Fort Liard

Fort Liard /liˈɑːrd/ (Slavey language: Echaot'l Koe^{[pronunciation?]} "people from the land of the giants" or Acho Dene Kue) is a hamlet in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located 37 km (23 mi) north of the British Columbia border. It became accessible by road in 1984 with the completion of the Liard Highway (Northwest Territories Highway 7 and British Columbia Highway 77).

Fort Liard Echaot'l Koe or Acho Dene Kue
Hamlet
The Sleeping Giant – the view from the top of the hill heading into the Hamlet
Fort Liard Show map of Northwest Territories Fort Liard Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 60°14′21″N 123°28′31″W[1]
Country	Canada
Territory	Northwest Territories
Region	Dehcho Region
Constituency	Nahendeh
Census division	Region 4
Incorporated (hamlet)	1 April 1987
Government
• Mayor	Genevieve McLeod
• Senior Administrative Officer	John McKee
• MLA	Shane Thompson
Area [3]
• Land	67.61 km2 (26.10 sq mi)
Elevation	216 m (709 ft)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	468
• Density	6.9/km2 (18/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Canadian Postal code	X0G 0A0
Area code	867
Telephone exchange	770
– Living cost (2018)	132.5A
– Food price index (2019)	145.4B
Website	www.fortliard.com
Sources: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs,[4] Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre,[5] Canada Flight Supplement[6] ^A 2018 figure based on Edmonton = 100[7] ^B 2019 figure based on Yellowknife = 100[7]

The Hamlet of Fort Liard is served by two general merchandise stores: The General Store and The North West Company store. The K-12 community school, "Echo Dene School", has a student population of about 150. It also has a community health centre with four nurses, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment with four members, and a recreation centre, including a swimming pool, skating rink, youth centre and multi-court.^[8] There is a fuel centre that sells gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, emergency survival kits and convenience items. There is also a traditional craft store which sells locally made craft items.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Liard had a population of 468 living in 170 of its 209 total private dwellings, a change of -6.4% from its 2016 population of 500. With a land area of 67.61 km² (26.10 sq mi), it had a population density of 6.9/km² (17.9/sq mi) in 2021.^[3]

In the 2016 Census the majority of the population, 445 people out of a total of 500, were Indigenous, either First Nations or Métis.^[9]

Federal census population history of Fort Liard

Year	Pop.	±%
1976	299	—
1981	405	+35.5%
1986	395	−2.5%
1991	485	+22.8%
1996	512	+5.6%
2001	530	+3.5%
2006	583	+10.0%
2011	536	−8.1%
2016	500	−6.7%
2021	468	−6.4%
Source: Statistics Canada [3][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Annual population estimates

Year Pop. ±% 1996 538 —     1997 528 −1.9% 1998 525 −0.6% 1999 537 +2.3% 2000 571 +6.3% 2001 582 +1.9% 2002 599 +2.9% 2003 575 −4.0% 2004 601 +4.5% 2005 596 −0.8% 2006 606 +1.7% 2007 586 −3.3%	Year Pop. ±% 2008 569 −2.9% 2009 564 −0.9% 2010 564 +0.0% 2011 554 −1.8% 2012 566 +2.2% 2013 571 +0.9% 2014 587 +2.8% 2015 623 +6.1% 2016 629 +1.0% 2017 658 +4.6% 2018 548 −16.7% 2019 542 −1.1%
Sources: NWT Bureau of Statistics (2008–2019),[7] NWT Bureau of Statistics (2001 – 2017)[17]

First Nations

The Dene of the community are represented by the Acho Dene Koe Band and the Métis by Fort Liard Metis Local 67. Both groups belong to the Deh Cho First Nations Tribal Council.^[18][19]

Gallery

• 
  Beautiful Autumn Colors
• 
  Petitot River just before it meets the Liard River
• 
  Roman Catholic Church
• 
  Petiot River looking toward the Liard River
• 
  The Sleeping Giant in Fall

Climate

Fort Liard has a borderline humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), just above a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), characterized by extreme variation of temperatures between seasons. Temperatures can be warm in the summer, and cold in the winter. Fort Liard has an average frost free period of around 120 days, one of the longest in the territory.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Liard was 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) on 13 July 2014 and 27 June 2021.^[20][21][22] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −46.7 °C (−52.1 °F) on 15 January 1974.^[23]

