“Somewhat ordinary routines that humans experience…become an extraordinary experience in the North.”
Unlike Ted, Ollie Williams is not shocked to have spent the last decade in the Northwest Territories.
“In the last ten years, I have never once woken up in the morning thinking that I want to be anywhere else.”
Ollie, a former British sports journalist with the BBC, first visited Canada en route to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics. Two years later, at the age of 27, he returned to Canada, driven by a desire to be closer to his partner. The destination – Fort Liard, NWT, was quite a departure from the busy London life he was used to.
He dedicated his year to volunteering as a soccer coach and doing literacy work with children. The year flew by. Ollie returned to England, but not for long. He was tired of the old buildings, fine pubs, and predictable sheep sprinkled along the roadsides. To be frank, “It was just so bloody boring in England.”
Ollie longed for more.
The more – clearly meant the Northwest Territories. In 2014, Ollie returned to Canada after marrying his Canadian partner, but this time as a permanent Canadian resident.
The couple settled in Yellowknife and never looked back.
Ollie, being a curious and highly personable character, naturally makes a good fit for sharing information and local stories with the territory. He is part owner of Cabin Radio, an independent newsroom established in 2017.
During his time working for the BBC as a young man, Ollie confesses he wouldn’t be able to name a local politician if asked. Council meetings and the affairs of the community were foreign to him, and, truthfully, he wasn’t very interested.
Now, as the editor of the newsroom in Yellowknife, he stands as one of the best-informed people in the city, arguably across the territory. This position provides him with a genuine connection to many different communities, perspectives, and cultures.
Through his business venture, Ollie has gained invaluable insight into the history and cultures of Indigenous peoples – knowledge that was not part of his academic background in England. He is committed to contributing positively to society, and essentially, “try not to make things worse like my predecessors have historically done.” Recognizing the news as the heart of the community, Ollie emphasizes the responsibility to represent diverse voices, a perspective he lacked in the UK.
When not working, you can find Ollie spending time outdoors. The Northern landscape is enjoyed all year round, it is the key to quality of life, and like nowhere he has visited before. Skating, skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding all come to life with the arrival of snow. And after the ice breakup season, the outdoor options change with fantastic fishing opportunities, swimming, hiking, and more. Ollie doesn’t dismiss the bone-chilling weather, but once you succumb to dressing properly, he is certain you will not leave.
“It is just such a marvellous and eternally interesting place to live. Somewhat ordinary routines that humans experience, like walking the dog, becomes an extraordinary experience in the North.”
Just beyond the outskirts of Yellowknife, Ollie and his dog Kona briskly walk from their home to Great Slave Lake on daily outings. Yes, it is a frigid minus 37 and “cold enough to scare any Brit to death” or at least consider living somewhere else, but Ollie is convinced that the NWT’s breathtaking beauty can dispel any doubts.
“There is Kona running around, having a whale of a time!” He laughs, despite the bone-chilling climate.
Ollie feels his life is all the richest knowing what he knows now, and he owes it all to the Northwest Territories. “I love this place with every fibre of my being, and it is the right place for me to be.” He looks forward to welcoming you to the Northwest Territories!
