Yellowknife residents are advised that phase 2 of an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) will be conducted on the Tin Can Hill site. Residents can expect to see signs posted on the site and personnel in the area obtaining samples. This work is expected to start in the next few weeks.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the GNWT, Aurora College, and the City of Yellowknife last year confirming Tin Can Hill as the possible site for a Yellowknife North Slave Campus, the GNWT and Aurora College began necessary steps to determine the feasibility of the site.
ESAs are a normal step in this process. In September 2022 phase 1 of the ESA for Tin Can Hill was initiated. The results of the assessment were received in March 2023 and indicated a moderate potential for contamination of soil and/or groundwater with a recommendation to conduct further studies.
Once the ESA phase 2 is complete, the GNWT and Aurora College will conduct a thorough assessment of both ESA phase 1 and phase 2 to ensure the levels of contaminants are not too high. This work will be done before the GNWT, along with the Aurora College Board of Governors – who have the final authority on the matter – decide whether to apply for a land transfer from the City of Yellowknife.
