Beaver Creek
Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé
South to Alberta (a.k.a. Sid’s trip down memory lane)
“He had a bunch of old cars and I had a bunch of old cars.” That evening the long-time friends spoke about their recent projects and past finds. Van invited the guys—and me—to his garage, only to discover a treasure trove inside. more
Issue: 2018-08-01, PHOTO: Hugh Copland
The White River Ash, the mega eruption next door
The recent eruption of the Kilauea volcano, on the island of Hawaii, has consumed property and displaced people. The eruption at the Fuego volcano, in Guatemala, has killed dozens of people. Past volcanic eruptions in Alaska have resulted in... more
Issue: 2018-07-18, PHOTO: Steve Israel, Yukon Geological Survey
A whole lotta quakin’ goin’ on
On Monday May 1, 2017, at around 5:30 a.m., a magnitude 6.2 earthquake landed near the B.C.–Yukon border, followed by another slightly stronger one at around 7:30 a.m. The rare event got a lot more people talking about seismic activity in the... more
Issue: 2018-06-20, PHOTO: Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé
South to Alberta – Part I
Exploration, adventure and community are among the most important aspects of living in the North. For many Yukoners, it was the “want” to explore a fantasized part of the world and to seek adventure in discovering Canada’s North, but it was the... more
Issue: 2018-05-16, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
Learning from Roy
“First thing I did when we got to Canada was buy a cowboy hat,” Sid says from his well-worn side of the couch. “When we first came to Canada in 1953 [from Friesland, Netherlands], we couldn’t read or write. I went down to the local bookstore and... more
Issue: 2017-11-01, PHOTO: Sid Vander Meer
’50s Diner!
The first snow has settled in the border town of Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid is preparing his house and museum for a long cold winter. He drives his recently purchased Caddy into the garage and closes the door. Although his private home is not... more
Issue: 2017-09-20, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
This beauty even has adjustable suspension
I was sitting comfortably amongst blankets and a beaver pelt on Sid’s living room couch, visiting with Jill. She pours us a warm cup of tea and we chat about their winter plans in Arizona. I take a moment to ask Sid what we should write about next... more
Issue: 2017-08-23, PHOTO: Dan Davidson
The Yukon is Great for Summer Travelling
Summer, with its long daylight hours, is a great time to travel around the Yukon. We started our travels the summer after we arrived, trading up from a VW Beetle to a Ford 150, and loading a second hand 8 ½ foot camper on the back. Over the next... more
Issue: 2017-08-16, PHOTO: Courtesy of Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
Giving That Room Props for Its Good Vibe
When the Westmark Hotel in Beaver Creek closed its doors in 2013, it brought an end to the dinner and show extravaganza called Beaver Creek Rendezvous, a tradition that had taken place every year for 22 years. more
Issue: 2017-06-28, PHOTO: Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse
Horses of the Yukon
It is common knowledge that outfitting in the Yukon has been ongoing for over a hundred years and that outfitting horses roam feral, until needed. To this day you can spot the Dickson Outfitter horses roaming near the White River, among other places. more
Issue: 2017-06-14, PHOTO: Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse
The Yellow Jeep
There are thousands of antiques to ask Sid van der Meer about, however, his most recent addition has been the latest topic of discussion. The 1949 Jeep, that was once gold, has now faded to a stil de grain yellow as it basks in the dry sun. “The... more
Issue: 2016-08-04, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
Stoking the Fire
Today, Sid and I are on the hunt for an unusual piece in his collection. As we sift through antiques after antiques, we come across a bellows. A bellows pumps air, and they are commonly known to be hand-held devices used to stoke small fires... more
Issue: 2016-07-21, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
A Big Yellow Truck with a Past
“It’s a 1942 International,” Sid tells me as we are standing by a truck whose yellow paint is slowly chipping away with age. The truck’s original grey colour has been exposed underneath the bright yellow. Its large body and tires tell us it was a... more
Issue: 2016-06-30, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chasse
Stereoscopic Views
Looking through Sid’s antiquities I spot a familiar sight: stereoscopes. I had a pair of bright orange View Masters (a trademarked format of stereoscope) when I was a child in the 1990s with photos of Bugs Bunny. Sid’s stereoscopes are truly... more
Issue: 2016-06-16, PHOTO: Teresa van der Meer-Chassé
Banners! Banners!
“They were popular back in the 1960s,” Sid tells me as we stand in one of his many garages. Built attached to his house, his old garage holds tools, machines and different parts of Sid’s antique/vintage collection. Looking up towards the ceiling,... more
Issue: 2016-05-26, PHOTO: Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse
Propeller Invention
Sid van der Meer hustles about Beaver Creek’s Visitor Information Centre preparing his workplace for the 2016 tourism season. With new Yukon tourism commercials airing widely and with the Canadian dollar so low, Sid expects a rise in international... more
Issue: 2016-02-18, PHOTO: Betty Stalberg
Yukon’s Best Friend: DOG CULTURE, Susan Thomas
Meet our dogs, they live for us, we live for them, the Yukon would not be the Yukon without Dog Culture. Send us photos of Yukon dogs and their people! more
Issue: 2015-10-08 PHOTO: courtesy of Dr. Xiu-Mei Zhang
Thanks Dr. Jim
It’s been a month and a half since the Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner Jim Zheng passed away. Those who he helped will remember him fondly, and those who depended on him to help manage ailments will be wondering how to manage the void he... more
Issue: 2015-08-27 PHOTO: Teresa Vandermeer-Chasse
Cave In
The tree leaves are rapidly changing and the temperature is beginning to drop. Autumn is about to arrive in Beaver Creek, Yukon and the tourism season is nearly complete. Like many residents of the small border town, Sid van der Meer is starting... more
Issue: 2015-08-06 PHOTO: Dan Davidson
When local voices made a difference
In 1976 I was a young teacher just starting out in Beaver Creek, fresh from Nova Scotia and learning about the North. Regular stories about the Berger Inquiry (or Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry) were part of my education, as was the report... more