Northwest Territories

Town Hall meetings with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are being planned for the city of Yellowknife and the town of Inuvik this month. Strategic Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek says the meetings are focused on  dual-use infrastructure defence investments, including the "modernization" of the North American Aerospace Defence Command.

Hay River RCMP has taken a suspect into custody following a reported firearm incident last week.

A number of municipal buildings in Fort Smith show elevated levels of lead in water, according to initial testing results announced on Friday. It is unclear how many buildings are affected but offiicals said more information would be made public in the coming days. “We would like to inform residents that recent water testing at Town facilities has found lead levels that require follow-up and action,” read a message posted by officials on the town’s site.

The territorial government says another three school sites showed elevated levels of lead in drinking water after testing earlier this month. With 32 tested school results announced to date, 26 have tested positive for elevated levels of lead in some of their drinking water fixtures.

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has announced the launch of the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation at Stanton Territorial Hospital. The program aims to help smokers get care while in hospital, and afterwards.  

YWCA NWT is in the planning phases for a new multi-purpose space that would include more than 20 family-sized affordable housing units, along with affordable daycare. Alayna Ward with the YWCA said the new facility is planned to be similar to Gotı̨ li Kǫ̀ in Yellowknife, a multi-use facility with family housing units the YWCA opened in 2023. The organization wants to build the proposed multi-use facility on the lot by Boston Pizza where the daycare was planned to open this spring.

Northwest Territories Member of Parliament Rebecca Alty highlighted an investment of over $95,000 into three organizations in the NWT under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund.

The Aurora College Board of Governors has appointed a new Interim President while they continue their search for a candidate to fill the role full time. Dr. Nora Houlahan will be taking the position starting on May 4, with Dr. Heather McCagg-Nystrom continuing as Acting President until that time.  

“As this mine closes, our message to workers is simple: you are not on your own,” says Minister Caitlin Cleveland. On Tuesday, the Diavik Diamond Mine processed its last truck of ore. More than 1,100 workers from the N.W.T. were employed at the mine in operation for over 20 years. About 200 workers will continue their roles on site as part of active closure in 2026.