North of the 60th Parallel – Yellowknife, North West Territories

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I’ve always been fascinated by the landscape of the Canadian north.  The beauty of it’s rugged wilderness, distinct culture and of course, the aurora borealis were all on my bucket list of things to experience.  As an educator, what drew me to visiting Yellowknife was the opportunity to dialogue with teachers, principals and students to learn a little more about the cultural context of early years learning programs in our northern schools.  I’ll save each school visit for a future post as I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some photos from north of the 60th parallel. Enjoy!

 

Aerial view of a coastline with lakes, marshes, and autumn foliage.
The view flying into Yellowknife. So incredibly breathtaking!

 

A rocky landscape with scattered trees under a cloudy sky.
Driving along the MacKenzie Highway on the outskirts of Yellowknife.

 

Scenic lake with autumn trees and colorful houses by the shore.
A view of Great Slave Lake from Bush Pilot’s Monument.

 

Colorful houses by a river with autumn trees under a cloudy sky.
Colourful homes along the shores of Yellowknife Bay.

 

A large rock face with ancient petroglyphs under a cloudy sky.
Outdoor art in the city’s Old Town.

 

Colorful abstract painting with a figure, birds, and a boat on a blue background.
Yellowknife has many murals and painting displayed on the exterior of buildings, homes and cabins. The artwork is reflective of the city’s unique heritage and culture.

 

Yellow leaves on branches against a blue and white textured wooden wall.
Can you tell which tree is painted, and which is growing right in front of the mural?!
Rustic wooden shed decorated with various gardening tools and a yellow door.
The north is full of quirky cabins with lots of personality like this one.

 

Night sky with stars and faint northern lights over trees.
The breathtaking aurora borealis.

 

A peaceful night sky over a calm lake with a small boat docked.
Dawn at Prelude Territorial Park, about 40 km outside of Yellowknife.

 

Serene lakeside view with trees and clear blue sky.
Saying goodbye to Yellowknife.

Yellowknife holds a very special place in my heart.  The landscape of the Northwest Territories feels almost prehistoric, and the city is incredibly charming.  I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place, and more importantly, proud that as a Canadian, we can call this land our own.

 We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.â€

― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

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