Toilet Training Frisky Felines
The life of a cat is a rather interesting one. They get agitated by birds, try to capture mice, are fascinated by dangling objects…
Yukon
The Yukon is unlike any other place in the world, capturing the hearts and imagination of residents and travellers alike.
The Path To Bettering Your Soil
Gardening in the Yukon can sometimes feel like a perennial struggle when in other parts of the country it might appear almost effortless.
‘Bratsky’ Part 2
Several months ago, I described the joys and struggles of a couple of seniors adopting a puppy. She joined our household of three seniors…
More Than Just Waste
Let’s be honest, for most of us, poop is normally seen as something to be quickly flushed down the toilet. We call it “waste…”
Yukon’s Own ‘Game of Thrones’
Yukoners have been using the outhouses for a long-time. Sometimes they even race them. But whether they are made of old wood…
Skills Canada Interview: Dan Scobie
Through the university trades, I was introduced to Skills and saw an opportunity to inspire youth to enter the trades…
Heating Up With Yukon Sauna
Yukon Sauna, started by Tyler and Joyce Rempel, originally came to be when the two wanted a portable sauna for their own use.
Breathing New Life Into A 1950s Mystery
It could be a military dog tag, a cut of metal or a twist of fabric. Uncovering even the smallest thing from a plane that disappeared…
Why Wait Till Spring?
The first official day of spring is right around the corner (though in the North, it usually feels more like a seemingly random date…
The Guardians of Magundy River Canyon
In May of 2010, a lady contacted me and invited me to visit Faro, to discuss an encounter with a group of Sasquatch…
Lichens
Endless forests stand as the majestic backdrop to much of the Yukon, but by looking down, you can see a much more…
A Tenant’s Guide To Finding A House Share
Accommodation in Whitehorse is tight. Even if you manage to find a place online and even if you have actually met the landlord…
The ‘Impertinent, Wacky Disorder’ Of Whitehorse In The ’50s
When Pat Ellis walks around downtown Whitehorse, she sees evidence of the past because she knows just where to look.
Yukoners At Canada Winter Games
The 2023 Canada Winter Games, officially called XXVII Canada Games, are taking place Feb. 18 to March 5 and will be hosted in P.E.I.
More Than A Road Trip
In all of the natural world, there are few sights that can match the spectacle of the great barren-ground caribou migrations.
Skills Canada Interview: Dylan Ponsioen
I was told by my shop teacher that there was a competition for small engines, and he thought it would be a great idea for me to compete…
Reimagining Valentine’s Day
Whether you feel that Valentine’s Day is overrated, highly commercialized or cheesy (or it’s your favourite holiday of the year)….
Get Glammed Up for LDAY
The Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon, also known as LDAY Centre for Learning, is celebrating its 50th year in operation in 2023.
Tales of Nahganne
For as long as humans have been in the Yukon, they have shared this vast land not only with various animals but also with…
Unfrozen After 85 Years
Parks Canada got the call late last August—a cache of items left behind in 1937 (by legendary photographer Bradford Washburn…
Skills Canada Interview
Skills Canada Interview with Yukoner Cadence Hartland who is a current high school student and apprentice hair stylist and welder.
Dog Song Rising
Over the holidays I had the opportunity to interview Jess Sears, a dog musher based in the Whitehorse area.
The Gift of Storytelling
In January, I turned over a new leaf … more accurately, a new page! I’m planning to spend more time on writing.
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.
Brawn Versus The Old Buzzard
Every muscle sprang into action, and without a single ounce of energy left for cursing, he hoisted the tranny into place.
Yukon Soaps
It has been a big year for Joella Hogan. Hogan has owned The Yukon Soaps Company, in Mayo (the heart of the Yukon)…
Safe At Home
The Safe at Home Society is a Yukon organization that works to end and prevent homelessness in the territory…
Let There Be Light
The longest night, the shortest day. Either way you measure, if you celebrate during or near midwinter, or Winter Solstice…
Counting Birds This Christmas
I was not sure what to expect for my first Christmas Bird Count, a few winters ago. For someone who, back then, didn’t know her birds…
So you wanna be a house-sitter …
In the coming months, just like elegant trumpeter swans, many Yukoners will flock to warmer climates in search of sand and vitamin D.
Closing out the Year
New Year’s Eve is known to be one of the ultimate party nights of the year. But the carefree celebration does not last long.
Reindeer Nation
Canada is home to many species such as the beaver, the common loon, the Canada lynx, moose, wolverines—and the list goes on.
Choices
Making so many choices every day can be stressful. Sometimes it causes me to lose track of the big picture.
Skills Canada Electrician
I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, whether it’s something as small as Lego or as large as a building…
The Yukon’s Basketball Star
Dikran Zabunyan is all about teamwork. Whether it’s a basketball team or the staff at a hotel he manages that he’s talking about…
Furry Wildlife and Little-Known Facts
Beavers are found in most provinces and territories. They used to be eight-feet long and weigh about 200 pounds.
