Norman Wells

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Norman Wells had a population of 673 living in 269 of its 404 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 778. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. A total of 315 people identified as Indigenous, and of these, 195 were First Nations, 80 were Métis, 15 were Inuit and 20 gave multiple Indigenous responses. The main languages in the town are North Slavey and English. Of the population, 78.1% is 15 and older, with the median age being 32.8, slightly less than the NWT averages of 79.3% and 34.0. {{Historical populations (Dehcho River) are clearly visible on takeoff from the Norman Wells airport, Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada. ==History==

While the first discovery of petroleum along the Mackenzie River is typically attributed to Alexander Mackenzie during his exploration of the river in 1789, Mackenzie's journal describes a waxy, yellow substance that may instead be fossilized plant resin. On his 1888 trip up the Mackenzie River the explorer Richard McConnell noted that the Hudson Bay Company was using "tar springs" for pitch and observed bituminous limestone in the areas around Bear Rock and Fort Good Hope. But it was not until 1911 that an oil bearing formation was discovered. The first wells were drilled by Imperial Oil, now a major employer in the town, in 1919. In January 2026 Imperial Oil announced it would be shutting down its operations in the third quarter of 2026, because of declining production combined with the low price of oil. Their operations employ about 80 people in Norman Wells, paying about $6 million in taxes, about 70% of the town's budget. ==Indigenous people==

The Norman Wells Metis, a Métis group which is signatory to the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, are currently negotiating self-government powers and recently signed a framework agreement towards a new treaty. ==Transportation==

Norman Wells is accessible by navigating the Mackenzie River in summer, or by driving over the winter ice road, December to March, that connects with Wrigley and Fort Simpson. ==Services==

Services include a three-member Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment and a community health centre with two nurses with dental visits two or three times a year. There is a branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and two grocery stores including the Northern store and Rampart Rentals along with three hotels and two restaurants. Norman Wells also has a liquor store, currently the only one in the Sahtu Region. Phone service is provided by Northwestel with cable television and Internet access available. Mobile phone services are available through Bell Mobility or Northwestel's Latitude Wireless service, which is now owned by Bell. Former member of parliament for the Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, has a consulting service, Mountain Dene Ventures, in the town. ==Education==

The community is part of the Sahtu Divisional Education Council and they operate, through the Norman Wells District Education Authority, the Mackenzie Mountain School. The school, which has an enrolment of 150, provides education from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Aurora College has a presence in the community with a community learning centre and a career centre. ==Climate==

Norman Wells has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with summer lasting for about three months. Although winter temperatures are usually below freezing, every month of the year has seen temperatures above . Rainfall averages and snowfall . On average, there are 35.9 days between November and April, when the wind chill is equal to or below −40, On 8 July 2023, Norman Wells experienced its record high temperature of , The lowest recorded temperature was on 4 February 1947. ==See also==