Projects Archive - Ecology North

Circular economy month 2026

October is Circular Economy Month in Canada, so Ecology North and partners are bringing you waste reduction public events to celebrate. We’ll have several ways for you to examine your relationship with waste this month.

Friday, October 2

YK Community Swap: Drop Off – 5-6 p.m. – Mildred Hall School
Drop off your gently used clothes, books, and puzzles ahead of the swap.
**NEW** this year: Do you have containers that are missing their lids, or lids with no containers? See if you can find the missing pieces at the container swap table!
Limits (per family): 2 garbage bags clothing; 1 reusable bag books; 1 reusable bag puzzles; 1 reusable bag containers/lids

Saturday, October 3

YK Community Swap – 9:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. – Mildred Hall School
Bring your own bag and load up on some fabulous new-to-you items.
Hot drinks provided, and an opportunity to get some Fall Girl Guide Cookies.

Thursday, October 15

Textile Repair Night – 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Makerspace YK – 5001 Forrest Dr.
Join experts for an evening of free mending and repair. Bring your clothes and learn how these materials can be fixed.

Wednesday, October 21

Recycled Plastic Art – 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Makerspace YK – 5001 Forrest Dr.
Join us for a hands on activity exploring creative ways to reuse and upcycle plastic materials.

Thursday, October 22

Use Your Stale Bread! Workshop – 3:30-5:30 p.m. – Northern United Place Kitchen
Give stale bread a second life! Join Food Rescue and learn how to turn leftover bread into something new and delicious.

Trivia Pop-up Events

Keep your eyes peeled this month for pop-up trivia events, coming to a space near you! We’ll share more information once details are confirmed.

Waste reduction is a form of climate action. These days, we all need to take climate action both individually and collectively. Our aim is to encourage waste reduction practices through these events. We hope to see you there!

For more information, please call the office at 867-873-6019, or email admin@ecologynorth.ca.

Earth Week 2026

Earth Week Template Designs (Facebook Cover) (1)

Earth Week 2026 starts on Monday, April 20th, and runs until Sunday, April 26th. All events are free and open to the public. Donations are kindly accepted.

Click on the daily events below for specific details.

Monday, April 20

12:00-1:00pm: Opening Ceremonies – with William Greenland and Bobby Drygeese

Celebrate land and water stewardship by acknowledging Indigenous relationships with the land, led by William Greenland and Bobby Drygeese.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre – Main Floor Center Square Mall, 5022 49 St

5:30-7:30pm: Paint Your Produce Watercolour Workshop – with Jazmine Gardner

A watercolour workshop for ages 10+ inspired by veggies and the natural world.

Time: 5:30 to 7:30pm

Location: Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre – Main Floor Center Square Mall, 5022 49 St

6:30-8:30pm: Movie Night – Arctic Energy Alliance

A screening of “Strange World”, where a family must save their city of Avalonia by traversing a mysterious, surreal world to restore power from a plant called “Pando”.

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Arctic Energy Alliance Office: 5102 51 St, #101

Tuesday, April 21

12:00-1:00pm: Medicine Walk with Lila Fraser Erasmus – Niven Lake Trail

Enjoy time outside and learn about traditional medicines from Lila Fraser Erasmus.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Niven Lake Trailhead, off Chateau Nova parking lot

12:00-1:00pm: EV Lunch & Learn – YK Car Share Co-op

Come learn about Electric Vehicles (EVs) from YK Car Share Co-op. Meet one of the car share Bolts, and learn how car sharing works!

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Somba K’e Charging Station – City Hall Parking Lot: 4807 52 St

7:00-9:00pm: Giant Mine: Past, Present and Future – Alternatives North

Sharing various perspectives on Giant Mine with speakers: Jeff Rosnawski, YKDFN; Cynthia Creed, who lived at the townsite; Steve Peterson, a former miner; Branda Le, about site archives; and Dr. Mike Palmer, on arsenic and wildfires.

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Location: Northern United Place Auditorium: 5403 Franklin Ave

Wednesday, April 22

11:00am-12:00pm: The Wonderful World of Worms – Yellowknife Public Library

Join Ecology North for some wormy activities and discussions. Meet in the kid’s area. All are welcome!

Time: 11:00am-12:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Public Library, Centre Square Mall, in the kid’s area

4:00-5:00pm: Guided StoryWalk – NWT Literacy Council

Join us for an interactive StoryWalk® with the NWT Literacy Council as we explore Over and Under the Snow through a guided outdoor reading experience.

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Location: Meet at the Niven Lake Trailhead, off Niven Drive

5:30-6:30: Community Litter Pickup

Show your love for our shared spaces by sprucing them up for spring. Bags, gloves and safety vests provided! Meet at the City Hall stairs.

Time: 5:30-6:30pm

Location: Yellowknife City Hall: 4807 52 St

Thursday, April 23

12:00-1:00pm: Découverte du sirop bouleau – Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife et Fédération Franco-Ténoise

Curieux·se? Venez échanger avec Mike Mitchell! Initiation à l’entaillage (chalumeau inclus) et dégustation sucrée au menu. Apporte ton lunch.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Maison bleue 5016 48e rue

3:30-5:30pm: Butter Me Up! – Food Rescue YK

Reduce your food waste and learn how to make your own butter with Food Rescue!

