On March 28th, 2022, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released the first free mental health and wellness resource box to NWT Youth and organizations who work with youth as a part of the My Voice, My Choice Campaign for Youth Wellness. Since then, three additional, themed boxes have been released. The boxes include a variety of health and mental wellness resources as well as individual and group activities like colouring sheets, carving kits, beading, and more from northern-based artists.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will conduct in-person engagement sessions to better understand the needs of residents as they get older, and to help identify and address gaps in services for seniors living in the NWT.

Engagement sessions will occur throughout October. For more information on location and dates, please visit:

On October 5th, the Government of Northwest Territories will release its fourth free mental health and wellness subscription box to NWT Youth. These boxes are being made available as part of the My Voice My Choice Campaign for Youth Wellness. The boxes include a variety of health and mental wellness resources, including topic-specific materials, as well as individual and group activities such as colouring sheets and activity kits by northern-based artists. The boxes are available directly to youth and to organizations who work with youth.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the NWT Literacy Council are extending the nomination deadline for the annual NWT Ministerial Literacy Awards to November 30, 2022.

These awards honour the literacy achievements of youth and adult learners, exceptional educators, and organizations and businesses across the territory.

Up to eight ministerial literacy awards can be given each year. Ministerial Literacy Awards include:

A single case of animal Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in the Northwest Territories.
The case was in a herring gull found in Yellowknife’s Niven Lake neighbourhood. The bird was submitted by an individual to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources North Slave Regional Office in mid-June. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicated the positive result in September.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is accepting proposals for its NWT Arts Council Grants from artists and organizations planning visual, literary, media and performing arts projects, artwork, or events in the Northwest Territories (NWT) from April 2023 to March 2024.

The application deadline is October 31, 2022 at 5 p.m.

The maximum funding amount is $15,000 and funding must be spent by March 31, 2024.

This funding supports and encourages the ongoing professional development, artistic work, and public presentation on a project-specific basis.

The GNWT plans to test blood samples from NWT residents to look for antibodies that developed from natural infection and immunization to the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Chief Public Health Officer will work in partnership with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, and Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency, to collect discarded blood samples of NWT residents going back to April 1, 2022.

Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) will be hosting several events in October with local artist Cathie Harper to promote her exhibit of handcrafted woven creations called ‘Interwoven’.

October 1: Boxboard Ornaments Workshops

Learn basic weaving techniques and how to make boxboard ornaments with Cathie. Two sessions are available for registration at 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 pm, with limited drop-in space also available. This event is free of charge.

Immunization against Monkeypox is now available to eligible NWT residents.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends the Imvamune® vaccine be offered to people who may have, or have had, high-risk exposures to the rare, viral disease.

Imvamune® is approved by Health Canada for immunization against smallpox, as well as Monkeypox and other related diseases in adults 18 years of age and older. It is not a treatment for Monkeypox. The vaccine is used to protect against infection and disease.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will conduct an emergency exercise at the Norman Wells Airport on Thursday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Airport staff and first responders in the community will test their emergency response plan in a crashed aircraft scenario. The goal is to ensure that all responding agencies are well prepared and coordinated in the event of a real emergency.

There may be large amounts of black smoke coming from the airport during this time.