MY NWT: Unexpected. Unforgettable in Fort Smith

Fort Smith Mayor Janie Hobart’s face lights up as she talks about participating in the swimming competition when her community hosted the NWT Seniors Games last summer. “I was finally old enough to participate,” she says like a teenager gleeful after finally getting a driver’s license. Participants in the games must be at least 55 years old. They compete in disciplines as diverse as cribbage tournaments and swimming races.

Janie first moved to Fort Smith in August 1982 when her husband’s job in education brought them to the community. “It was so pretty here,” she recalls. “Deciduous trees were all out and I still remember that drive from the airport. I grew up in Edson (Alberta) and I love trees. Fort Smith reminds me of my hometown.”

The couple planned to stay for a year, but were smitten with Fort Smith’s people and lifestyle. They had their two sons and raised them in the community. “We felt very much like we were at home here,” Janie says. “It’s a very generous community. They share their time. They share their talents. If you’re going through a rough patch, people will help. You don’t even have to ask.”

She also likes the variety of activities the community offers residents and visitors. Business travellers can keep up with their exercise regimen at the recreation centre’s swimming pool, Pete’s Gym and the multi-sport Thebacha Trail that winds its way past the historic Slave River and around the community. Other facilities include a golf course and the biathlon range.

The visitor centre and the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre share a slice of the area’s history, she notes. Wood Buffalo National Park and the Slave River Rapids also draw visitors and interpretive hikes are offered throughout the summer. The community hosts the Wood Buffalo Frolics festival each March, Paddlefest during the August long weekend and the South Slave Friendship Festival in mid-August.

Janie also points out that accommodations have expanded to include several bed and breakfasts. The hotel has standard rooms as well as some newly refurbished kitchenettes. There are also several eateries, including some that serve breakfast, and a few spots to grab a coffee. From places to eat, places to sleep, facilities and fun activities, she believes that Fort Smith has much to offer business travellers. “Since I’ve been mayor (in 2009), I’ve been contacted by people looking for places to host an AGM.”

The Town went through a rebranding process and plans to market itself as a tourism destination to business travellers. The presence of government organizations such as Parks Canada, Aurora College and territorial departments makes the approach a natural fit. “I’m passionate about Fort Smith,” Janie says. A new tagline has been developed: “Unexpected. Unforgettable.” She hopes that visitors will continue to be surprised by the community and have an experience they will remember long after their trip.
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