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Accident damages steps to Yellowknife’s Pilots’ Monument

The taped-off ramp at the foot of Pilots' Monument on August 24, 2025. Emily Blake/Cabin Radio
The taped-off ramp at the foot of Pilots' Monument on August 24, 2025. Emily Blake/Cabin Radio

The wooden ramp and steps leading up to Yellowknife’s Pilots’ Monument were cordoned off on Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle the previous evening.

Pilots’ Monument, atop a hill in Yellowknife’s Old Town, is a tribute to the city’s bush pilots that also serves as a tourist hotspot with views looking out across Yellowknife Bay and back toward downtown.

At around 5pm on Saturday, a truck hit the ramp that begins the route up to the monument from the small parking lot below.

A red truck pulls over after hitting the ramp at the base of Pilot's Monument. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
The ramp immediately after the incident. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
The taped-off ramp at the foot of Pilots' Monument on August 24, 2025. Emily Blake/Cabin Radio
The ramp and steps on Sunday morning. Emily Blake/Cabin Radio

Multiple strips of wooden debris could be seen on the road.

By Sunday morning, the damaged steps had caution tape strewn across them with a barricade and “do not enter” sign blocking the path of anyone trying to head up to the top – not that all visitors were deterred. Multiple people on Sunday were carefully avoiding the damaged ramp but climbing up to the monument anyway.

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The City of Yellowknife has been approached for more information about how long repairs are expected to take.

Sarah Pruys and Emily Blake contributed reporting.