The smell of smoked fish brings back a special memory to Rolf Ziemann, Senior Radio Inspector at the Yellowknife, N.W.T. District Office.

A few years ago, during an emergency exercise, Ziemann's radio was set up in a garage in Igaluit, N.W.T. which used to be a smokehouse. "After working three days in there, I thought I'd never get the smell of smoked fish off me!"

The Hamburg, West Germany native (via Edmonton) began his working life with the Hudson's Bay Company in Fort Smith, N.W.T. Following some construction work and an electronics course , he began as a Radio Inspector at the Fort Smith Monitoring Station in 1973. In 1977, he moved to the position he holds today.

Ziemann participates in the annual Ship Survey Program in the Beaufort Sea where Department inspectors check and record data about the radio equipment aboard ocean-going vessels in the area. "You see a great deal of variety in the radios to be inspected," Ziemann says. "It's very interesting to see ships and equipment from all over the world."

Ziemann looks forward to early retirement, going into business for himself and travelling throughout Canada with his "XYL", Margo (this means wife in amateur radio slang!) in a motor home.

Active as a minor hockey coach, Ziemann also loves science fiction novels, stamp collecting and amateur radio.

First and foremost though, Ziemann considers himself, as well as his family, to be long-term Northerners. His greatest ambition is to see his two teenage children succeed in life.

This story is based on an article that first appeared in the winter issue of Central Region's employee newspaper.