The Arctic Comes To Yellowknife
- Municipal Affairs
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
Welcome to Municipal Affairs.
For this edition of the show we’re heading north — way north — to Yellowknife, where earlier this month, leaders from across the Arctic gathered to take part in something remarkable.
From Alaska to all three territories, and even across the Nordic states, mayors and community leaders came together in the Northwest Territories. Among them was the Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska — one of Yellowknife’s Arctic neighbours and partners.
The occasion was the launch of a pan-Arctic mentorship program organized by the Arctic Mayors’ Forum, part of the Youth Together for Arctic Futures project, co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Canada.
Yellowknife’s own Mayor, Ben Hendericksen, is serving as a mentor in the program.
The Arctic Mayors’ Forum, formally established in 2019, has a clear mission: to make sure the voices of Arctic peoples are heard at the decision-making tables that shape the region’s future. Their focus is on building sustainable, resilient communities where citizens can thrive — and they do this by providing an open and collaborative platform, one that includes Indigenous peoples and local leaders from across the circumpolar world.
This year’s gathering in Yellowknife was part of the Forum’s mentorship program, connecting early-career Arctic and European youth with mentors in policy, advocacy, and communications. The goal? To give the next generation of leaders the tools and experiences they need to influence policy on issues that directly affect their communities.
The program will run in two cohorts, each lasting 18 months. Participants will take part in both in-person and digital networking opportunities, while also producing tangible projects that will strengthen their portfolios and build lasting connections.
On today’s episode, we’ll hear directly from Mayor Ben Hendericksen about the mentorship program, what he learned from his counterparts across the Arctic, and why this work matters — not just for the North, but for all of us.
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