The Sights and Sounds of Yellowknife

Aerial View of Yellowknife. 1

HISTORY & ECONOMY

	A Kayak on the Great Slave Lake. 2

Yellowknife was first settled in 1935, when two prospectors canoed down the Yellowknife River via Great Slave Lake and found gold deposits. A tent city sprung up immediately, with a contagious gold fever attracting a future generation of residents as well as big business. Gold production continued to dominate the local economic field throughout the 1940s and the town continued to grow. Overcrowding led to a serious strain on infrastructure and a new town site began construction in 1947. Old Town sits on a peninsula that extends out to Yellowknife Bay and is primarily residential, with several older businesses remaining in their original locations. New Town houses the downtown core, with office buildings and government institutions. Yellowknife became the territorial capital in 1967, giving it an economic boost when the Comissioner and staff relocated to the town. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1970. The name Yellowknife represents the copper blades of the knives carried by local First Nations settlers, the Dene people.

The gold industry wound down during the 1990s and today, the gold mines are no longer operating, but the region's rich mineral deposits still contribute to its thriving economic base. Government activity is also significant, with a prominent legislative sector. Tourism is a major employer, with visitors from all over the world coming to experience the climate, culture and traditional lifestyle.

GEOGRAPHY

The city is located in the Canadian Shield region, 512 km (318 mi) south of the Arctic Circle. It borders the mouth of Great Slave Lake, with the Yellowknife River winding northward. Its geographic location is fairly isolated from the nearest big cities, with Edmonton, Alberta about 1,000 km (621 mi) south and Whitehorse in the Yukon Territories approximately 1,100 km (683 mi) southwest.

Yellowknife's isolation contributes to its culture, unlike any other in Canada. Recreation plays a large role in the lives of locals, with the weather and terrain perfect for hockey, cross-country skiing, curling and skating, while wilderness adventure companies revel in their role of showing visitors the untamed beauty of their homeland.

Yellowknife's Mining Industry is a Major Regional Employer.3

CULTURE

The Arts
The city's emerging art scene contributes to its distinct personality. The Northern Arts and Cultural Center hosts theatrical productions from local, national and international groups, such as the renowned Montreal Symphony Orchestra, while the Birchwood Gallery proudly displays pieces by local and Canadian artisans. Paintings of the local landscape, Inuit stone carvings, handmade baskets, caribou-skin accessories and parkas are some souvenirs that capture the mystic land's spirit.

Events
Several of Yellowknife's annual events involve cultural celebrations and attract visitors from places like Canada, United States, and even Japan. Folk on the Rocks takes place during the third weekend in July on the shores of Long Lake. This weekend-long music festival has been a tradition since 1980 and also features a food fair with traditional cuisine as well as Art on the Rocks, where visitors can purchase locally made crafts. The Midnight Classic Golf Tournament occurs during the June 21 weekend, when the sun stays up for 24 hours. The tee-off is at midnight, then players compete for as long as they last in this marathon golfing event. The historic Yellowknife Golf Club is the venue for the tournament and curious ravens and black bears are a trademark of this 18-hole sand course.

Cuisine
Yellowknife's regional cuisine is a reflection of the climate, flora and fauna, as well as the people. Caribou is a traditional ingredient, showing up in everything from soups to meatloaf to jerky. Fresh caught fish is also a staple, along with traditional bannock and musk-ox chops. These ingredients often show up in game fondues and hot soups and chowders. The Wildcat Cafe captures the spirit of the gold rush in a log cabin that was constructed in 1937. It served the growing community during the 1940s but was forced to close in 1951 due to competition in the New Town area. Thanks to diligent protests, the building was renovated and reopened in 1979 as a fully functioning restaurant. It is now a major tourist attraction and earned a heritage designation in 1992. The menu is a showcase of regional cuisine, with dishes like muskaboo stew (musk-ox and caribou), smoked northern char fettuccine and the ever-popular buffalo burgers. The Gold Range Bar is legendary in northern Canada and attracts the rowdy locals and adventurous tourists. A series of exaggerated stories and whispered urban myths are circulated about the bar, which is constantly full with musical performances and plenty of beer. This is as close as one gets to a wild west saloon and the local patrons are proud of their watering hole.

