The community of Hay River is located on the southern shore of Great Slave Lake and home to nearly 3,700 residents. The community is the final stop for the railroad, but is the launching point for many supply barges that reach communities along the Mackenzie Delta all the way up to the Arctic Ocean during the summer months. Hay River was the first Northwest Territories community connected to the rest of Canada in 1948 when a gravel road was built connecting it to Grimshaw, AB.

The community hosts an annual Pond Hockey Tournament where up to ten sheets of ice are cleared for a weekend of 4 on 4 games. Amenities in Hay River include a full service hospital, grocery stores, banks, numerous restaurants, a brand new arena, a swimming pool, multiple recreational sport leagues and countless trails to enjoy the outdoors. 

There are three schools in Hay River providing classes from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 in both English and French.