(Photo courtesy Canadian Press)

By Erika Rolling

Wildfires

Valleyview one of three evacuee reception centres for Yellowknife residents

Aug 17, 2023 | 9:08 AM

The capital of the Northwest Territories issued an evacuation order for their city and surrounding areas on Wednesday night due to impeding wildfire and hazardous wildfire smoke. This follows the territory’s government declaring a State of Emergency on Monday night.

Yellowknife, Ndılǫ, Dettah, and Ingraham Trail are to be evacuated at the latest, by noon Friday.

Highways are open for residents to evacuate to Alberta. Yellowknife residents travelling by vehicle are being asked to arrange their own accommodations, but can receive supports in three communities in Alberta.

Valleyview’s Palace Arena is the closest evacuee reception centre, over 1,100 kilometers south of Yellowknife by road.

The evacuee reception centres for Yellowknife residents are:

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• Valleyview – Palace Arena 4429, 52e Avenue
• Fox Creek – Fox Creek Hall, 200 1st Street
• Red Deer – G.H. Dawe Community Centre, 6175 67 Street

Yellowknife residents that are not able to evacuate by road, will be flown and directed to the City of Calgary.

Evacuees needing government support will not be available outside of the listed locations.

Grande Prairie and St. Albert are at full capacity with South Slave evacuees from Fort Smith, Hay River, Enterprise, and the K’atl’odeeche First Nation.

The Activity and Reception Centre in Grande Prairie has been temporarily closed to the public for drop-in to prepare to shelter a potential influx of wildfire evacuees from the Northwest Territories.

South Slave residents that are evacuating by road should proceed to the City of Leduc if they require evacuation supports. Yellowknife evacuees are advised to NOT attend Leduc.

The Leduc Evacuee Registration Centre – Leduc Recreation Centre, 4330 Black Gold Drive. The centre will be open as of 8 a.m. August 17 to receive additional South Slave evacuees who require evacuation supports.

YMCA Northwest is also offering free recreational amenities at four of it’s facilities in Edmonton for evacuees.

• Castle Downs Family YMCA – 11510 153 Ave NW
• Jamie Platz Family YMCA – 7121 178 St NW
• Don Wheaton Family YMCA – 10211 102 Ave
• William Lutsky Family YMCA – 1975 111 St NW

Evacuees can walk into any of these four locations, provide their photo ID and shower, use the facilities, and take part in drop-in programs. (During regular hours of operations)

Helpful links:

1. Yellowknife evacuees information form
2. Government of Northwest Territories – Public Safety page
3. NWT highway status interactive map