Evacuation Reception Centre

The evacuation reception centre at the Yellowknife Multiplex remains open, with services delivered throughout the weekend including on-site mental health counselling. There is still capacity at this facility for anyone who needs a place to stay. Evacuees who are not staying at the centre can access meals and other services at the centre by registering as an evacuee with the registration desk at the multiplex.

Enhanced Emergency Planning

Under the NWT Emergency Plan, Health and Social Services holds the responsibility for the provision of health services for residents. Part of this includes ensuring availability of alternate provision of Long Term Care services for residents in our care in the event of an evacuation. 

Due to the evacuation of KFN and the town of Hay River, NTHSSA has temporarily relocated residents of  Woodland Manor in facilities in multiple regions within the NWT.  Similar plans to relocate Long Term Care residents throughout our system have been executed in the past 2 years with the evacuation of Fort Simpson in 2021, and Hay River in 2022 due to floods. 

In light of the severe forest fire conditions that we are seeing in neighboring jurisdictions as well as the extreme start to the NWT season, NTHSSA is currently exploring all available options for additional capacity - above and beyond that which is currently included in our plan – to prepare should we should face a situation of concurrent community evacuations requiring the evacuation of more than one Long Term Care facility.

NTHSSA takes the responsibility of ensuring the provision of safe care to all residents very seriously and is looking ahead to ensure we are have sufficient contingency planning in place to address the hazards of the coming forest fire season.

Health Services in Yellowknife:

A Hay River family physician is currently in Yellowknife and has been designated to ensure access to urgent needs such as prescription refills for evacuees.

• Call 867-767-9294 or 867-767-9125 for a phone consultation. Identify yourself as an evacuee so we can direct your calls appropriately.
  • We expect high call volumes for this service, so we ask all residents to have patience when calling.

• For 24/7 non-urgent health advice and information, call 8-1-1 free-of-charge to speak to a registered nurse.

Mental Health Services for Evacuees

Being evacuated from your home community is stressful; checking in with a mental health and counselling resource can help provide strategies, advice, and resources to deal with this difficult situation. Current services available to evacuees from the Hay River/Katlodeeche First Nation fire include:

In Person Services at the Multiplex

Mental health workers are available from 9 am to 9pm daily at the evacuation centre; including over the long weekend.

Virtual or Remote Supports

Any evacuees affected by the Hay River/KFN fires who are looking for information on mental health services can also contact the Yellowknife Community Counselling office, whether they are located in Yellowknife or another community.

Yellowknife Community Counselling Office

Phone Counselling Available 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

(867) 767-9110 ext. 3

In addition to services delivered by the NTHSSA community counselling teams the following supports are also available:

NWT Help Line

1-800-661-0844

Kids Help Phone

1-800-668-6868

Or text CONNECT to 686868

Wellness Together Canada

Adults: 1-866-585-0445

Youth: 1-888-668-6810

Canada Suicide Prevention Service

1-833-456-4566

Hope For Wellness

1-855-242-3310

Family Violence Crisis line

1-866-223-7775

Adultes : 1-866-585-0445

Jeunes : 1-888-668-6810

 Service canadien de prévention du suicide

1-833-456-4566

 Ligne d’écoute espoir

1-855-242-3310

 Ligne pour les situations de crise liées à la violence familiale

1-866-223-7775