Susan Jackson (formerly Susan Milligan) moved to Yellowknife in 1965 to work for the federal government. She developed a personal interest in the history of Yellowknife, and in 1983 became the City's coordinator for the 1984 Yellowknife Homecoming, a 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the community. As a result of gathering materials for this project, she founded the Yellowknife Local History Project. In 1986, Susan moved to Sechelt, British Columbia, with the materials she had collected for the Yellowknife Homecoming and the Yellowknife Local History Project, There she began compiling and editing the materials for a book entitled "Yellowknife, N.W.T.: An Illustrated History." Susan Jackson was an active participant in many community groups and was involved in founding an organization dedicated to establishing a search and rescue operation in the Northwest Territories.
Richard Henry Baines was born August 29, 1892 in Wiltshire, England. He immigrated to Canada ca. 1910 and married Eva Manning Lewington. The couple had two children, Geoffrey and Richard Francis. Baines appears to have been employed by International Harvester for a number of years. In 1938, he conducted a study on methods of transportation for International Harvester Ltd. of Edmonton. For this study, Baines traveled to Goldfields, Saskatchewan, northern Alberta, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Yellowknife, Port Radium and Coppermine (Kugluktuk). During World War II, he lived in Fort St. John and was involved in the construction of the Alaska Highway in the United States Engineering Department. He died November 10, 1972.
Claire Barnabe was born on November 13, 1940 in Eastview (now Vanier), Ontario. She attended Our Lady of the Presentation in Overbrook for elementary school and Eastview High School in Vanier for secondary school. Claire was a member of the religious order of Holy Cross for four years. She attended Ottawa Teachers' College and obtained a permanent Ontario Teachers' Certificate. She taught at an elementary school in Alexandria, Ontario, Iona Academy in St. Raphael’s West, Ontario, for the Catholic School Board in Montreal, and for the Separate School Board in Ottawa before moving north.
In 1965, she accepted a teaching position at Fort Franklin (now Deline), where she worked until 1967. During her time in Deline, she was also Secretary of the Community Club. In 1968, after spending a year in the south and touring Europe, Claire returned to the north to work as a teacher in Fort Providence. She was also President of the Community Club there and Chairman of the NWT Centennial Planning Committee for Fort Providence.
In 1969, she left her teaching position in Fort Providence and moved to Norman Wells where she worked at the Mackenzie Mountain Lodge. She moved back to Fort Providence later that year to work for Alex Arychuk, also in the hotel business. In the 1970 Territorial election, she ran as a candidate for the Lower Mackenzie riding. Following her defeat in the election, she applied to work as a Settlement Manager.
In May 1971, she accepted the position of settlement manager in Port Burwell on Killinek Island, where she remained until May 1973. After a very brief time as Settlement Manager at Large for the Baffin Region, she became the Settlement Manager at Repulse Bay (now Naujaat, Nunavut). Also in 1973, she was appointed to be a member of the NWT Historical Advisory Board. In 1974, Claire returned to Norman Wells as Settlement Manager there. She ran in the 1975 Territorial election and the 1976 by-election for the riding of Mackenzie Great Bear, but was defeated both times.
She took leave from the GNWT in 1976 to work on a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Carleton University, Ottawa. In 1978, she joined Bud Drury’s office as a policy analyst. She ran again in the 1979 Territorial election for the riding of Yellowknife Centre and was again defeated. Claire remained in the north for many more years, before retiring to the south.
George Clinton Buffum was born August 13, 1896, in Table Grove, Illinois, United States. His family later moved to Teulon, Manitoba. George lied about his age and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and then served with the Canadian military in World War I. Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, he moved to Behchoko (formerly Fort Rae).
By 1934, Buffum was the manager of the Northern Traders Ltd. trading post. This trading post, which had been purchased from Hislop and Nagle in 1912, operated in Behchoko until 1938. Upon its closure, Buffum went to work for or with James ‘Jim’ Darwish, an independent trader based in Behchoko since 1925.
George Buffum married Louise Evelyn (born 1908, birth surname unknown) on July 8, 1934, in Behchoko. George and Louise met when she had been a nurse for George's ailing father. Louise and George corresponded for a few years before Louise moved to Behchoko and they were married.
The Buffum home often served as a stop over for many pilots and their passengers and consequently the Buffums were well known by many of the northern bush pilots.
George and Louise’s daughter Marylyn "Lyn" G. Buffum (married name Marylyn Orchuk, later Marylyn Orchuk-Payne) was born in Edmonton on January 28, 1936. Louise and Lyn stayed in the south until the summer of 1937, when they moved back to Behchoko.
George Buffum ran the trading post after Jim Darwish moved to Edmonton in 1941. At some point between 1938 and 1944, Buffum and Darwish became business partners. Buffum then became the sole proprietor of the trading post following Darwish’s death in 1944. Buffum continued to operate the trading post in Behchoko until his departure from the community.