Time: 3:30-5:30pm

Location: École Įtłʼǫ̀: 5700 51a Ave

5:30-6:30pm: Track Your Bills – Arctic Energy Alliance

Learn how to read and track your energy bills to better understand your usage and costs.

Time: 3:30-5:30pm

Location: Arctic Energy Alliance Office: 5102 51 St, #101

6:00-7:30pm: Bike Tune-Up – Makerspace YK

Experts from Overlander Sports, Bikespace and SHIFT NWT will be available for basic tune-ups and simple repairs so you can get your bike road-ready!

Please note that we can only provide basic fixes. This event is first-come, first-serve. We reserve the right to turn people away if the event is coming to a close.

This event is free to the public, though we encourage donations for our hardworking volunteers.

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Makerspace YK, back deck, 5001 Forrest Drive

Friday, April 24

12:00-1:00pm: Paint and Plot a Pollinator Pot! – Territorial Agrifood Association

Get ready for planting season by decorating your own pollinator pot!

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Tastes of the North: 5004 Franklin Avenue

4:00-6:00pm: Fireside Chats – Seniors for Climate

Want to know more about social and climate justice? Come out to fireside chats with Seniors for Climate.

Time: 4:00-6:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre – Main Floor Center Square Mall, 5022 49 St

5:00-7:00pm: Clothing Swap Drop-off ONLY

Drop off your clothes and books on Friday, April 24 from 5-7pm at Mildred Hall School. Then, come back Saturday, April 25th to shop for free!

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Location: Mildred Hall School gym

Saturday, April 25

9:00am-2:00pm: Ecology North Coffee House – Mildred Hall School

9:00am-1:00pm – Silent Auction & Raffle
- Bid on donated items from the community. All proceeds go to Ecology North.
9:30am-12:00-pm – Bake Sale
- Purchase some baked goods from Mildred Hall students. Cash only.
10:00am-12:00pm – Musical and stage performances
- Listen to talented local musicians!
12:00-1:00 – Free Co-op barbecue, outside
- Enjoy a free lunch in the parking lot, courtesy of Lakeshore Co-Op Yellowknife!

9:00am-2:00pm: Clothing and Book Swap with A-List Organizing

Come shop for free in the gym! Bring your own bag.

Time: 9:00am-2:00pm

Location: Mildred Hall Gym

10:30am-12:00pm: Something Smells Fishy with Ever Good Medicine

Come learn some traditional fish leather stories and medicines, and how to make and sew with fish leather with Ever Good Medicine. Limited space so please contact info@evergoodmedicine.com or DM @evergoodmedicine on Instagram.

Time: 10:30am-12:00pm

Location: Mildred Hall School – in the tipi

12:00-2:00pm: Electric Transportation Showcase with Arctic Energy Alliance, YK Car Share Co-op and SHIFT NWT

Want to green up your transit? Learn from electric vehicle and bike owners, and maybe even hitch a free ride!

Time: 12:00-2:00pm

Location: Mildred Hall School – outside

Sunday, April 26

10:00am-12:00pm: Cabane a sucre – Sugar Shack

Rejoignez l’AFCY pour un goûter gratuit de sirop d’érable. Join the Yellowknife French and Cultural Association to share culture and a free taste of maple on a stick.

Time: 10:00am-12:00pm

Location: Somba K’e Plaza, Yellowknife City Hall: 4807 52 St

1:00-2:30pm: Talk Treaty to Me – Northwords

A conversation with Crystal Gail Fraser and Sara Komarnisky on treaties, land and Indigenous sovereignty in Canada and what they mean today.

Time: 1:00-2:30pm

Location: Yellowknife Books: 4914 49 St

We’re so excited to celebrate with you!

Waste Reduction Week 2025

Waste Reduction Week 2025 starts on Tuesday, October 21st, and runs until Saturday, October 26th. All events are free and open to the public. Donations are kindly accepted.

Ecology North invites the public to attend our annual Waste Reduction Week, taking place October 21-26. Join us for a week of fun events!

Challenge yourself throughout the month to upcycle scrap fabrics into art. Register with Makerspace, and then bring your finished creations to the Clothing Swap (more info below) on October 26, where the public will vote on the winners across three categories.

Tuesday, October 21

Waste Forum – 7-9 p.m. – Northern United Place auditorium
Join experts for a discussion on waste management and reduction strategies in the territory. Snacks provided!

Wednesday, October 22

Waste Trivia – 7:30-9:30 p.m. – Elks Lodge #314
Know a lot about plastic? Want to show off your composting facts? Come win some prizes at trivia night!

Thursday, October 23

Candied Fruit Peels – 3:45-5:45 p.m. – École Įtłʼǫ̀ – 5700 51A Avenue
Turn your citrus peels into delicious candy! This zero-waste, DIY workshop a-peels to those with a sweet tooth. Save your peels (freeze them ahead of time) and bring them in, materials also provided.

