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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories

Fort Good Hope (formerly Fort Hope, Fort Charles, also now known as the Charter Community of K'asho Got'ine), is a charter community in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on a peninsula between Jackfish Creek and the east bank of the Mackenzie River, about 145 km (90 mi) northwest of Norman Wells.

Its population is about 500, mainly indigenous. The two principal languages are North Slavey and English. Hunting and trapping are two major sources of income.

The Church of Our Lady of Good Hope, a National Historic Site, is located in the community. The church, completed in 1885, was once home to Father Émile Petitot.

History

The settlement was established as a North West Company fur trading outpost in 1804 (or 1805). It was known mainly as Fort Good Hope, but also as Fort Hope and Fort Charles (not the same as the HBC fort from 1686) The outpost was relocated several times from the current site; between 1804 and before 1823 somewhere between Arctic Red River and Peel River (by NWC and HBC) near Tsiigehtchic, 1823 on the west banks of the Mackenzie near what was called Thunder River near where the rivers runs east–west direction north of current site (labelled in A.K. Isbester 1845 map as Old Fort Good Hope), remained there until 1826 relocated on Manitou Island. Flooding forced HBC to relocate their outpost twice on the east banks in 1836.

The fur outpost ended in 1918 and became a HBC retail operation that is now known as Northern Stores.

Demographics

Federal census population history of Fort Good Hope
YearPop.±%
1976443—    
1981463+4.5%
1986562+21.4%
1991602+7.1%
1996644+7.0%
2001549−14.8%
2006557+1.5%
2011515−7.5%
2016516+0.2%
2021507−1.7%
Source: Statistics Canada
Annual population estimates
YearPop.±%
1996699—    
1997687−1.7%
1998674−1.9%
1999642−4.7%
2000607−5.5%
2001588−3.1%
2002600+2.0%
2003564−6.0%
2004555−1.6%
2005559+0.7%
2006577+3.2%
2007566−1.9%
2008557−1.6%
2009560+0.5%
YearPop.±%
2010548−2.1%
2011523−4.6%
2012535+2.3%
2013538+0.6%
2014557+3.5%
2015580+4.1%
2016561−3.3%
2017570+1.6%
2018570+0.0%
2019554−2.8%
2020561+1.3%
2021555−1.1%
2022568+2.3%
2023591+4.0%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2023)

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Good Hope had a population of 507 living in 195 of its 231 total private dwellings, a change of -1.7% from its 2016 population of 516. With a land area of 47.25 km (18.24 sq mi), it had a population density of 10.7/km (27.8/sq mi) in 2021.

In 2006 the Indigenous population was 465, of which 435 were First Nations, 20 Métis and 10 Inuit.

Transportation

Fort Good Hope looking across the Mackenzie River

The only all season access is by air, Fort Good Hope Airport, with flights operated by North-Wright Airways from Inuvik, Norman Wells and Colville Lake. All flights are non-scheduled passenger service. The old airport runway is now Old Airport Road. The community can be accessed in summer using the Mackenzie River. There is no passenger service and the route is primarily used by the Northern Transportation Company for the summer sealift. Winter access is possible via a winter road from Wrigley located further south. The NWT government is seeking federal funding to help extend the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley to Tsiigehtchic, where it would connect with the Dempster Highway, as of winter 2014 at least eight major river crossings are in place for the new road, some of which are in use as winter crossings.

First Nations

Fort Good Hope is represented by the K’ahsho Got’ine Community Council and belong to the Sahtu Dene Council. Through the council they are in negotiations with the Government of Canada for a land claims settlement.

Education

Fort Good Hope currently has three institutes providing some form of education.

For pre-school, there is the Fort Good Hope Daycare.

Elementary, junior high and senior high school students attend Chief T'Selehye School. The K-12 school is one of five schools under the Sahtú Divisional Education Council. The current school was rebuilt in 2011 replace the early 1971 building (renovations 1987 and 1994). It also hosts the community library.

For post secondary education Aurora College Learning Centre located in the town allows students to qualify for admission to Aurora College and meet other college and university admission requirements. The closest campus is Inuvik.

Communication infrastructure

  • Full postal service - located in the Northern Store
  • Satellite television
  • Two radio stations
  • 4G cellular service as of August 20, 2013

Services

There is no hospital in Fort Good Hope and has basic care from the local community counselling centre. Urgent care can be assessed at Sahtú Got'iné Regional Health and Social Services Centre in Norman Wells and critical care requiring hospitalization to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife (via air ambulance).

