Moving to Yellowknife
Posted on 10. Jan, 2008 by Shane in Road Trip, Sightseeing, Traveling
Looking for adventure? Looking to get away from the rest of planet earth? Looking for something different? Looking for opportunity? Then start looking north for a change.
One day in Fall 2007, I was exploring my Facebook friends profiles and noticed that one of them was living in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. I explored that and somehow got sold on the idea that there may be something more to Yellowknife than I previously thought.
Shortly afterwards, I ended up visiting Yellowknife to scope it out. From the moment I landed I felt an instant connection to it. Maybe it was the childhood memories of living in Northern British Columbia? Whatever it was I had this fuzzy feeling that I was… home?
Within 2 weeks of that trip we were planning our move to Yellowknife. And a few weeks after that we began our relocation journey to Yellowknife. We really had no idea what was going to happen to our lives but we gave up a lot to find out what that would be.
It took us 5 days and 4 nights to get to Yellowknife from Vancouver Island. The gas bill was roughly $700 Canadian and accommodations were $125 to $175 per night. Overall it was a fairly uneventful trip. The most challenging part was managing our two cats (especially the female cat) and detaching the Uhaul from the truck in -40 degree celcius cold the night we arrived. Here are some pictures along the way.
January 6, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 1 – Waiting to Board the Duke Point Ferry on Vancouver Island. We packed that U-Haul like it was a Tetris game. Notice that there was no snow. In fact, there was green grass. We made it all the way to Kamloops that night and stayed at the Howard Johnson Inn.
January 7, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 2 – We stopped to refuel in Valemount. It was starting to get cold by this point. This was the last stop before we hit the winding, slippery passes of the Rocky Mountains. We got as far as the town of Jasper.
January 7, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 2 – Gassing up in Valemount, BC.
January 7, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 2 – Petra exiting the Gas Station.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – Loading the truck for the next leg of the trip. We stayed at the Marmot Lodge, which is a perfect place to stay if you are towing a trailer.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – A quick photo just before we left the Marmot Lodge.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – A mountain goat in Jasper National Park.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – Driving through Jasper National Park.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – Elk in Jasper National Park.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – Elk in Jasper National Park.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 – Elk in Jasper National Park.
January 8, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 3 - A train bridge in Jasper National Park.
January 9, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 4 – Just about to leave the Motel in Peace River Alberta.
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 - Crossing the Ice Road at Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, Canada. We actually had no idea we would have to cross an ice road to get here. So to our surprise, 2,500 miles later – we are faced with driving across a frozen lake with a packed truck and heavy u-haul.
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 – Feeling glad to be alive after crossing the ice road for the first time in my life I decided a little photo of myself was in order. What you cannot see is just how cold it was. I was freezing after less that 10 seconds. My thermometre was showing -32 and it was quite windy.
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 – Driving to Yellowknife.
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 – The Highway to Yellowknife.
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 – Only 160 KM to go!
January 10, 2008 – Moving to Yellowknife, Day 5 – Are we there yet…. the last 2 hours of the drive were agonizing. After 5 days on the road we had enough.
We made it to Yellowknife around 5:30 PM, January 10, 2008. It was already dark out. The air temperature was -33 and the wind chill was -45… Determined I unpacked the enture U-haul in the middle of a freezing snow blizzard in the dark. I almost got frost bite but I did not want to pay a dollar more for the U-haul.
We made it!
19 Responses to “Moving to Yellowknife”
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David Dickson: Enjoyed the photos, I spent 30years in YK and sail...
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Megan: Nice shots!...
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Kyle: Good post, Shane. Definitely turned out better ...
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Shane: Hi Ashley, Basically the two easiest ways to find...
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Ashley: Hello! I am coming up to yellowknife (from winn...
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Kelly Wilke: Your moon pic is really great. I had seen the moon...
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Jared: I think it would be interesting in the next munici...
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Kristen: You had me at 'Yummy'. I was already dreaming of...
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Chrys: Haven't posted on your site yet, but have found yo...
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Ank Siebring: what a beautiful picture!...
Moritz
30. Sep, 2009
Hey; awesome page and great tips! We arrived in Yellowknife just a couple weeks ago. And somehow it seems we had almost the same way to go – we also started our relocation on Van Isl (Comox Valley).
cheers, Lisa & Moritz
Shane
06. Oct, 2009
Awesome! Good thing you moved here before winter. Unpacking a U-haul at -33 was not very comfortable. How did you discover the Knife?
Chantel
11. Oct, 2009
What a magnificent site you have created! I’m from Australia but have always dreamed of visiting Canada, i have some kinda magnetic feeling towards it. Just recently we found out my husband could possibly get a transfer there in a year or so’s time and we’d be in Yellowknife! I looked it up and the minute i saw it i felt, as you put it, ‘home’. Pretty weird for me as i come from the tropics and HATE the cold. Yet i can’t seem to get the idea out of my head that some day we WILL be there! I’m determined to make it happen.
I’m enjoying reading all about life in the knife and until we move there i look forward to enjoying more from afar!
