Social Life of a Not-Very-social Senior
When I hear or read recommendations for a healthy senior life, maintaining social contact with others is always on the list.
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Essays Inspired by Wanderlust
In the sixth of the 66 essays in this book, written when she was 33 years old, Angela Long begins by giving us a long list…
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Love’s Form
The muse for this column was an article I wrote 11 years ago, inspired by a question posed by a friend: “What is love? Seriously.”
the Year 2026 — Breaking the chains
Since the dawn of publishing, the written word has caused quite a stir: words are dangerous; readers, a threat…
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A woman Must Save Herself
British author Beth Lewis has done what few novelists who wrote about the Klondike Gold Rush have attempted: written a historical…
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Santa’s Magic Key
Theresa Gatien, a Whitehorse- and Atlin, B.C.-based author, will be signing copies of her new children’s book in Atlin and in Whitehorse.
Blue
Christmas appears at first, or so it seems, in row upon row of greeting cards. I glance at them, then look away…
A Proper Dawson Send-off
Writers-in-residence at Berton House have only two responsibilities, aside from being inspired by the place. They are to do public readings.
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My Baby ‘Loves A Bunch Of Authors’
Susan confesses her addiction for reading in our latest Grey Matters column and talks about not just classic books but new technologies to read with
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In The Night Watches
The author shares her thoughts on love, friendship and faith
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The Sound That Summons Us
In her latest column, Josephine talks about her love of bells, bagpipes and her thoughts on the idiom of being there with bells on
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Didee Didoo: Playing With Words
Allan makes some plays on words as he shows us the funny ways that he changes things up using every day phrases
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The Story Behind the T.E.S.T. Program
Dan talks with John Firth about his award winning new book, North Star: The Legacy of Jean-Marie Mouchet in his latest The Bookshelf column
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Didee Didoo: Little Old Men
Allan brings his award winning, Old Crow poetry and comedy back with his latest cartoon and his take on ‘Little Old Men’
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A Paranormal Mystery
In the summer of 1997, Andrew Pyper stayed at Berton House. It was his first taste of the North and he was hooked.
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A Penny For Your Thoughts
Gramma Josephine shares the idiom of ‘A Penny For Your Thoughts’ and reminisces about when pennies were treasures to be collected
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The Spirit of Mottainai
Lillian shares her traditional Japanese culture of Mottainai – being grateful, sharing, embracing family and friends, recycling and reusing
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Haiku With A Northern Voice
Would you like to experience the thrill of seeing your haiku poems selected and published in a haiku collection by northern poets?
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I Am Kháganê
Alexis (Kháganê) Smith is a young 17 year-old Tlingit/Kaska woman, an emerging writer with aspirations of pursuing law in the near future
In The Same Boat
We are pilgrims on a journey and, from time to time, the lives of complete strangers may intersect with ours in surprising ways.
Fractured By Karin Slaughter
Dan Davidson reviews Karin Slaughter’s book Fractured, the second in a twelve part series about Georgia investigator Will Trent
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Northern Words
Dawn Macdonald from YukonU, spent decades away from serious writing has just won the Griffin Poetry Prize award for first book Northerny
Hold The Line!
This is an idiom that sparks thoughts of strength, that inspires strength — and even courage with determination and discipline
It Takes Courage To Overcome Your Fears
In retirement, Theresa has returned to an activity that she enjoyed when she was young and has dabbled in over the years: writing.
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Here’s To Leaves …
What do you see when you turn over a new leaf? My first thought is Veins! … the source of life for any living being.
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Hermit
I quit my job with the power company and went to work on that gold claim. My ulcers immediately healed and have never returned.
Angels Bite
I’ve always wondered what it might feel like to be spring. Everyone loving you, but not for yourself. You know?
Patti Flather Wonders…
Patti Flather, one of the mentors at this year’s Young Authors Conference, is probably best known these days as a playwright.
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Katie’s Tale
In the late ’60s, I had a premonition that probably saved my life I finally hit pay dirt when I heard Katie’s tale For the
Reflections On An Attempted Murder And Recovery
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted MurderKnife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder At quarter to eleven on August 12th, 2022, on a sunny Friday morning in
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Writing And Drawing With A Personal Touch
The 42nd annual Yukon Young Authors’ Conference will take place May 1 and 2 at F.H. Collins Secondary School I think my most important advice
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A Chat With Chelsea Vowel
Since Covid, she has embraced planning and outlines My work is all about trying to understand the world and communicate what I understand to others
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Common As Dirt
To British humourists Flanders and Swann, it was “Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud” I always have loved spring, and daffodils, and especially the mud Spring is
Kevin Sylvester Likes To Plan His Books
The annual Young Authors Conference will take place May 2 and 3 as part of the week of the Yukon Writers’ Festival “I always try
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Northern Haiku Project
Northern Haiku Project is looking for writers Four members of solstice haiku group in Whitehorse are calling for haiku poems for an anthology to be
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Tales Of A Persistent Ghost And A Saucy Parrot
Dan Davidson reviews John Firth’s book: The Caribou Hotel In spite of the main title and the fact that the chapters keep circling back to
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Book Review: The Lost Pianos Of Siberia
Sophy Roberts’ The Lost Pianos of Siberia intertwines history, music, and human stories across a vast, haunting landscape.
