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.
At a presentation to city council on Wednesday, Jeremy Flatt requested that the city endorse a resolution calling for a proportional representation model for federal elections. If city coucnillors decide to support the request, Yellowknife could become the first city in Canada to endorse the alternative federal voting system. Flatt said that some have called it a “more democratic” system.
After more than two decades of operations the Diavik diamond mine announced that it has officially closed production. The mine in operation for over 20 years northeast of the city of Yellowknife processed its last truck of ore on Tuesday.
Leah McShane, a Yellowknife high school student, was just named a Loran Scholar for 2026, out of more than 5,400 applicants across the country. The student from École Sir John Franklin High School made it through four selection rounds to receive the award. “With a little bit of work you can do anything you set your mind to,” said McShane, who hopes she can inspire more youth to follow their dreams.
A new pilot program will connect fluent Indigenous languages speakers to interpreter roles at the N.W.T Legislative Assembly. The pilot program will run from May 2026 to March 2027, with one applicant selected for each of the N.W.T.’s official Indigenous languages: Dene Kǝdǝ́ (North Slavey), Dëne Sųłıné (Chipewyan), Dene Zhatıé (South Slavey), Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik (Gwich’in), Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun andTłı̨chǫ.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is reminding residents that dumping garbage, appliances, or construction materials on public land is harmful to the environment and to wildlife and is illegal under territorial legislation.