A Dispatch From Namibia Part 2
Once is the name of my taxi driver in Namibia (like once in a lifetime). People have strange names here: Darling, Given, Gift, or Mistake.
Volunteers and Volunteering
A Clutterless Christmas
This year, commit to giving presents that will be useful, meaningful and appreciated. There are many (so many!) options for Yukoners to consider if you just think a little creatively.
Brightening days, one tale at a time
Denis McCrae saw an advertisement asking for volunteers at the Thomson Centre, about two years ago, and thought to himself, I have some time to spare, I can do that. He wasn’t quite certain what he was getting into, but McCrae is glad he did. It has turned out to be one of the best …
Volunteers make Rendezvous!
It is no secret that without volunteers, there would be no Rendezvous. Each year hundreds of Yukon residents step up to continue a tradition that started over 55 years ago. It is these volunteers who contribute to the success of the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous festival and make it such a memorable event and experience. Rendezvous …
Rope wreaths and Yukon steamers
Ruth Treskatis, volunteer and Janna Swales, executive director, proudly display their creations in front of the popsicle stick model of the SS Klondike at the Yukon Transportation Museum on Oct 15/18 What a history-packed day November 3, 2018, will be at our local Yukon Transportation Museum (YTM). The special activities start at 3 p.m. with …
‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ – spending time together
Forty years ago this December, Big Brothers started in the Yukon as a volunteer-run organization to help boys, who were needing a male role model in their lives, to be matched with a caring, safe and responsible adult. The organization was funded by local service clubs and became a registered charity in 1985. In 1991, …
Igniting their passion to fight fire
Last year, when I arrived in the Yukon, I saw an article on the Ember Fire Academy, a Yukon Government Protective Service program. There were images of women breaking apart cars and fighting fires and I thought, Wow, what an incredible experience and tasked myself with working towards getting a spot in the 2018 training. …
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their clinic
September 9 is National Teddy Bear Day The inaugural Teddy Bear Clinic in November 2017 was a hit with families and medical professionals alike as about 200 families came through the door to get checkups for their important stuffie friends. Those attendance numbers, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and children, made it essential …
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Yukon Ski Patrol
The Canadian Ski Patrol is a national organization is composed of more than 5,000 volunteers from coast to coast, in Canada, in 59 zones and nine divisions. The Yukon Ski Patrol is part of that non-profit organization providing a variety of services (not just ski patrol) year-round. What does a ski patroller do? The Yukon …
George Arcand has been hitting home runs for over 30 years
For decades, George Arcand has been an institution for softball in the Yukon, getting his start as a volunteer in the mid-1970s.
A lifeline for Yukon artists
James Kirby dedicated his life to his craft and when news of his terminal illness came to light, the Yukon Artist Relief Fund Society was there to help.
Top 10 tips for your first summer in Whitehorse
Here are some tips and tricks to starting out in Whitehorse as a Cheechako (which is the name for being new to the north of 60th parallel).
Building character, helping youth
When Bailey Rumbolt first arrived at the Boys and Girls Club of Yukon (BGCY) in 2015, she would never have guessed that it would lead her to big changes in her life.
A different kind of volunteer
Tom Gibbs doesn’t get as many hugs as he used to. As the president of the board of Special Olympics Yukon these past five years, he isn’t working with the athletes as much and he isn’t able to give out as many of those encouraging hugs.
Sharing a love for film
There are meetings. There is paperwork. There are grants to apply for and cheques to sign. But, for Jessica Hall, being the president of the Yukon Film Society is all about… people. “The thing I really like about being on the board is my fellow board members and the staff,” she said. “They are all …
A sense of community needs a voice
Sarah Crane will tell you that her Riverdale community is “a great place to live” with its close proximity to downtown and the diversity of its residents. And the trails.
But Crane knows there is one more element that needs to be pursued every day: a sense of community.
Celebrate our local hockey team’s good deeds
The local hockey team, led by coach Michael Nemeth, is a semi finalist in the nationwide Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup Competition this year.