Climate data for Fort Liard (Fort Liard Airport) Climate ID: 2201575; coordinates 60°14′06″N 123°28′01″W; elevation: 215.8 m (708 ft); 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1973–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high humidex	7.3	14.2	18.1	23.2	29.7	37.8	38.8	37.5	30.8	24.5	9.4	14.6	38.8
Record high °C (°F)	14.8 (58.6)	15.0 (59.0)	19.9 (67.8)	25.0 (77.0)	32.6 (90.7)	35.2 (95.4)	35.2 (95.4)	34.9 (94.8)	30.5 (86.9)	26.5 (79.7)	13.5 (56.3)	15.3 (59.5)	35.2 (95.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−16.7 (1.9)	−10.1 (13.8)	−2.4 (27.7)	8.8 (47.8)	17.4 (63.3)	22.0 (71.6)	23.7 (74.7)	21.6 (70.9)	15.3 (59.5)	4.8 (40.6)	−8.8 (16.2)	−15.4 (4.3)	5.0 (41.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−20.8 (−5.4)	−15.7 (3.7)	−9.4 (15.1)	2.0 (35.6)	10.3 (50.5)	15.4 (59.7)	17.6 (63.7)	15.5 (59.9)	9.6 (49.3)	0.7 (33.3)	−12.5 (9.5)	−19.3 (−2.7)	−0.5 (31.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−24.9 (−12.8)	−21.3 (−6.3)	−16.3 (2.7)	−4.7 (23.5)	3.2 (37.8)	8.8 (47.8)	11.4 (52.5)	9.4 (48.9)	3.9 (39.0)	−3.4 (25.9)	−16.3 (2.7)	−23.1 (−9.6)	−6.1 (21.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−46.7 (−52.1)	−44.0 (−47.2)	−39.8 (−39.6)	−31.6 (−24.9)	−14.5 (5.9)	−1.6 (29.1)	−0.1 (31.8)	−1.7 (28.9)	−11.7 (10.9)	−30.0 (−22.0)	−43.0 (−45.4)	−45.0 (−49.0)	−46.7 (−52.1)
Record low wind chill	−63	−52	−48	−36	−18	0	0	−3	−17	−33	−53	−55	−63
Average precipitation mm (inches)	27.0 (1.06)	19.3 (0.76)	15.2 (0.60)	15.9 (0.63)	39.5 (1.56)	71.3 (2.81)	82.2 (3.24)	54.0 (2.13)	43.4 (1.71)	27.4 (1.08)	31.0 (1.22)	22.9 (0.90)	449.1 (17.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.00)	3.3 (0.13)	37.2 (1.46)	61.1 (2.41)	88.0 (3.46)	50.5 (1.99)	45.4 (1.79)	10.8 (0.43)	0.1 (0.00)	0.0 (0.0)	296.5 (11.67)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	30.5 (12.0)	22.8 (9.0)	17.0 (6.7)	12.2 (4.8)	1.9 (0.7)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	2.0 (0.8)	16.8 (6.6)	35.4 (13.9)	26.7 (10.5)	165.3 (65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	9.2	7.7	7.0	4.9	9.8	10.7	12.3	12.2	10.9	8.6	10.1	8.1	111.5
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)	0.0	0.0	0.06	1.8	8.9	9.7	11.5	10.8	10.8	3.9	0.13	0.0	57.59
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)	9.0	7.4	7.5	3.2	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.76	5.4	10.1	7.4	51.76
Average relative humidity (%)	70.9	62.9	49.6	40.7	37.4	46.7	49.8	51.3	53.0	66.4	74.9	74.8	56.5
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[23][24][25][26][27][28][20][29][30][31][22]

See also

• List of municipalities in the Northwest Territories
• Fort Liard Airport

References

1. "Fort Liard". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
2. "Fort Liard". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
3. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
4. "NWT Communities - Fort Liard". Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
5. "Northwest Territories Official Community Names and Pronunciation Guide". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Yellowknife: Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
6. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
7. "Fort Liard – Statistical Profile (2008-2019)" (PDF). NWT Bureau of Statistics.
8. Infrastructure
9. "Census Profile, 2016 Census Fort Liard, Hamlet [Census subdivision], Northwest Territories and Region 4, Region [Census division], Northwest Territories". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
10. "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
11. "1986 Census: Population – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
12. "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions – Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
13. "96 Census: A National Overview – Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
14. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
15. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
16. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Northwest Territories)". Statistics Canada. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
17. Population Estimates By Community from the GNWT
18. Acho Dene Koe Band Archived 2 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
19. Fort Liard Métis Archived 2 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
20. "Daily Data Report for July 2014". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
21. "Daily Data Report for June 2021". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
22. "Environment Canada FTP". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
23. "Fort Liard (composite station data)". Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
24. "Daily Data Report for August 1999". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
25. "Daily Data Report for October 2003". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
26. "Daily Data Report for June 2011". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
27. "Daily Data Report for July 2013". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
28. "Daily Data Report for January 2014". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
29. "Daily Data Report for March 2016". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
30. "Daily Data Report for November 2015". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
31. "Daily Data Report for May 2016". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2016.

External links

• Fort Liard Web Site