There are 11 official languages in the Northwest Territories, with 5 spoken significantly in Yellowknife, including:
- Dene Suline;
- Dogrib;
- South and North Slavey;
- English; and
- French.
The Yellowknife settlement was founded in 1934 after gold was discovered in the area. However, commercial activity in the waterfront area where it is currently located did not commence until 1936.
Yellowknife was established as a supply center for gold mines which were operating in the area in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1967, it became the capital of the Northwest Territories.
Once gold production became less prevalent, Yellowknife shifted from being a mining town to being a center of government services in the 1980s. This shift began to reverse in 1991, however, when diamonds were discovered north of the city.
Currently, the city of Yellowknife has become a hub for:
- Mining;
- Industry;
- Transportation;
- Communications;
- Education;
- Health;
- Tourism;
- Commerce; and
- Government activity in the Northwest Territory.
The last gold mine in Yellowknife closed in 2004. Similar to other urban centers, Yellowknife was distinct areas, including:
- Commercial;
- Industrial; and
- Residential.
The majority of the commercial activity in Yellowknife is located in the downtown area. The city has a municipal government system and is governed by the Yellowknife City Council.
Law enforcement in Yellowknife is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The city is the headquarters of the G Division and has over 30 officers.
Enforcement of municipal bylaw infractions and traffic infractions, within city limits, is provided by The City of Yellowknife Municipal Enforcement Division (MED).
Health services in Yellowknife are provided by the Stanton Territorial Hospital. The Yellowknife Primary Care Centre also has a broad range of medical practitioners and offers services including:
- Mental health;
- Diabetes education;
- Diagnostic imaging;
- Psychiatry; and
- Some home care services.
There are several notable places for individuals to visit in Yellowknife, including:
- The Wildcat Cafe, which opened in 1937 and was moved to a new location and opened newly renovated in 2013;
- The Capital Area Park in downtown;
- The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which is a museum that contains exhibits of the native peoples are the area;
- The Northwest Territories Legislative Building houses; and
- The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, which houses the city’s largest indoor stage for musical and theater presentations.
There are also other attractions individuals can take advantage of, including:
- The Ingraham Trail;
- Local fishing lodges;
- Bush plane tours; and
- Numerous lakes which surround Yellowknife, many of which have beaches.
Additional Yellowknife Law Information
The Yellowknife and Northwest Territories court system includes:
- The Territorial Court, including Justices of the Peace;
- The Supreme Court; and
- The Court of Appeal.
A Justice of the Peace is an individual who lives and works in communities throughout the Northwest Territories. These individuals perform a variety of duties as authorized by the Chief Judge of the Territorial Court.
A Justice of the Peace makes decisions on summary conviction issues and certain criminal issues. Justices of the Peace regularly conduct bail hearings and first appearances and may engage in other duties, such as conducting a marriage ceremony.
There are 36 Justices of the Peace in the Northwest Territories. 29 of those can conduct proceedings outside of Yellowknife and are able to speak the languages of the communities which they serve. Any individual who resides in the Northwest Territories can apply to become a Justice of the Peace.
The Territorial Court hears most criminal cases in the Northwest Territories. It also holds preliminary hearings as well as non-jury trials in communities in the Northwest Territories and visits those communities regularly on regional circuits.
The Territorial Court has jurisdiction over summary conviction offenses created by territorial statutes and federal statutes, including:
- Environmental offenses;
- Motor vehicle and highway safety infractions; and
- Breaches of municipal by-laws.
The Territorial court also hears cases which involve:
- Child protection;
- Child custody;
- Child support; and
- Civil disputes where the amount does not exceed $35,000.
Appeals of decisions which are made by the Territorial Court, where available, may be heard by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is the superior court in the Northwest Territories and the judges are appointed by the federal government.
The Supreme court is based in the City of Yellowknife. It may sit with or without a jury. The Supreme Court may also exercise powers of judicial review over decisions of territorial boards and tribunals.
The Supreme Court in the Northwest Territories hears:
- Appeals in summary conviction criminal matters which were heard by the Territorial Court and Justice of the Peace Court;
- Other appeals as provided by statute;
- Divorce cases;
- Probate cases; and
- Estate administration cases.
If a decision of the Supreme Court is appealed, it is heard by the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories. The highest appellate court in the Northwest Territories is the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal hears civil and criminal appeals from the Supreme Court and the Territorial Court. The decisions of the Court of Appeal are binding in all of the courts in the Northwest Territories.
If a decision of the Court of Appeal is appealed, when available, it is heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, the highest court in the country.
Locate Lawyers in Yellowknife, Canada and Yellowknife, Canada Attorneys Quickly
If you are seeking legal counsel or representation in Yellowknife, it is important to ensure that your potential representative has completed the requirements to be licensed to practice law in the province. To become a lawyer and practice in Yellowknife, an individual is required to:
- Obtain an undergraduate degree;
- Take the law school admissions tests;
- Complete law school;
- Complete the bar admissions course and articling in the province; and
- Pass the bar exam and be admitted to practice law.
Attorney and lawyer are terms that are used interchangeably in the United States. This is not the same as Canada, where a lawyer is an individual who practices law and an attorney is an individual who has been appointed under a power of attorney.
This distinction may be helpful if an individual is searching for representation using services based in the United States. If an individual uses LegalMatch, they can search using the terms lawyer and attorney because the content provided by this service is written by individuals in the United States.
In the United States, lawyers do not define their practices by whether or not they practice law in a courtroom. Many lawyers in the United States handle numerous types of cases and practice both inside and outside of the courtroom.
In Canada, a lawyer can choose whether they want to practice law in court or outside of a courtroom and will define their practice by the title they give themselves. Solicitors are lawyers who handle legal issues outside of court, such as contract issues and will drafting.
Barristers are lawyers who appear in court and assist clients with alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation.
LegalMatch is a service that can provide you with Yellowknife lawyers, Yellowknife law firms, and a Yellowknife lawyers list of lawyers who can help you with your legal issue. You can then decide who the best lawyer in Yellowknife is for you.
LegalMatch provides you with information for each lawyer or law office in Yellowknife, including:
- Information on the lawyer’s background;
- Information regarding the lawyer’s education and experience;
- Fee information;
- If the lawyer had malpractice coverage;
- Whether they have a law office in Yellowknife; and
- Reviews from previous clients.
For more information related to Yellowknife lawyers or if you have questions regarding Yellowknife legal procedures or the laws in Yellowknife, Canada, you can visit the following websites: