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Laurier and Northwest Territories extend decade-long partnership

A decade-long partnership between Laurier and the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue for another 10 years.

The university and government recently extended their partnership agreement – which brings research expertise and training opportunities to the Northwest Territories and community connections and research opportunities to Laurier scholars – through 2030.

“The Government of the Northwest Territories-Laurier partnership is a prime example of how researchers and the public service can work together to advance research priorities that respond directly to the needs, concerns and questions of northerners,” said former Northwest Territories Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Robert C. McLeod, who did not seek re-election in the territories' 2019 election. “By collaborating as learning partners, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Laurier have fostered significant advancements in monitoring and research that ensure we are able to make decisions based on the best available scientific, local and traditional knowledge.”

Northern research
A partnership between Laurier and the Government of the Northwest Territories has led to the training of 280 undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Canada's North.

Read more about the Government of the Northwest Territories-Laurier partnership.

The first decade of the Government of the Northwest Territories-Laurier partnership has seen many milestones, including:

  • The opening of Laurier’s Yellowknife research office to establish a year-round presence and deepen partnerships in the Northwest Territories.
  • The training of more than 280 undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, some of whom have stayed to work in the Northwest Territories.
  • Building a network of research facilities and “living laboratories” in the Northwest Territories through the Changing Arctic Network project funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Currently, 1.4 million square kilometres of boreal forest and tundra are involved as research areas.
  • Providing leadership in cold regions research through the Northern Water Futures project, a Global Water Futures-funded, Northwest Territories-focused consortium working to address the impacts of climate change and industrial activity on water resources.

To read more articles from the 2019 Fall-Winter print edition of Laurier Campus magazine and new alumni stories between print editions, visit campusmagazine.wlu.ca.