RCMP Fort Good Hope detachment provides general policing in community and under north district of "G" Division, West Region.

Fire services are provided from one fire station near RCMP detachment. The service has two pumpers.

Climate

Fort Good Hope experiences a subarctic climate (Dfc), with cold winters and short, warm summers. The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.4 °C (99 °F) on 8 July 2023.

Fort Good Hope holds the record for the coldest temperature in Canada outside Yukon, when on 31 December 1910, the temperature dropped to −61.7 °C (−79 °F).

Climate data for Fort Good Hope Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1907–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
13.3
(55.9)
15.6
(60.1)
21.8
(71.2)
30.5
(86.9)
35.0
(95.0)
37.4
(99.3)
37.0
(98.6)
30.6
(87.1)
22.8
(73.0)
5.4
(41.7)
5.9
(42.6)
37.4
(99.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −23.8
(−10.8)
−19.7
(−3.5)
−14.1
(6.6)
−0.2
(31.6)
10.5
(50.9)
20.9
(69.6)
22.4
(72.3)
18.4
(65.1)
10.2
(50.4)
−2.3
(27.9)
−15.9
(3.4)
−19.8
(−3.6)
−1.1
(30.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −27.8
(−18.0)
−24.2
(−11.6)
−20.0
(−4.0)
−6.9
(19.6)
4.7
(40.5)
14.8
(58.6)
16.7
(62.1)
12.7
(54.9)
5.4
(41.7)
−5.9
(21.4)
−19.8
(−3.6)
−24.0
(−11.2)
−6.2
(20.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −31.7
(−25.1)
−28.7
(−19.7)
−25.8
(−14.4)
−13.6
(7.5)
−1.1
(30.0)
8.6
(47.5)
10.9
(51.6)
7.1
(44.8)
0.5
(32.9)
−9.4
(15.1)
−23.7
(−10.7)
−28.1
(−18.6)
−11.2
(11.8)
Record low °C (°F) −56.1
(−69.0)
−56.1
(−69.0)
−49.4
(−56.9)
−41.7
(−43.1)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−5.6
(21.9)
−2.8
(27.0)
−7.2
(19.0)
−17.0
(1.4)
−38.9
(−38.0)
−48.3
(−54.9)
−61.7
(−79.1)
−61.7
(−79.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 19.6
(0.77)
21.0
(0.83)
16.4
(0.65)
9.4
(0.37)
11.5
(0.45)
27.1
(1.07)
41.3
(1.63)
39.7
(1.56)
33.6
(1.32)
29.5
(1.16)
23.2
(0.91)
22.5
(0.89)
294.8
(11.61)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.01)
6.7
(0.26)
27.1
(1.07)
41.3
(1.63)
39.7
(1.56)
27.6
(1.09)
2.4
(0.09)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
144.9
(5.70)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 19.7
(7.8)
21.2
(8.3)
16.6
(6.5)
9.3
(3.7)
4.9
(1.9)
0.1
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
6.0
(2.4)
27.3
(10.7)
23.6
(9.3)
22.6
(8.9)
151.2
(59.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.5 8.7 8.0 4.5 4.1 6.8 9.2 9.5 10.0 12.2 10.3 9.7 101.2
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 2.4 6.8 9.2 9.4 8.3 1.1 0.0 0.0 37.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 8.5 8.7 7.9 4.4 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 2.1 11.2 10.3 9.8 64.7
Source: Environment Canada

See also

References

  1. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "NWT Communities - Fort Good Hope". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  3. ^ "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 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  4. ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ Fort Good Hope - Statistical Profile
  6. ^ "Did you know about Fort Good Hope?".
  7. ^ "Northwest Territories Forts".
  8. ^ "Fort Good Hope".
  9. ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. July 25, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  17. ^ Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
  18. ^ "North-Wright Airways flight schedule" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  19. ^ Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Archived 2007-06-11 at archive.today
  20. ^ "July 2023". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 15 May 2023. Climate ID: 2201450. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  21. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20061113170111/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC831768
  22. ^ "Fort Good Hope A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Climate ID: 2201400. Archived from the original (CSV (3069 KB)) on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  23. ^ "Fort Good Hope 2". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Climate ID: 2201500. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Fort Good Hope CS". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2201450. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  25. ^ "June 1911". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2201500. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  26. ^ "July 1920". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2201500. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  27. ^ "January 1917". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2201500. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  28. ^ "February 1947". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2201500. Retrieved 20 May 2016.