Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[2] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[4] Canada Flight Supplement[5] ^A 2018 figure based on Edmonton = 100[6] ^B 2019 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[6]
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Norman Wells had a population of 673 living in 269 of its 404 total private dwellings, a change of -13.5% from its 2016 population of 778. With a land area of 82.09 km2 (31.70 sq mi), it had a population density of 8.2/km2 (21.2/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
A total of 315 people identified as Indigenous, and of these, 195 were First Nations, 80 were Métis, 15 were Inuit and 20 gave multiple Indigenous responses. The main languages in the town are North Slavey and English. Of the population, 78.1% is 15 and older, with the median age being 32.8, slightly less than the NWT averages of 79.3% and 34.0.[8]
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2008–2019),[6] NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001–2017)[16]
The artificial islands used as drilling platforms to the oil deposits underneath the Mackenzie River (Dehcho River) are clearly visible on takeoff from the Norman Wells airport, Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada.
History
Oil was first seen by Alexander Mackenzie during his exploration of the river in 1789 but it was not until 1911 that an oil bearing formation was discovered. Imperial Oil, a major employer in the town, was established in the area in 1937 with a refinery built in 1939.[7]
During the Second World War, Norman Wells was deemed important as a source of oil for military operations in Alaska and Yukon. The Canol Road and Canol Project was undertaken to enable the piping of oil to Whitehorse, with the flow starting in 1944. Although Norman Wells crude was light and easily flowed at temperatures as low as −62 °C (−80 °F), the line did not work well and was shut down shortly after the war ended. The road, which began at Canol Camp across the river, was abandoned.[7] The road's remains now make up the Canol Heritage Trail in the NWT.
Services include a three-member Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and a community health centre with two nurses with dental visits two or three times a year. There is a branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and two grocery stores including the Northern store and Rampart Rentals along with three hotels and two restaurants. Norman Wells also has a liquor store, currently the only one in the Sahtu Region. Phone service is provided by Northwestel with cable television and Internet access available. Mobile phone services are available through Bell Mobility or Northwestel's Latitude Wireless service, which is now owned by Bell.[19] Former member of parliament for the Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, has a consulting service, Mountain Dene Ventures, in the town.[20]
Education
The community is part of the Sahtu Divisional Education Council and they operate, through the Norman Wells District Education Authority, the Mackenzie Mountain School.[21][22] The school, which has an enrolment of 150, provides education from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.[23][24]Aurora College has a presence in the community with a community learning centre and a career centre.[19]
Climate
Norman Wells has a subarctic climate (KöppenDfc) with summer lasting for about three months. Although winter temperatures are usually below freezing, every month of the year has seen temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F). Rainfall averages 171.7 mm (6.76 in) and snowfall 161.5 cm (63.58 in). On average, there are 35.9 days between November and April, when the wind chill is equal to or below −40,[25] which indicates that frostbite may occur within 5–10 minutes. Wind chills can drop below −48 indicating that frostbite can occur in less than 5 minutes.[26]
On 8 July 2023, Norman Wells experienced a temperature of 37.9 °C (100.2 °F)[27] and on 4 February 1947 a minimum of −54.4 °C (−65.9 °F).[25]
^ ab"Norman Wells Climate". Daily Data Report for July 2023. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 27 June 2024. Climate ID: 2202810. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norman Wells.