Freeze-Proof Animals
Each winter, our furry neighbours don an extra-thick coat of fur and fat to make it through the winter. But a coat isn’t the only strategy…
Prep That Ride!
Always have a snow brush to clean your entire vehicle off. Snow blowing off of your vehicle will make it invisible to other motorists.
Becoming Age-Friendly
One of the marvelous things about knowledge is how so many people are willing to share it freely so that others can learn.
Stolen Loot Or Hard-Earned Savings?
As a professional trail builder, Bill McLane spends a lot of time digging earth, moving rocks and finding treasure.
Skills Canada Profiles
I first got interested in welding while working in outdoor education at the University of Alaska Southeast.
Boss Entrepreneurs & Craft Fairs
Craft Fairs are a way for local vendors to sell items they have made, and with the Yukon’s dark, cold winters.
Never Show Up An Elder
There’s only one way in the North to deal with an arrogant prick (Lord knows we’ve had our share) and that’s a damned-good practical joke.
The Yukon Remembers
The Remembrance Day ceremony at the Canada Games Centre (CGC) is something many community members have missed, over the past couple of years.
Seasonal Change
We are in a state of seasonal change. Not only is the weather changing, but the roads are changing as well.
A Peek At The Yukon During ‘The Quiet Years’
Aside from just being a darn good read, this book covers a period about which very little has been written.
Red Seal Hairstylist Elizabeth Schalko Hones Her Skills
Skills Canada Yukon promotes trades and technology. Call 867-668-2736, email [email protected] or Social Media @skillscanadayukon.
What’s Your Attitude Toward Aging?
Are you “middle-aged” or “retirement age,” or of “old age?” Do you bristle at being asked those questions? Are you avoiding answering them?
Yukon Awards To Be Bestowed
The Office of the Commissioner of Yukon is inviting Yukoners to nominate their peers for three prestigious awards this month.
The Trapper’s Life
What is trapping? I had no idea. But I slowly but surely found out that hunting and trapping is a passion. Serious, gorgeous and grounding.
‘We have never got rich, but we sure have a good life being poor.’
For nearly 70 years, the Bradley family have called the Pelly River Ranch home. Dale Bradley’s roots run deep at the Pelly River Ranch.
Forest Fires, A Tool Used By Some Insects
A forest fire is a force of awe unlike any other, carrying with it one-part destruction, another-part healing.
Time Travelling in the Yukon
Living in the Yukon, it’s hard not to feel distinctly aware of time, of its passing and of our relationship to it.
Returning Home to the Yukon
Tears streamed down my face as our airplane began its descent, preparing to land at the Whitehorse airport.
My Dearest 2022 Two-Year-Old
The terrible twos, they say, will be difficult. As I look back at old photographs, I often find myself thinking, Oh, how things have changed.
Unearthing a ‘miracle’
Nun cho ga is a near complete mummified female mammoth calf. This piece of Yukon history was found by placer miners working at Eureka Creek
Running For The Cure
George Maratos is excited to organize the annual Terry Fox Run and hopes to see an increase in participants this year.
Yukon Chef Goes For Top Spot On National TV
Chef Chris Irving describes his life as a chef humbly “as a job.” Irving recently competed on Top Chef Canada (on The Food Network),
Skills Canada: Interview With Dominic Devigne (Carpentry)
Skills Canada and Skills Canada Yukon catch up with past and present participants with a series of interviews.
Looking Inside the Insider
Christopher Ross writes about his journalism experiences at the Dawson City Insider from 1997-1999 and what happened after.
The Unexpected Joys of Fishing
I never thought that I would like fishing. In fact, as with many things our minds convince us of, I went through the better part of my life certain that I was very happy having nothing to do with piscine pursuits. I didn’t particularly like eating fish and I felt no need to try to catch one. And then I fell in love with a man who loves fishing.
Dining In The Dark
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to eat … without being able to see? Well, you can experience eating at a restaurant without being able to see! Yes, that’s right, your only senses would be touch, smell, taste and hearing.
A Bird With Many Names
If you have been camping this year, was your picnic table visited by a Gray Jay, a Canada Jay, a Whiskeyjack or a Camp Robber? The answer is almost certainly, yes.
Toddler-Friendly Skies
The time had come. We had waited two years to be able to introduce our toddler to his extended family and now, at last, it was finally going to happen. However, in order to do that we first had to become the parents I have always looked at with a mix of trepidation and sympathy. We had to become FWAT parents. You know the ones: the “flying with a toddler” parents.
Keep the Humanity in the Work
In a world where there is now a mix of work environments, here are some tips for working from home — for employees and employers (and family)
ADHD & The Great Outdoors
The move a southeastern Ontario city to small & isolated Old Crow, Yukon had an unexpected positive change on my ADHD and mental health.
Behind Every Great Flea Is A Lesser Flea
An area of land that includes habitat like water, or sources of food and places where animals seek shelter will support specific animals or birds. Because that parcel of land would support a grouse, does not mean the same parcel would support a different population of birds.
Caribou vs Mining: Mitigating Effects On Caribou Migrations
Mitigating the effects on caribou migrations in the North is essential for their continued survival.
