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Ken Taylor holds an undergraduate degree in the history of northern Canada from Queen's University. In 1971, he earned a Master's degree in Biogeography from the University of Alberta, studying the revegetation of the Discovery Mine site. From 1970 to 1979, Mr. Taylor worked as a project manager on the Land Use Information Map project. In the course of this work he travelled to communities in the NWT, as well as accompanying the wildlife survey biologist on some aerial surveys, and took many photographs. In 1979, he transferred to the Polar Gas pipeline project, and participated in aerial reconnaissance of the proposed pipeline routes.

Parks Canada was established in April 1973 when the Conservation Program changed its name to Parks Canada; at the same time, Parks Canada absorbed the National and Historic Parks Branch. Before this, the name Parks Canada was used unofficially to describe the functions of the Conservation Program. In June of 1979, Parks Canada was transferred to Environment Canada. In 1986, the name was changed to Parks and in 1987; it changed again to Canadian Parks Service. In 1993, the name reverted to Parks Canada and its functions became part of the new department, Canadian Heritage. The mandate of Parks Canada is to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and to foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations.

The Department of Renewable Resources originated from the Department of Natural and Cultural Affairs' Wildlife Service Division in 1979.

The Department of Renewable Resources' responsibilities included wildlife, fisheries, water, forestry, land management and environmental protection. It managed wildlife and forest resources and ensured that the option of resource harvesting was maintained as a lifestyle and economic option for future generations in the Northwest Territories. The department was responsible for the support of the renewable resource economy and acted as the management and regulatory authority for wildlife and environmental protection. Furthermore, it had key responsibilities in planning for use of land and inland water resources. It participated in a wide range of Federal/Territorial committees and boards that coordinated and advised on land, inland water and offshore regulation and management programs. The department also advised and provided a territorial perspective on other areas of renewable resource management where the primary authority remained with the Federal Government.

Initially, the Department of Renewable Resources was made up of five divisions: the Directorate, Wildlife Service, Environmental Services, Energy Conservation and the Science Advisory Board of the Northwest Territories.

The Directorate Division provided overall direction, corporate planning, administrative support and coordination for the programs of the department, including the development of departmental policies. This division advised the Minister on the state of the programs and acted as a liaison with other government departments and organizations as required. The Directorate was responsible for the work of the Traditional Knowledge Working Group. The Directorate was also responsible for providing advice and support to the Aboriginal Rights and Constitutional Development Secretariat on all renewable resource related negotiations.

The Wildlife Services Division, later known as the Wildlife Management Division, was responsible for implementing programs designed to assess the status and productivity of wildlife populations. It provided advice on the limits of sustainable yield and land use activities as they affected wildlife populations. This division encouraged the conservation of the natural habitat, particularly for species upon which Northwest Territories residents depended. Effort focused primarily upon caribou, polar bear, gyrfalcon, and musk ox, with secondary projects that dealt with moose, wood bison, Dall's sheep, and fur-bearing animals. The division enforced quotas, issued licenses and permits, conducted research, conducted surveys and implemented tagging programs. Prior to the creation of the Field Services Division in 1982, the Wildlife Services Division also delivered funding and provided grants to the Hunters' and Trappers' Associations, as well as delivered wildlife management and awareness programs through the schools.

The Environmental Services sector administered the Environmental Protection Ordinance, the Pesticide Ordinance and Clean Air Act of Canada and the Scientist Ordinance in the Northwest Territories. This division was responsible for the inspection and monitoring of potential polluting incidents, the development of environmental emergency plans and response to environmental emergencies. The name of this division changed to the Pollution Control Division in 1984.

The Energy Conservation activity provided support services to the Federal/Territorial Energy Conservation Management Committee and developed public awareness pertaining to energy conservation. This activity was transferred to Government Services in 1981.