Textile Repair Night – 6-8 p.m. – Makerspace YK – 5001 Forrest Drive
Join experts for an evening of free mending and repair. Bring your clothes and learn how these materials can be fixed.

Friday, October 24

Cardboard Clay – 6-8 p.m. – Makerspace YK – 5001 Forrest Drive
Turn your cardboard into clay masterpieces at this zero-waste, DIY workshop. Make bowls, sculptures and more! CANCELLED

Saturday, October 25
Clothing Swap: Drop Off – 6-7 p.m. – Mildred Hall School
Drop off your gently used clothes, books, and puzzles ahead of the swap.

Sunday, October 26
Clothing Swap – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Mildred Hall School
Bring your own bag and load up on some fabulous new-to-you items. While you’re there, come vote on projects created during the Fabric Scrap Challenge – more info below!

Fabric Scrap Challenge – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Mildred Hall School
Enjoy a warm drink and vote for your favourite pieces created over the course of the month. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

For more information, please call the office at 867-873-6019, or email events@ecologynorth.ca.

Young Leaders’ Summit

How do I apply for this year’s Young Leaders’ Summit?

You can apply online through this form.

Need help or have questions? Give us a call at 867-873-6019 or email events@ecologynorth.ca. We can walk you through the application!

What is the Young Leaders’ Summit?

The Young Leaders’ Summit (YLS) on Northern Climate Change is a bi-annual, weeklong on-the-land camp that brings together youth, aged 18-30, from across the North to explore the impacts of climate change in northern Canada. YLS offers a unique opportunity for youth to come together, collaborate, identify effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation, and build essential leadership skills that will empower them to become future climate champions.

This year’s Summit is held at Shakat Tun Adventures in Kluane Lake, Yukon, from August 18-22, 2025.

The Young Leaders’ Summit is free for youth between the ages of 18-30. All associated costs and travel expenses are covered, and food is provided.

At the Summit, youth have the opportunity to learn from Elders, researchers, land-users, policy makers, climate advocates, and each other. Youth participate in a variety of learning opportunities, including on-the-land learning, policy debates, panel discussions, art activities, and more. The Summit aims to equip young leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to drive meaningful change in their homes, workplaces, and beyond.

After the Summit, Ecology North provides mentorship opportunities to help youth draw on their climate leadership skills to develop and implement climate-related projects in their home communities. Previous youth participants of the Summit have gone on to achieve significant accomplishments, including winning Arctic Inspiration Prizes for their adaptation projects, with support from Ecology North staff. Many have also pursued careers in monitoring and research, demonstrating the long-term benefits of engagement in our programs.

More Information:

Learn more about our hosts at Shakat Tun Adventures here.

Read more about past Young Leaders’ Summits here.

Ecology North is an environmental charity operating in Yellowknife, NT. Our mission is to bring people and knowledge together for a healthy northern environment, and we run climate-related educational programming in communities across the NWT all year round. We work closely with organizations whose values align with our own, to ensure that our work is collaborative and enriched by a wide variety of perspectives on the climate crisis.

Earth Week 2025

Earth Week 2025 starts on Tuesday, April 22nd, and runs until Saturday, May 3rd. All events are free and open to the public. Donations are kindly accepted.

We want to hear from you! If you have feedback for future Earth Week events, or had a great time at this year’s Earth Week, let us know here! You can comment on individual events, or the whole week.

Click on the daily events below for specific details.

Tuesday, April 22

12:00-1:00pm: Medicine Walk – Niven Lake Trail

Start off Earth Week by learning about traditional medicines from Lila Fraser Erasmus. We’ll walk the trail and enjoy a hot drink afterwards. Meet behind the Chateau Nova.

6:00-7:30pm: Regenerative Agriculture – TAA Office

Join the Territorial Agri-food Association for a screening of “Common Ground” followed by a discussion on regenerative agriculture in the NWT.

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Location: 5004 Franklin Avenue

7:30-10:30pm: Open Mic Night – Yellowknife Books

Join us as we reflect on our relationships with our planet, nature, and sustainability! Present your work, someone else’s, or just enjoy the performances! Door prizes available.

Featuring an eco-theatre staged reading from Tin Can Collective and a reading from Laurie Sarkadi.

Time: 7:30-10:30pm

Location: Yellowknife Books

Wednesday, April 23

10:00-11:30am: Wacky Worm Wednesday – Yellowknife Public Library

Join Ecology North’s vermicompost expert for wormy activities and discussions. Meet us in the kid’s area. This event is family-friendly.

Time: 10:00-11:30am

Location: Yellowknife Public Library (Centre Square Mall)

12:00-1:00pm: EV Lunch & Learn – Somba K’e Charging Station

Come learn about Electric Vehicles (EVs) from YK Car Share Co-op. Meet one of the car share Bolts, and learn how car sharing works! A soup lunch will be provided!