The Buffum family moved south in 1946 because of George’s concerns for Lyn’s education. In 1947, Buffum rented the trading post and his former house to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for the department to operate a Day School and provide a furnished teacher’s residence. In 1948, Buffum sold his property, including chattels, to the same federal department.
George Buffum continued to visit the north in the summers until approximately 1951 or 1952.
George Clinton Buffum died September 18, 1968. Louise Evelyn Buffum died in 1979. Marylyn ‘Lyn’ Orchuk-Payne died July 26, 2019.
Henry George Cook was born on October 12, 1906 in Walthamstow, England. At the age of 23, he began his studies for the ministry at Huron College and the University of Western Ontario, where he obtained a degree in theology and a Bachelor of Arts degree. Cook met fellow student Opal May Thompson who became his wife on June 4, 1935 in St. Thomas ON. She passed away in 1987. Cook began his ministry in 1935 in the Northwest Territories at Fort Simpson. He later became archdeacon of James Bay and in 1949 became superintendent of the Indian School Administration in Ottawa, which oversaw Anglican residential schools. The position lasted 15 years and in 1963 Cook was consecrated as the first bishop suffragan of the Diocese of the Arctic with responsibilities for the Athabasca district and later the Mackenzie River area district. After his retirement in 1974, he assisted in establishing the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. The centre opened in 1979 and the NWT Archives Reading Room is named in Cook's honour. In 1979, Cook finally retired to Stittsville, Ontario. He died in Ottawa, Ontario on October 18, 1995.
John Firth came to the North in the 1870s as a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) employee. His service with the HBC included time as manager of the Fort McPherson Post. Among his experiences were varieties of conflicts among the Indigenous people, which he helped to resolve. Following John Firth's retirement in 1921, the management of his HBC post was passed on to family members, first son-in-law Jack Parsons and later John Firth's son William. Wally Firth, grandson of John Firth, was elected New Democratic Party (NDP) representative to the Canadian Federal Parliament in the 1970s and was the first Indigenous person to be elected to the Parliament of Canada.
Until 1964, all Girl Guides of Canada activities in the Northwest Territories were under the jurisdiction of either the Alberta Council that controlled Girl Guide activities in the Western Arctic, or the Quebec Council that oversaw activities in the Franklin and Keewatin Districts. In 1965, after lobbying from Local Guiding Associations within the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, the Girl Guides of Canada organization created the Yukon and Northwest Territories Council, which assumed responsibility for all guiding activities throughout the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
In 1965, there were 64 groups of guides and\or brownies in the Northwest Territories and Yukon with a combined membership of 1,200. In 1966, the Yukon Territory was organized into one division with two districts and the Northwest Territories divided into three divisions: Mackenzie Division, Franklin Division and Keewatin Division. By 1968, the Yukon Division was still organized into two administrative districts, which had a combined membership of 350. The Northwest Territories Division had been sub-divided into eight districts with a combined membership of 1,356. The Northwest Territories districts were: Yellowknife, Great Slave Rapids, Southern Slave, Arctic Circle, Nunakput, Keewatin, Frobisher Bay and Baffin.
In 1974, the Yukon and Northwest Territories Council was divided into two distinct entities, the Yukon Council and the Northwest Territories Council. At that time, the Northwest Territories Council reorganized its districts, creating four new administrative divisions: Great Slave, Eastern Arctic, Midnight Sun and Keewatin. In 1983, the Keewatin Division was renamed the Central Arctic Division. In 1985, the Nunakput Division was created. In 1986, the Northwest Territories Council organized its activities into five administrative divisions: Kivaliq, Midnight Sun, Nunakput, Great Slave Lake and Eastern Arctic. In 1988, the Northwest Territories Council reorganized its divisions again, creating the Eastern Arctic, South Great Slave, North Great Slave, Kivaliq, Midnight Sun and Kitikmeot Divisions. In 1990, the Northwest Territories Council again reorganized its administrative body, creating the following divisions: Eastern Arctic, North Great Slave, South Great Slave, Kitikmeot and Midnight Sun.
Born in the 1850s in Bristol, England, Henry (Harry) William Jones went to sea as a boy, traveling to India and the Pacific. In 1898 Henry traveled to the Canadian north with a group of Englishmen for the Yukon gold rush, reaching Fort Smith before the death of the leader broke up the party. He remained in the Northwest Territories and worked intermittently for the Hudson’s Bay Company as a cook between 1898-1906. In Fort Simpson in February 1906 he retired from the HBC, was engaged to work for the St. Peter's Mission in Hay River, and in October 1906 he married Charlotte Sarcelle, a Dene woman from Fort Liard. They had five children: Edward Gabriel, Dora Virginia, Alfred, Henry and Frederick. The family seems to have lived in Hay River for years, but by 1921 had moved to Fort Resolution. An avid photographer, Jones also collected specimens and data along the Mackenzie Valley and adjacent Arctic coast, possibly for the Smithsonian and American Museum. In Fort Resolution, his last place of residence, he operated a machine shop and also did photography developing and printing. Henry Jones died of cancer in 1935.