The Science Advisory Board was concerned with the development of a resident scientific community capable of planning and conducting northern research so that the priorities of northern people were fully realized. The Board's objective was to encourage the application of science, engineering and technology to improve life and living conditions for people in the Northwest Territories. The Science Advisory Board changed its name to the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories in 1986. In 1989-90, the Science Institute transferred from the Department of Renewable Resources and became an agency that reported directly to the Executive.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Division operated between 1981-1985. It provided the departmental focus for the integration of renewable resource management programs and managed the environmental assessment and strategic planning response for major resource development projects. This division concentrated on land use planning, water management, environmental monitoring/surveillance, management of environmentally sensitive areas and was involved in formal regulatory hearings, such as the Beaufort Sea Environmental Assessment and Review Board hearings. When this division disbanded in 1985, the 'Planning' part of the division became the Policy and Planning Division.

The Policy and Planning Division was responsible for the following: providing advice to the Deputy Minister on matters of resource management, developing program evaluation systems, providing assistance to other divisions in the development of policy, developing public consultation strategies, coordinating the participation of the department in the formal assessment and review of resource development projects, coordinating the departmental involvement in the negotiation and implementation of Aboriginal Land Claims and coordinating the department's legislative requirements. Policy and Planning was involved in the negotiations of delegating inland fisheries management from the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to the Department of Renewable Resources.

The Field Services Division was added to the Department of Renewable Resources in 1982 and it operated until 1987. It was created out of some of the services delivered by the Wildlife Services Division. In 1987, the name was changed to Conservation Education and Resource Development, although there was no change in the division's mandate or programs. Initially, the division provided advice and support to the entire department and emphasis was placed on public information and educational programs to make northern residents aware of the departmental programs and priorities. By the mid-1980's, the division provided conservation education, assistance to renewable resource harvesters and was responsible for developing the renewable resource economy. Major assistance programs were designed to support the hunting and trapping economy and an emphasis was placed on the fur industry and assisting trappers in acquiring and learning how to use new trapping systems. In addition, support was provided to organizations of resource users to enable them to become more involved in wildlife management. Programs such as trapper education, outpost camp programs, fur sales, firearm safety and conservation education were delivered by this division. In 1986, this division became involved with the Federal Government and Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the fish-stocking program.

The Environmental Services Division became the Pollution Control division in1984; the division's main task was maintaining the high standard of environmental quality in the North through the administration of the Environmental Protection Ordinance and the Pesticide Ordinance, which monitored and regulated industrial, commercial and municipal activities. This division also participated in joint regulatory committees such as the Arctic Waters Advisory Committee, Regional Ocean Dumping Advisory Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee to the Northwest Territories' Water Board. The name of this division changed to the Environmental Protection Division in 1994.

The Land Use Planning Division, later known as the Regional Land Use Planning Division in 1989, emerged in 1987 and was responsible for the coordination and management of the Government's participation in the Federal/Territorial Land Use Planning Program. It was the division's responsibility to ensure that the best use of land and resources were represented in the planning process.

In 1988, the Forestry Division, later known as Forest Management, was transferred to the department from the Federal Government. This division was responsible for the management and use of forest resources through the development of forest management plans that addressed how to develop the timber resources and protect them at the same time. In addition, this division developed and delivered at silvicultural program that was concerned with improving existing forests and establishing new forests through harvesting. The monitoring of insects and disease and issuing timber permits and licenses were also the responsibility of this division.

The Fire Operations Division was also added to the department in 1988; it was responsible for the coordination of the department's fire control planning and operations through establishing and implementing fire management plans according to territorial policy. The division was involved in fire prevention activities and training and delivered a public information program on forest fire management. In 1992, the Fire Operations Division changed its name to Forest Fire Management

The Field Operations Division emerged in 1989 and delivered all departmental programs at the regional and community level. There were Field Operations staff in most communities and they acted as the main interface between the department and the resource users. The staff provided advice and assistance to the Hunters' and Trappers' Associations, assisted resource users in resource development and resource use activities and assisted and advised communities in pollution control, fire suppression and wildlife management studies and enforced renewable resource legislation. In addition, this division interpreted and coordinated the department's responsibilities under land claims and worked with claimant organizations at the regional and local level.