Animals need the Humane Society; the Humane Society needs people
Everybody knows that the Humane Society of Yukon takes care of our beloved animals in distress at the society-run Mae Bachur Animal Shelter. But who takes care of the people who take care of the animals?
Don’t mourn the soup kitchen, ask what’s next?
For the volunteers who served at the soup kitchen, it was a labour of love and giving back to the community. Closing the doors simply means, what’s next?
Meet the City of Whitehorse Volunteer of the Year
If you’re wondering just how much volunteering Jeff Marynowski was doing, the answer is this: enough that the City of Whitehorse named Marynowski the 2016 volunteer of the year.
A conversation with Bruno Bourdache
There are about 600 NGOs in the Yukon. They need at least three to four board members, and they are all volunteers. So yes, in the Yukon, we cannot be as dynamic or strong as we are without volunteers.
A beloved musical tradition
Bob Williams knows the residents and staff at Copper Ridge Place quite well. That’s because the longtime Yukoner, musician and volunteer has been playing music at the continuing care facility since it was built eight years ago.
Happy 20th anniversary to everyone’s favourite river race
Sixteen teams competed in the inaugural Yukon River Quest (YRQ) 20 years ago – that’s a fraction of the numbers anticipated by race organizers in 2018.
He is a steward of the trails
To begin to understand Mark Daniels, you must first discard the stereotypes of a snowmobile owner. Yes, the president of the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) owns snowmobiles – and ATVs and dirtbikes and quads and boats – but these are mostly used to get to far-off wilderness areas so that he can hike and camp …
Ride for Dad Rolls Into Town
Sixteen of the country’s top prostate researchers are meeting in Whitehorse this month and it’s partly because of Mike Thorpe. “Mike is very much responsible for this,” said Garry Janz, president of Ride for Dad – a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness about prostate cancer. Thorpe is co-chair of the Whitehorse branch. “Without …
Helping to Warm Whitehorse Feet
Knitters work to warm others. Whitehorse knitters are aiming to craft 150 pairs of socks to contribute to the city’s Outreach Van.
Yukon Search and Rescue: The Basics
Yukon Search and Rescue (YSAR) is a volunteer-run organisation that provides ground and water search and rescue support for the territory. Prior to 2014 each community had their own search and rescue organization, but since then the amalgamation with one head administrative office in Whitehorse has allowed a better centralised support system for the territory. …
Mount Maichen Madness Hits Watson Lake
What do you do with a ski hill in the summer? You hold a relay race! If you’re looking for a fun, exciting and challenging event to start off the summer, the Mount Maichen Relay Race is it. Grab a few family members, friends, or co-workers and join us at the Mount Maichen Ski Hill …
Experiencing Theatre in Namibia
It’s 15 minutes before our performance starts and one of my actors has a meltdown. “No, I am not gonna play,” he says avoiding eye contact. Philo is 12 years old and usually confident. I would never have expected that from him. It’s Valentine’s Day and we rehearsed for our little performance the whole week. …
Take the Gwich’in Language Challenge
Take the Gwich’in language challenge. It’s a challenge from Norman Snowshoe, the former Gwich’in Tribal Council vice president. He said, “If you learn one Gwich’in word a day, at the end of the year you’ve learned 365 Gwich’in words.” Jacey Firth-Hagen, 23, jumped to the challenge. She started a social media based movement, called Speak …
Volunteering with the Yukon Quest
We’ve followed the Yukon Quest over the internet for several years. When we came to Whitehorse a year ago, it was clear that we wanted to be part of this great race. We signed up as volunteers to experience this unique event up close, and we got closer to the race than we had ever …
Keeping the Dream Alive
When Jolie Angelina McNabb was buried 16 years ago, Kwanlin Dün elders gave her the name, Blue Feather Eagle Woman. The Bluefeather Music Festival started in 2010 as a tribute concert to Jolie, who committed suicide. She had a dream, that she wanted to do something for youth, something to give them hope so they …
All Kinds of Bargains
