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.
Shauit says his latest work blends Northern Indigenous and southern Indigenous Latin and African music. The artist is bringing ground-breaking fusions created in collaboration with musicians from Turtle Island’s North, Quebec, Mexico and France to Folk On The Rocks in Yellowknife. “To go to more places that Innu music didn't go before. To show my nation, to show young artists that they can do whatever they want,” explains the artist, who is originally from Maliotenam.
The town of Hay River has once again been named a finalist in the 2026 Community Challenge.Just last year, Hay River not only picked up the title of the most active community in N.W.T. but also nabbed $15,000 in prize funding support for local physical activity and sport initiatives. And in 2024, Hay River won the top prize in the national challenge, picking up $100,000 in prize funding.
In the Dehcho region, Wildland crews reported that while some areas remain problematic, direct attack methods on FS016, south of Liidlii Kue and Fort Simpson were effective on Tuesday. In Wrigley, response efforts were overwhelmed by conditions and poor visibility. In the South Slave region, a wildfire located about 20 km from Hay River has been 90 per cent contained following nearly two weeks of active response.
A series of traffic signal maintenance and hardware upgrades are set to begin Thursday at intersections throughout the city of Yellowknife. The work is scheduled to continue until July 31. City staff said during the three week period, temporary traffic signal interruptions can be anticipated.
AVENS in Yellowknife has recently received a special accreditation for meeting a bar of care set by an independent national committee. While about 7,800 organizations across the country have a similar accreditation, about 55 organizations in the territory currently hold this type of accreditation. The AVENS Community for Seniors in Yellowknife received accreditation under the Qmentum Long Term Care program.