Norman Wells Tłegǫ́hłı̨ The Wells | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Welcome to Norman Wells | |
| Motto: Where Adventures Begin | |
  Norman Wells  Norman Wells | |
| Coordinates:65°16′52″N126°49′54″W / 65.28111°N 126.83167°W /65.28111; -126.83167[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Northwest Territories |
| Region | Sahtu |
| Settlement area | Sahtu |
| Constituency | Sahtu |
| Incorporated (town) | 12 April 1992 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Frank Pope[2] |
| • Senior Administrative Officer | Cathy Clarke[2] |
| • MLA | Paulie Chinna |
| Area (2021)[3] | |
| • Land | 82.09 km2 (31.70 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Total | 673 |
| • Density | 9.2/km2 (24/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Canadian postal code | X0E 0V0 |
| Area code | 867 |
| Telephone exchange | 587 |
| - Living cost (2018) | 162.5A |
| - Food price index (2019) | 170.5B |
| Website | www.normanwells.com |
| Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[4] Canada Flight Supplement[5] ^A 2018 figure based onEdmonton = 100[6] ^B 2019 figure based onYellowknife = 100[6] | |
Norman Wells (Slavey language:Tłegǫ́hłı̨[t͡ɬʰɛkṍhɬĩ] "where there is oil") is a town located in theSahtu Region,Northwest Territories, Canada. The town, which hosts the Sahtu Regional office, is situated on the north side of theMackenzie River and provides a view down the valley of theFranklin andRichardson mountains.[7]
In the2021 Canadian census conducted byStatistics Canada, Norman Wells had a population of 673 living in 269 of its 404 total private dwellings, a change of-13.5% from its 2016 population of 778. With a land area of 82.09 km2 (31.70 sq mi), it had a population density of8.2/km2 (21.2/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
A total of 315 people identified asIndigenous, and of these, 195 wereFirst Nations, 80 wereMétis, 15 wereInuit and 20 gave multiple Indigenous responses. The main languages in the town areNorth Slavey and English. Of the population, 78.1% is 15 and older, with the median age being 32.8, slightly less than the NWT averages of 79.3% and 34.0.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 367 | — |
| 1981 | 420 | +14.4% |
| 1986 | 627 | +49.3% |
| 1991 | 627 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 798 | +27.3% |
| 2001 | 775 | −2.9% |
| 2006 | 761 | −1.8% |
| 2011 | 727 | −4.5% |
| 2016 | 778 | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 673 | −13.5% |
| Source: Statistics Canada [3][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] | ||
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| Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2008–2019),[6] NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001–2017)[16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oil was first seen byAlexander 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 arefinery built in 1939.[7]
During theSecond World War, Norman Wells was deemed important as a source of oil for military operations inAlaska andYukon. TheCanol Road andCanol Project was undertaken to enable the piping of oil toWhitehorse, with the flow starting in 1944. Although Norman Wellscrude 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.[7] The road's remains now make up theCanol Heritage Trail in the NWT.
TheNorman Wells Proven Area Agreement of 1944 is a partnership between Imperial Oil and thefederal government (administered byIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada) that has lasted to this day.[when?] The completion of an oil pipeline from Norman Wells toZama City in 1985 connected to the North American pipeline grid and resulted in increased activity.[17]
TheNorman Wells Metis, a Métis group which is signatory to theSahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, are currently negotiating self-government powers and recently[when?] signed a framework agreement towards a new treaty.[citation needed]
Norman Wells is accessible by navigating theMackenzie River in summer, or by driving over the winterice road, December to March, that connects withWrigley andFort Simpson.[7] The most common method of travel into Norman Wells is by air via theNorman Wells Airport and the town is connected with bothYellowknife andInuvik.[7] Scheduled flights are provided byCanadian North andNorth-Wright Airways. Beginning in June 2010 and until its amalgamation with Canadian North,First Air offered a scheduled service into the community. In the summerfloatplane access to the town is possible at theNorman Wells Water Aerodrome. During the summer months there are barge services,sealifts to the town byMarine Transportation Services fromHay River and Cooper Barging Services from Fort Simpson.[7] Other aviation companies that have a presence in the community includeCanadian Helicopters andAir Tindi.[18]
