LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A street in Fort Simpson has been renamed in honour of a man who was dedicated to keeping the Deh Cho's roads safe.

A brief ceremony on June 11 marked the renaming of Industrial Drive to Jimmy Isaiah Drive. Located in the village's industrial area the street runs parallel to Highway 1. During the ceremony four blue street signs were erected at each of the entrances to the street.

Members of Jimmy Isaiah's family hold one of the four signs the Village of Fort Simpson erected on June 11 to name a road in his memory. The family members include, from left, wife Florence Isaiah, son Gordie Isaiah, granddaughter Dawn Isaiah, great-grandson Damian Isaiah and daughter-in-law Bernice Hardisty. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Village of Fort Simpson wanted to rename the street to honour Isaiah's dedication to his work, said Deputy Mayor Tom Wilson.

"He went above and beyond to make sure the best job possible was done on any part of the road he was working on," Wilson said.

"If Jimmy was grading the road or highway in the summer you knew you were going to have a smooth ride."

During his lifetime Isaiah worked for many companies as a heavy equipment operator building and maintaining the roads in the area. Isaiah died on the job on Nov. 28, 2006 at the age of 68. The Snowcat he was using to widen the east lane of the Liard River ice crossing sank through a soft spot in the ice beside the crossing's main driving route.

Florence Isaiah, who was at the dedication ceremony, said she appreciated the village dedicating the street in memory of her husband.

"He truly deserves it because he was a hard worker," Florence said.

Isaiah had a passion for operating heavy equipment on the roads, said Florence. He worked on all types of surfaces including streets, highways and bush roads.

Florence remembers waking up one morning at 2:30 a.m. to find Isaiah missing and blowing snow conditions outside.

"He went to work plowing roads so the early workers would have a nice road to go to work on," she said.

Florence said Isaiah loved working for Rowe's Construction, his long-time employer.

Owen Rowe and many of the company's staff in Fort Simpson also attended the ceremony.

Isaiah's heart was always in his work and he is still sadly missed, said Rowe. When Isaiah was behind the wheel of a piece of equipment he was doing his work with the community in mind, he said.

"It's good to see they're recognizing a great man," Rowe said about the village's decision to dedicate the street.