The city resurfaced the McMahon Frame Lake Trail and widened it by one metre in 2017 thanks to funding from the federal government.
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announced Monday it had invested $150,000 for improvements to the trail as part of the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, stated a news release.
The city contributed an additional $50,000.
Upgrades to the trail will make it safer, and more accommodating of pedestrians and cyclists.
City administration proposed late last year to spend $300,000 in 2018 to extend the Frame Lake Trail.
After much debate during budget deliberations, city council decided to defer that proposal until 2019.
Ditch the car, walk to work
Walking to work has a number of perks say advocates: it's good exercise, it's environmentally sound, and it saves cash on gas.
But next week, Ecology North and the city are giving Yellowknifers even more reasons to pull on snow pants and leave the car plugged in.
Feb. 5 to 9 is Winter Walk to Work Week, and volunteers will be on the streets from 7:50 to 8:30 a.m. handing out free passes to the city's recreational facilities, stated a news release.
Let the world know you're walking by tweeting a selfie of your bundled up face to @ecologynorth using the hashtag #winterwalkface for a chance to win a gift certificate to Fat Fox.
On Wednesday, walkers can swing by the Ecology North office at 5016 50th Ave. for a free coffee or hot chocolate (bring your own mug).
Controlled burn in Parker Park
The city will continue its controlled burn at Parker Park until Feb. 16, weather permitting.
Crews began burning small brush piles left over from 2017 fire smarting activities on Jan. 31.
Residents can still use the sliding hill and trails located on either side of the area, but the city asks that they use caution while fire smarting staff and equipment are at work.
Winter road to mines opens on time
The Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road opened yesterday morning – the cargo lifeline for the large mines expected to see its second-busiest season.
"Everything went really well ... and we're going to have just under 10,000 loads," said Ron Near, director of winter road operations for the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road Joint Venture.
The road begins at Tibbitt Lake at the end of Ingraham Trail about 60 kilometres east of Yellowknife, states informtion from the joint venture.
It then goes north, linking four diamond mines – Ekati, Diavik, Snap Lake, Tahera – at the north end of Contwoyto Lake, NU.
"It's a commercial winter road, it's open to the public, but there are no services," said Near. "We do get people up there, hunting or fishing."
With that road opening, motorists can expect a lot of truck traffic north and southbound on the Ingraham Trail until the end of March.
The Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road is a joint venture run by owners of the territory's diamond mines.
Dance night to heat up Fieldhouse
The City of Yellowknife and the Bella Beats, from the Bella Dance Academy, are presenting a Family Fun Night later this month.
The evening will feature a Bella Beats demonstration including: an intro with basic dance moves; warm up and cool down stretches; and a performance by the Bella Beats.
There will be lots of other family activities, stated a news release from the city.
A reminder that only indoor shoes or socks are allowed on the indoor soccer field.
The event runs Wednesday Feb. 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
City's biomass system receives national recognition
The City of Yellowknife's Biomass District Energy System is the 2018 winner in the energy category of Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Sustainable Communities Awards, it was announced yesterday.
"The City of Yellowknife came up with an innovative solution ... shared by several buildings and fuelled by wood pellets," said a release from the organization. "This heating system is expected to reduce GHGs by 829 tonnes a year, and save the City up to $160,000 annually."
The city needed to address heating to achieve its corporate and community energy plan target to cut GHG emissions in half by 2025, from 2009 levels, stated the release.
Biomass is a renewable energy source that is less polluting, and that has potential to be sourced locally, stated the organization.