Tom and Elizabeth McCallum (nee McCoubrey) operated the Yellowknife Lumber Company Ltd. sawmill, located near Fort Resolution, during the late 1930s and 1940s.
The Sport North Federation was incorporated under the Northwest Territories Society ordinance in 1976, to serve as a unifying body for all sports associations in the Northwest Territories. Its purpose is to administer and help raise funds for territorial involvement in the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Games and the Canada Games for the Disabled, as well as to promote amateur sport in the Northwest Territories. The member associations appoint its board of directors and the directors then elect a volunteer executive that is responsible for Sport North Federation operations and policies.
Sport North holds the agreement with the Sport, Recreation and Youth division of MACA (through the Sport and Recreation Council) to manage and deliver Team NWT to Arctic Winter Games. Through this agreement, Sport North coordinates the athlete selection process to create Team NWT, and coordinates Team NWT in getting to and participating in AWG.
On January 20, 1950 the federal Department of Mines and Resources was dissolved and three new departments were created: Resources and Development; Citizenship and Immigration; and the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys. The name changed again on October 19, 1966 to the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.
The federal Department of Mines and Resources was established on June 23, 1936 with the amalgamation of the Department of Mines, Department of the Interior, and the Department of Immigration and Colonization. The new department was divided into five branches: Mines and Geology; Lands, Parks, and Forests; Indian Affairs; Immigration; and Surveys and Engineering. In 1950, the name was changed to the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys with some of the department's functions absorbed by the newly created Department of Resources and Development.
From 1905 to 1967, the administration of the Northwest Territories was the responsibility of several different federal departments. From 1922 to 1953, various versions of the Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch were administered by the Department of the Interior (1922-1936) and the Department of Mines and Resources (1937-1953). During these years, this administration was run almost exclusively from Ottawa. In 1953, the branch concerned with the administration of the Northwest Territories, known at that time as the Northern Administration and Lands Branch, transferred to the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources. The Northern Administration and Lands Branch expanded rapidly in the 1950s and in 1959 it was renamed the Northern Administration Branch. This coincided with a reorganization of the responsibilities handled by the Branch. The responsibility for northern affairs was divided into six divisions: 1) Territorial Division; 2) Education Division; 3) Industrial Division; 4) Welfare Division; 5) Resources Division and 6) Engineering Division. In conjunction with this reorganization, a program of decentralization of the field operations of the Northern Administration Branch was enhanced by the creation of two new regional offices. The Administrator of the Mackenzie was stationed in Fort Smith, while the Administrator of the Arctic, stationed in Ottawa, was responsible for the Districts of Keewatin and Franklin, as well as Inuit affairs in arctic Quebec. In 1966, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development supplanted the Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources. In 1967, Yellowknife was established as the capital of the Northwest Territories and the transfer of responsibilities from the Northern Administration Branch to the Government of the Northwest Territories began. The transfer rendered the Northern Administration Branch obsolete and during 1968, the Territorial Relations Branch replaced it.
The North-West Mounted Police (the precursor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) formed in 1873 to control Canada's newly acquired western lands. Their work was confined to the Prairies for the first quarter century because that was where most of the white population was to be found. It was the discovery of gold in the Yukon that led to the movement north of Edmonton. In 1897, the North-West Mounted Police made its first patrol "north of sixty." From Dawson City, the patrols extended northwards to the Mackenzie Delta. Eventually police posts were established at Fort McPherson in 1903, Arctic Red River in 1926, and Aklavik in 1927. The Arctic Red River Post closed in 1969. In 1920, the North-West Mounted Police was amalgamated with the Dominion Police Force to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The duties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the Northwest Territories extended far beyond normal police work. Police work was limited for most of the time to registering firearms, arbitrating disputes about trap lines, and routine patrols of the district. On behalf of the Federal Government, the police issued licenses for many trading activities and collected the fees. These included trapping, hunting, trading and trafficking, trading post and timber licenses. The police also administered the income tax and fur export tax, collecting the revenues and issuing receipts. The records of births, marriages and deaths were collected and marriage licenses issued by the police. While on patrol they checked for cases of destitution or illness and made the necessary arrangements. They controlled the use of liquor permits in the Territories and issued licenses for radio receiving sets. Any government department, which operated in the Territories, used the RCMP as its local agents. In addition, they were expected to assist any northern research project. They recorded earthquakes, the prevalence of biting insects and the number of wild animals in their area. Explorers and scientists visiting the Arctic were also able to call for their assistance.