It’s autumn and time for the thrift shop in Haines Junction to ramp up again for winter. Dozens and dozens of bags of used clothing and housewares have been dropped off in the last month at the back door of St. Christopher’s Church. Local women were sorting and organizing for weeks in preparation for the …
“It Can Happen to Anybody”
“Once you hit homelessness your world crumbles. People don’t know that there’s people who care.” So says Kerry Nolan, who is speaking first hand. Now, she is the administrative coordinator at the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre in downtown Whitehorse. She welcomes women to the centre, chats with them over coffee while they wait for appointments. …
Creating Healthy Communities
United Way Yukon is a charity that raises money to fund Yukon organizations. Its mandate is to fund programs that enhance the “physical, mental and social well-being” of Yukoners. So says Brian Bonia, who is United Way Yukon’s campaign cabinet director. It is a volunteer position. An example of these organizations are Blood Ties Four …
Catch the Infection
Kid Vicious, Starbuck’s Revenge, Goat. No, not my favorite B-movies, but mountain bike trails christened by those who build and ride them. All of these routes, some gnarly and others more family-friendly, can be found up on Mount McIntyre, where years of volunteer labour is culminating this summer in a grand venture by the Contagious …
Powerful Incentives
The ATCO technician was confused. Normally reading meters is the simple part of the job, but this one seemed to be running, well, backwards. Time to call in the supervisor. Now there were two of them scratching their heads, and it wasn’t until they looked up that it all became clear. This is how I …
Learning to Fry
A small assembly of structures along Mountainview Drive has been quietly housing 45,000 young salmon each year for the past 25 or so years. The McIntyre Creek Salmon Incubation Facility is located midway between Range Road and Porter Creek. Now an educational facility under Yukon College, it was previously operated by Department of Fisheries and …
Hot Ticket to Ride
France has the Tour de France. Italy has the Giro d’Italia. And here in the Yukon, we have the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay. The relay sees cyclists ride the spectacular 238.3 km from Haines Junction, Yukon, to Haines, Alaska. The race is split into eight legs and can be done as a relay by …
Looking after each other
in 1996, the Mount Lorne fire hall opened it’s doors with a 1977 Ford cabover truck with an 800-gallon tank and a 125 horsepower pump
Stay on the Trail
“It requires a lot of discipline to stay on the trail – not just the ski trail,” says Gary Bailie, “but the trail of life.” Skiing is definitely a way of life for Bailie, who has been running and coaching the Whitehorse-based youth cross country team the Kwanlin Koyotes since 1999. His hard work and …
Gearing up for Bike to Work Week
A new trend in hairstyles is likely to emerge in workplaces across the country during the first week of June: helmet hair. From May 30th to June 5th, Canadians will be hitting the pavement and the trails on their bikes as part of Bike to Work Week, which challenges individuals to leave the car at …
Venturing North
Born in 1950 in the Philippines, Socorro Alfonso travelled halfway around the world to live in the Yukon. Socorro was born on the tiny tropical island of Bacacay Albay southeast of Manila. Her mother named her for the Spanish word meaning “help” and throughout her life she has been a caring helper for people of …
Making a Difference
In January 2013 Daniel Adamson first travelled to the Philippines. It was the wish of his sick mother whom Adamson had been looking after for several years. After years of caring for her she wanted him to take a holiday. A Yukon wildland firefighter, Adamson decided to join a fellow firefighter for a vacation in …
Gift of Giving
If you’re searching for a little inspiration this holiday season, then perhaps this story is for you. Many of us give to charity and volunteer our time here and there, but for Sarah Ott, it’s a way of life. At only 17 years of age, Sarah has given countless hours back to her community and …
Feeding the Hungry is a Vital Community Service
The Dawson Food Bank and the Dawson Women’s Shelter are busy organizing their annual Holiday Hamper Program and Food Drive. It’s designed to assist individuals and families in the community who might need a little boost to get them through the Christmas season. Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at either the …