CLIMATE

Yellowknife's climate is categorized as semi-arid subarctic, with long cold and dry winters that leave frost on the ground until springtime. Because Yellowknife is in the rain shadow of western mountain ranges, the city can expect less than 300 mm (12 in) of annual rainfall. Its location at Great Slave Lake, gives the city a unusually long frost-free growing season of about 100 days during the relatively short summer. April is the driest month and August is the wettest. January temperatures range from -22°C to -30°C (-9°F to -24°F) and July warms up at 12°C to 21°C (54°F to 70°F).

	The Ice Road Closed During the Summer Thaw.4

TRANSPORTATION

The Yellowknife Airport is the busiest in the region, with service to Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver via Air Canada. Several northern carriers provide flights to surrounding destinations such as Cambridge Bay, Hay River and Snare Lake.

Yellowknife Transit provides city bus service, with three regular and two express routes, with stops throughout the city. There is no service on Sundays and statutory holidays and buses run from 6:30am to 7:15pm Monday through Friday with limited Saturday service. Frontier Coachlines provides service in and out of the city and connects with Greyhound lines at Hay River.

The Yellowknife Highway (Hwy 3) joins the Mackenzie Highway and winds around Great Slave Lake into Yellowknife from the west. The Ingram Trail (Hwy 4) joins Hwy 3 at the northeast corner of town before winding northward. Both are all-weather roads open year round and maintained by the government.

The most famous road in town is Ragged Ass Road, located in the northeast corner of Yellowknife. The road was named by Lou Rocher and is a joking expression of his fruitless summer working in Yellowknife. Several friends fashioned a sign that was officially adopted by the city. It became a popular street name and the sign was frequently stolen, until it was welded onto a post. Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane named an album after the road. Replica signs are sold to tourists in many of the city's shops.

The Mackenzie River can also be used for transportation in and out of Yellowknife. It is the longest river in Canada and can be navigated by ferry between mid-May and late December. When the ice is solid, late December to mid-April, an ice road is used to cross the river and allows for a unique transportation method.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Yellowknife accommodations range from luxurious full-service hotels to lodges to cozy inns.

The Explorer Hotel is the largest in Yellowknife, located at the city's entrance. This high-end hotel has hosted HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Jean Chretien and actor Leonard Nimoy. The rooms offer panoramic views of local attractions like Niven Lake, Back Bay, Frame Lake and the Legislative Assembly.

The Coast Frasier Tower provides an all-suites hotel in a central location. This pet-friendly lodging offers private balconies, full kitchenettes and long-term accommodations. A fitness facility with a steam room are also available for guests.

A local favourite, the Yellowknife Inn represents the city's charm in a simple hospitable hotel. Located within the Center Square Mall, the inn offers seven types of accommodations. The hotel lobby leads right into the mall where visitors can explore a variety of restaurants, shops and services.

Of course, the Gold Range Hotel is another popular option, with many travellers seeking the legend of the wild west, locally known as the "Strange Range." The infamous tavern is the main amenity and the hotel's rooms are full of local history.

The Night Sky is Lit by the Majestic Northern Lights.5

ATTRACTIONS

The city's diamond industry is a major tourist attraction. Although the actual mines are located 300 km (186 mi) northwest of the city, a visitor's center is located in town. At Diavik Diamonds, guests can bask in the glow of the locally-mined rocks. Diamond cutting and polishing demonstrations are held in order to entertain and educate guests. Brilliant diamond souvenirs can also be purchased at this specialty attraction.

For a dose of northern Canadian history, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Center provides a source of information in a scenic lakeside location. The First Nations people who shaped the community are celebrated here, with cultural displays like a moose skin boat, landscape paintings, archives and clothing.

For the youngest explorers, John A's Paleo Emporium is a must-see, with child-friendly paleontology exhibits. Fossils, bones and dinosaur toys are some major attractions, displayed in an educational fashion.

Yellowknife is surrounded by a seemingly endless stretch of rolling tundra and untouched landscape. Venturing outside the city is worthwhile and plentiful guided tours are available for visitors to experience the secluded natural wonderland. Aurora Village, located half an hour outside town, within the Aurora Oval is the world's premier Northern Lights viewing spot. Outdoor activities include ice fishing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and caribou viewing. At night, visitors can experience the most spectacular natural light show in the world, sheltered by a community of tepees and warmed up by hot drinks and traditional snacks.

1. Aerial City View; Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
2. Great Slave Lake; Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
3. Regional Mines; Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
4. Closed Ice Road; Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
5. Northern Lights; Yellowknife, NWT, Canada