When Lynda Koe was in school years ago, she said she faced a choice between a career in teaching, nursing or office administration.

Since graduating with a nursing degree in 1969, she hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 looked back.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 rewarding,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe, who has worked as the care supervisor at Aven Manor for nearly 30 years. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if itSA国际影视传媒檚 fair to say that itSA国际影视传媒檚 uncommon for somebody to be happy to go to work every day but I do really enjoy going to work every day and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 remarkable.SA国际影视传媒�

Koe is one of three Yellowknife residents to receive the Order of the NWT this year, the highest honour bestowed upon residents of the territory.

The award recognizes the recipientsSA国际影视传媒� excellence in their field and the benefits their work has had for others.

Koe, whose job is to make sure residents are looked after at the seniors home, said she was shocked and stunned to learn she had received the award, adding she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 do what she does on her own.

SA国际影视传媒淲e work as a team there,SA国际影视传媒� she said of the staff at Avens, stressing they all deserve recognition. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a small nursing home compared to some of the places down south and we like to call everybody part of our family.SA国际影视传媒�

Many staff at Avens have worked there for five to 20 years, according to Koe.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat has to tell you something,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SSI founder recognized

Jeff Phillip, another Yellowknife recipient of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Order of the NWT, is also insistent his success is a team effort.

The SSI Micro founder and CEO was SA国际影视传媒減leasantly surprisedSA国际影视传媒� to learn he would be receiving one of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 awards, but said SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 about the company more than me.SA国际影视传媒�

SSI Micro provides Internet service to remote Northern communities across Nunavut and the NWT.

While it's his main focus now, Phillip has been developing his entrepreneurial imagination since he was a young child growing up in Fort Providence.

By the time he was in Grade 9, Phillip was deeply interested in computers and thinking about opening a computer store in his hometown.

He credits part of his success to being able to travel the world from a young age and to the encouragement of his entrepreneurial parents, who he said supported his ideas.

Now Phillip says heSA国际影视传媒檚 in the SA国际影视传媒渋solation removalSA国际影视传媒� business. Without communication, he explained, teachers, nurses and all kinds of people who move to live in the North are isolated from the rest of the world and donSA国际影视传媒檛 have an opportunity to share SA国际影视传媒渢heir interests, frustrations, passionsSA国际影视传媒� with others.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why Phillip is focused on making Internet accessible to residents in small, remote communities.

Paul Andrew focuses on reconciliation

Paul Andrew, the third Yellowknife recipient of the Order of the NWT, is passionate about helping youth see their potential and making Canada a better place.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really do believe that in order for us to become even a better country, even a greater country than we are, then we have to understand each other,SA国际影视传媒� said Andrew, who is originally from Tulita and spent time at residential school when he was young.

He said the relationship between Canada and indigenous people has grown better over the years, as has the education system. But his focus remains on healing and reconciliation.

He said he has been working to better understand what it means to be Dene, and in turn help the rest of Canada understand the Dene are SA国际影视传媒渞eally amazing people.SA国际影视传媒�

As a former Chief of Tulita who went on to work for the CBC and has sat on the boards of a number of different organizations, Andrew has advice for youth.

SA国际影视传媒淭he potential for young people is pretty amazing and I really do believe SA国际影视传媒� and I tell them SA国际影视传媒� that you guys can do anything,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

While he was happy to be up for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Order of the NWT, Andrew said he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think he would be chosen as a recipient.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was the last thing I expected,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen they nominated me I thought that was good to get the nomination, but to get the actual award was a bit of a surprise.SA国际影视传媒�

A ceremony for this year's recipients was held yesterday morning at the legislative assembly.

Three other NWT residents were recognized with the distinction: Fred Carmichael of Inuvik, Russell King of Hay River and Tom Zubko of Inuvik.