In 1997, the Department of Renewable Resources amalgamated with Economic Development and Tourism to form the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

The Department of Lands was established in 2014. It is responsible for the management and administration of all public lands (Territorial and Commissioner's land) in the Northwest Territories, including inventories, dispositions, valuation, survey applications, and mapping. Key functions include: land use initiatives, sustainability standards, guidelines and policies, project assessments, land use planning and administration, and compliance and enforcement.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) was created on April 1, 2005 when the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) split to create ENR and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI). RWED transferred the responsibilities of environmental protection, energy management, wildlife management and forest management to the newly formed ENR.

Four divisions of the Department functioned with few changes from 2005-2011. These divisions included Corporate Management, Environment, Forest Management and Wildlife. In addition, ENR is responsible for a secretariat function to assist with the implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) in partnership with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Aboriginal, environmental and industry organizations.

Corporate Management’s functions include the policy, legislation and communications (PLC) unit and corporate shared services, which includes finance and administration, informatics, and the NWT Geomatics Centre.
Environment division’s functions include program management, environmental protection and energy management (working with Arctic Energy Alliance). Forest Management division’s functions include program management, fire suppression and forest resources. Wildlife Management division’s functions include wildlife management and protected areas until 2010-2011 when Corporate Management hived off the responsibility for Land and Water (and later environmental assessment and monitoring), later creating it as its own division in preparation for devolution of responsibilities from the federal government on April 1, 2014.

The Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources was formed from the Energy, Mines and Resources Secretariat in April, 1989. Its activities included the support and regulation of industry in the areas of electrical generation, oil and gas development, mineral development, mineral resources, energy mining and environment, land use planning, and development impact zones. A focus of the GNWT was to achieve northern control over oil and gas resources, particularly relating to a Mackenzie Valley pipeline project. The GNWT and the former Energy, Mines and Resources Secretariat had demanded that responsibility for northern oil and gas management be transferred from the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). The signing of the proposal for the Northern Accord in September, 1988 opened the way for oil and gas resource management discussions and the potential for the exclusive management of onshore oil and gas development in the NWT by the Territorial Government. In 1989, the Department worked to develop a comprehensive position in consultation with the Dene/Metis, Inuvialuit, and Tungavik Federation of Nunavut groups before final negotiations with the Federal Government. The 'Proposal for the Finalization and Implementation of the Northern Accord' covered a full range of oil and gas issues affecting northern communities and an outline of the structures and processes in place once the transfer of responsibilities occurred. The GNWT acquired the Northern Canada Power Commission in May, 1988 and subsequently established the NWT Power Corporation. The Department also participated in the issuance of new exploration rights to resource companies, helped to train employees for mineral resource development, and worked in conjunction with Environmental Impact Review Boards and the Federal Environment Assessment Review Office (FEARO) on environmental assessments and reviews. Actions of the Department included making reports of industry activities available to local communities, affected parties, and other government agencies. The Department also provided comments for the federal Green Plan and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, completed reviews of oil and gas royalty regulations, and formalized a Petroleum Contingency Plan for national and international energy crises. Under the federal/territorial Northern Oil and Gas Action Program (NOGAP), the Department developed and negotiated funding for the coordination of GNWT projects to improved government preparedness for hydrocarbon development. The Department also developed an energy supply and demand data system for the NWT, and helped the NWT Chamber of Mines conduct mineral exploration surveys annually. The Canada-NWT Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), a sub-agreement of the Economic Development Agreement, cost-shared with the federal government on a 70:30 ratio included the following programs: Geoscience Program, Northern Technological Assistance Program and the Northern Mining Information Program. The Geoscience Program's objective was to increase the mineral data base of the NWT and to assist and encourage mineral exploration. The Northern Technological Assistance Program was to assist private sector industries in the development of innovative technologies, to improve mining operations, and to adapt new technology to northern conditions. The Northern Mining Information Program's objective was to promote greater awareness of the economic importance of mining to the residents of the NWT by targeting both the general public and children in the school systems. The Development Impact Zone Program (DIZ) provided the public an opportunity to participate in decisions on resource development by sitting one of two councils, the Beaufort/Mackenzie Delta Group, or the Shihta Regional Council/DIZ Committee alongside members of the GNWT, DIAND and industry.

