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Fort Simpson

Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́
Village
Fort Simpson from the air.jpg
Coat of arms of Fort Simpson
Coat of arms
Fort Simpson is located in Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson
Location in Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson is located in Canada
Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson
Location in Canada
Country Canada
Territory Northwest Territories
Region Dehcho Region
Constituency Nahendeh
Census division Region 4
Settled 1803
Village 1822
Village (incorporated) 1 January 1973
Area
 • Land 77.89 km2 (30.07 sq mi)
Elevation
169 m (554 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total 1,100
 • Density 14.1/km2 (37/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code
X0E 0N0
Area code(s) 867
Telephone exchange 695
- Living cost (2018) 142.5
- Food price index (2019) 147.6
Website www.fort-Simpson.com
Sources:
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,
Canada Flight Supplement
2018 figure based on Edmonton = 100
2019 figure based on Yellowknife = 100

Fort Simpson (Slavey language: Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ "place where rivers come together") is a village, the only one in the entire territory, in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers. It is approximately 500 km (310 mi) west of Yellowknife. Both rivers were traditionally trade routes for the Hudson's Bay Company and the native Dene people of the area.

Fort Simpson is the regional centre of the Dehcho and is the gateway to the scenic South Nahanni River and the Nahanni National Park Reserve. Fort Simpson can be reached by air, water and road and has full secondary and elementary school service. The Mackenzie Highway was extended to Fort Simpson in 1970-71.

The central section of the community is on an island near the south bank of the Mackenzie River, but industrial areas and rural residential areas are located along the highway as far as the Fort Simpson Airport, just beyond which is the Liard River ferry crossing.

History

Fort Simpson was first started as a fur trading site in 1803 then named Fort of the Forks. The Village of Fort Simpson was a permanent settlement in July 1822 when the Hudson's Bay Company constructed a trading post, naming it for George Simpson, then the Governor of Rupert's Land. Until 1910 Fort Simpson was "a company town", with some participation by the Anglican and Roman Catholic Missions. The Dené know it as Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́, meaning the place where the rivers come together. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969.

Pope John Paul II attempted to visit the community in September 1984 as part of his Canadian tour, but was prevented from landing due to fog; in an address over the radio from Yellowknife, he promised to visit in the future. He did so in September 1987 near the end of the tour of the United States, making a side trip to Fort Simpson.

Culture

There are two main annual festivals which occur in Fort Simpson.

The first which is held in March is known as the "Beavertail Jamboree". This is a winter carnival which includes traditional games, snowmobile races, and talent shows.

The other festival is the "Open Sky Festival" which is held annually on or around the Canada Day long weekend. The Open Sky Festival is a multi-disciplinary arts festival which has occurred annually since 2001. Festival events include musical, theatrical, and other performances as well as traditional Dehcho Dene Crafts, visual arts, new media exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations. The Open Sky festival is hosted by the Open Sky Creative Society, a multi-disciplinary arts organization serving artists working in the Dehcho region.

The Dene of the community are represented by the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and the Métis by Fort Simpson Métis Local 52. Both groups belong to the Dehcho First Nations.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Simpson had a population of 1,100 living in 452 of its 572 total private dwellings, a change of -8.5% from its 2016 population of 1,202. With a land area of 77.89 km2 (30.07 sq mi), it had a population density of 14.1/km2 (37/sq mi) in 2021.

In 2016, 890 people identified as Indigenous peoples. Of these the majority, 770, of the residents are First Nations with 95 Métis and 20 Inuit. The main languages are South Slavey and English.

Federal census population history of Fort Simpson
Year Pop. ±%
1956 495 —    
1961 563 +13.7%
1966 712 +26.5%
1971 747 +4.9%
1976 1,136 +52.1%
1981 980 −13.7%
1986 987 +0.7%
1991 1,142 +15.7%
1996 1,257 +10.1%
2001 1,163 −7.5%
2006 1,216 +4.6%
2011 1,238 +1.8%
2016 1,202 −2.9%
2021 1,100 −8.5%
Source: Statistics Canada
Annual population estimates
Year Pop. ±%
1996 1,307 —    
1997 1,295 −0.9%
1998 1,259 −2.8%
1999 1,266 +0.6%
2000 1,238 −2.2%
2001 1,261 +1.9%
2002 1,261 +0.0%
2003 1,254 −0.6%
2004 1,238 −1.3%
2005 1,242 +0.3%
2006 1,257 +1.2%
2007 1,237 −1.6%
Year Pop. ±%
2008 1,247 +0.8%
2009 1,270 +1.8%
2010 1,276 +0.5%
2011 1,279 +0.2%
2012 1,260 −1.5%
2013 1,232 −2.2%
2014 1,233 +0.1%
2015 1,229 −0.3%
2016 1,207 −1.8%
2017 1,174 −2.7%
2018 1,254 +6.8%
2019 1,250 −0.3%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2008 - 2019), NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)
Panethnic groups in the Village of Fort Simpson (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021 2016 2011 2006 2001
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Indigenous 825 76.39% 890 75.42% 950 73.08% 825 69.04% 795 69.13%
European 225 20.83% 260 22.03% 315 24.23% 350 29.29% 340 29.57%
African 20 1.85% 0 0% 10 0.77% 0 0% 10 0.87%
Southeast Asian 10 0.93% 10 0.85% 10 0.77% 10 0.84% 0 0%
South Asian 0 0% 10 0.85% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
East Asian 0 0% 0 0% 20 1.54% 20 1.67% 10 0.87%
Middle Eastern 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Latin American 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Other/multiracial 0 0% 10 0.85% 0 0% 10 0.84% 0 0%
Total responses 1,080 98.18% 1,180 98.17% 1,300 105.01% 1,195 98.27% 1,150 98.88%
Total population 1,100 100% 1,202 100% 1,238 100% 1,216 100% 1,163 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Climate