George Blondin was born at Horton Lake, north of Great Bear Lake, in May 1922, the son of Edward Blondin. In his early years George worked as a guide for surveyors on the Canol Pipeline project, and at Port Radium as well as a woodcutter, trapper and hunter. He later moved his family to the Yellowknife region and worked for Giant Mine. He served as Chief of the Deline (Fort Franklin) Band and as Vice President of the Dene Nation. He worked with the Dene Cultural Institute and wrote for northern newspapers, sharing political opinions and traditional stories, for which he was well known. George wrote several books on the Sahtu Dene, traditional medicine, and traditional stories, including 'When the World was New' (1990), 'Yamoria the Law Maker' (1997), and 'Trail of the Spirit: The Mysteries of Dene Medicine Power Revealed' (2006). In 1990, George Blondin was awarded the Ross Charles Award for Indigenous journalism, and in 2003 he was appointed a Member of Order of Canada for his work towards preserving the heritage of his people. George Blondin was married to Julie Blondin and had seven children: Evelyn, Ted, John, Tina, Georgina (Gina), Bertha and Walter (died in infancy). George died in 2008.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) was created in response to a 1972 report from a Northwest Territories Council Task Force on Housing. One of the recommendations in the report called for the creation of a housing corporation similar to the federal Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that would assume responsibility for all government-housing programs in the Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories Council approved the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Ordinance on October 10, 1972. Roy S. McClure was appointed as Advisor to the Corporation and preparations for the establishment of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation were initiated. The Territorial Housing Division of the Department of Local Government was subsequently dissolved and its personnel transferred to the new Corporation. Operations commenced on September 1, 1973, although the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation did not officially operate as a Crown Corporation of the Government of the Northwest Territories until Oct. 1, 1974.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is responsible for ensuring that an adequate supply and standard of housing is available to residents of the Northwest Territories. It provides financial assistance for the purchase, rental and construction of housing units through public housing projects, small settlement home assistance grants, rural and remote housing programs and non-profit and co-operative housing and mortgage programs. The Corporation provides support to local housing associations and authorities and encourages home ownership in the Northwest Territories. Between 1973-1983, it delivered the following programs: the Northern Rental Housing Program on behalf of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, which provided housing for aboriginal peoples; the Senior Citizens Housing program which aimed to provide adequate accommodation at adequate rates for seniors and the Public Housing program.
In 1982, the NWT Housing Corporation became independent from the Department of the Executive. Devolution of responsibility to community housing associations became one of their main objectives, as did training local people in property management operations within the communities.
The NWT Housing Corporation was reorganized in 1983; a Finance and Administration Division carried out the administration and planning of all financial matters relating to housing programs. The Property and Contract Management Division was accountable for the management, coordination and control of the Corporation's construction, preventative maintenance and property management systems. The Program, Planning and Research Division was responsible for the planning of new housing programs and the development and evaluation of policies and procedures. The Rental Housing Program was the central focus in 1984-85. It was aimed at families and individuals where alternative affordable housing was unavailable and provided support programs to encourage increased homeownership levels within the Northwest Territories. The Homeownership Assistance Program was developed to recognize this priority.
In 1986-87, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was made up of the Executive, Programs and Planning (Policy and Planning, Homeownership Programs and Rental Housing Programs), Finance and Administration, (Personnel and Administration section and Finance and Materials Management section) Construction/Development and District Operations. The Finance and Administration Division was responsible for the preparation and implementation of an Affirmative Action Plan to ensure the participation of aboriginal northerners in the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. District Operations provided direct support to communities in the delivery of the Corporation's Rental and Homeownership Programs. Specific training initiatives in the areas of Administration, Finance and Technical assistance were delivered through this activity to help community organizations operate efficiently.
Between 1987-88, the Housing Corporation was reorganized to include a Human Resources Program to ensure the affirmative action initiatives would be met and provide assistance to local housing organizations in the area of human resource management and development. The Finance and Administration Division was renamed Finance and Corporate Services at this time; its role expanded to provide financial management and accounting of the NWT Housing Corporation's financial and material resources.
The Programs and Planning Division became the Community and Programs Services Division between 1988-89. Its functions remained the same and central task was to monitor the operation of all Corporation programs and to ensure effective delivery in terms of government policy and direction. In the early 1990's, there was an urgent need to meet housing requirements for the growing population at both ends of the demographic scale. Consequently, the Policy and Evaluation Division was introduced in 1989-90. Its primary function was to draft the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Policy that would clarify the responsibilities of the Housing Corporation in meeting housing needs of Northwest Territories residents.
Two new program initiatives were introduced during 1991-92. The Access Program offered homeownership counseling, a home buy-back guarantee, supplementary financing and the sale of Homeownership Assistance Program units. The Rent Rebate Program enabled high income, public housing tenants to be reimbursed for a portion of rent payments made while completing or awaiting the delivery of their new homes.
Between 1992-1994, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation reorganized in order to deal with the removal of funding by the Federal Government through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Due to the funding cutbacks, the department focused on social housing for those most in need and homeownership was given a higher priority. The responsibility for GNWT housing was also transferred from the Department of Public Works and Services to the NWT Housing Corporation during this time. Because the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was taking on more responsibility, but had fewer financial resources, the Community Development Division was established to facilitate the transfer of greater levels of authority and accountability to housing programs in communities. The Amortization budget was also introduced to provide for payment of principal and interest on loans from Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The Local Housing Organizations Division was created and became responsible for the delivery and management of the Housing Corporation's rental housing programs at this time.
