Sheila Bassi-Kellett
City Manager, City of Yellowknife
Mario Rogers
President, Multicultural Community of Yellowknife
Many Canadians are reflecting on their relationship with their work and personal life. If you’re seeking true work-life balance in a welcoming community, then you’ll want to consider going North because Yellowknife has it all.
Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, has a small-town feel with urban amenities. Abundant job opportunities and unique activities to pursue — there aren’t many places you can enjoy the midnight sun in summer, the Northern Lights, and strap on skis for a lunch-hour ski in winter.
Quality of life northern style
Yellowknife has long attracted adventure seekers. Sheila Bassi-Kellett, City Manager for the City of Yellowknife, is one of those people. Originally from Toronto, Bassi-Kellett has lived in the city for 33 years. “There’s so much to love about Yellowknife,” she says. “The close-knit community, access to pristine wilderness, Indigenous culture and heritage woven into the community, great career opportunities, wonderful amenities, and people who really know how to enjoy life.”
Forget that long commute stuck in traffic or crammed on a bus or train. In Yellowknife, you can walk or cycle to work. Catch up with neighbours and friends on the way. Meet for lunch at one of the many ethnic eateries. Do you fancy Japanese, Ethiopian, Indian, Vietnamese, traditional Indigenous cuisine, or one of the local pubs? How about a cocktail with friends after work on the shore of Great Slave Lake? It’s all here waiting.
Yellowknife is surrounded by breathtaking beauty of the forests, lakes, and the changing light in the sky. Accessible trails throughout the city make getting around easy while being close to nature. And with non-stop flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa and convenient connections from other cities, Yellowknife is closer than you think.
A global community in Canada’s North
Looking for a unique post-secondary experience? Yellowknife has that, too. Education for in-demand careers, such as nursing, environment and natural resource management, business administration, and more, is available here. In addition, Aurora College is in the process of transitioning to a polytechnic university, attracting students and faculty from across the North, the rest of Canada, and the world — those who want to study in the Northwest Territories and develop academic relationships with Indigenous partners, governments, industry, and researchers.
What might surprise people is how cosmopolitan and culturally diverse Yellowknife is. “I look forward to celebrating my Indian heritage during Diwali, as well as my Irish heritage at St Patrick’s Day festivities, all while honouring the Indigenous history of this area,” says Bassi-Kellett. “There are so many great celebrations throughout the year. Yellowknife is a very social place.”
Mario Rogers knows first-hand how welcoming Yellowknife is. He moved to the city five years ago from Madagascar and enjoys the city’s small-town vibe and endless opportunities. He’s the President of the Multicultural Community of Yellowknife, a non-profit organization that promotes multiculturalism in the city and across the Northwest Territories through art, music, dance, and storytelling. “We have strong participation from the community, which allows us to host successful events,” he says. And his advice for those considering a move to the city: “Don’t be afraid of the winter weather; the community will make you feel warmer than anywhere else in the world.”
The City of Yellowknife acknowledges that we’re located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of all other Indigenous Peoples, including the North Slave Métis and all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