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Somba K’e Charging Station

6:00-7:00pm: Community Litter Pickup – Somba K’e Civic Plaza

Time for some spring cleaning! Enjoy time outside with the Girl Guides and keep our community clean. We’ll provide the bags and gloves. Bring cash or e-transfer as Girl Guide cookies will be available for purchase!

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Location: Somba K’e Civic Plaza

7:30-9:30pm: Waste Reduction Trivia – Sundog Trading Post

Show off your waste-related knowledge at trivia night! Compete with a team of up to 6 people, and win great prizes! There will be food and drinks available for purchase.

Time: 7:30-9:30pm

Location: Sundog Trading Post, 4 Lessard Drive

Thursday, April 24

10:00-11:30am: Eco-Mindfulness for Families – Yellowknife Public Library

Worried about the future? Join the NWT Literacy Council as we share tools to navigate climate change anxiety for parents (and expecting parents) with their families. We welcome children to this event and will provide art activities for all ages.

Time: 10:00-11:30am

Location: Yellowknife Public Library, Centre Square Mall, in the kid’s area

12:00-1:00pm: NWT Waters 101 – Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre

Wondering about water? Rotate through different stations and learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about northern waters from NWT hydrologists at this interactive event. This is an all-ages event. Snacks provided.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre, Centre Square Mall

3:30-5:30: Butter Me Up – École Įtłʼǫ̀

Reduce your food waste with YK Food Rescue! We’ll learn how to make our own butter, including apple, maple, and other exciting flavours.

All materials are provided, though we encourage you to bring cream nearing its expiry date and extra flavouring you want to use up, like garlic, syrup, and more.

Time: 3:30-5:30pm

Location: École Įtłʼǫ̀, 5700 51a Ave

6:00-7:30pm: Bike Tune-Up – Makerspace YK

Experts from Overlander Sports, the Yellowknife Mountain Biking Club, and Communities in Motion will be available for basic tune-ups and simple repairs so you can get your bike road-ready!

Please note that we can only provide basic fixes. This event is first-come, first-serve. We reserve the right to turn people away if the event is coming to a close.

This event is free to the public, though we encourage donations for our hardworking volunteers.

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Makerspace YK, back deck, 5001 Forrest Drive

6:00-8:30pm: ARI event – Makerspace YK

Want to learn more about research happening in the NWT?

Hear from local researchers about shifting snowfall patterns in Yellowknife, and muskox migration from the tundra to the boreal forest.

This is the first of a four-part speaker series presented by Wilfrid Laurier University, the Cold Regions Research Center, and the Aurora Research Institute

Location: Makerspace YK, inside

Time: 6:00-8:30pm

Friday, April 25

12:00-1:00pm: Medicine Fire: Meditation on Earth Philosophies with Cassandra Blondin-Burt – online

Join us for a lunch and learn on transforming our relationship with fire with Cassandra Blondin-Burt.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Register at Eventbrite or email ht.comms@tlicho.ca to receive the link.

4:00-6:00pm: Fireside Solidarity Chats with Seniors for Climate – Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre

Interested in social and climate justice? Come to our fireside chat! Connect with community organizers, local groups, and NGOs. There are so many ways to be involved. Snacks are provided – feel free bring some to share!

Time: 4:00-6:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Visitor’s Centre, 5022 49 St.

6:00-7:00pm: Clothing Swap drop-off ONLY

Drop off your clothes and books on Friday, April 25 from 6-7pm at Mildred Hall School. Then, come back Saturday, April 26th to shop for free!

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Location: Mildred Hall School gym

Saturday, April 26

9:00am-2:00pm: Coffee House – Mildred Hall School

9:00am-2:00pm – Clothing and Book Swap
- Come shop for free in the gym!
9:00am-1:00pm – Silent Auction
- Bid on donated items from the community. All proceeds go to Ecology North.
9:30am-12:00-pm – Bake Sale
- Purchase some baked goods from Mildred Hall students. Cash only.
9:30am-12:00pm – Musical and stage performances
- Listen to talented local musicians and see Mildred Hall students’ performance of The Lorax.
10:30-11:30am – Soil and Skin workshop with Ever Good Medicine (in the tipi)
- Join Ever Good Medicine in the tipi as they detail the intricate ways how we are a part of the Land and leave with tangible next steps to be an ethical medicine gatherer. Limited space so please contact info@evergoodmedicine.com or DM @evergoodmedicine on Instagram.
12:00-1:00 – Free Co-op barbecue, outside
- Enjoy a free lunch in the parking lot, courtesy of Yellowknife Co-Op!
12:00-2:00 – Electric Transportation Showcase, outside
- Want to green up your transit?
- Learn from electric vehicle and bike owners including Arctic Energy Alliance, YK Car Share Co-Op, and Communities in Motion – and maybe even hitch a free ride.

2:00-3:30pm: Tin Can Hill Treasure Hunt

Join us for a treasure hunt! Compete as a team – look for Golden Eggs and help clean up the trails for your chance to win some prizes!