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A Clean Slate
A new year brings fresh opportunities. Josephine Holmes reflects on the idiom “a clean slate” and its hopeful meaning.
Surprised By Joy – A Love Story
Rick Karp honors his wife’s extraordinary life in Creating Lasting Impact: The Amazing Life of Joy Esther Karp.
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On The Road With Rick Mercer
The Road Years. Rick Mercer’s wild adventures across Canada. From chainsaw carving to musical legend and heartfelt tales from coast to coast.
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That’s All She Wrote
Explore the origins of “That’s all she wrote.” Josephine Holmes reflects on its wartime roots and personal meaning.
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More Than Just A Colour
The origin of “paint the town red”! Angela Szymczuk unravels the history behind this lively and colourful phrase.
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Calling All Readers
Celebrate the North’s vibrant literary scene at Yukon Words Festival. Featuring acclaimed author Richard Van Camp and workshops for all ages.
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Celebrating Yukon literature at Frankfurt Book Fair
Jessica Simon’s literary legacy and bringing Yukon stories to an international audience. A heartfelt tribute to a remarkable writer.
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Whatever Happened to Carolyn?
I hope Carolyn is happy now. Even with everything that happened tonight, I have to believe that she is happier now
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To Seek for Eldorado By Sam Holloway
Sam Holloway has spent most of his life in the far northwest or the High Arctic. Prospecting for gold often alone, in the Yukon and NWT
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It’s been a coon’s age (maybe longer)
Growing up on the Prairies hardly seems to qualify me as somewhat of a redneck, but I admit there has been this part of me,
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Northern Voices At World’s Biggest Book Fair
Three women writers are set to represent the Yukon in this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, continuing a vision that began in 2016 to bring the
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Her Last Goodbye, by Rick Mofina
Rick Mofina, who lives in Ottawa, is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty crime fiction thrillers including Her Last Goodbye
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The Winds Over Whitehorse
Eagle Hill Energy Limited Partnership (EHELP) and Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) are excited to announce the release of…
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The BC and Yukon Book Prizes
The BC and Yukon Book Prizes were first established in 1985, and continue today in their mission to celebrate the achievements…
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Well-Read And Well-Loved
Books can have long lives. They might be bought new and kept forever, or they might be loaned to a friend and are never seen again.
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Decaying Memories: A Poem
I remember the steamboats the old man said. I remember them coming in spring. I remember the paddlewheels churning the water and bringing…
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Dealing With Dying Newspapers
The paper that you are holding in your hands is about to die. I don’t mean this paper. It’s the newspaper industry that is dying.
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Asinine Acronyms
FGS, it’s the invasion of the acronym-addicted GOC/YG bunch of CS!
We were online trying to find out how the federal dental plan worked…
Love Gone Wrong In The Yukon
Pity, that is the first feeling I get while reading Nadine Sander-Greens coming-of-age novel, Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit…
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The Lost Art of Letter Writing
I had my first pen pal before I could properly write a whole sentence. My family and I were moving thousands of miles away from the only…
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Becoming A Writer Was A Practical Decision
Michael Gilio is no stranger to the Yukon, having visited innumerable times with his wife, Amy Sloan, whom he credits with providing…
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Kirsten Madsen Writes To Meet Her Ideal Readers
Kirsten Madsen will be filling in for Ivan Coyote during one of the latter’s two days at this year’s Young Authors’ Conference…
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Carrie Mac Writes What She Would Like to Read
Carrie Mac’s stint as a mentor at this year’s Young Authors’ Conference is a return engagement, as she was here in 2013.
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It Takes Guts!
As I began searching for idioms with a digestive theme, in honour of this year’s “Poop” edition of What’s Up Yukon, I discovered…
Cry ‘Wolf!’
Once upon a time there was a shepherd boy who was diligently doing his duties, according to Aesop, but perhaps got a little bored…
Meet Our New Story Laureate
The Yukon’s new Story Laureate is John Firth, as announced in January by Commissioner Anne Webber. Over the next two years…
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Kim Hudson Launches Her New Book, The Bridge
Kim Hudson’s highly-varied background looked like indecision in the beginning, but she says it has turned out to be a rich resource…
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Blue Camas, Blue Camas
Blue Camas, Blue Camas is a new children’s book, written by Danielle S. Marcotte and illustrated by Alyssa Koski…
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Hot Takes From Peter Jickling
Peter Jickling was part of What’s Up Yukon’s editorial team from 2012–2015, during which he wrote a weekly column…
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C’est la vie!