The federal Department of the Interior was established on May 3, 1873, absorbing some of the functions of the former Department of the Secretary of State for the Provinces. The department was established to administer and develop the newly acquired territories in the West. It included a Surveys Branch, which was responsible for surveying and mapping and in 1922 a Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch was organized to administer the northern territories. The Surveys Branch was renamed the Technical Branch in 1883, and in 1890 the Topographical Surveys Branch. On June 23, 1936, the Department of the Interior amalgamated with the Department of Mines and the Department of Immigration and Colonization to form a new Department of Mines and Resources.

On January 20, 1950 the federal Department of Mines and Resources was dissolved and three new departments were created: Resources and Development; Citizenship and Immigration; and the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys. The name changed again on October 19, 1966 to the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

The federal Department of Mines and Resources was established on June 23, 1936 with the amalgamation of the Department of Mines, Department of the Interior, and the Department of Immigration and Colonization. The new department was divided into five branches: Mines and Geology; Lands, Parks, and Forests; Indian Affairs; Immigration; and Surveys and Engineering. In 1950, the name was changed to the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys with some of the department's functions absorbed by the newly created Department of Resources and Development.

Arthur George Boutilier was born in 1946 to Jack and E. Claire Boutilier in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He had three sisters, Catherine, Daphne, and Barbara.

Arthur attended Gorsebrook and Tower Road Schools in Halifax and Kings College School in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He received additional education at Dalhousie University (1963-1965), the Nova Scotia Technical School of Architecture (1965-1969), and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (1969-1971), earning an engineering diploma, Bachelor of Architecture, and Masters of Landscape Architecture. He worked for architectural and urban design consulting firms in the United States, including Llewlyn-Davies Associates, William L. Pereira Associates, and Ben-Ami Friedman, AIP. In 1975, Arthur discovered R. Buckminster Fuller’s book “Synergetics”, which influenced and altered his design thinking.

In 1976, Arthur joined Parks Canada with a job in national park planning. He became involved in an investigation of the Torngat Mountains and Mealy Mountains in Labrador as proposed National Parks, which touched him deeply and ignited a passion for the North. He was also involved with developing a park management plan for Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland.

In 1981, Arthur moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and was employed as a Senior Planner and Urban Designer for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Local Government, doing community-based town planning. From 1984 until his retirement in 2011, he worked for the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, becoming involved with the Northwest Territories Land Use Planning Commission (1984-1986), Lancaster Sound Regional Land Use Planning Commission (1984-1991), and Nunavut Planning Commission (1989-1991) in regional land use planning for various areas including Lancaster Sound, Keewatin, Sahtu, and Deh Cho. Later job titles included Special Advisory, Head Projects & Planning, Nunavut Land Use Planning Coordinator, and Mackenzie Valley Land Use Planning Coordinator. Following retirement, he served as a board member of the Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board from 2017-2020.

Arthur’s father was a photographer and Arthur’s own interest in photography stems from his experience at Expo’67 in Montreal. He has steadily cultivated it since then, taking thousands of images and showing his work in several exhibits.

In 1983, Arthur applied to the Canadian Astronaut Program, making the first cut. He was also involved with the northern SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Program chapter.

Arthur struggled with alcoholism throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, finally accessing treatment in 1991 and becoming involved with Alcoholics Anonymous. He met Dale Murphy in 1992, the love of his life, and the two were married on July 10, 1994. Arthur and Dale continue to live in Yellowknife.

William (Bill) David Addison was born April 27, 1939 to Peter Addison and Ottelyn (Robinson) Addison, the oldest of 3 children, in Toronto, Ontario.

His father, a forester, moved with the family to Port Arthur Ontario by the time Bill was 5 years old, where he spent his formative years. His mother Ottelyn inspired his love and knowledge of nature and his intense curiosity as she took Bill and his brothers exploring nature, canoeing, identifying flora and fauna. She in turn developed her love and knowledge of the natural world in Algonquin Park under the tutelage of her father, Mark Robinson, a Park Ranger.

