If you find yourself distracted by the annoying buzz of mosquitos downtown, you may just be hearing things.
The device in the downtown core, has been brought forward for the first time at city hall by Yellowknife City Councillor Ben Hendriksen.
In late 2023, the owners of Centre Square Parkade installed a “Mosquito Device” at the entranceway to the underground parking garage on 51 Avenue. The device emits a high-pitched sound to reduce loitering and curb safety concerns. A similar device was also installed at the entrance of the above-ground parking garage for the same parkade on 50th Street.
The device is designed to deter loiterers, vandals, and other troublemakers by producing a sound that has a range of up to 130 feet (40 meters). The device installed in this area can be heard by people of all ages, but does not affect pets, birds, or other wildlife.
Hendriksen, says that using the Mosquito Device negatively impacts the rest of the downtown area. He believes that the benefits of parking underground should not outweigh the costs to everyone who needs or wants to be present in the downtown core. Hendriksen adds he doesn’t object to its use if the noise were only audible on the owner’s property, but believes that the tool should be regulated, just like the city regulates dog poop pickup, speed limits, and snow clearance on sidewalks. The owners have the devices on from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Initially, it was used for 24 hours.
Hendriksen states that when the device was first installed during the winter of 2023, it appeared to reduce loitering in the parkade. However, as the temperature began to rise, the situation changed.
Craig MacLean, The Director of Public Safety, stated that there is only one known complaint regarding the device. The complaint came from one person and was repeated three times. There have been no additional complaints since they became aware of the device in December 2023, which was initially brought to their attention by a media inquiry. MacLean said they don’t have any statistics from the property manager regarding the device’s effectiveness in curbing behaviours.
The city manager, John Collin, informed the city council that addressing the noise bylaw issue in the current year’s work plan would be impossible due to the high workload and the risk of being unable to deliver on several other critical areas. If the noise bylaw issue is included in the work plan, something else will need to be removed from it.
There are currently no bylaws addressing public safety issues downtown, leaving people without tools to address these issues and turning to alternatives like this.
Noise control is just one aspect of the broader conversation needed around public safety in the downtown area. Tom McLennan, Yellowknife City Councillor, believes that devices are insufficient to address the issue, which is addiction and homelessness. He believes that more resources need to be directed towards this area, such as ensuring that the Street Outreach program provides timely resources and following up on the territory’s homeless strategy.
Yellowknife’s mayor, Rebecca Alty, has expressed doubts about the device’s effectiveness and predicts that spending staff time on this issue is unnecessary, as it will likely disappear before the bylaw is changed. She states that the federal government has implemented Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action No. 21, which seeks long-term, sustainable funding for healing centres. Additionally, the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and RCMP have established a dedicated drug enforcement unit in GNWT. “We commissioned a $100,000 review of the Street Outreach program, so I want to see what recommendations come from that before we direct staff to do more research,” Alty adds.
Counsellor Cat McGurk pointed out that sensory sensitivities can vary among individuals, and those with such sensitivities may find it challenging to cope with loud noises and disturbances that negatively affect their quality of life. She states that it would be unfortunate if a portion of the community would refrain from visiting a specific area of town due to such issues. As a counsellor, McGregor has received direct inquiries from many residents about this issue.
