Wrigley, Northwest Territories
Originally situated at Fort Wrigley, 16 km (9.9 mi) downstream, the community relocated to its present location in 1965, in part because it was more easily accessible due to the World War II era Wrigley Airport built for the Canol Project and also due to the swampy nature of the land around Fort Wrigley. Today the community can be reached via the Mackenzie Highway. The population continues to maintain a traditional lifestyle, trapping, hunting, and fishing.
The community was named for Joseph Wrigley who was the Hudson's Bay Company Chief Commissioner for British North America (1884–1891).
The Franklin Mountains, which are also on the east bank of the Mackenzie River, overlook the community. Cap Mountain, 1,228 m (4,029 ft), is the highest peak in the range and is within walking distance of the community. Although not as well known as the Rabbitkettle Hot Springs the Roche qui trempe a l’eau sulphur springs are located downstream of Wrigley.
Demographics
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| Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001–2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wrigley had a population of 117 living in 42 of its 63 total private dwellings, a change of -1.7% from its 2016 population of 119. With a land area of 53.93 km (20.82 sq mi), it had a population density of 2.2/km (5.6/sq mi) in 2021.
The majority of its 2016 population (110 people) is First Nations and the predominant languages are North and South Slavey and English.
First Nations
The Dene of the community are represented by the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and belong to the Dehcho First Nations. The last of the Numbered Treaties, Treaty 11, was signed here 13 July 1921. At that time the Headman was paid $22 and $12 for everybody else.
Services
The community has one store, a health centre and a two-person Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment.
Education
The community has a K-9 school, Chief Julian Yendo School with an enrolment of 24 as of 2018. After completion of grade 9 students go to the Thomas Simpson Secondary School in Fort Simpson.
Climate
Wrigley has a continental subarctic climate (Dfc). The area combines mild to warm, short summers with long and very cold winters. The differences between the coldest and warmest month are rather extreme even by continental standards, with the January high being −21 °C (−6 °F) and the July high being 23 °C (73 °F) according to Environment Canada. Transitional seasons are rather short.
| Climate data for Wrigley Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 11.2 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 24.0 | 30.4 | 38.1 | 37.9 | 36.6 | 29.8 | 21.3 | 7.2 | 0.0 | 38.1 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
25.0 (77.0) |
34.0 (93.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
35.5 (95.9) |
33.5 (92.3) |
28.3 (82.9) |
21.7 (71.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −21.1 (−6.0) |
−17.1 (1.2) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
5.0 (41.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
12.5 (54.5) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−14.8 (5.4) |
−18.6 (−1.5) |
1.5 (34.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −25.4 (−13.7) |
−22.1 (−7.8) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
8.0 (46.4) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−18.7 (−1.7) |
−22.7 (−8.9) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −29.7 (−21.5) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−22.1 (−7.8) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−22.5 (−8.5) |
−26.7 (−16.1) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −51.7 (−61.1) |
−53.3 (−63.9) |
−46.7 (−52.1) |
−36.1 (−33.0) |
−20.9 (−5.6) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−18.0 (−0.4) |
−31.5 (−24.7) |
−48.0 (−54.4) |
−49.4 (−56.9) |
−53.3 (−63.9) |
| Record low wind chill | −60.9 | −58.9 | −50.3 | −37.0 | −25.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | −2.7 | −15.6 | −37.6 | −52.1 | −63.0 | −63.0 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.7 (0.66) |
14.6 (0.57) |
10.4 (0.41) |
8.1 (0.32) |
22.0 (0.87) |
43.5 (1.71) |
64.0 (2.52) |
49.5 (1.95) |
35.9 (1.41) |
29.4 (1.16) |
20.5 (0.81) |
18.1 (0.71) |
332.6 (13.09) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.01) |
18.4 (0.72) |
43.5 (1.71) |
64.0 (2.52) |
49.5 (1.95) |
32.3 (1.27) |
7.6 (0.30) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
215.5 (8.48) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 19.1 (7.5) |
15.4 (6.1) |
10.9 (4.3) |
8.9 (3.5) |
3.8 (1.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.4 (1.3) |
21.8 (8.6) |
22.6 (8.9) |
18.9 (7.4) |
124.7 (49.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.0 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 92.1 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 5.6 | 8.2 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 43.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.0 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 49.4 |
| Source: Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "Wrigley". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "NWT Communities - Wrigley". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
- ^ "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.]
- ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
- ^ Wrigley - Statistical Profile at the GNWT
- ^ Differences in Community Government Structure
- ^ Wrigley at Spectacular NWT
- ^ Wrigley at the GNWT
- ^ Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Wrigley (1839-?)
- ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Count Amendments". Statistics Canada. July 4, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
- ^ Pehdzeh Ki First Nation at the Dehcho First Nations
- ^ No. 11 (June 27, 1921) and Adhesion (July 17, 1922) with Reports, etc.
- ^ Wrigley Infrastructure Profile
- ^ Chief Julian Yendo School
- ^ "Wrigley A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Climate ID: 2204000. Archived from the original (CSV (3069 KB)) on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