The family moved to Richmond Hill in the early ‘50’s where teenage Bill developed his love of photography. He and his mother built a dark room in which they could develop their photos. Bill was particularly drawn to nature with its abundant wildlife and landscape opportunities. Like his father, he studied forestry at the University of Toronto, followed by a Masters’ degree in Fisheries in the mid 1960’s. It was at University that he met Wendy Livingston who he married in 1966.

Bill’s reading tastes and interests varied greatly, leading to him being conversant on almost any topic. The book ‘Dangerous River’ by R.M. Patterson made such a strong impression on him that he led Wendy on a honeymoon trip into the Nahanni River country where they spent a month traveling the river and its environs by foot and canoe in 1966 despite the fears of relatives that they would never return. He was always adventurous. The collection of fish for the Royal Ontario Museum and the search for lemmings helped finance the trip as did scuba diving for an engineering company. This trip was to be instrumental in many of Bill’s later endeavours.

In 1966, Bill started working with fisheries biology in Maple for ‘Lands and Forests’. Much to his delight, the unit moved north to Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) a year later. He was happy to have returned ‘home’. An article Bill wrote about the Nahanni trip appeared in Weekend Magazine that year as well. A few years later, Bill changed careers to join Wendy as a high school teacher which provided opportunities to camp and canoe together during the summers.

Bill promoted the Nahanni River area as natural place to create a park, and when this occurred in the early 1970’s, he proposed that old-timers in the area be interviewed to provide a history of the area while they were still able to do so. Due to his enthusiasm for the project along with his extensive interests and ability to connect to people, he was a natural choice. The proposal was accepted along with a request that he carry out those interviews. During this time, two daughters, Michelle and Kirsten were born, so the family stayed home while Bill travelled on his interviewing trips. He was always teased about having missed Kirsten’s birth because he was carrying out interviews at the time. Although the scope of the project was limited due to funding constraints, knowing that the interviewees were all aging, Bill continued the interviews after funding ran out, travelling from the Maritimes to California to the Northwest Territories. This was a task that he enjoyed thoroughly, and which resulted in a lifelong passion.

Bill returned to Nahanni River in 1978 and 1979, travelling the length of the river, but also carrying out many hikes in the surrounding areas. He loved exploring Canada which led to many car and canoe camping trips both locally and throughout the country with the family once the girls were old enough for this type of travel. Memorable trips to Dawson City, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, the Broken Islands and the Milk River provided a greater understanding of Canada for all.

After retirement in 1998, Bill had more time available to participate in his many interests. Winter and spring months often took Bill and Wendy on camping trips in the Southern US and west, particularly during rainy years in which flowers were present in the deserts or oceans were stormy and snowpack was high. Bill was a prodigious writer, and his ‘epistles’ and digital photos of our many travels in Canada and the US along with several international extended trips were greatly anticipated by the many friends and relatives who received them. His interesting talks and slideshows were greatly appreciated and very well received by a variety of organizations and friends. Retirement also allowed time to enjoy the growing family, which by 2013 included 2 sons-in-law and 4 grandchildren.

Bill’s variety of interests led him, along with a Thunder Bay friend, Greg, to the exploration of local geological formations which they were able to identify as ejecta from the Sudbury (Ontario) meteorite impact in the early 2000’s. This discovery led to work still being carried out on this discovery by geologists and mining companies. Bill and Greg produced several publications on this discovery and for this work they were awarded the Goldich Medal from the Institute on Lake Superior Geology. This interest led Bill and Wendy to a trip to South Africa to take part in a Geology Conference on meteorite impacts as well as a geology cruise to Antarctica. A large piece of ejecta from Thunder Bay now resides in a museum in South Africa.

As geologists expanded on the ejecta studies that Bill and Greg started, Bill returned to intensive work on the Nahanni ‘Old timers’ project, transcribing interviews that hadn’t been transcribed as part of the original project. During their trip to Alaska and NWT in 2017, Bill was still searching archives and talking to people associated with the Nahanni area. Sadly, Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer soon after his return from this trip and died October 25, 2017.