Yellowknife

Wildland Urban Interface Program Launches, Strengthening Community Safety

Today, a new tool in the Northwest Territories wildfire and community emergency response toolkit was unveiled. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), in partnership with the Northwest Territories Fire Chiefs Association, is implementing a new territorial-wide Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) program.

The program advances the GNWT’s mandate of safer communities and directly addresses a key gap identified in the 2023 wildfire operations review: the need for stronger integration between wildland and structural firefighting during community wildfire threats.

New funding streams under the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund

The Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund now has three distinct funding streams: the Major Projects Fund, the Minor Projects Fund, and the Developmental (Needs Assessment) Projects Fund.

The new funding streams simplify the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund application process and help create new licensed early learning and child care spaces. Funding priority will be given to communities with limited or non-existent early learning and child care programming.

Minister Jay Macdonald, Minister Caitlin Cleveland, and Minister Caroline Wawzonek applaud the launch of the Regional Database and Major Project Review Tool

Minister Jay Macdonald, Minister Caitlin Cleveland, and Minister Caroline Wawzonek issued the following statements today in response to the launch of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board’s new Regional Database and Major Project Review Tool.

Minister Jay Macdonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Applications for Northwest Territories Youth Water Stewardship and Mentorship Grant Program Now Open

Apply now for the Northwest Territories Youth Water Stewardship and Mentorship Grant Program, designed to empower young leaders in water stewardship. This program, offered annually, provides funding opportunities for youth aged 18 to 30 to lead community projects and events that support the vision and goals of Northern Voices, Northern Waters: The NWT Water Stewardship Strategy. This year’s deadline to apply is June 26, 2026, so don’t delay.

Bears are Back! Be Bear Aware.

Bears are active in the NWT. We’re reminding everyone that avoiding bear encounters starts with you. Residents can take quick and easy steps to practice bear safety this season.

Don’t invite them in! 
Avoiding encounters starts with not inviting bears to your home, cabin, or community. Attractants are almost always the cause. Negative encounters are more likely when bears are in populated areas, and if bears get habituated to human food and garbage, they are more likely to stay close to people and less likely to stay in the wild. 

Deadline extended – Apply to be a Legal or Medical Member of the NWT Mental Health Act Review Board

The deadline has been extended for legal and medical professionals to apply to serve on the NWT Mental Health Act Review Board.

The Board reviews matters involving involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act. Members bring legal or medical expertise to support fair and timely hearings.

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