A cab company has stepped up to provide Hay River with a service the town did not have for almost a year.
Okbay Hailemariam, owner of Northstar Taxi, began operating on Tuesday. When residents spotted the company’s car in town on Monday, he said, it definitely got some attention.
Hailemariam says he answered roughly 30 calls eagerly inquiring about the new service soon after he arrived in Hay River from Yellowknife – and another 10 the next morning.
The availability of taxis in Hay River has been sporadic at best in the years after pandemic restrictions lifted. This year, town councillors changed a bylaw to remove a requirement for round-the-clock service in the hope of making Hay River more attractive to prospective operators.
Hailemariam said he decided to relocate once he realized the town of just over 3,000 people had no cab service. He applied for a licence three months ago and the town swiftly issued one.
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At the moment, Northstar has two cabs. The plan is to bring in more cars as demand grows.
He said his family is “not here right now, but they are coming up if I am doing good.”
“My friend is here with me,” he added. “We are planning to grab two other cars.”
Hailemariam said he heard people were happy to have a cab service launch ahead of Christmas. It will take a week for Northstar to settle in and learn about the routes, he said, but cabs will run throughout the holidays.
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At the moment, residents can access the service any time from morning until midnight daily.
Ride costs vary according to distance but there is a flat-rate system, unlike Yellowknife, where cabs use meters.
“Sometimes we’re on a break, but still, the phone is with us. We can service any time,” Hailemariam said.
“The paperwork, I finished from Yellowknife. [The town] had it ready here yesterday and we just finished everything in one day. They were ready. They were happy that they found a taxi business here.”
During a council meeting on Monday, town manager Glenn Smith said the municipality wished Northstar “the best of luck.”
“They’re new to the area, as kind-of a startup, so they’re trying to figure out their distances and demands,” Smith told councillors.
“We anticipate it will take a little bit of an adjustment process for everyone as they get up to speed with the community.”
To book a cab – or just welcome the town’s new drivers – call Northstar Taxi at 867-445-9122.