A farewell from the 2015 Rendezvous Queen
As the year 2015 is coming to an end, so does my reign as the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Queen 2015. This article will be my last article in the Queen’s Corner. Last February I was interviewed for the CBC about the reasons why I signed up for the Rendezvous Queen Competition. Honestly, I did not …
Working for Free: Gaining so Much
There was a time in my life when my father called me a professional volunteer. Working for a handsome wage was much less of a priority in my youth. It started with summer camps, and continued to take me all over the world to share pieces of myself with others; yet, I would argue I …
Becoming A Role Model in India
One of the very first things that Yukoner Liam Campbell did when he arrived in India was land himself an invitation. “Within two hours of me landing in India, I was invited to a wedding,” he says. He very well couldn’t say no to an opportunity like that. How often do you get invited to …
No Need to Shout
An honest and emotional message will attract the eyes – and more importantly, hearts – you need to keep your organisation running, in terms of volunteers, the public, and potential avenues of funding. The thing to remember is that advertising – writing, design, printing, etc. – is a program expense. It is not overhead. Build …
Amazing Volunteers
by Hospice Yukon, Yukon Learn and Volunteer Yukon The Yukon is full of amazing volunteers. Here are just a few people whose donation of their time and energy makes a difference in their communities Yukon Learn Audrey Lougheed has had a long connection with literacy in the Yukon. She was a founding member and on …
A new park says Thanks to Klondike volunteers
Dawson City has a new park. Located between the Dawson Plaza (where the CIBC is) and the Husky Bus HQ (the former Hair We Are salon) it’s not a large space, but it’s a pleasant spot along Dawson’s second busiest commercial street, Second Avenue. It’s the latest project of the Klondike Centennials Society, which did …
You are a Winner
One of the many remarks I got when I was selling queen raffle tickets during Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous (YSR) events was, “I have never won a prize”. My usual reply was, “You are already a winner by purchasing the raffle tickets, because you have made a contribution to the community”. My dear friends, by purchasing …
The Fire Siren is Good News
On any Wednesday evening, at any time during the year, most residents in the core historic zone of Dawson City can hear the sound of a siren cutting the silence. If it’s about 7:30 p.m., people will know that there’s nothing to be concerned about. It’s the practice meeting of the Dawson City Volunteer Fire …
A Little Help from Friends
According to Marc Paradis, it’s starting to resemble a mini-music festival. He should know. The Whitehorse drummer has performed at pretty much every major music function since he arrived in the Yukon 35 years ago. “We don’t have an Alsek festival any more, which used to be the highlight of early summer for a lot …
Fun Fair tips by Nash and Thayer
What are those? “Whiffle balls.” What are they for? “Tic-Tac-Toe.” Five-year-old Nash Battersby is about to school me in the art of winning prizes at the Fun Fair at Whitehorse Elementary School, this Friday and Saturday. The whiffle balls are thrown into the nine-hole grid and, well, everyone knows what needs to be done. Nash …
Quilters Without Borders
“ We might be copyright , ” says May Gudmundson, laughing . A pin with the words I (heart) Quilts rests above her heart. “There’s another Quilters Without Borders in the States. We just wanted to have a group name.” “ And there are no boundaries for where we’ll give quilts,” adds Lee Pugh, in …
Food Bank Superstar
Four years after she officially retired, Robyn Ward-Clark still pulls two shifts a week doing what she’s always done: working with people. Following 31 years of “fascinating, but fairly stressful work” in the airline business, she called it quits in 2005. For the next five years, she worked part-time in two local flower shops while …
A Sourdough Scrapbook
How much do Yukoners look forward to Rendezvous? A quick glance at the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous website gives you a hint: they have a clock counting down to the start of the 2015 festival — and it’s accurate to the second. Whether your preferred event is flour packing, the one dog pull, or just a good …
Making Change in Hostile Conditions
