“It means a lot. It means a lot to my family. We share our culture every day,” said Wynter Mcqueen as Tugáh Northern Experiences was named Yellowknife’s outstanding Indigenous business for 2026.
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Business Awards were handed out at the city’s Chateau Nova Hotel on Saturday night.
Tugáh is a kennel of about 40 dogs that operates dog sledding tours daily alongside aurora viewing trips, Mcqueen said, adding the company has grown significantly over the past three years.
“To be able to share it with people means a lot to me because I’m still learning every day about my culture,” Mcqueen told Cabin Radio. “I’m very happy we can go home with an award and share it with our visitors, and I can share it with my family.”
The chamber said it was celebrating its 80th anniversary at Saturday’s sold-out awards gala, which ended a week of events dedicated to the city’s small businesses.
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Small business of the year went to Aurora Decorating Centre. Large business of the year was awarded to Northern Industrial Construction.
This year’s gala included for the first time a non-profit of the year award, which went to the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation.
“Through strong partnerships, community involvement and creative approaches to fundraising, it has turned generosity into meaningful, lasting results,” said Jordan Day – representing award sponsor Crowe Mackay – of the foundation’s work to raise money for northern healthcare.
“Its work reaches far beyond the fundraising events themselves, helping address important needs and improve the lives of people across the North.”
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Patty Olexin-Lang, the foundation’s executive director, told Cabin Radio the organization had “put our heart and soul” into the nomination package non-profits were obliged to submit. Her reaction on winning? “Holy crap.”
“We’re making lives better,” she said.
Breakout new business, the night’s first award, went to Oak & Olive, Nastassia Hansen’s Métis-owned charcuterie firm.
Industry minister Caitlin Cleveland praised the business for growing rapidly enough to expand into a downtown space and provide an “example of how fresh ideas, strong partnerships and a solid foundation can help shape the future of Yellowknife’s business community.”
The night’s award for women in business was given to Hannah Eden Photography, while Up Here Publishing received the award for community impact.
Quality Furniture won the people’s choice award for customer service, the night’s final award, which is decided through an online vote.
Bella Dance Academy won the night’s workplace health and safety award, the skilled trades award was presented to YB Services, and J&R Mechanical was named employer of the year, an award that celebrates employers’ work on behalf of their employees.
You can see the full list of nominees here.
2026 winners in full
- Breakout new business: Oak & Olive
- Workplace health and safety: Bella Dance Academy
- Community impact: Up Here Publishing
- Skilled trades: YB Services
- Non-profit: Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation
- Outstanding Indigenous business: Tugáh Northern Experiences
- Trailblazers women in business: Hannah Eden Photography
- Employer of the year: J&R Mechanical
- Small business of the year: Aurora Decorating Centre
- Large business of the year: Northern Industrial Construction
- Customer service (people’s choice): Quality Furniture
Editor’s note: The author of this article was also a paid master of ceremonies at the event, but had no part in selecting any of the winners.
