history

Billy Balsillie prepares to take off on Great Slave Lake for a spring snow machine trip. 1985.

Seems vehicles sinking into the ice have been a longstanding part of Yellowknife’s history. Here are two photos from 1939, when Darcy Arden’s bulldozer went through the ice in front of Con Camp. They built this rig to recover the dozer from the icy waters.

Archie Buckley unloads equipment in front of his fish plant on Yellowknife Bay in 2004. For many years, Archie and his wife Nancy were Yellowknife’s main source of fresh Great Slave Lake fish.

Yellowknife bikers go flat out at the Sandpits.

Lorna Dosso prepares supper at the Wildcat Café in 1986.

Darcy Beck plays with his pups in Willow Flats.

Bob Carpenter and artist Abraham Anghik Ruben discuss the geodesic dome that Abe was building at Sammy’s Beach in 1977.

Baseball players take a break for a photo op on Lou’s Beach in Willow Flats. Players include John and Mark Rocher, Guy Sirois, Tim Turner-Davis, Randy Heibert and several Richardson boys.

The Snowking and his Icicles entertain at the Snow Castle in 1998.

by Fran Hurcomb Woodyard residents Walter Bird, Chubby Robson and Wilfred Smith are all dressed up for John and Roberta Rocher’s wedding in 1987.

by Fran Hurcomb Dog musher Lorraine Tees is hanging fish for her dogs in a pen in the Woodyard. Whitefish caught during the fall run in October were routinely hung to dry and could be used all winter.

by Fran Hurcomb Musher Jim Essery spins a tale after a race on Grace Lake. Fellow musher Guy Erasmus looks skeptical.

by Fran Hurcomb Linda, Don and Travis Cardinal dock their boat in the Woodyard on the way to grad ceremonies for daughter Colinda.

by Fran Hurcomb The Government dock in October with all the commercial fishing boats pulled up for the winter.

by Fran Hurcomb Yellowknife was sandwiched between two gold mines for decades. In this photo, the Giant headframe is in the foreground and the Con headframe in the background.