Enterprise, Northwest Territories
Enterprise is at an important junction of the Mackenzie Highway and the road to Yellowknife and was established when two service stations were built to take advantage of traffic along these highways. It has since grown to include a weigh station, Winnie's Restaurant, and a motel to accommodate travellers. Most of the remaining commercial region, however, is currently closed for business and looking for buyers.
It is a significant point on the Northwest Territories highway system, as all traffic that heads to the two largest population centres, Yellowknife to the north, and the nearby town of Hay River to the northeast, must pass through. As such, a tourism centre/visitors centre is located right in the heart of town, where the old weigh station used to be.
In August 2023, most buildings in Enterprise were destroyed by wildfires.
History
With the completion of the Mackenzie Highway in 1948 from Grimshaw, Alberta, to Hay River on the shores of Great Slave Lake, a number of new service stops were built along its length. In the winter of 1948/1949, Jack Parnall, a freight operator based in Hay River, opened a service station at the junction of the Mackenzie Highway and the Mills Lake winter road, which connected to the Mills Lake freight staging area on the Mackenzie River below Fort Providence. In the late 1950s, the highway was extended to Yellowknife on the north side of Great Slave Lake, and Enterprise became the important junction. Jerry and Mae Eyford opened a Pacific 66 garage in 1956 and Sammy Petersen built a motel and general store in 1964. The community is a service centre for travellers and is also the base of operations for GNWT highway maintenance in this region.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1976 | 83 | — |
1981 | 46 | −44.6% |
1986 | 56 | +21.7% |
1991 | 49 | −12.5% |
1996 | 86 | +75.5% |
2001 | 67 | −22.1% |
2006 | 97 | +44.8% |
2011 | 99 | +2.1% |
2016 | 106 | +7.1% |
2021 | 75 | −29.2% |
Source: Statistics Canada |
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Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017), NWT Bureau of Statistics (2018 - 2021) |
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Enterprise had a population of 75 living in 33 of its 51 total private dwellings, a change of -29.2% from its 2016 population of 106. With a land area of 305.58 km (117.99 sq mi), it had a population density of 0.2/km (0.6/sq mi) in 2021.
At the 2016 Canadian census there were 30 First Nations, 10 Métis and 10 Inuit. The main languages, besides English, are North and South Slavey, Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun) and German.
Incorporation
In 2007, Enterprise filed a petition to change from settlement status to hamlet, which would allow for greater powers by council, a public voting for mayor, and freedom to set property tax rates. On 27 October 2007 the community was officially incorporated and Allan Flamand became the first mayor.
Climate
Enterprise has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with the yearly mean temperature being below zero in spite of the relatively warm summers around 22 °C (72 °F) resulting in Enterprise being well below the tree line in the boreal forest. Winter average highs are around −20 °C (−4 °F) with lows being −31 °C (−24 °F), typical of the boreal forests north of the prairies.
Climate data for Hay River (Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport) WMO ID: 71935; coordinates 60°50′23″N 115°46′58″W / 60.83972°N 115.78278°W; elevation: 164.9 m (541 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high humidex | 10.6 | 12.9 | 14.6 | 25.8 | 31.1 | 35.1 | 44.6 | 39.8 | 32.2 | 25.4 | 12.8 | 11.2 | 44.6 |
Record high °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
26.0 (78.8) |
33.3 (91.9) |
34.0 (93.2) |
35.6 (96.1) |
36.7 (98.1) |
31.7 (89.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.4 (57.9) |
36.7 (98.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −17.3 (0.9) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
2.9 (37.2) |
10.7 (51.3) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.2 (70.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
13.2 (55.8) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
2.4 (36.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −21.8 (−7.2) |
−19.6 (−3.3) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
5.4 (41.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
8.7 (47.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−18.8 (−1.8) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −26.2 (−15.2) |
−24.9 (−12.8) |
−19.8 (−3.6) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.9 (51.6) |
9.5 (49.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−15.4 (4.3) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −52.2 (−62.0) |
−50.6 (−59.1) |
−47.2 (−53.0) |
−40.0 (−40.0) |
−24.4 (−11.9) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−26.1 (−15.0) |
−40.8 (−41.4) |
−51.1 (−60.0) |
−52.2 (−62.0) |
Record low wind chill | −59 | −60 | −55 | −48 | −27 | −7 | 0 | 0 | −17 | −34 | −54 | −56 | −60 |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.4 (0.65) |
14.3 (0.56) |
14.4 (0.57) |
12.6 (0.50) |
23.3 (0.92) |
31.9 (1.26) |
43.0 (1.69) |
58.7 (2.31) |
44.6 (1.76) |
35.7 (1.41) |
24.8 (0.98) |
16.8 (0.66) |
336.4 (13.24) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.1 (0.00) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.2 (0.01) |
4.3 (0.17) |
18.0 (0.71) |
31.9 (1.26) |
43.0 (1.69) |
58.7 (2.31) |
43.0 (1.69) |
16.8 (0.66) |
0.9 (0.04) |
0.3 (0.01) |
217.4 (8.56) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 19.2 (7.6) |
16.9 (6.7) |
16.4 (6.5) |
8.7 (3.4) |
5.2 (2.0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.5 (0.6) |
19.9 (7.8) |
30.4 (12.0) |
20.7 (8.1) |
138.9 (54.7) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.3 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 11.3 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 14.2 | 11.4 | 122.8 |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 11.3 | 11.9 | 6.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 58.9 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.0 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 8.1 | 14.5 | 12.4 | 72.2 |
Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00) | 69.2 | 66.3 | 61.3 | 60.2 | 55.0 | 54.4 | 57.6 | 59.9 | 62.5 | 70.6 | 78.0 | 73.7 | 64.0 |
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada |
- Hay River is approximately 40 km (25 mi) away
See also
Notes
- ^ Climate data was recorded at Hay River from September 1893 to June 1943 and at Hay River Airport from April 1943 to present.
References
- ^ "Enterprise". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "NWT Communities - Enterprise". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- ^ Differences in Community Government Structure
- ^ Tessier-Burns, Francis (15 August 2023). "Enterprise, N.W.T., '90 per cent gone' after wildfire ravages community". CBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Establish Business at Mills Lake Corner" The News of the North, 18 February 1949
- ^ "Enterprise-First Stop North" Tapwe, 10 September 1975
- ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Count Amendments". Statistics Canada. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Corrections and updates: Population and dwelling count amendments, 2011 Census". Statistics Canada. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
- ^ Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT]
- ^ "Enterprise, Northwest Territories Climate Summary". Weatherbase. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Enterprise, Northwest Territories Temperature Average". Weatherbase. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Hay River A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 25 September 2013. Climate ID: 2202400. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for December 1896". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for September 1901". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for September 1903". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for January 1906". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for February 1906". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for July 1906". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for May 1907". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for April 1908". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for October 1908". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for December 1917". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for June 1920". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for October 1923". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for July 1928". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for August 1928". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Daily Data Report for March 1929". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202398. Retrieved 30 June 2016.