In 1996-97, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was downsized and restructured in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The goal was to make programs more community-development based, maximize the number of new homes built each year, reduce per unit costs of new homes and reduce utility costs in public housing. The Policy and Planning Division and Human Resources Division were joined to form the Policy and Human Resources Planning Division; however, these two functions became separate divisions again in 1998. The Operations Division (Operations West, Operations East) was created at this time and became responsible for developing and carrying out programs and technical support, training and assistance in the course of enabling community groups to deliver all housing programs at the local level.
The Controllership Division was created in 1997-98. This division became accountable for the loan and mortgages administration, debt payments and banking services, preparation of annual financial statements for the Housing Corporation and Amortization. This division was renamed the Finance Division in 1999-2000 and Amortization Activity was moved from the Finance Division to its own division between 1998-1999. This activity provided funding for repayment and interest on long-term loans from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Human Resources and Administration and Policy became two separate divisions in 1998 with the Policy Division being responsible for the development of Corporate policy and strategic planning, as well as representing the Housing Corporation on inter-departmental committees participating in GNWT initiatives. The Human Resources and Administration Division provided human resource advice and assistance to Local Housing Organizations through District Offices. Some of the activities of this section included recruitment and transfer of staff, classification of positions, labour relations advice, administration of employee pay and benefits, Human Resource Planning and employee assistance. This section was also responsible for records management for the Corporation, telecommunications and maintaining the Corporation's computer systems and services.
Between 2000-2001, the department underwent some minor organizational changes. The Policy Division was renamed Policy, Programs and Informatics to reflect the added responsibility for the Corporation's computer systems and services, as well as the development of new housing programs and provision of support, direction and training to the Local Housing Organizations. The Administration function from Human Resources and Administration Division was also transferred to the Finance Division at this time. The division was renamed the Finance and Administration Division.
In 1995, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services consolidated to form the Department of Health and Social Services. The mission of the Department of Health and Social Services is to promote, maintain and enhance the health and well being of individuals and families in the Northwest Territories. In doing so, it has sole or joint responsibility for the administration of the following Acts: Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act; Adoption Act; Change of Name Act; Child and Family Services Act; Child Welfare Act; Dental Auxiliaries Act; Dental Mechanics Act; Dental Profession Act; Disease Registries Act; Emergency Medical Aid Act; Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act (formerly Territorial Hospital Insurance Services Act); Human Tissue Act; Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act; Licensed Practical Nurses Act; Marriage Act; Medical Care Act; Medical Profession Act; Mental Health Act; Midwifery Profession Act; Nursing Profession Act; Ophthalmic Medical Assistants Act; Optometry Act; Personal Directives Act; Pharmacy Act; Psychologists Act; Public Health Act; Tobacco Control Act; Veterinary Profession Act; Vital Statistics Act.
The Department of Health and Social Services is responsible for programs related to: Adoption Management; Family Support and Child Protection Services; Community Wellness; Guardianship; Mental Health and Addictions; Environmental Health, Health Insurance Services; Licensing of Professionals; and reporting of health and illness related issues to the federal government. The Department also has responsibility for the office of the Chief Medical Health Officer, which is responsible for health and disease surveillance activities across the NWT, as well as prevention and disease control activities. Community Wellness programs are designed to provide funding to communities under health related programs such as: Aboriginal Head Start; AIDS Community Action Program ; Brighter Futures; Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program; Community Action Program for Children; Health Promotion Strategy Fund; Healthy Children Initiative; Hepatitis C Prevention; Population Health Fund. Environmental health provides for the delivery of various programs and services under the NWT Public Health Act and Regulations, and focuses on preventing disease and injury; promoting health; and improving the environment through the use of education, consultation, inspection, monitoring, and if necessary, by the enforcement of public health legislation.
The primary vehicles for the provision of health care are the eight Health and Social Services (HSS) Authorities which plan, manage and deliver a full spectrum of community and facility-based services for health care and social services. The eight Authorities are: Beaufort-Delta HSS Authority; Dehcho HSS Authority; Fort Smith HSS Authority; Hay River HSS Authority; Sahtu HSS Authority; Stanton Territorial Health Authority; Tlicho Community Services Agency; Yellowknife HSS Authority.
Organizationally the Department has under gone many reorganizations and realignments of its program delivery units and renaming of its divisions. In general, the organizational structures has tended to reflect departmental responsibilities and activities with divisions responsible for: directorate and finance support activities; policy, planning and reporting activities; community health issues, population health issues, territorial health services including insurance services and administration and support of the regional health authorities; child protection and family support services.
In the early 1870s, the Northwest Territories had the status of a colony and was governed by Ottawa. The Privy Council of Canada appointed the Commissioner who was responsible to the federal minister in charge of administering the northern territories when residents had no elected representation. In 1905, the Northwest Territories Act provided a four-member appointed Council to assist the Commissioner in administering the Northwest Territories, but no members were named until 1921. Under Sections 4 and 5 of the Northwest Territories Act, the Commissioner had sole Executive authority for the Government of the Northwest Territories subject to instructions that he was given by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs or the Governor in Council. Between 1905-1919, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had widespread power and influence extending from the community level to the senior levels of government. During this time the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. In 1919, the Deputy Minister of the Interior became the Commissioner, beginning a practice that lasted until 1963.
In 1964, the position of Commissioner became a full-time responsibility. The Territorial Government for the first time since 1905 opened offices completely separate from those of the Department of Northern Affairs.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the gradual transfer of power from the Commissioner to elected ministers was evident. In 1980, the Commissioner was still the formal head of government in the Northwest Territories and chaired the Executive Committee and the Financial Management Board. The Commissioner also had line responsibility for the Department of Finance and the Department of Information. In 1981, the role the Commissioner played in the governing of the Northwest Territories was changing. Although the authority of the Commissioner, as defined by the NWT Act remained unchanged, executive members to the Northwest Territories Council began to assume increased responsibility for departmental and executive functions. 1981 was the first year an elected member assumed senior financial departmental responsibilities. Following this partial reassignment of portfolios, the Commissioner retained direct responsibility for the Departments of Information and Personnel and continued to chair the Executive Committee and the Financial Management Board.
During the 1980s, the devolution of responsibilities from the Commissioner's office to elected ministers continued. The Departments of Information and Public Works administered by the Commissioner and Deputy-Commissioner, respectively became the responsibility of elected members of the Executive Council, and therefore all but the Department of Personnel was under ministerial control. The Minister of Finance assumed the chairmanship of the Financial Management Board and the Commissioner took over the deputy chairman's position. 1984 marked the first time that an elected Government Leader was chosen by the full caucus, and the first time that all eight of the Executive Council members were elected. The Commissioner continued to chair the Executive Council, with the Government Leader taking the role of deputy chairman. With the devolution of portfolios to elected ministers of the Executive Council, the Commissioner ceased sitting with members of the Legislature in committee of the whole. These steps represented recognition by Ottawa of the increased political maturity of the Government of the Northwest Territories and signified a process leading towards full responsible government.
In 1986, the Commissioner turned over the chairmanship of the Executive Council to the Government Leader. With this symbolic act, the Northwest Territories, in practice, achieved responsible government, as elected ministers took full responsibility for the conduct of government. Furthermore, the responsibility for the Department of Personnel, which was held by the Commissioner, was taken over by the Government Leader in 1986.
In 1988, the Commissioner and staff moved to new offices in the Courthouse building. The relocation represented a small but important constitutional step because the physical separation helped to define more clearly the distinct and differing functions of the Commissioner and Executive Council.
An important function that was consistent within the office of the Commissioner was the presence of the Commissioner within the lives of the people of the north. The Commissioner spent much time traveling to all communities in the north, which facilitated an on-going dialogue with residents in the communities. Travel provided an opportunity to meet with band and municipal councils, private groups and citizens and to hear individual and community concerns. The Commissioner was also present at many official openings and speaking engagements and toured the north with royalty, Prime Ministers and Governor-Generals of Canada. The office of the Commissioner also operates the Commissioner's Awards Committee. This committee considers nominations and makes recommendations to the Commissioner regarding awards, which are presented to people who have done an exceptional public service or by acts of bravery. Today the Commissioner's role is largely one of ceremony. The Commissioner continues to travel the north, grant the Commissioner's Award, opens each session of the Legislature and signs territorial bills.
The following were the Commissioners of the Northwest Territories: Adams G. Archibald (1870-1872), Alexander Morris (1872-1876), Hon. David Laird (1876-1881), Hon. Edgar Dewdney (1881-1888), Hon. Joseph Royal (1888-1893), C.H. Mackintosh (1893-1897), F.W.G. Haultain (1897-1905), Lt. Col. Frederick White (1905-1919), W.W. Cory (1919-1931), H.H. Rowatt (1931-1934), Dr. Charles Camsell (1936-1946), Dr. Hugh L. Keenleyside (1947-1950), Major-General Hugh A. Young (1950-1953), R.Gordon Robertson (1953-1963), B.G. Sivertz (1963-1967), Stuart M. Hodgson (1967-1979), John H. Parker (1979-1989), Daniel L. Norris (1989-1994), Helen Maksagak (1995-1999), Daniel Joseph Marion (1999-2000), Glenna F. Hansen (2000-2005), Anthony W.J. Whitford (2005-2010), George L. Tuccaro (2010-present).
The Northern Canada Power Commission was a federal Crown Corporation originally established in 1948 as the Northwest Territories Power Commission. Its name changed in 1956 to the Northern Canada Power Commission. In May 1988, its name was changed again to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation when it was transferred to the GNWT.
