Russell Hamilton and Toni Tobac have not had an easy winter. The last cold spell in February made for their toughest nights so far, they said.
"We had no propane," said Tobac. "We stayed in a tent for four days in the cold, at 40 below."
Hamilton and Tobac are the last couple living at what was once a homeless encampment occupied by more than a dozen others near Aspen Apartments on 51 Street. They are enduring frigid winter days and nights in a nylon tent. They have plenty of blankets on hand and, when available, one or more propane heaters.
Although they do not have a carbon monoxide detector, Hamilton said their tent is ventilated and Tobac added that they turn the heater off before going to bed.
"We usually wake up every hour, hour-and-a-half maybe, and then turn it on for five minutes and then we're good to go," Hamilton explained.
But really, what's kept the couple going is each other.
"Since January, we've come to the full realization that our relationship is the most important thing. Drugs and alcohol were messing us up," said Hamilton.
"We're helping each other," Tobac added.
The two say they are celebrating two months of sobriety from alcohol in February.
Tobac said the best part about staying sober is how it makes her happier.
"You notice things that you forget are there SA国际影视传媒� people, places, colours," Hamilton added. "You notice everything that you don't when you're drunk."
Staying away from alcohol has been a challenge, the two acknowledged, with both noting it'd be a lot easier if they didn't have to do it while sleeping in a tent each night. Still, they're trying to make the most of it, with a typical day consisting of counselling, being in a shelter or visiting family.
The goal, they said, is to leave the NWT and move to British Columbia.
"It's too overwhelming for us if we stay here," said Hamilton. "It'd be easier for us to leave the territory and start fresh than having to come back to Yellowknife, being clean and sober, with nowhere to go and having all the people we know already influence us back into that life. It would be a lost cause."
For now, a number of services within the city have been helpful, they said. Tobac mentioned counselling and Hamilton praised the workers at the downtown day shelter and the city's street outreach program.
"Without their help and support, I don't think we would have made it," he said.
The two might not own much, but they don't mind sharing or giving things away to other homeless people.
"Even if it's 40 below, or whether they're drunk or sober, we're not going to see them freeze," said Hamilton. "So, we've been handing out tons and tons of gloves we've acquired from different places."
The homeless encampment, where Tobac and Hamilton remain, sits on a GNWT-owned parking lot. The encampment was originally organized in August last year by the territorial government after it acquired Aspen Apartments to turn the building into affordable housing. The location was used to entice homeless individuals from occupying private lots.
The GNWT gave a date of Sept. 12, 2024, for the tent occupants to leave the site, stating that homeless shelters could accommodate their needs. Many did not depart by the deadline, but the encampment eventually thinned out.
The Aspen site used to have fencing and portable toilets and power was provided as well. After the deadline passed, the GNWT removed the fencing and toilets and shut off the power.
Beau Stobbs, a communications officer for the Department of Finance, said the GNWT is unable to comment on the remaining site occupants due to privacy considerations.
"In discussions with various residents sleeping rough this summer, we learned that every personSA国际影视传媒檚 situation is unique, and there are various reasons why an individual may choose not to access a shelter, even if space is available" said Stobbs. "We also respect that each individual has the autonomy to make their own decisions about where they stay and what services they access."
Stobbs also said there are a variety of resources available in Yellowknife for those in need, including shelters, transitional housing and outreach services.
"We encourage anyone seeking assistance to connect with local service providers who can help identify options that best meet their circumstances," said Stobbs.
In an email, Saxon Chung, a communications advisor with the City of Yellowknife, said there are no territorial laws mandating the installation of carbon monoxide detectors or smoke alarms, including what he called temporary structures, like tents.
"Additionally, there are no specific bylaws governing the use of propane heaters in tents within the City of Yellowknife," said Chung.