Time: 2:00-3:30pm

Location: meet at the bottom of Tin Can Hill

4:00-5:00pm: Thrifted Fashion Show – École St. Patrick High School, rock area

Enjoy a thrifted fashion show from the stylings of the St. Pat’s students, featuring fits from the Clothing Swap! Bring a donation for the Food Bank in lieu of an entrance fee.

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Location: École St. Patrick High School, Rock Area

5:00-7:00pm: Community Dinner – École St. Patrick High School

Join us for a free dinner outside as we celebrate the winners of the Tin Can Hill Treasure Hunt!

Time: 5:00-7:00pm

Location: École St. Patrick High School, outside

Sunday, April 27

10:00-11:00am: Queer Nature Hike – Tin Can Hill

Walk and talk with Ecology North and Northern Mosaic Network staff as we discuss queerness in nature. Hot drinks are provided after the walk.

Time: 10:00-11:00am

Location: Meet at the top of Tin Can Hill

3:00-4:00pm: Guided StoryWalk – Niven Lake Trail

Join the NWT Literacy Council for a guided StoryWalk of Cathy Modeste-Short’s book, “Dechı̨tah Náıdı́: Medicine from the Land.” There will be games and prizes provided by the NWT Literacy Council.

Time: 3:00-4:00pm

Location: Meet your guide at Niven Lake Trailhead

Monday, April 28

Get out and vote!

Locate your polling station here:

www.electionsnwt.ca/en/polling-locations

12:00-1:00pm: DIY Seed Paper – Tastes of the North

Join the Territorial Agrifood Association as we turn old paper scraps into new seed paper that’s good to grow! All materials provided.

This event is part of the Territorial Agrifood Association’s “Good to Grow” Earth Week series.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Tastes of the North, 5004 50th Avenue

NEW TIME AND LOCATION: 7:00-8:30pm: Documentary “Choosing Earth” – Tastes of the North

Interested in stories of resilience? Join us for a free screening of Choosing Earth: Choosing Life, a documentary exploring hope in the climate crisis. Short discussion to follow.

Brought to you by the GNWT/ Ecology North Speaker Series on Climate Change

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Location: Tastes of the North, 5004 Franklin Avenue

NEW TIME: 7:00-8:30pm: Movie Night – Wall-E – Capitol Theatre

Join us for a free screening of Wall-E (rated G), everyone’s favourite garbage-cleaning robot! Hosted by Arctic Energy Alliance. Snacks not provided but the concession stand will be open.

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Location: Capitol Theatre

Tuesday, April 29

12:00-1:00pm: Seed Spiralling – Tastes of the North

Learn how to spiral your seeds in this zero-waste planting workshop. This is a perfect way to get your seedlings started for your summer garden. All materials provided.

This event is part of the Territorial Agrifood Association’s “Good to Grow” Earth Week series.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Tastes of the North, 5004 50th Avenue

5:00-6:30pm: Beeswax Food Wraps – Makerspace YK

Reduce your reliance on plastic and upcycle your fabric scraps into reusable beeswax covers to keep your food fresh. Bring your fabric and we’ll provide the wax! Any fabric can be turned into a cover.

Time: 5:00-6:30pm

Location: Makerspace YK, 5001 Forrest Drive

7:00-9:00pm: Giant Mine: Past, Present & Future – Northern United Place

How do we remember Giant Mine?

Alternatives North invites you to presentations by guest speakers giving their perspectives on Giant Mine. Panel discussion to follow. Snacks and hot drinks provided.

This panel builds on last year’s discussion, Communicating the Future.

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Location: Northern United Place auditorium, 5403 50th Ave

Wednesday, April 30

12:00-1:00pm: Garden Sign-Making – Tastes of the North

Bedazzle your metal mason jar lids and make your own garden markers at this free art workshop. All materials provided.

This event is part of the Territorial AgriFood Association’s “Good to Grow” Earth Week series.

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Location: Tastes of the North, 5004 50th Ave

6:00-7:00pm: Contes de Mère Nature – Northern United Place

Venez découvrir une histoire inspirée par la force de la Nature! Assistez à la toute dernière création de nos conteuses, Shé & Jo, présentée dans le cadre de la Semaine de la Terre.

Time: 6:00-7:00

Location: Northern United Place auditorium, 5403 50th Ave

6:00-8:30pm: Let’s Jam Together – Northern United Place

Jam with Hotii ts’eeda as we learn how to make jam, sterilize jars, and enjoy delicious bannock. Bring a jar home to share! All materials provided, though we welcome any additions of frozen fruit that you’d like to get rid of!

Time: 6:00-8:30pm

Location: Northern United Place, kitchen, 5403 50th Avenue

Thursday, May 1

6:00-7:00: Critical Mass Bike Ride – Centre Ice Plaza

Reclaim the roads with Communities in Motion and SHIFT NWT!

Meet at Centre Ice Plaza (480 Old Airport Rd) and bike to Somba K’e Park! After the ride, join us for a meet and greet at the park, and get to know your fellow cyclists!

