Enterprise, Northwest Territories

Enterprise, Northwest Territories

Enterprise is a hamlet in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, located between Great Slave Lake and the Alberta border on the Hay River.

Enterprise is at an important junction of the Mackenzie Highway and the road to Yellowknife and was established when two service stations were built to take advantage of traffic along these highways. It has since grown to include a cargo station, Winnie's Restaurant, and a motel to accommodate travellers. Most of the remaining commercial region, however, is currently closed for business and looking for buyers.

It is a significant point on the Northwest Territories highway system, as all traffic that heads to the two largest population centres, Yellowknife to the north, and the nearby town of Hay River to the northeast, must pass through. As such, a tourism centre/visitors centre is located right in the heart of town, where the old weigh station used to be.

According to the 2006 Census the population is 97 with just under half being First Nations people In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 108 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.7 from 1996. The main languages, besides English, are South Slavey and Chipewyan.

In 2007, Enterprise filed a petition to change from settlement status to hamlet, which would allow for greater powers by council, a public voting for mayor, and freedom to set property tax rates. On 27 October 2007 the community was officially incorporated and Allan Flamand became the first mayor.