A Yukon labour leader and two other Yukoners recently joined forces with two human rights organizations on a mission to help improve conditions in south-west Guatemala. Steve Geick, president of the Yukon Employees Union, was part of a 12-person team that visited Guatemala from March 21 to April 4, under the auspices of Guatemala’s Campesino …
Northern Romance, March 13, 2014
Juniper and Johnny – I have been with my girlfriend for three years now and I am noticing that our intimacy level has started to decline. I haven’t been able help her hit the “mother lode” in a while, if you know what I mean. I want her to feel satisfied in our relationship or …
Come On and Take a Free Ride
What do you get when you dump 38 truckloads of snow and ice at the doorstep of Yukon College? A 28-foot-high ice slide that’s fun for all ages. Marco Paquet, a multimedia student at Yukon College, is the brains behind the structure. “I have two children (a two-and-a-half year old daughter and a 13-year-old son) …
The Yukon Quest takes care of the Winter Blues
The Yukon Quest is an annual event in the North that can banish your winter doldrums, lift your spirits, and get you cheering. The Quest, a 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometre) dog sled race, takes place every year in February, bringing people out of their houses and cabins, not only to run the race, but also to volunteer, …
A Turkey and Some Gifts Can Make a Big Difference
For more than a decade volunteers have been bringing bundles of stuff to hundreds of families in need around Whitehorse at Christmas — and making a second trip back to the car to get the rest. The children who receive those gifts don’t know their parents’ full situation, nor the care and generosity of hundreds …
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Helpers Extraordinaire
A few weeks ago I met a guy from Ontario who asked if it would be possible to help out at the farm. Of course I said, “Yes.” He was wanting to continue our conversation about farming in the Yukon, and we were trying to talk while I was watching our booth at the Fireweed …
A Tinsmith Who Creates Community
Rick Griffiths just returned from a vacation in Saskatchewan where he visited many old friends. “There wasn’t a place I visited where I wasn’t given a meal and offered a bed to sleep in,” he says. Griffiths is a self-proclaimed “people-person”, a man who cultivates and maintains long-term relationships. As he talks about his friends …
Eww! Ugh! and Blecch!
As I shove my hands into the remnants of last night’s revelry, dripping what can only be described as garbage juice, I mouth what may not be necessarily words, but sounds that still express the emotional quotient of my current well-being. “Ewww! Ugh!” and my Mad-magazine-approved favourite, “Blecch!” This is the last day of the …
The arts can be your community
Sitting at a table in the Gold Pan Saloon, enjoying a reception for the Santa Claus Parade volunteers, I met some incredible young people who were new to the Yukon. They came here, without knowing anyone, and sought a “community” to join. None of them played sports and they didn’t work in large offices that …
Offering Shelter
Kip Veale is right at home among the throngs of people who are participating in Rendezvous at Shipyard’s Park. As Yukoners celebrate the coming of spring and the longer hours of daylight, Veale stands outside a large camping tent. She engages passersby with a bright smile and an infectious sense of enthusiasm. But there’s something …
Volunteers and Other Visitors
Volunteering is something that a lot of people do to give back to their community. Sometimes it is more than that. Some volunteers go a very long way to help out others. We have had people volunteer to help out on the farm. Some were travelling around the country and took part in a program …
Skiers on Patrol
“A slight glow on the eastern horizon beckons to me and I anticipate the brilliant splashes of intense color that characterize our spectacular Yukon mornings—an incredible visual feast to welcome the day! “We knew with certainty it was going to be a great day! And like magic, we snapped into our skis, glided to the …
He Paved the Road to Sporting Success
The sports world is losing a good friend: Curtis Prosko is leaving the Yukon in July. And curling, in particular, is losing one of its most loyal and passionate members. Even though he has only travelled to the Briaronce, as the fifth player, and never won in league play, Proskofound a second home at the …
