Country Canada Population 87 (2011) Area code 867 | Incorporated (hamlet) 29 October 2007 Local time Friday 9:23 PM | |
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Weather -26°C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 67% Humidity | ||
Enterprise is a hamlet in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, located between Great Slave Lake and the Alberta border on the Hay River.
Contents
Map of Enterprise, NT, Canada
Enterprise is at an important junction of the Mackenzie Highway and the road to Yellowknife and was established when two service stations were built to take advantage of traffic along these highways. It has since grown to include a cargo station, Winnie's Restaurant, and a motel to accommodate travellers. Most of the remaining commercial region, however, is currently closed for business and looking for buyers.
It is a significant point on the Northwest Territories highway system, as all traffic that heads to the two largest population centres, Yellowknife to the north, and the nearby town of Hay River to the northeast, must pass through. As such, a tourism centre/visitors centre is located right in the heart of town, where the old weigh station used to be.
History
With the completion of the Mackenzie Highway in 1948 from Grimshaw, Alberta, to Hay River on the shores of Great Slave Lake, a number of new service stops were built along its length. In the winter of 1948/1949, Jack Parnall, a freight operator based in Hay River, opened a service station at the junction of the Mackenzie Highway and the Mills Lake winter road, which connected to the Mills Lake freight staging area on the Mackenzie River below Fort Providence. In 1959/1960, the highway was extended to Yellowknife on the north side of Great Slave Lake, and Enterprise became the important junction. The community as a service centre for travelers and highway maintenance has grown since that time.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census the population is 87, a 10.3% decrease from 2006. In 2012 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 118, an increase of 50 people from 2001. The main languages, besides English, are South Slavey and Chipewyan.
Incorporation
In 2007, Enterprise filed a petition to change from settlement status to hamlet, which would allow for greater powers by council, a public voting for mayor, and freedom to set property tax rates. On 27 October 2007 the community was officially incorporated and Allan Flamand became the first mayor.
Climate
Enterprise has a harsh subarctic climate with the yearly mean temperature being below zero in spite of the relatively warm summers around 22 °C (72 °F) resulting in Enterprise being well below the tree line in the boreal forest. Winter average highs are around −20 °C (−4 °F) with lows being −31 °C (−24 °F), typical of the boreal forests north of the prairies.