The Centennial Centre was established in February 1969 to help coordinate the celebration of 1970 as the centennial year of the Northwest Territories. In January 1969, the Council of the Northwest Territories approved the celebration of 1970 as the centennial of the Northwest Territories. A Centennial Planning Conference was held in February 1969 at which time delegates from across the Northwest Territories supported the primacy of the notion of community driven initiatives. Plans for local community events, Inter-Community and Territorial events were developed. The Centennial Centre, lead by E.A. Ballantyne as the Director General of Centennial was tasked with assisting with the planning and coordination of these events as well as managing and dispersing resources allocated by the Federal and Territorial Governments. The Centennial Centre also took the lead on territorial initiatives such the Centennial Newsletter, the Centennial Calendar, The Centennial Medallion, The Centennial Map and the Centennial Ball.
The Department of Transportation was created on April 1, 1989 when several programs and responsibilities that were delivered by three different departments were consolidated to form the Department of Transportation. From the former Department of Public Works and Highways came the Planning, Engineering, Highway Operations and Marine Operations Divisions. Arctic Airports came from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Motor Vehicles joined from the Department of Government Services. The decision to create a Department of Transportation recognized the central role of transportation in the economic growth and development of the Northwest Territories.
The Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning, design, construction or reconstruction, acquisition, operation and maintenance of the public transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories, including community airports and docks and the highway system, pursuant to devolved authorities and/or Memoranda of Understanding between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Federal Government and to regulate and license individuals and vehicles operating in the Northwest Territories.
The Directorate activity is responsible for the management of the Department of Transportation and to ensure consistent application of departmental policies, standards and procedures, and program delivery throughout the Northwest Territories. The Directorate is assisted in its management of the department by a Finance and Administration section, a Policy and Planning section and a regional office in Inuvik. The Finance and Administration section is responsible for the planning, forecasting, coordination and control of the department's financial requirements to ensure responsible budgetary, revenue and expenditure management. Its primary service is to advise managers in program administration. The Policy and Planning section advises the Directorate on transportation and public policy issues and is responsible for program planning within the department. The Directorate's key objectives are to increase northern and local employment and business development opportunities through the use of special approaches to the implementation of capital projects and maintenance programs. In addition, this activity negotiates with the Federal Government to implement on their behalf more of their transportation capital and maintenance projects to increase local and Northern involvement and to plan and provide administrative and management services with respect to information technology, financial management, personnel coordination, contract management and general administration. Furthermore, the Directorate coordinates the Department's involvement in national and international technical and scientific exchange programs and represents and advocates the interest of the Northwest Territories in national transportation legislation, policy, regulations and program planning. Due to the Government of the Northwest Territories commitment to decentralize the operations of the government, the Department of Transportation steadily extended and developed its regional presence and by 1994, it had established regional offices in all of the regional centers of the Northwest Territories. In 1993, the Marine Services Division was decentralized to Fort Simpson. Between 1996-1997, the Department was reorganized to reflect the changes that were brought about due to decentralization. At this time the Directorate Division was renamed Corporate Services to reflect the addition of a Regional Management section, Strategic Planning section, Environment Section and Engineering Design and Construction Section, which moved from the Transportation Engineering Division. In 2003-2004, a Communications and Public Affairs section was added to the Corporate Services Division.
The Transportation Engineering Division provides the Department with engineering expertise and technical support required for planning, design and construction of transportation facilities. It is responsible for establishing engineering standards, conducting engineering studies, providing advisory services and cost estimates and undertaking design and project management for transportation infrastructure projects for highway, marine and air facilities. This Division also plans and manages related transportation development projects on behalf of other departments, agencies and the Federal Government. In addition, it participates in ongoing applied engineering research and participates in technology exchange involving the National Research Council, Canadian and International Transportation Associations and foreign circumpolar countries including Alaska, Greenland and Russia. This division also develops, implements and manages departmental policies and procedures for tendering, awarding and monitoring of contracts. Between 1996-1997, this division became part of the Corporate Services Division.
The Marine Services Division operated until 1996. It was responsible for the planning, operation and maintenance of vessels and support facilities at ferry crossings on the Northwest Territories highway system and for providing marine expertise in support of Departmental initiatives. This division also developed and implemented plans for the rehabilitation and replacement of ferry crossing infrastructure and vessels, identified and developed opportunities for the devolution of Federal Marine Programs and was involved with supporting the employment of northern and local residents and the use of local business in the operation and maintenance of marine services. Between 1996-1997, programs within this division were separated to form two divisions: the Ferries Division and the Community Marine Division. The Ferries Division assumed the responsibilities for provision of safe and reliable ferry crossing services on the Northwest Territories highway system. The division is also responsible for the maintenance, operation and upgrade of vessels and support facilities at five ferry crossings. The Community Marine Program provides marine facilities and safety programs in support of local harvesting, recreation and tourism in order to support and encourage the provision of regular, reliable and cost-effective marine resupply services. This division shares the responsibility for local community marine facilities and resupply facilities at communities with the Federal Government.
