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Jess Fortner spent last summer feeling like he was the luckiest person in the world. One of the perks of his role managing tourism and parks in the Sahtu Region is participating in the Canol Trail clean up. The days were long and the work was challenging, but each morning Jess woke with a smile on his face.
“Tourists come back into town after they’ve been on a hunting, hiking or boating trip. They’re rejuvenated, they have big grins, and they all talk about what a paradise this place is. My experience on the Canol Trail was the same. I often tell people that it’s not a matter of seeing the Sahtu, it’s a matter of feeling it,” Jess says.
He has worked in the Norman Wells ITI office for three and a half years and his work includes licensing and enforcement under the Tourism Act, the operations and maintenance of McKinnon Territorial Park, ongoing park projects such as the Canol Trail, and working with local residents and operators to develop tourism products.
With the Sahtu home to paddling adventures on the Keele River, hunting in the Mackenzie Mountains, and trophy fishing on Great Bear Lake, there is plenty to keep Jess busy.
ITI Projects in the Sahtu Region:
- The Canol Trail was constructed during World War II by the United States and Canada to ship oil from Norman Wells, NWT to Allied Forces stationed in the Pacific. Today, with funding from the Government of Canada and the help of the GNWT’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, the Doi T’oh Territorial Park Corporation is working to restore the historic pipeline path as a park and a destination for adventure tourism.
- Support for tourism operators: through Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) funding, the GNWT assists local tourism operators.
RTO Tips: Not to Miss
- Jess recommends spending time with local people in the Sahtu. “You add so much to your trip when you meet local people who can share insight into how people have lived up here for many, many years.”
- Our Lady of Good Hope Church, located in Fort Good Hope, is one of the oldest buildings in the NWT. Be sure to spend some time taking in the beautiful and ornate interior that highlights local wildlife and ways of life.
- Jess’ final words of wisdom are: “Don’t rush the Sahtu. Spend time decompressing in the Mackenzie Mountains or on Great Bear Lake. It takes time to feel the rhythm of the Sahtu.”