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Location: Meet at Centre Ice Plaza (480 Old Airport Rd)

7:00-9:00pm: Restorying the Anthropocene – Yellowknife Books

Join researcher and journalist Cassandra Blondin-Burt for a guided arts workshop on what it means to reframe the anthropocene in times of crisis.

We’ll be chatting, drawing, writing, and restorying together!

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Location: Yellowknife Books, 4914 49 Street

Friday, May 2

7:00-11:30pm: The Green Gala

Let’s celebrate our planet!

Dress up in your finest upcycled outfit and put on your thrifted dancing shoes because it’s time for a party. Enjoy music, dancing, DIY decor, charcuterie, and more!

We’ll be launching our new responsible environmental management website!

Entry is free as long as you have a ticket. Tickets are limited and available HERE. This event is 19+. There will be alcohol available for purchase.

Time: 7:00pm-11:30pm

Location: The Elks Lodge, 4919 49 St.

Saturday, May 3

11:00am-1:00pm: Feeding the Fire Ceremony – Somba K’e Civic Plaza

We will feed the fire, enjoy a drum dance, and celebrate our relationship to the land, ourselves and each other. Enjoy stew and bannock afterwards.

Time: 11:00am-1:00pm

Location: Somba K’e Civic Plaza

We’re so excited to celebrate with you!

Bottle Depot Contest 2025

Support your community and the planet by entering the Bottle Depot contest!

Your organization could win a prize – or you could help someone else win!

Click here to register for the contest

Contest Instructions

How does the contest work?

Participating groups create a Drop & Go account at the Bottle Depot.

Groups register for the contest with Ecology North using the same Drop & Go name, as one of three categories:
- 1. Non-profit organization or registered charity
- 2. Sports teams
- 3. School groups

Teams collect containers:
- Run bottle drives, social media campaigns, etc.
- Individuals can also donate to participating teams at Drop & Go

Teams have two drop-off options for their containers:
- 1. Drop off at Bottle Depot and collect cash on hand. Then, upload a photo of your receipt or email it to events@ecologynorth.ca. The date will need to be visible in the photo.
- 2. Drop off at Drop & Go. The Bottle Depot will track your numbers and send them to Ecology North.

There will be individuals donating containers to participating groups throughout the contest period. Those donations will be tracked via email receipts. It is important that teams email all receipts to events@ecologynorth.ca.

How are the group categories defined?

Please see below for specific breakdown between these two groups. Both will compete in the same category.

Non-profit organizations: Non-profit organizations are associations, clubs, or societies that are not charities and are organized and operated exclusively for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure, recreation, or any other purpose except profit.

Registered charity: Registered charities are charitable organizations, public foundations, or private foundations that are created and resident in Canada.

All of the below examples could participate in the contest.

Non-profit organization:

YK Citizens for Ceasefire
Seniors for Climate Action
Yellowknife Multi-Sport Club

Registered charity (participants can include staff members, board members, or unassociated individuals interested in representing the charity):

Salvation Army
YK Food Rescue
Northern Mosaic Network

Please note that charities and non-profit organizations will compete in the same category.

Sports teams: A sports team includes recreational and competitive teams. They can be formal or informal and represent one particular team, or an entire organization, association, club, or league. If you are a sports team associated with a school, you can enter this category, or the School Groups category.

All of the below examples could participate in the contest. Please note there is overlap between examples.

Formal (i.e., associated with a larger organization, club, or league):

A team from the Yellowknife Curling League

Informal (i.e., not associated with an established organization):

The Frozen Pipes
Javarunners

Team:

A specific YK Women’s Hockey Association team

Organization:

Yellowknife Underwater Hockey
Bella Dance Academy

School groups: A school group includes any team associated with a school. A team can represent an entire school, a classroom, a group of classrooms, or a specific club/group associated with the school. If you are a sports team associated with a school, you can enter this category, or the Sports Team category.

All of the below examples could participate in the contest.

Example clubs:

St. Patrick High School Green Team
A chess club

Example classroom:

A grade 4 classroom
Several classrooms under one team name

Entire school:

Mildred Hall School, under one name

How can I participate?

There are three ways you can participate in this contest. Click on a tab to find out more.

If your organization does have an existing Drop & Go Account:

Register your group with Ecology North through this form.
1. This will help Ecology North and the Bottle Depot advertise your group as available for donations during the contest period.
You have two drop-off options for your beverage containers:
1. Drop off at the Bottle Depot and collect cash in hand. Then, upload a photo of your receipt below. The date will need to be visible in the photo.
2. Drop off at Drop & Go. Forward your receipt to events@ecologynorth.ca. Please note that Drop & Go has a limit of 10 bags per drop.
Forward any additional receipts from donations that your group receives from Drop & Go to events@ecologynorth.ca. This will ensure that donations received from individuals in your organization’s name are counted towards the contest.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Hannah works for YK Food Rescue. YK Food Rescue already has a Drop & Go Account.
Hannah registers YK Food Rescue for the contest through the Ecology North form, as a registered charity.
The YK Food Rescue team members:
- Run a bottle drive
- Ask their neighbours for containers
- Ask people to donate their containers at Drop&Go to their team
- Other creative ways of collecting containers
Members of the YK Food Rescue team drop their containers off:
- At Drop & Go, under the YK Food Rescue account. They forward their emailed receipt to events@ecologynorth.ca.
- At the Bottle Depot counter to receive cash in-hand. They upload their receipt to the Ecology North website.
Ecology North receives the final tally of all containers dropped off at Drop & Go during the contest period. They add those numbers to any receipts from containers dropped off at the main counter.

