television bingo in Fort Simpson.

Residents will still have access to satellite TV through Bell and Shaw.

Senga Services Cable TV had aired television bingo since the mid-1990s, among other programs.

On March 2, manager Jennifer Simons confirmed to the Deh Cho Drum that the company has officially closed its Cable TV division down.

"The owners are retiring and need to be closer to their medical doctors in the south," she said

"We wish to thank all of our loyal customers for the years of support."

Simons said the company has been put up for sale and could continue if new owners take charge.

Senga Services Cable TV was started by H.R. Thomson owners Ivan Simons and Senga Simons 23 years ago, and has been in business in Fort Simpson ever since.

Over the decades, Senga Services has joined the business community as a community partner.

That included paying for the annual Remembrance Day tea, running the Santa Claus float - a big hit this year with children in the community - in the village's Christmas parade and sponsoring sports including soccer and volleyball.

The company was also behind an initiative to give seniors in the long-term care centre access to cable TV, donating the service free of charge.

Television bingo, one of the cable company's most popular programs, aired on Channel 9 three times each week, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

At first, the channel was used for community announcements including birthday wishes, news and events.

Community groups looking to do fundraising had the option of paying a $135 fee to run a bingo, selling ticket packages to players who watched from home.

Shuttle service 'under-utilized' On the heels of Senga shuttering, shuttle operator Reg Bellefontaine announced on March 7 he is closing down the Fort Simpson Shuttle Service.

The service ran on an as-needed basis at a cost of $20 apiece for community members but most of Bellefontaine's customers were government workers flying into the community.

"I'm closing it down because it's being under-utilized by the government departments," Bellefontaine said.

He added he is concerned about the hit to tourism that may result from the

shuttle's closure, as he often shuttled tourists in the summer.

"I just can't run a business running one or two people every week out to the airport," he said.