Hay River

Featured, News, Politics, Profile December 11, 2023

Ten minutes with R.J. Simpson

The new Premier of the Northwest Territories talks UNDRIP, relations with Indigenous communities, and his record as Minister of ECE.


R.J. Simpson, the MLA for Hay River North and former cabinet minister, was elected Premier of the Northwest Territories last week. We sat down with the new premier to discuss UNDRIP, relationships with Indigenous communities, his record as Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment, and other issues. Here’s that conversation,…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 15, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 15 1:30 p.m.: Hay River fire will likely need to be managed until snowfall: ECC Minister

Hay River’s town council plans to meet sometime today to re-evaluate the fire risk.


As essential workers return to Hay River, the territory’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change warns residents they may need to get used to living with wildfire for the foreseeable future. That’s according to updates shared in a press conference on Thursday afternoon. “It’s very likely these fires will need…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather August 25, 2023

Wildfire update, Aug. 25 9:30 p.m.: Hay River prepares for worst as wildfire situation takes a turn

Meanwhile, finance minister announces suite of new financial supports.


The Town of Hay River is preparing for the worst tonight as the fire situation takes a negative turn. That’s according to updates shared at the most recent GNWT press conference. On Friday, extreme temperatures and winds from the southwest pushed the fire towards the community. Nonessential personnel are being…

Featured, News July 21, 2023

Meet Devon Felker and his passion for remote-control planes

Devon Felker is a 24-year-old Hay River resident, member and counsellor of West Point First Nation, a Remote-Control (RC) planes enthusiast, and a confirmed RC pilot, despite picking this hobby six months ago. “I used to have one [RC plane] when I was a kid and I always thought it’s…

Featured, News, Police June 27, 2023

Young man dead after fatal towing incident

A 21-year-old man has died following a fatal towing incident in Hay River today. Police responded to a call around 1:20 a.m. where they found a vehicle stuck in the sand near Great Slave Lake. As a second vehicle was attempting to tow the vehicle, the rope disconnected, hitting the…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather May 25, 2023

Hay River prepares to re-open, while the fires rage on

Residents of Hay River may be able to return this week, while KFN residents await a re-entry plan


Hay River residents are expected to return home as early as May 26, although the possibility of evacuation remains. That is according to the town of Hay River in a post on its official Facebook page. While Hay River Residents prepare to return home, over 300 members from Kátł’odeeche First Nation…

Community, Featured, News May 17, 2023

“Not a whole lot of relief in sight”: Wildfire threatening Hay River, KFN rages on

Wind and weather continue to provoke the fire ravaging the South Slave


“This is starting to feel like we’re cursed or something,” says Joanne Barnaby after witnessing the fires consume her community. Barnaby is a resident of Hay River and lives right across the pond from the Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN). She watched the fire consume the reserve. On the night of…

Community, Environment, Featured, News, Weather May 15, 2023

Hay River, KFN residents take shelter in Yellowknife as fire rages on

The blaze had claimed 15 buildings in KFN as of Monday morning


Anne Kasper remembers pitch-black smoke consuming the sky and an “unbearable” smell in the air like burning moss. “We don’t know what happened,” said Kasper, a 54-year-old resident of the K’atl’odeeche First Nation (KFN). “It was a tiny little fire, and then it just got crazy out of control.” Kasper…