If your group does not have an existing Drop & Go Account:

Create a Drop & Go Account at the Bottle Depot. You will need one email address.
Register your group with Ecology North through this form.
1. This will help Ecology North and the Bottle Depot advertise your group as available for donations during the contest period.
You have two drop-off options for your beverage containers:
1. Drop off at the Bottle Depot and collect cash in hand. Then, upload a photo of your receipt or email it to events@ecologynorth.ca. The date will need to be visible in the photo.
2. Drop off at Drop & Go. Please note that Drop & Go has a limit of 10 bags per drop. The Bottle Depot will track your numbers, and send them to Ecology North.
At the end of the contest period, Ecology North will combine your receipts from the counter with the numbers we receive from the Bottle Depot, and determine the winners.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO:

Hannah runs with the running group, the Frozen Pipes. They DO NOT have a Drop & Go account:

Hannah visits the Bottle Depot to create a Drop & Go account for her new team, the Frozen Pipes. She needs one email address.
Hannah registers the Frozen Pipes for the contest as a Sports Team through the Ecology North form.
- Now, her new group can receive donations from any individuals, even if they are not associated with her team.
The Frozen Pipes team members:
- Run a bottle drive
- Ask their neighbours for containers
- Ask people to donate their containers at Drop&Go to their team
- Other creative ways of collecting containers
Hannah and her team drop their containers off:
- At Drop & Go, under the Frozen Pipes account.
- At the Bottle Depot counter to receive cash in-hand. They upload their receipts to the Ecology North website or email events@ecologynorth.ca
Ecology North receives the final tally of all containers dropped off at Drop & Go during the contest period. They add those numbers to any receipts from containers dropped off at the main counter.

If you would like to contribute your individual containers to a participating group in the contest:

Drop off your containers at Drop & Go and note the participating group you are donating your containers to. Forward your receipt to events@ecologynorth.ca. Please note that the Bottle Depot has a limit of 10 bags at Drop & Go.

You do not need to register for the contest to donate your containers to an existing group.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO:

Hannah wants to DONATE to an existing group:

Hannah does not need to register to participate.
Hannah runs her own bottle drive, collects containers, etc.
Hannah donates her containers to YK Citizens for Ceasefire, a group participating in the contest with a new Drop & Go account.
Her donation increases YK Citizens for Ceasefire’s chances of winning a prize.
As an individual, Hannah’s containers are a donation. She will not be able to contribute to a team unless she drops her containers off at Drop & Go.

What can my group win?

	First Place	Second Place	Third Place
Non-profit organization/ registered charity:	$1500	$1000	$500
Sports Team	$1500	$1000	$500
School Group	$1500	$1000	$500

Who is eligible to participate?

All residents of the NWT can compete in this contest, provided they are associated with one of the following three categories:

1. Non-profit organization/registered charity
2. Sports team
3. School group

You can participate by creating a Drop & Go account, and registering for the contest through this form; or you can participate by dropping off beverage containers at Drop&Go under the name of existing groups.

Who is not eligible to participate?

For-profit businesses and workplaces are not eligible to participate. We encourage businesses and workplaces to donate their beverage containers to participating teams.

Please note that if your workplace is included in the above categories (i.e., staff at a registered charity), you are eligible to participate.

Individuals are not eligible to participate on their own. If you would like to participate, we ask that you associate with a group, team, or organization, or drop your containers at Drop & Go under an existing group.

If you would like to participate, but are not connected to any of the above three categories, please reach out to events@ecologynorth.ca, and the Ecology North team will provide you with alternative options.

What do I do with the money from the containers?

You keep it! The best thing about this contest is that even if you don’t win a prize, all the money from your containers goes back to your organization.

Can I run a bottle drive?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage your team to run bottle drives, ask for container donations, collect from neighbours and businesses, and post on social media to solicit containers.

How does Drop & Go work?

This contest relies on the Drop & Go program at the Bottle Depot. A Bottle Depot staff member will help you set up a Drop & Go account.

You will need to visit the Bottle Depot in-person to drop off your containers at Drop & Go. There will be a list of participating organizations on a board in front of you.

The Drop & Go kiosk will allow you to print out labels associated with your chosen organization.

Attached 1 label to each bag of containers and place them on the sorting table for later processing.

Please remove all lids from your containers.

Please rinse your containers.

Please do not drop off more than 10 bags at a time.

You will receive a receipt within 5 business days confirming your containers have been counted. You can collect your refund at any time, from the Bottle Depot’s front desk.

