CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE Background Report Community Plan Update 2019 October 2019 – 18-7267 i Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Approach and Methodology 2 3.0 Historical Context 4 3.1 Regional Context ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 City Context .............................................................................................................................. 7 3.2.1 Quality of Life ........................................................................................................................... 7 4.0 Statistical Profile and Trends 9 4.1 Population ................................................................................................................................ 9 4.1.1 Changing Population ................................................................................................................ 9 4.1.2 Population by Age Cohort ...................................................................................................... 10 4.1.3 Population by Age and Sex ..................................................................................................... 11 4.1.4 Family Size .............................................................................................................................. 13 4.1.5 Family Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 14 4.2 Social and Cultural Trends...................................................................................................... 15 4.2.1 Indigenous Profile .................................................................................................................. 15 4.2.2 Ethnicity ................................................................................................................................. 16 4.2.3 Immigration ............................................................................................................................ 17 4.2.4 Migration ................................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.5 Knowledge of Official Languages ........................................................................................... 21 4.2.6 Religion ................................................................................................................................... 23 4.3 Mobility and Transportation .................................................................................................. 24 4.3.1 Licenced Drivers and Registered Vehicles .............................................................................. 24 4.4 Collisions ................................................................................................................................ 26 4.5 Crime and Security ................................................................................................................. 27 4.6 Education ............................................................................................................................... 31 4.7 Employment and Labour Force .............................................................................................. 32 4.7.1 Labour Force Activity ............................................................................................................. 32 4.7.2 Employment by Industry ........................................................................................................ 33 4.7.3 Employment by Occupation ................................................................................................... 34 4.7.4 Business Licenses ................................................................................................................... 36 4.7.5 Income ................................................................................................................................... 37 City of Yellowknife Background Report - Community Plan Update 2019 October 2019 – 18-7267 ii 4.8 Household Profiles ................................................................................................................. 40 4.8.1 Household Size ....................................................................................................................... 40 4.8.2 Housing Tenure ...................................................................................................................... 41 4.8.3 Shelter Costs .......................................................................................................................... 42 4.8.4 Apartment Vacancies ............................................................................................................. 45 4.8.5 Housing Types ........................................................................................................................ 46 4.8.6 Housing Values ....................................................................................................................... 47 4.8.7 Housing Starts ........................................................................................................................ 47 4.8.8 Housing Sales ......................................................................................................................... 49 4.8.9 Construction Activity and Building Permits ........................................................................... 51 4.9 Municipal Tax Base and Fiscal Outlook .................................................................................. 56 4.9.1 Fiscal Outlook ......................................................................................................................... 60 4.10 Climate Change ...................................................................................................................... 60 5.0 Physical Profile 62 5.1 Land Uses within Yellowknife ................................................................................................ 62 5.2 Existing Area Development Plans .......................................................................................... 63 5.3 Residential Areas .................................................................................................................... 66 5.4 Mixed Use .............................................................................................................................. 67 5.5 Commercial Areas .................................................................................................................. 68 5.6 Industrial Areas ...................................................................................................................... 69 5.7 Mining Activity ....................................................................................................................... 69 5.8 Downtown Designation ......................................................................................................... 69 5.9 Open Space, Parks and Trails ................................................................................................. 70 5.9.1 Open Space ............................................................................................................................ 70 5.9.2 Parks and Trails ...................................................................................................................... 72 5.10 Waterfront Areas ................................................................................................................... 72 5.11 Ndilo Designated Area ........................................................................................................... 73 5.12 Growth Reserve ..................................................................................................................... 73 5.13 Akaitcho Interim Land Withdrawal ........................................................................................ 74 5.14 Transportation Network ........................................................................................................ 75 5.14.1 Major construction Activities ................................................................................................. 75 5.14.2 Parking ................................................................................................................................... 75 5.14.3 Existing Road Layout .............................................................................................................. 76 5.14.4 Winter Access Roads .............................................................................................................. 77 City of Yellowknife Background Report - Community Plan Update 2019 October 2019 – 18-7267 iii 5.14.5 Bike Lanes............................................................................................................................... 77 5.14.6 Truck Route (Engle Business District Access Road) ................................................................ 79 5.14.7 Air Transportation .................................................................................................................. 79 5.14.8 Float Plane Harbours and Waterdrome ................................................................................. 81 5.14.9 Public Transportation (City) ................................................................................................... 81 5.14.10 Trails ......................................................................................................................................