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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following FAQs are based on questions that have been asked from potential applicants for the jobs being offered under DoT's Engineering Recruitment campaign. As the campaign progresses, other FAQs will be added to this page.
LIVING IN THE NWT
Q. What do people in Hay River and Yellowknife do for fun?
A. Recreational activities in Hay River and Yellowknife are almost endless. The communities are on the north and south bank of Great Slave Lake, one of the largest lakes in the world, and the communities are surrounded by rugged wilderness and beauty. There are camping areas, scenic waterfalls, territorial and national parks, and an abundance of opportunities to participate in sailing, boating, fishing, golfing, hunting, running, team sports, snowmobiling, sled dog racing, and a variety of other indoor and outdoor activities. Cultural activities, ranging from theatre to opera, music performances to Yellowknife's unique Folk on the Rocks festival, also abound. Fine dining is available at a number of excellent restaurants. There are opportunities to share in our thriving francophone and Aboriginal cultures.
Q. What kind of people do well and enjoy living in Yellowknife?
A. Yellowknifers come from a wide range of experiences. No single element can be said to be common to all these groups, but in general, many Yellowknifers were attracted to the frontier nature of living in northern Canada, and the opportunity to be part of a dynamic community where everyone's talents are valued. For those who come from outside the NWT, there is a common theme, a variation of which is "I came here for two weeks, and that was 20 years ago."
Q. When you hear or know of people who don't like living in Yellowknife, what are the typical complaints or concerns?
A. Most people who come to Yellowknife stay because of the high quality of living they enjoy. However, not everyone finds Yellowknife to their liking. Typical complaints are about the cold temperatures in winter, or an inability to deal with the long hours of darkness in winter (particularly around December 21 when daylight begins around 10:00 and ends around 3:30). On the other hand, most of those who find the winter months difficult because of the amount of cold and light find the extra daylight and moderate temperatures during the late spring and early summer months to be more than adequate compensation.
Q. How much of a factor is the cold in winter?
A. There is no question that Yellowknife and Hay River experience winter temperatures that are colder than most locations in Canada. At the same time, most extreme winter weather events such as high winds, blizzards, and freezing rain are largely absent. For those who dress in layers, cold temperatures are a minor issue. This is evidenced by the large number of Yellowknifers who walk, bicycle (and in one case even unicycle) to work, even on the coldest days.
Q. Are people able to purchase locally the things they need?
A. Most items people want to purchase, from food to clothing to building supplies to electronics, are available within the Northwest Territories, with Yellowknife being the largest trading centre. The variety of goods available is typically smaller than in most of Canada, but there are a surprisingly large number of goods including specialty items that can be purchased in Yellowknife.
Q. What about schools? Will my children get a good education?
A. All schools in the NWT follow the Alberta curriculum, which is recognized as meeting a high standard. Both Hay River and Yellowknife offer francophone school education, as well as French immersion in the public school system. Yellowknifers also have the choice of attending a Catholic School system. The opportunities for students to participate in travel, student exchanges, and other extra-curricular activities are numerous. Students in the NWT receive excellent support for post-secondary education if they choose to go outside the Territory for their education, but there are good opportunities for training within the Territory as well, including the opportunity to earn a degree without leaving the Territory.
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