What participating groups can I donate to at the Bottle Depot?

The following organizations are participating in the Bottle Depot Contest:

TO BE DETERMINED

I don’t know which category my group fits into:

If you are unsure of which category you fall within, please do not hesitate to reach out events@ecologynorth.ca or call 867-873-6019. . Likewise, if you would like to participate in the contest, but are unsure of your eligibility, please reach out to events@ecologynorth.ca or call 867-873-6019.

What is the last day that I can drop my containers off?

We will count any containers dropped off up until and including Saturday, November 1st, 2025. We will accept receipts dated to Saturday, November 1st, 2025, sent to us up until and including November 5th at 11:59pm MT.

Is there a deadline to register?

As long as you register your group before Saturday, November 1st, 2025, you can participate in this contest.

When and how are the winners announced?

Winners will be notified by email in mid-November 2025. Ecology North will share winners on this website and on our social media channels.

I still have questions. Where do I go?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ecology North. You can email us at events@ecologynorth.ca, by calling our office at 867-873-6019, or by visiting us at 5016 50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT.

I have feedback for future contests:

We’d love your feedback! Please fill out the following form, to help us improve this contest in the future.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Dropping off at the counter:

When you drop off your beverage containers at the main counter, the Bottle Depot will reimburse you for your containers, and give you a physical receipt:

Name
Date
Number of beverage containers

Please forward that receipt to events@ecologynorth.ca. Include your Group Name associated with your Drop & Go account in your email.

Please note that Ecology North will not count receipts that do not clearly show the date.

Uploading your receipts:

You can upload your receipts from the front desk below. You can also email a clear photo of your receipts to events@ecologynorth.ca.

Happy recycling!

Fall Harvest Workshops in the Dehcho

In September 2024, our team facilitated workshops in schools and communities throughout the Dehcho region, making pickles and jam, and learning from each other about the importance of food preservation and food sovereignty.

Fall Dehcho Trip 2024 Download

We started in Ka’a’gee Tu/K’ágee Tue First Nation, where we celebrated the workshop with a community feast, bringing together Elders and local residents.

With support from Hotıì ts’eeda, Ecology North spent some time in Tthets’éhk’e Délî First Nation, where we went onto the land with youth and Elders to harvest berries – which we then turned into delicious jam with the community!

Our team also visited the students at Lı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ Elementary School, where we set up grow towers, allowing students to grow their own food indoors.

We spent some time in Pedzeh Ki First Nation, working with youth at Chief Julian Yendo School, preparing vegetables to be pickled and turning berries into jam.

One of the highlights of the trip was returning to Charles Yohin School in Nahæâ Dehé Dene Band, where earlier this year, our team helped students plant a community garden. This time around, we harvested carrots from that very garden and used them to make pickles with the community.

Our last stop was Acho Dene Koe First Nation, where we visited the students at Echo Dene School. We were there for Culture Week, and we had a wonderful day of preserving food and testing water.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip. We laughed, we played, and we learned from each other. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing youth and great community members.

Mahsi to all our wonderful partners, including Ka’a’gee Tu/K’ágee Tue First Nation, Tthets’éhk’e Délî First Nation, Lı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation, Pedzeh Ki First Nation, Nahæâ Dehé Dene Band, Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Polar Knowledge Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University, the GNWT, Sustainable Canada Agricultural Partnership, and Hotıì ts’eeda.

Rivers to Oceans Day 2024

Rivers to Oceans Day is an annual education blitz on everything related to water. It is hosted outside in June, at the Somba K’e Civic Plaza in Yellowknife.

There are 12 stations set up in the park with presentations and activities from organizations, universities, non-profits, and various government divisions. Students in Grades 1 and 5 rotate through the stations every few minutes for an active day of outdoor learning from community members.

This year, Rivers to Oceans Day was Wednesday, June 5th, and we had a blast. We saw over 250 students from Grades 1 and 5 engaging in excellent, water-related learning. Students heard about fish dissection, invertebrates, fish habitats, watersheds, and more!

Mahsi cho to all of our wonderful partners who made this day possible, as well as the teachers, classroom assistants, and students who brought so much joy to the park this year. Here’s to celebrating water every day!

Rivers to Oceans Day is hosted in partnership with the GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change division and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

SOS – Seasons of Smoke

During Earth Week 2024, we were fortunate to speak with Dr. Courtney Howard about the health effects of wildfire smoke. In her presentation, she outlined the risks of smoke inhalation, and talked to us about staying hopeful in the face of eco-anxiety. We are grateful that she shared her insights with us.

Climate Resiliency in the NWT

As part of Earth Week 2024, we partnered with the GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change department to host a fantastic panel on climate resilience in the North. We heard about a wide range of climate change solutions that are happening all over the NWT. Check it out!

The following panelists shared their stories and projects with us. We are also very grateful to our moderator, Lawrence Nayally, and to the public for their engagement and questions.

Contest Instructions

Thank you for your response. ✨

Dropping off at the counter:

Uploading your receipts:

Subscribe