Fort Simpson has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with long, cold winters and warm but short summers. July temperatures are unusually warm for such northerly areas, which demonstrates the extreme continental nature of the area's climate. However, the heat quickly turns into cold winters when daylight hours turn drastically shorter. Transition seasons are extremely short, and the year is on average dominated by the winter and to a lesser extent, summer. The average monthly temperatures range from −24.2 °C (−11.6 °F) in January to 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in July. Most of the precipitation falls during the summer months.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Simpson was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 25 July 1994 and 13 July 2014. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −56.1 °C (−69.0 °F) on 1 February 1947.

Climate data for Fort Simpson (Fort Simpson Airport)
WMO ID: 71946; coordinates 61°45′37″N 121°14′12″W / 61.76028°N 121.23667°W / 61.76028; -121.23667 (Fort Simpson Airport); elevation: 169.2 m (555 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1895–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 12.0 13.9 15.0 26.4 31.8 35.8 41.3 39.7 32.2 24.0 11.3 14.0 41.3
Record high °C (°F) 13.2
(55.8)
15.6
(60.1)
16.1
(61.0)
25.5
(77.9)
32.8
(91.0)
35.0
(95.0)
36.6
(97.9)
35.4
(95.7)
30.0
(86.0)
25.6
(78.1)
13.3
(55.9)
14.5
(58.1)
36.6
(97.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −19.8
(−3.6)
−15.3
(4.5)
−6.4
(20.5)
5.8
(42.4)
15.0
(59.0)
21.8
(71.2)
23.7
(74.7)
20.9
(69.6)
13.7
(56.7)
1.8
(35.2)
−11.5
(11.3)
−17.5
(0.5)
2.7
(36.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −24.2
(−11.6)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−13.0
(8.6)
−0.4
(31.3)
8.7
(47.7)
15.3
(59.5)
17.4
(63.3)
14.7
(58.5)
8.2
(46.8)
−2.0
(28.4)
−15.5
(4.1)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−2.8
(27.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −28.5
(−19.3)
−25.9
(−14.6)
−19.7
(−3.5)
−6.7
(19.9)
2.2
(36.0)
8.8
(47.8)
11.2
(52.2)
8.5
(47.3)
2.6
(36.7)
−5.9
(21.4)
−19.4
(−2.9)
−25.9
(−14.6)
−8.2
(17.2)
Record low °C (°F) −54.4
(−65.9)
−56.1
(−69.0)
−46.7
(−52.1)
−39.4
(−38.9)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−1.1
(30.0)
−6.1
(21.0)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−27.8
(−18.0)
−46.1
(−51.0)
−53.3
(−63.9)
−56.1
(−69.0)
Record low wind chill −59 −55 −48 −44 −25 −6 −3 −5 −24 −35 −53 −60 −60
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.9
(0.74)
17.6
(0.69)
15.4
(0.61)
17.0
(0.67)
29.4
(1.16)
51.3
(2.02)
61.1
(2.41)
61.4
(2.42)
32.2
(1.27)
39.4
(1.55)
24.8
(0.98)
19.1
(0.75)
387.6
(15.26)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.2
(0.01)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.00)
2.5
(0.10)
21.0
(0.83)
51.2
(2.02)
61.1
(2.41)
60.9
(2.40)
28.5
(1.12)
12.9
(0.51)
0.1
(0.00)
0.0
(0.0)
238.6
(9.39)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 27.4
(10.8)
24.2
(9.5)
19.0
(7.5)
17.4
(6.9)
7.6
(3.0)
0.1
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(0.2)
4.2
(1.7)
29.0
(11.4)
33.4
(13.1)
24.3
(9.6)
187.0
(73.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.9 10.6 9.4 5.6 8.8 11.3 12.1 11.0 10.6 11.8 12.0 10.7 124.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.0 7.1 11.3 12.1 11.0 9.8 4.2 0.2 0.0 57.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 11.6 11.7 9.8 5.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.4 9.2 12.7 11.3 75.1
Average relative humidity (%) (at 15:00) 78.8 77.2 69.3 52.5 43.6 44.8 50.5 53.7 59.2 76.7 83.2 81.1 64.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 55.7 95.1 180.6 248.6 293.4 313.0 307.1 263.8 163.9 77.8 49.4 30.0 2,078.3
Percent possible sunshine 28.5 38.0 49.6 56.3 53.8 53.7 53.3 53.4 42.0 25.0 22.8 17.7 41.2
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Notable residents

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