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Tlicho All-Season Road receives award for innovative government partnerships
The TASR was one of eleven similar projects to be recognized for the improvements they made to their respective communities
An NWT infrastructure project was recently recognized on a national stage.
The project in question is the Tlicho All-Season Road, which received an award in the Environmental, Social, and Governance category at the 2025 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.
The TSAR was one of eleven projects to be recognized at the awards, which recognize different initiatives that bring together local governments and organizations on initiatives that foster innovation, collaboration, and have a positive impact on their communities.
The Tlicho All-Season Road is a gravel highway that stretches for 97 kilometres, connecting Highway 3 to Whati, and is open at all times. The road was first opened on November 30th of 2021, and ever since, has greatly improved access to healthcare, education, and goods to residents of the Tlicho region, while also improving local tourism.
Vince McKay, the Minister of Infrastructure, said that the TASR “represents what can be achieved through partnership and innovation. The Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road not only connects communities, it creates lasting opportunities for training, employment, and new opportunities for Northerners, while ensuring the Tłı̨chǫ community have a strong role in building and maintaining critical northern infrastructure.”
Funding for the road’s construction was provided by both the GNWT, who provided 75%, and the Government of Canada, who provided the remaining 25%. In total, the road cost around $200 million.
Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty also spoke on the award, saying that “The Tlicho Government is very proud of our successful partnership with the GNWT to build this multi award-winning highway project. The Tlicho Highway project was completed on budget, one year ahead of schedule, and includes one of the first ever equity investments in a P3 project by an Indigenous government in Canada. We are looking forward to investing further on Nation Building Infrastructure projects that benefit our Tłı̨chǫ citizens, businesses, communities, and the NWT.”
