In photos: Pumpkin Lane 2020

A case of bird flu has been identified in Fort Smith. The case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was identified in a herring gull. According to an advisory issued this afternoon by the Environment and Climate Change, while the disease is highly infectious among birds, transmission risk to humans remains very low.

Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski says that fire danger is anticipated to be highest in the N.W.T., Nunavut and Man. this season. The minister added that recent rains in the west are forecasted to bring relief. “Modelling indicates that in July, fire danger is expected to remain the highest across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and northern Manitoba and areas surrounding the Hudson Bay, with elevated potential for fires in northern Ontario and Quebec."

Scientists with the GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change department say water levels are showing signs of recovery. Data collected over June and early July showed generally higher than levels for most large lakes and rivers in the territory compared to last year and previous years going back to 2023. Data showed that the Mackenzie River’s has returned to average and above average levels after a dramatic decline that saw the cancellation of the barge in 2024.

At a committee meeting on Wednesday, Yellowknife city council members and city staff discussed potential changes to by-laws overseeing taxi drivers, taxi companies and passengers The drafted bylaw calls for increases in fare rates, the installation of security cameras and a requirement for taxi companies to provide 24 hour “wheelchair accessible” transportation services along with administrative changes.

Hundreds of crew members co-ordinated aggressive responses to fires in the Dehcho region and along Hwy 1. On Wednesday cooler temperatures and rainfall reinforced long awaited progress by Wildland firefighters.