The Highway Operations Division is responsible for ensuring that the Northwest Territories highways are maintained to a level consistent with approved standards based on traffic use and to provide safe and reliable inter-community travel. This includes maintenance of the all-weather road network and the construction and maintenance of winter roads. In 1996-1997, this division was renamed the Highways Division. The division is responsible for maintenance, rehabilitation, and upgrading of 2200 kilometers of all-weather highways and 1300 kilometers of seasonal winter roads.
By agreement with Transport Canada, the Airports Division, formerly known as Arctic Airports, is responsible for airport development and operations for communities under the Arctic Airports Program. The program provides airport facilities and services in communities to encourage the development of regular and reliable air service throughout the Northwest Territories. Specialists at headquarters and in the regions provide advice and assistance to communities in the planning, operation and maintenance of airports. The division also arranges on-the-job training for community airport maintainers and training for observer/communicators. Airports are inspected to ensure compliance with Federal Government regulations. On behalf of Transport Canada, the Department, through local governments or contractors, manages and operates several airports. Program growth includes funding for the operating costs of new airport facilities and equipment provided in several communities. Municipal governments are encouraged to assume full responsibility for airport operations and maintenance, thereby assuring economic benefit and employment for local residents. This program is responsible for the maintenance, operation, and rehabilitation of all public airports in the Northwest Territories and for the provision of the Community Aerodome Radio Services (CARS). In the late 1990s the devolution of responsibilities from Transport Canada to DOT for Arctic 'A' airports (Yellowknife, Hay River, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit and Resolute) was negociated, followed by the devolution of responsibilities of Arctic 'B' and 'C' airports, to the total of 54 airports in pre-division NWT.
The Motor Vehicles Activity is responsible for the administration of various Acts and Regulations, including the Motor Vehicles Act, which governs all matters relating to driver licensing, vehicle registration, driver examination and road safety. It also enforces trucking industry compliance with these Acts and Regulations, the intent being protection of the public, the environment and the Northwest Territories highway system. The sale of licenses and registration permits is handled by division staff and by private agency contracts throughout the Northwest Territories. Computerized central records are maintained of driver's licenses, vehicle registration, driver records, and abstracts are provided to insurance companies. This activity is also responsible for promoting public safety on the road and coordinating public awareness programs dealing with transportation issues. The Motor Vehicles Division was renamed the Road Licensing and Safety Division in 2002-2003 to reflect its connection with the Road Licensing and Safety Program. This program is responsible for reviewing and monitoring highway transportation legislation, regulations and policy of other governments, reviewing trends in highway transportation safety, technology development and change and identifying opportunities for partnership with other governments and industry in regulatory harmonization and implementation.
From 1992-1993 until 1996, the Highway Transport Board was part of the Department of Transportation. The Board was responsible for the regulation of the "for hire" segment of the bus and trucking industry through the issuance of licenses authorizing the transport of freight or passengers for compensation. The primary regulatory function of the Board was to achieve a safe, economic, efficient and adequate network of viable and effective road transportation services. The Board provided for the planning, development and implementation of administrative support programs, which met the needs of the Board. In addition, the Board conducted investigations, analyzed and presented data related to regulatory matters and developed internal policies and procedures for Board adoption that would further advance the transportation objectives for which the Board was responsible.
The Transportation Planning Division was formed in 1992-1993 and existed until 1996. This division was responsible for the development and promotion of transportation strategies in consultation with stakeholders; the preparation and implementation of Government of the Northwest Territories capital plans and programs for upgrading and expanding transportation infrastructure; representing and promoting Government of the Northwest Territories priorities with other agencies and coordinating Departmental needs for land management, environment studies and permits. This included preparation of planning studies, systems plans and modal plans for infrastructure upgrading and managing capital programs for airport development, highway reconstruction, road construction and community wharves. Furthermore, the division provided, coordinated and promoted Territorial Government priorities in Federal program areas and provided departmental standards, procedures and expertise in environmental affairs and in land acquisition, management and disposal. Between 1996-1997, the planning function of this division became part of the Corporate Services Division. However, the Community Access Road Division emerged from the Transportation Planning Division. This Division provided access roads and trails to local attractions in support of tourism, resource harvesting and recreation opportunities. This division also provides funding and technical assistance to communities in construction and maintenance of local access roads.
On April 1, 2017, the Department of Transportation consolidated with the Department of Public Works and Services to create the new Department of Infrastructure.
Ben Hall was born in Birmingham, England, in 1918 and married Nancy Pratt in 1951. They immigrated to Ontario in 1957 and Ben joined the seminary that same year and became an Anglican priest. In 1963 he accepted a call from the Bishop of the Arctic and moved to Hay River, NWT. During Ben Hall's time in Hay River (1963-1970) he ministered to the residents of Hay River, Fort Providence, and Pine Point. He was very involved in Boy Scouts in the North as well. Ben left the NWT in 1970, and he passed away in 2009 in Grande Prairie, AB.