Yellowknife sets out its approach to encampments, public safety

Yellowknife city councillors have outlined their approach to temporary encampments and called on the NWT government and RCMP for more support.

Councillors discussed a resolution regarding encampments – which also addresses public use of alcohol and drugs, drug dealing, vandalism and litter in the city’s downtown – during a Monday afternoon meeting at City Hall.

The resolution passed, with all councillors voting in favour, at another meeting later that evening.

Mayor Ben Hendriksen described the resolution as putting “a stake in the ground as council of where our heads are at around encampments, serving people who are underhoused and unhoused, and working collaboratively with the GNWT.”

He said the resolution also sets out which areas the city considers to be its responsibility and what it expects from other levels of government.

“The purpose of this motion is not to assign blame to anyone or to say that something is bad or right or wrong. It’s about trying to do the best for all residents of Yellowknife and trying to find that path forward,” he said.

City manager Stephen Van Dine said encampments are an “evolving situation” and the city has “a limited toolbox with which to respond to the various dimensions related to encampments.”

He said last summer, the NWT government provided sanitation and garbage removal for a downtown encampment while the city waived associated fees at the dump.

What’s in the resolution?

The resolution passed on Monday states that city council will:

• direct city staff to make recommendations regarding any existing bylaws that need enforcement or new bylaws that need consideration to address any “unacceptable behaviour” at encampments;
• recommend the GNWT provide oversight of temporary encampments, including ensuring occupant safety, access to basic needs such as waste removal, portable toilets and other necessities;
• recommend the RCMP increase their foot and bike presence downtown;
• commit that the city will provide solid waste and sewage collection at an encampment – if requested and paid for by the GNWT – as well as enforce bylaws that reinforce public safety at an encampment; and
• commit the city’s municipal enforcement division to prioritize engagement and visibility in the community – particularly in the downtown core – focusing on litter, unsightly lands and ensuring a safe environment for all.

The final point of the resolution was one of two 2025-26 priorities for Yellowknife’s municipal enforcement that council approved on Monday. The other priority is pedestrian and intersection safety in school zones.

The city said municipal enforcement officers will proactively deal with the two priorities and respond to anything else on a complaint-driven basis.

On Tuesday afternoon, the city will host a “collaborative brainstorming” event with Yellowknife businesses focused on downtown safety.

Councillors praise resolution

Councillor Cat McGurk said it is “very encouraging” that the city, territorial government and encampment residents have a framework for cooperation.

“I really commend everybody and very grateful to city staff for functioning that way and taking that on, and I hope it won’t be taken for granted and the continued cooperation for all parties is prioritized,” she said.

McGurk said she is glad council’s resolution includes items requested by encampment residents, including waste removal and portable toilets. She suggested adding access to potable water and potentially first aid kits, fire retardant tarps and fire extinguishers.

Other councillors disagreed with that idea, saying they felt the wording of the resolution was broad enough to capture a variety of needs. Ultimately, access to potable water was included in an amended version of the resolution.

McGurk also questioned whether the city had evidence of drug dealing taking place at encampments. Hendriksen clarified the resolution’s reference to drug dealing – the language of which was later amended – referred to the downtown as a whole, rather than specifically to encampments.

“The motion in totality, and it’s a fair point, is meant to speak to sort-of public safety and encampments in tandem,” he said. “It wasn’t trying to imply that there is drug dealing going on at encampments.”

Rob Warburton said he liked that the resolution addresses public safety as a whole, rather than just focusing on encampments. He said it’s important to invest in shelters, housing, mental healthcare and social services to address the root causes of poverty, addiction and homelessness alongside enforcing public safety.

“Social investment is how we care, public safety is how we protect each other,” he said.

“We can do both and we need to do both. If we only enforce though, which is just fear-based – if we only fund services without any accountability for actions – we risk disorder, which we’re seeing. We need to do both and be compassionate about it.”

Stacie Arden-Smith said she believes the city needs to do a better job of upholding its bylaws.

“Residents are getting frustrated, as am I, about the downtown situation, so we need to have a lot more order in place and our bylaws being upheld for our residents,” she said.

While Arden-Smith acknowledged the lack of housing in Yellowknife, she said she does not believe the city should provide more funding to related non-governmental organizations due to limited municipal resources.

Van Dine said the city recently used federal funding to expand its Street Outreach program, which is now being operated by Home Base Yellowknife.

Councillors Rob Foote, Garett Cochrane and Ryan Fequet also spoke in support of the resolution.

Tent encampment moves outside downtown core

People without permanent housing have long camped in forested areas of Yellowknife during the summer months.

A more visible tent encampment was established in the city’s downtown last year. It was forced to move from private property twice and faced complaints from some nearby housed residents.

One person living at the encampment told Cabin Radio last August they wanted to find a space close to downtown where people would be able to access services and be seen while being “out of the way at the same time.”

Last month, a smaller tent encampment was set up in a government-owned parking lot between the Mine Training Society building on 49 Street and the Outpost apartments on 50 Street.

Peter Adourian, a lawyer representing members of that encampment, told Cabin Radio they relocated late last week – after consulting the territorial government – to an area outside the city’s downtown core, near the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

City council’s resolution states that an encampment between the Legislative Assembly and 48 Street, near the day shelter, is an acceptable place for a temporary encampment.

The territorial government, explaining its approach to encampments last month, said temporary encampments on commissioner’s land are allowed if applicable regulations and bylaws are followed.

The GNWT encouraged residents with “specific public safety concerns” to contact Yellowknife municipal enforcement or the RCMP.

Update: June 10, 2025 – 10:09 MT. This article has been updated to include references to two amendments to the resolution, regarding potable water and language around drug use.