It’s a good life … or, from the movie Oliver!, “It’s A Fine Life” (a very fine life!). Yes, I’ve taken to incorporating song titles…
Transforming Your Experience
Tibetan Buddhist monk Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche has been coming to the Yukon for nearly two decades, every year until the pandemic hit.
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Tales From Before And After The Gold Rush
The extreme focus on the drama of the Klondike Gold Rush tends to obscure the stories about the gold seekers…
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Kids Write 4 Kids
Ripple Foundation, a national youth-education charity with a goal of cultivating the next generation’s creative literacy skills…
The Two Levels Of Authors On Eighth
Once again, this year, the annual Klondike Visitors Association (KVA) Authors on Eighth writing contest has two entry levels…
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The Real Deal
Remember ironing? Some of you, like me, may still secretly love to iron. And we have the “real McCoy” to thank for that…
Who Doesn’t Like Ducks?
The world should have more ducks, really, and according to a well-known idiom, they should be in a row. That’s right…
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Having Fun With Animal Names
I don’t know about other languages, but English tends to have names for groups of creatures. These are called collective nouns…
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Didee Didoo
Even if you are poor You can still shop at the free store The free store is no joke, ‘Cause you can buy an’ be broke…
Tales Of ‘An Alternative Klondike’
I’m not just sure when David Thompson started writing his tales of an alternative Klondike, but he began submitting entries…
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The Delta Rambler Slams Edmonton
His mellow voice started crafting an unvarnished tale, with campfire simplicity. I had never heard of the Edmonton Story Slam “Slam Off”…
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The Cloak of Invisibility
Hands up those of you who have ever wished you could be invisible. Right? Right? Me too! There are all kinds of reasons it would be fun…
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There Is Much to Savour In This Memoir
This book tests my understanding of the word calamity, which is usually defined as “a state of deep distress or misery.”
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Don’t throw Out The Baby …
For some odd reason, this idiom has popped into my head several times in the past weeks: “Don’t throw out the ‘baby’ with the bathwater.”
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Over The Water
I submit this poem as part of my own journey here in the Yukon. Thankful for living on the traditional territories…
How The Birds Got Their Colours
At first all the birds were white, And Eagle was their Chief. All the birds had a meeting. They decided to paint each other.
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Rat-a-tat-tat … I Smell A Rat
What does a rat even smell like? Well, I have no idea … even though I’ve seen a rat or two in my lifetime…
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The Simple Joys Of Yukon Count
This past Christmas season, Yukoners were introduced to a new children’s book created by local illustrator Tedd Tucker.
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Didee Didoo
You will see Dumbo the elephant You will hear Porky the pig You will touch Bambi You will see Woody the Woodpecker You will hear
Seeking The Sasquatch
If ever you should find yourself alone in the vast woodlands of the North and you happen upon large, humanoid footprints in the mud…
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Christmas Comes But Once A Year
So, remember that Christmas comes but once a year … and embrace that thought and whatever meaning this humble idiom holds for you.
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A Yukon Mosaic
Eleanor Millard’s story is a familiar one. She came to the Yukon in 1965 and got captured. She has mostly been here since…
Didee Didoo: Underground
Allan Benjamin is a poet, a cartoonist, a fiddle player and a snowshoe racer from Old Crow, Yukon.
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River Meets Wolf
Yukon authors Kay Deborah Linley and Kathryn Couture wrote books about a kayaking tour, as well as a fantasy series about wolves.
A Celebration Of Words: Writer’s Festival
Writing is a lonely task: sitting at home and putting words on paper is the main part of an author’s life.
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Artists Creating A Zine
Yukon Conversation Society (not to be confused with the Yukon Conservation Society) is a group of artists, a creative collective.
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On Thin Ice
I have fond memories of strapping on skates to glide over the deep-blue, almost-black pond ice on our Saskatchewan farm.
Yukon Dogs – A Children’s Book
Phil Finds a Friend is a children’s book for youngsters. It tells the story of Phil, who goes adventures around the Yukon, to find a friend.
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Bite The Bullet
The first mention of “bite the bullet” was, according to Wikipedia, in Rudyard Kipling’s late-1800s novel The Light That Failed.
My Piggy Bank
My Piggy Bank I wonder if I have enough to buy a teddy bearI wonder if I have enough to buy a bubble gumI wonder
Ritual and Ceremony
In my world, ceremonies are a regular thing. I have the honour of leading the people of Whitehorse United Church in worship.
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In A Moment … ‘In The Twinkling of An Eye’
In the blink of an eye. That is how quickly this idiom of biblical origin (from 1 Cor. 15: 51–52) has been changed, as it describes a mysterious and wonderful moment, at the trumpet sound, when everything will change.
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Berry Song, A Story For Us All
Berry-picking season is an amazing time of year. Sweet wild strawberries, Soapberries and Saskatoons are all summer-time treats.
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Looking Inside the Insider
Christopher Ross writes about his journalism experiences at the Dawson City Insider from 1997-1999 and what happened after.
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