Services include a three-memberRoyal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and acommunity health centre with twonurses with dental visits two or three times a year. There is a branch of theCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and two grocery stores including theNorthern store and Rampart Rentals along with three hotels and two restaurants. Norman Wells also has a liquor store, currently the only one in the Sahtu Region. Phone service is provided byNorthwestel with cable television and Internet access available.Mobile phone services are available throughBell Mobility or Northwestel's Latitude Wireless service, which is now owned by Bell.[19] Formermember of parliament for theWestern Arctic,Ethel Blondin-Andrew, has a consulting service, Mountain Dene Ventures, in the town.[20]
The community is part of theSahtu Divisional Education Council and they operate, through the Norman Wells District Education Authority, the Mackenzie Mountain School.[21][22] The school, which has an enrolment of 150, provides education fromJunior Kindergarten toGrade 12.[23][24]Aurora College has a presence in the community with a community learning centre and a career centre.[19]
Norman Wells has asubarctic climate (KöppenDfc) with summer lasting for about three months. Although winter temperatures are usually below freezing, every month of the year has seen temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F). Rainfall averages 171.7 mm (6.76 in) and snowfall 161.5 cm (63.58 in). On average, there are 35.9 days between November and April, when thewind chill is equal to or below −40,[25] which indicates thatfrostbite may occur within 5–10 minutes. Wind chills can drop below −48 indicating that frostbite can occur in less than 5 minutes.[26]
On 8 July 2023, Norman Wells experienced a temperature of 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)[27] and on 4 February 1947 a minimum of −54.4 °C (−65.9 °F).[25]
| Climate data for Norman Wells (Norman Wells Airport) WMO ID: 71043; coordinates65°16′53″N126°47′55″W / 65.28139°N 126.79861°W /65.28139; -126.79861 (Norman Wells Airport); elevation: 72.5 m (238 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record highhumidex | 12.2 | 6.3 | 17.5 | 20.0 | 29.7 | 36.2 | 37.2 | 36.0 | 29.7 | 19.8 | 12.2 | 10.7 | 37.2 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) | 7.9 (46.2) | 17.8 (64.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 31.3 (88.3) | 33.5 (92.3) | 37.9 (100.2) | 34.8 (94.6) | 28.7 (83.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 13.3 (55.9) | 11.1 (52.0) | 37.9 (100.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −21.4 (−6.5) | −18.0 (−0.4) | −12.0 (10.4) | 0.9 (33.6) | 13.0 (55.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 22.6 (72.7) | 19.1 (66.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | −0.5 (31.1) | −13.6 (7.5) | −19.6 (−3.3) | 0.2 (32.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −25.4 (−13.7) | −22.8 (−9.0) | −18.2 (−0.8) | −5.3 (22.5) | 6.9 (44.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.8 (62.2) | 13.7 (56.7) | 6.5 (43.7) | −3.9 (25.0) | −17.4 (0.7) | −23.6 (−10.5) | −4.8 (23.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −29.4 (−20.9) | −27.5 (−17.5) | −24.3 (−11.7) | −11.5 (11.3) | 0.8 (33.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 10.9 (51.6) | 8.2 (46.8) | 1.5 (34.7) | −7.2 (19.0) | −21.2 (−6.2) | −27.5 (−17.5) | −9.9 (14.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −52.2 (−62.0) | −54.4 (−65.9) | −46.1 (−51.0) | −37.2 (−35.0) | −17.8 (0.0) | −4.3 (24.3) | −1.1 (30.0) | −6.1 (21.0) | −15.7 (3.7) | −31.7 (−25.1) | −42.8 (−45.0) | −47.8 (−54.0) | −54.4 (−65.9) |
| Record lowwind chill | −61.7 | −60.2 | −57.5 | −43.8 | −25.1 | −6.9 | −2.2 | −9.6 | −17.7 | −39.9 | −52.4 | −62.4 | −62.4 |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 18.0 (0.71) | 17.2 (0.68) | 11.3 (0.44) | 11.1 (0.44) | 20.5 (0.81) | 35.8 (1.41) | 49.0 (1.93) | 52.5 (2.07) | 33.9 (1.33) | 23.5 (0.93) | 27.2 (1.07) | 21.6 (0.85) | 321.6 (12.66) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (0.02) | 1.3 (0.05) | 11.6 (0.46) | 35.7 (1.41) | 46.4 (1.83) | 49.1 (1.93) | 23.9 (0.94) | 3.3 (0.13) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 171.9 (6.77) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 22.7 (8.9) | 21.7 (8.5) | 15.8 (6.2) | 14.2 (5.6) | 7.5 (3.0) | 0.4 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.0) | 6.4 (2.5) | 24.8 (9.8) | 27.5 (10.8) | 24.8 (9.8) | 165.8 (65.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 12.8 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 7.4 | 8.3 | 10.7 | 13.5 | 14.8 | 13.4 | 14.2 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 147.3 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.17 | 0.04 | 0.21 | 0.92 | 4.8 | 9.6 | 12.0 | 12.1 | 9.9 | 2.5 | 0.22 | 0.0 | 52.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 11.8 | 11.3 | 10.5 | 6.7 | 3.1 | 0.16 | 0.0 | 0.08 | 3.3 | 12.4 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 85.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%)(at 1500 LST) | 67.1 | 62.5 | 53.0 | 50.8 | 45.2 | 44.2 | 50.2 | 56.2 | 61.5 | 75.3 | 75.0 | 69.6 | 59.2 |
| Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada (1991-2020 climate normals)[25] (July Maximum temperature)[27] | |||||||||||||
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