Thanks again!
Chantel
Shane
12. Oct, 2009
Wow thanks Chantel! You are not the first Aussies to move here. My neighbours are also from there too.
Hope you have a good move to Yellowknife!
Kathy (Huszar) Morash
16. Oct, 2009
Shane – thank you so much for putting up this site! I grew up in YK in the 60’s, and have only visited once, in 2000. So much has changed! I miss it terribly, and will always consider it home. Hoping to get back soon for a longer visit. It is still small enough that I was able to find my way around my old haunts, and hope that never changes. Keep it up, great job!
Shane
17. Oct, 2009
Thank you Kathy! Yellowknife has definitely grown taller since that time but it certainly retains that small town feel where everybody knows each other. Many more pictures to come!
Cynara
06. Dec, 2009
I am thinking of moving to Yellowknife sometime in 2010. When do you think is the best time to move there?
Shane
07. Dec, 2009
Hello Cynara, the best times would be early June and Late August. That way to avoid the worst of the Bug season and the weather won’t be cold. Where are you moving from?
mathieu
07. Dec, 2009
Hi Shane, wonderful idea with this website. My girlfriend and I are actualy moving to Yellowknife in March 2010. We won’t enjoy the same adventure you did since we’ll be flying to get there., but anyway.
I heard the rents are quite expensive. Did you have a hard time finding a decent place ?
Thanks !
Shane
07. Dec, 2009
Hi Mathieu, thank you!
I would not say the rental prices are that more expensive than any other capital city in Canada. When we moved here we were lucky to have the help of a friend that moved here ahead of us to view potential apartments and townhouses on our behalf. The rental company we use is Northern Properties, which controls nearly 80% of the rentals in Yellowknife. Our experience dealing with Northern Properties was actually pretty good and they have always been very prompt taking care of anything that comes up. We gave them our criteria and they matched it up with a few places. We ended up with a 4 bedroom townhouse – which cost us $1850 per month plus $1000 per month in heating expenses. We eventually found a smaller place with the heat included.
My advice to you Mathieu – ask for an apartment or townhouse where heat is included; otherwise, the heating costs will suck up any money you were trying to save. Another thing to note, make sure wherever you live that 4×4’s were used in the construction (not 2×4’s) and the floors are insulated – as those are the main reasons for the high cost of heating (other than the fact it gets below -40 in winter).
Make sure you contact the rental agencies to ensure availability of apartments or townhouses in Yellowknife. The online listings are never accurate and there are not many vacancies. Also be prepared to send up the first months rent and your damage deposit to ensure you get ‘dibs’ on the best places when they come up.
Here are some websites to help you find rentals in Yellowknife:
Northern Properties: http://www.npreit.com/
Midwest Property Management: http://www.rentmidwest.com/
YKD Property Management Ltd.: http://ykdpropertymanagement.com/
When were you moving to Yellowknife in 2010?
Mathieu
07. Dec, 2009
Hi Shane, Thanks a lot for the advice. I’ll definitely look into it. Being from Québec, where our rents are pretty low, it will definitely be an ajustment to make. If worse comes to worse, we’ll just build an Igloo. hehe.
We are moving in April 2010, hopefully in warmer weather.
Thanks again for the info.
Mat.
sabrina
24. Dec, 2009
I was there this Aug. I thought it would be hard to find jobs?
Devon
29. Dec, 2009
I’m also planning a move this summer. One thing I will mention if planning in spring or fall keep in mind there is a month long period or so where the Ice crossing is to thin to drive on but the river is too iced up for the ferry. The NWT transportation site is a good source when trying to plan when to travel.
cynara
31. Dec, 2009
Shane,
I am moving from Vancouver. Although I used to live in Northern Alberta and at one point in central Siberia. So I am pretty used to the winter thing. It’s more the bug season I am worried about.
Shane
31. Dec, 2009
If you move to Yellowknife before bug season starts you will get to be in Yellowknife and the NWT for the summer. I always find the best hiking ocurs in June and August too. Drop a note when you arrive!
cynara
02. Jan, 2010
When is bug season?
Shane
02. Jan, 2010
Depends on the weather of the year (namely the length of winter). It could be as long as 3 months to as short as 3 weeks. I have experienced both.
Generally speaking, the Yellowknife Bug Season starts around mid-June and lasts until mid-August. July is hands down the worst month for bugs here.
Ashley
27. Feb, 2010
Hello!
I am coming up to yellowknife (from winnipeg) in late march and looking to move there (if all goes well during my march trip) in late spring.
I am having a lot of difficulty however in finding a place to live! Any suggestions?
Shane
01. Mar, 2010
Hi Ashley,
Basically the two easiest ways to find accommodations in Yellowknife are…
Northern Property Website: http://www.npreit.com/apartment_select.php?pid=Yellowknife
YK Trader Website: http://www.yktrader.com/
If you are still having a challenge by the time you get here let me know of Facebook me through my Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118316083120 or my profile: http://www.facebook.com/mrshanekeller
Good luck!
Shane