I've heard nothing but good stuff about this visitor centre so imagine my dismay when I arrived on a rainy Saturday (when some advice on things to do would have been most welcome) to discover that the visitor centre has been closed since May 15th. According to the lovely bartender at the NWT Brewery, the centre is damaged and possibly unstable as a result of a quick ice thaw this spring. Hopefully they get the situation assessed and resolved soon.

I was planning my trip to Yellowknife and spoke several times to the staff at the Visitor's Centre - couldn't have asked for more helpful people. Upon my arrival to Yellowknife I was excited to visit the centre and speak with them all personally and have them help me out with my adventure. What a disappointment to realize they were shut down and was directed to City Hall!!! Really!! Can't imagine how the tour groups & all businesses in Yellowknife feel about this closure - what city doesn't have a Visitor's Centre???? BTW my rating reflects on my phone calls only as I didn't have the opportunity to meet with anyone.

I arrived in on Sunday afternoon and was able to get to the visitors centre before it closed. The numbers of locally produced and created items is fabulous. They seem to really support the local economy better than other visitor centres that I have been to. Now, it seems as if a portion of the centre is sinking into the adjoining lake, I'm glad I got there before that happened.

They gave me a map of the city, a pin for being a first timer, and some easy to follow information. Upstairs is a taxidermied polar bear and a grizzly that you can touch. The locals are very proud of their history.