Volunteers and Volunteering
Issue: 2019-01-16, PHOTO: courtesy of Yukon Cares
Continuing to care
Yukon Cares, the local grassroots refugee re-settlement group, successfully supported the arrival of a family of two from Liberia in December. The local organization arranged for the Liberian family to re-settle in the territory as part of the... more
Issue: 2018-12-12, PHOTO: Yukon Wildlife Preserve/Lindsay Caskenette
A Clutterless Christmas
If you’re anything like me, you look forward to the holidays all year long. But then comes the inevitable, nagging sense of guilt it brings when you take a moment to think about the cost. There is the expense of your time as you run around looking... more
Issue: 2018-11-28, PHOTO: Erik Pinkerton Photography
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... more
Issue: 2018-11-28, PHOTO: Danny Macdonald
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... more
Issue: 2018-10-31, PHOTO: Ulrike Wohlfarth Levins
Rope wreaths and Yukon steamers
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 creating wreaths from ropes that formerly adorned the Canadian National Historic Site in Whitehorse... more
Issue: 2018-10-31, PHOTO: courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ – spending time together
Did you have someone during your youth or adolescence who made a huge impact on your life? Someone who cared about you, spent time with you and perhaps encouraged you in positive ways? Maybe they were a coach, teacher, youth leader, neighbour... more
Issue: 2018-09-12, PHOTO: Kylie Campbell
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... more
Issue: 2018-09-05, PHOTO: Kylie Campbell
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... more
Issue: 2018-09-05, PHOTO: courtesy of the Yukon Hospital Foundation
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their clinic
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... more
Issue: 2018-07-04, PHOTO: Doug Sack
George Arcand has been hitting home runs for over 30 years
On July 12, the annual Dustball tournament kicks off in Whitehorse, and executive director George Arcand will once again be on hand to organize and help make sure things go smoothly. For decades, Arcand has been an institution for softball in the... more
Issue: 2018-05-09, PHOTO: Christian Kuntz Photography
A lifeline for Yukon artists
Yukon visual artist Claire Strauss’ life changed forever when her partner James Kirby was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Kirby dedicated his life to his craft and when news of his terminal illness came to light, the Yukon Artist... more
Issue: 2018-05-09, PHOTO: Danny Macdonald
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 shy youth lacking confidence, Rumbolt’s first visits were limited to hanging... more
Issue: 2018-05-09, PHOTO: Kylie Campbell
Top 10 tips for your first summer in Whitehorse
Welcome. 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). 1. Long summer days and the outdoors Sunsets at midnight can make it difficult to know when to... more
Issue: 2018-03-28, PHOTO: courtesy of Special Olympics Yukon
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... more
Issue: 2018-02-07, PHOTO: Darrell Hookey
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. more
Issue: 2018-01-24, PHOTO: Darrell Hookey
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. Indeed, walk along the shore of the Yukon River, paralleling Riverdale... more
Issue: 2018-01-24, PHOTO: Rick Massie
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. They’ve qualified by volunteering and giving back to the community and have already won $2,000 for the... more
Issue: 2017-12-06, PHOTO: Darrell Hookey
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? Well, that would be Brent Slobodin, the... more
Issue: 2017-11-29, PHOTO: Aislinn Cornett
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. On Wednesdays at... more
Issue: 2017-11-29, PHOTO: Danny Macdonald
Don’t mourn the soup kitchen, ask what’s next?
The volunteers at the soup kitchen don’t want the spotlight. Approach a soup kitchen volunteer to discuss their contributions and they quickly promote others who have put in time and effort to provide weekend lunches at the CYO Hall in the the... more