Pictured above: Retiring Northern employee Freddie Lafferty with Northern Manager David Bown (right) and Connie Bown during last year’s Christmas party.
The Northern store in Behchokǫ̀, NT, bids a temporary farewell to Freddie Lafferty, one of its biggest community icons, as he retires after 38 years of dedicated service to his customers.
Freddie joined Northern in 1983 while in his late 20s, with the expectation of being on the team for five years at most. Those five years steadily spanned into nearly four decades’ worth of kindness – built from simple gestures like introducing newcomers to the rest of the store staff, to helping coordinate food and supply campaigns requested by schools, community groups, and municipal governments. Freddie’s story is an anthology of thousands of big and small anecdotes alike, coming from daily acts of selflessness towards the people around him.
The past 38 years went by quickly for Freddie, whose trademark smile and friendly disposition made everyone who walked into the store feel welcomed – not just as a customer, but as a friend. Being able to speak Tłı̨chǫ allowed Freddie to act as an interpreter for residents and guests who preferred to speak their Indigenous language, as he provided assistance with reading signs and product labels. For people unfamiliar with the land and community, he also provided directions on how to find all of the best places to eat and visit while in Behchokǫ̀.
Freddie is described by Ken Coffee, a former Director of Sales and Operations of The North West Company, as “one of the kindest men I’ve ever met”. Coffee’s sentiments resonate strongly throughout Behchokǫ̀ and the rest of the Northwest Territories, with news of Freddie’s retirement reaching as far as Yellowknife. MLA Jackson Lafferty personally visited the Northern store, along with other friends and family, to see Freddie off. Behchokǫ̀ Chief and Mayor Clifford Daniels was also in attendance to Freddie’s retirement party on June 24. Even when planning the celebration, Freddie opted to have a large open house at his store, solely to be able to spend time together with the whole town.
During Freddie’s final staff meeting, he offered the words, “I’ll always be here.”
Behchokǫ̀ Northern store manager David Bown looks forward to having his presence remain in the community long after Freddie's official retirement.