NT School Sports recently had the opportunity to visit communities across the Sahtu Region, including Fort Good Hope, Tulita, and Norman Wells, along with a short stop in Wrigley and Fort Simpson in the Dehcho on the way. It was a meaningful week focused on connection, conversation, and learning.

These visits are an important part of the work. They create space to meet principals, teachers, and school staff face to face, to listen, to share, and to better understand what sport and physical activity look like in each community. Every school and every community has its own context, its own strengths, and its own challenges. Being present allows those conversations to happen in a real and meaningful way.

Throughout the week, NT School Sports shared information about current programs, upcoming opportunities, and the support available to schools across the Northwest Territories. This included highlighting initiatives within NT School Sports, as well as partnerships with programs such as KidSport NWT, helping ensure that more youth have access to sport and activity.

“Every community is equally important and should have the same opportunities. Hopefully this trip will help spread some awareness and enhance school sports!” – Andrew Gilmour, Executive Director NT School Sports

Beyond sharing information, these visits are about building relationships. They are about creating a stronger network across the territory, where schools feel supported and connected, and where opportunities can grow over time.

This visit also highlighted the value of working alongside partners. Collaborating with Table Tennis North during the week created additional opportunities for youth to be active and engaged. It showed how partnerships can bring new energy, new activities, and new possibilities into communities.

Looking ahead, there is great potential to continue building these connections and expanding partnerships with other organizations. By working together, we can create more opportunities for youth, support schools in different ways, and strengthen sport and physical activity across the North.

NT School Sports looks forward to continuing these visits and connecting with more communities in the future. These moments, the conversations, the shared ideas, and the relationships, are where meaningful progress begins.