Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (July 29, 2026) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) is pleased to share that full health and social services have resumed in Fort Simpson as of July 28, 2026.  The final phase of service reopening following the wildfire evacuation order occurred yesterday, with the return of Long-Term Care (LTC) residents who had been evacuated to Yellowknife’s Łıwegǫ̀atì Building.

As part of NTHSSA’s Emergency Response Plan, LTC residents in communities under threat of wildfire are typically relocated when the evacuation status of “Alert” is triggered. In alignment with this plan, Fort Simpson’s Elder Care Home residents were transferred from the community to Yellowknife on the evening of June 26th, 2026. This is a precautionary approach intended to avoid the need for coordination of a logistically complex move of vulnerable elders in the midst of a community-wide evacuation order due to encroaching wildfire threat. When it's safe for residents to return to their communities, the NTHSSA follows a similar precautionary approach and awaits the evacuation status downgrade to “Notice” as a trigger to begin planning for LTC resident return. This approach recognizes residents' health care needs and the complexities involved in safely evacuating and returning to the LTC facility.

The NTHSSA understands how eager residents have been to return home and thanks the many dedicated staff who supported them throughout the past month. From safely transporting residents from Fort Simpson to Yellowknife, to providing compassionate day-to-day care, staff from both Fort Simpson and Yellowknife worked together to ensure residents remained safe, comfortable, and well-supported.

This collaborative effort reflects the dedication and commitment of NTHSSA staff to providing high-quality care, even in challenging circumstances.

As the community settles back into regular routines following the evacuation, the NTHSSA reminds any residents who may need additional mental health or wellness support, for themselves or a loved one, that in-person and virtual services are available. Visit www.nthssa.ca/mentalhealth to learn more about the supports available.

For information about public safety, residents are reminded to visit www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety.