History of the Northwest Territories Government of the Northwest Territories, arrived in Yellowknife on board a chartered DC-7. In 1969, A special committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories chose a new flag for the territory. Robert Bessant's design was chosen among entries to a Canada-wide contest. The government would introduce the popular polar bear license plate in 1970. In 1975, the territorial government once again became a fully elected body. By 1961, the federal government devolved responsibility for place naming to the provinces. But not in the territories. In 1984, the Canadian Government agreed to transfer the responsibility for naming places to
Coat of arms of Yellowknife Coat of arms of Yellowknife The coat of arms of Yellowknife is the full armorial achievement as used by the municipal government as an official symbol. The government of Yellowknife utilizes multiple versions of the coat of arms for various applications. In the 1950s Yellowknife held a competition to design a coat of arms which was won by Netta Pringle who had lived in Yellowknife during 1954 and 1955. The coat of arms consists of a mine headframe, flanked by a miners' pick and shovel and a maple leaf, with the northern lights above. Above the shield is a half-midnight