Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
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| Norman Wells Tåegõhtî   Norman Wells
|
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| — Town — | |
| Motto: Where Adventures Begin | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories |
| Region | Sahtu Region |
| Constituency | Sahtu |
| Census division | Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories |
| Incorporated (town) | 12 April 1992 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Peter Wilfred Guther |
| - Senior Administrative Officer | Ian Fremantle |
| - MLA | Norman Yakeleya |
| Area | |
| - Land | 93.28 km² (36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 761 |
| - Density | 8.2/km² (21.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| Canadian Postal code | X0E 0V0 |
| Area code(s) | 867 |
| Telephone exchange | 587 |
| Sources: Community Governance Data List[1] 2006 Canada Census[2], Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre[3], Canada Flight Supplement[4] |
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Norman Wells (Slavey language: Tåegõhtî "where there is oil") is the regional centre for the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The town is situated on the north side of the Mackenzie River and provides a view down the valley of the Franklin and Richardson Mountains.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2006 Census the town has a population of 761, which is a decrease of -1.8% from the revised 2001 Census figure of 775.[6] 300 people identified as aboriginal,[2] and of these, 165 were First Nations, 110 were Métis and 25 were Inuit.[7]
The main languages in the town are North Slavey and English.[5]
75.7% of the population is 15 and older, with the median age being 31, which slightly less than the NWT average of 76.1% and 31.2.[2]
[edit] History
Oil was first seen by Alexander MacKenzie during his exploration of the river in 1789 but it was not until 1911 that an oil bearing formation was discovered. Imperial Oil, a major employer in the town, was established in the area in 1937 with a refinery built in 1937.[5]
During the Second World War, Norman Wells was deemed important as a source of oil for military operations in Alaska and the Yukon. The Canol Road and pipeline project was undertaken to enable the piping of oil to Whitehorse, with the flow starting in 1944. Although Norman Wells crude was light and easily flowed at temperatures as low as -62 °C (-80 °F), the line did not work well and was shut down shortly after the war ended. The road, which began at Canol Camp across the river, was abandoned.[5][8]
The Norman Wells Proven Area Agreement of 1944 is a partnership between Imperial Oil and the federal government (administered by the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) that has lasted to this day. The completion of an oil pipeline from Norman Wells to Zama City resulted in increased activity.
[edit] Aboriginal people
The Norman Wells Metis, an Métis group which is signatory to the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, are currently negotiating self-government powers and recently signed a framework agreement towards a new treaty.
[edit] Transportation
Norman Wells is accessible by navigating the Mackenzie River, in summer, or by driving over the winter ice road, December to March, that connects with Wrigley and Fort Simpson.[5] The most common method of travel into Norman Wells is by air via the Norman Wells Airport and the town is connected with both Yellowknife and Inuvik.[5] Scheduled flights are provided by Canadian North and North-Wright Airways. In the summer floatplane access to the town is possible at the Norman Wells Water Aerodrome. There is an annual sealift to the town by Northern Transportation Company Limited from Hay River.[5] Other aviation companies that have a presence in the community include Canadian Helicopters and Sahtu Helicopters.[9]
[edit] Services
Services include a three member Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and a health centre with three nurses and a dental clinic. There is a branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and two grocery stores including the Northern, along with four hotels and six restaurants. Phone service is provided by Northwestel with satellite Internet access available through their Netkaster service.[10] Mobile phone services are available through NMI Mobility.[11][12] Former Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, has a consulting service, Mountain Dene Ventures, in the town.[9]
[edit] Education
The community is part of the Sahtu Divisional Education Council and they operate, through the Norman Wells District Education Authority, the "Mackenzie Mountain School".[13][14] The school, which has an enrollment of 150, provides education from Kindergarten to Grade 12.[15][16] Aurora College has a presence in the community with a community learning centre and a career centre.[12][11]
[edit] Climate
Norman Wells has a subarctic climate with summer lasting for about three months. Although winter temperatures are usually below freezing, every month of the year has seen temperatures above zero. Rainfall averages 166.0 mm (6.5 in) and snowfall 153.4 cm (60.4 in). On average, there are 102.5 days, October to April, when the wind chill is below -30, which indicates that frostbite may occur within 10 - 30 minutes. There is an average of 44.6 days, November to April, when the wind chill]] is below -40, which indicates that that frostbite may occur within 5 - 10 minutes.[17][18]
| Weather averages for Norman Wells Airport, NWT | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.8 (53) | 7.9 (46) | 11.1 (52) | 20.0 (68) | 31.1 (88) | 33.5 (92) | 35.0 (95) | 32.4 (90) | 27.1 (81) | 20.8 (69) | 13.3 (56) | 5.7 (42) | 35.0 (95) |
| Average high °C (°F) | -22.6 (-9) | -20.2 (-4) | -12.5 (10) | 0.3 (33) | 12.3 (54) | 20.7 (69) | 22.6 (73) | 19.2 (67) | 11.1 (52) | -2.1 (28) | -15.8 (4) | -21.2 (-6) | -0.7 (31) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -22.6 (-9) | -20.2 (-4) | -12.5 (10) | -11.9 (11) | 0.7 (33) | 9.2 (49) | 11.3 (52) | 8.3 (47) | 1.9 (35) | -8.4 (17) | -22.9 (-9) | -28.9 (-20) | -10.4 (13) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -52.2 (-62) | -54.4 (-66) | -46.1 (-51) | -37.2 (-35) | -17.8 (-0) | -2.8 (27) | -1.1 (30) | -6.1 (21) | -15.7 (4) | -31.7 (-25) | -42.8 (-45) | -47.8 (-54) | -54.4 (-66) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 17.0 (0.7) | 13.6 (0.5) | 11.5 (0.5) | 11.9 (0.5) | 21.0 (0.8) | 40.8 (1.6) | 41.0 (1.6) | 41.6 (1.6) | 31.2 (1.2) | 26.5 (1) | 16.4 (0.6) | 18.2 (0.7) | 290.7 (11.4) |
| Source: Environment Canada [18] | |||||||||||||
[edit] References
- ^ Community Governance Data List
- ^ a b c Canada Census, Norman Wells
- ^ Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 10 April 2008 to 0901Z 5 June 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Norman Wells profile
- ^ Population and dwelling count amendments
- ^ Aboriginal identity population by age groups, median age and sex, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities) - 20% sample data
- ^ Norman Wells, Bureau of Statistics
- ^ a b Doing Business in Norman Wells
- ^ NetKaster Expands High Speed Internet Coverage in the NWT
- ^ a b Northwestel
- ^ a b Infrastructure
- ^ Sahtu Divisional Education Council
- ^ Community Groups
- ^ Mackenzie Mountain School at the SDEC
- ^ Official school site
- ^ Wind Chill Hazards and Risk of Frostbite
- ^ a b Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000. Retrieved on 15 March, 2008.
