Fort Simpson

This article is about the village in the Northwest Territories of Canada. For the historic fort, see Fort Simpson (Columbia Department). For the settlement in British Columbia, see Port Simpson, British Columbia.

Fort Simpson (Slavey language: Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́^{[pronunciation?]} "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.^[8] Both rivers were traditionally trade routes for the Hudson's Bay Company and the native Dene people of the area.

Fort Simpson Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́
Village
Coat of arms
Fort Simpson Show map of Northwest Territories Fort Simpson Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 61°51′39″N 121°21′10″W[1]
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Region	Dehcho Region
Constituency	Nahendeh
Census division	Region 4
Settled	1803
Village	1822
Village (incorporated)	1 January 1973
Government
• Mayor	Sean Whelly
• Senior Administrative Officer	Kevin Corrigan
• MLA	Shane Thompson
Area [3]
• Land	77.89 km2 (30.07 sq mi)
Elevation	169 m (554 ft)
Population  (2021)[3]
• 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	867
Telephone exchange	695
- Living cost (2018)	142.5A
- Food price index (2019)	147.6B
Website	www.fort-Simpson.com
Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[4] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[5] Canada Flight Supplement[6] ^A 2018 figure based on Edmonton = 100[7] ^B 2019 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[7]

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.^[9] It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

The Dene of the community are represented by the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation^[13] and the Métis by Fort Simpson Métis Local 52.^[14] Both groups belong to the Dehcho First Nations.^[15]

• 
  Welcome to Fort Simpson
• 
  Radio Station, Fort Simpson, circa 1925
• 
  Ehdaa National Historic Site of Canada on Canada Day 2011
• 
  Lafferty ferry dry docked for winter
• 
  Liard River ferry Lafferty

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 (36.6/sq mi) in 2021.^[3]

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.^[16]

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 [3][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

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),[7] NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 - 2017)[27]

Panethnic groups in the Village of Fort Simpson (2001−2021)

Panethnic group	2021[28]		2016[29]		2011[30]		2006[31]		2001[32]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Indigenous	825	76.39%	890	75.42%	950	73.08%	825	69.04%	795	69.13%
European[lower-alpha 1]	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[lower-alpha 2]	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[lower-alpha 3]	0	0%	0	0%	20	1.54%	20	1.67%	10	0.87%
Middle Eastern[lower-alpha 4]	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Latin American	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Other/multiracial[lower-alpha 5]	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.^[33][34] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −56.1 °C (−69.0 °F) on 1 February 1947.^[35]

Climate data for Fort Simpson (Fort Simpson Airport) WMO ID: 71946; coordinates 61°45′37″N 121°14′12″W; elevation: 169.2 m (555 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1895–present[lower-alpha 6]
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[33][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][35][46][47][48][34]

Notable residents

• Jim Antoine, eighth premier of the Northwest Territories
• William Lafferty, politician, Canadian Forces officer and newspaper columnist
• Melaw Nakehk'o, actress, artist, and activist
• Nick Sibbeston, fourth premier of the Northwest Territories.
• Dahti Tsetso, Tłı̨chǫ environmentalist and educator, born in Fort Simpson

See also

• List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories
• Fort Simpson Island Airport
• Fort Simpson Island Water Aerodrome
• Fort Simpson/Canadian Helicopters Heliport
• Fort Simpson/(Great Slave) Heliport

Notes

1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
2. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
3. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
6. Climate data was recorded in Fort Simpson from November 1895 to October 1963 and at Fort Simpson Airport from November 1963 to present.

References

1. "Fort Simpson". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
2. "Fort Simpson". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
3. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
4. "NWT Communities - Fort Simpson". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
5. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
6. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
7. Fort Simpson - Statistical Profile
8. "Harper announces expansion of N.W.T. park". CBC News. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
9. Fort Simpson Historical Society Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine
10. Fort Simpson National Historic Site of Canada. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
11. Explore NWT - Beavertail Jamboree Archived 2006-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
12. Open Sky Creative Society
13. Liidli Kue First Nation Archived 2008-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
14. Fort Simpson Métis Archived 2008-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
15. Dehcho First Nations Archived 2007-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
16. "Census Profile, 2016 Census Fort Simpson, Village [Census subdivision], Northwest Territories and Region 4, Region [Census division], Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
17. "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961". 1961 Census of Canada (PDF). Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. 8 March 1963. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
18. "Population of Unincorporated Places of 50 persons and over, 1971 and 1966 (Alberta)". 1971 Census of Canada: Population (PDF). Special Bulletin: Unincorporated Settlements. Vol. Bulletin SP—1. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. March 1973. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
19. "1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1977. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
20. "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
21. "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
22. "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
23. "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
24. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
25. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
26. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
27. Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
28. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (26 October 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
29. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 October 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
30. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (27 November 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
31. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (20 August 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
32. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2 July 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
33. "Fort Simpson A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. 25 September 2013. Climate ID: 2202101. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
34. "Daily Data Report for July 2014". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202101. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
35. "Daily Data Report for February 1947". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
36. "Daily Data Report for May 1899". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
37. "Daily Data Report for June 1916". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
38. "Daily Data Report for August 1922". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
39. "Daily Data Report for October 1923". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
40. "Daily Data Report for March 1929". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
41. "Daily Data Report for December 1933". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
42. "Daily Data Report for October 1935". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
43. "Daily Data Report for January 1936". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
44. "Daily Data Report for February 1938". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
45. "Daily Data Report for November 1941". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
46. "Daily Data Report for November 1949". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
47. "Daily Data Report for April 1954". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
48. "Daily Data Report for June 1955". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2202100. Retrieved 30 June 2016.

External links

• Official site