Celebrating Yukon’s Unique Holiday
Celebrating Discovery Days in the Yukon goes back over 100 years. After the Klondike Gold Rush, the Yukon Order of Pioneers convinced the Yukon Territorial Council to celebrate Discovery Day, as a public holiday, in 1911.
The Bookshelf: When Dawson Made Hockey History
The Dawson Challengers had a dream to contest for the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup (better known as the Stanley Cup.
Fly Straight Like a Honeybee
The idiom make a beeline for is a bit of a mystery as we watch the erratic dance of bees – So, what’s with bees and beelines?
Augusto! Children’s Festival: A Fun-filled Family Weekend
Augusto! Children’s Festival will offer three days of dance, parties, crafts, music and more from August 12–14 in Haines Junction.
Pride: It’s Time to Shine, Yukon!
August is Pride month in the Yukon with smaller events planned throughout the territory from Whitehorse to Watson Lake and beyond.
Premier Puts His ‘Best Foot Forward’ and Makes a Little Yukon History
Who drank the 100,000th Sourtoe Cocktail? Well, now we know. The famous drink (also known as The Toe), was created by the equally famous Captain Dick, in 1973, in the even more famous locale known as Dawson City, and has been a major “Yukon To Do” for visitors and locals alike. Since 1973, the number …
Premier Puts His ‘Best Foot Forward’ and Makes a Little Yukon History Read More »
New Adventures, Old Heirlooms
About eight or nine years ago, my dad’s cousin’s widow called out of the blue to berate me (in her high-toned British accent) because I didn’t let her know about my mom’s passing. I didn’t want to explain that I didn’t even know this relative was still alive or that she was still in touch …
Pause and Give Thanks to Those Wonderful Summer Pollinators
Pollination is part of life on Earth, enabling plants to turn flowers into fruit. There is no more-famous pollinator than the honeybee.
Around the World in 3,833 Days
A trick learned over 3,833 days of walking is to share the experience with someone else who has the same goal.
Becoming Canadian
Becoming a Canadian citizen means different things to different people. For Kylie Campbell-Clarke, it was a journey five years in the making.
Coming Back: A German In The Yukon
The call of the Yukon or the call of the wild that so many have heard and have followed, like my friends … they came here and stayed.
A ‘fish’ called (insert your name here)
Living in your comfort zone feels better than feeling like “a fish out of water.” Do you know the idiomatic origins of the phrase?
Dawson’s Fridays Are A Time For Music!
Fridays are live music days in Dawson, this summer, with concerts at Riverside Park Gazebo and at the KIAC (Dënäkär Zho) Ballroom.
Let’s Build A Better Future For Waterfowl
Wetlands are vital for waterfowl reproduction. Unfortunately, encroachment by industry and humans is harmful.
Exploring the Yukon’s ‘Paris of the North’
Back in the late 1800s, Dawson City was the most-populated northern town, the “Paris of the North.” The famous Klondike Gold Rush started in 1896, when gold was found at Bonanza Creek. Within a few years, about 100,000 prospectors, miners, prostitutes, wives, children and others travelled the world, passing frozen rivers and mountains, to settle …
Not Quite a ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’
The phone rang just as I was headed out the door. The sun was shining and I was anticipating several hours in the garden. After a long snowy winter, spring was finally here, and cleaning up the perennial plants for a new summer had become one of my favourite annual jobs. I considered letting the …
The pollination process for flowers can sometimes be a deadly affair
Pollination is the creation of other flowers through “sex.” However, unlike humans, sex between flowers is quite complex and very scientific.
A Bear Is ‘A Soul’ In Your Neighbourhood
I was wondering what to write when I had a nature call. As I peeked around the corner, I saw a black bear—probably two years old.
A Convivial Conveyance
Flying to Toronto on Air North: relaxation. No change of airline, no transfer of luggage. I figured they were also going to feed me.
Pedal Power With Yukon Water Bikes
Water bikes are easy to use, and pedalling can get you out pretty far onto the lake, pretty quickly. “Come on!” he yelled. “Let’s race.”
Learn to identify a bird (or 10) this summer!
The Yukon has more than 300 species of birds. How many can you identify? You’d be surprised what you can do with binoculars and a bird guide.
Spring Reflections in Dawson City
In a previous edition of the KK, I commented on the amount of snow we received here this winter, how it narrowed and raised the street levels. This column is about the flip side of the equation, when the white stuff becomes wet stuff. Except for Front Street, which is part of the Klondike Highway, …
Dog Gone Long Time
How a traditional walk helps make sense of life. Learning about stamina and resilience between Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope
Swipe Right: A Northern Love Story
A True Love Story set in a town of 40,000 in northern Canada. The universe proves my “Swipe Left, Swipe Right” (2017) story wrong.
Being Unorthodox in the Yukon
Unorthodox Yukon is one of the Yukon’s most-colourful spaces. The store’s owner, Douma Alwarid, is funny, open and animated.
Diamond Tooth Gerties built in 1901
History of Diamond Tooth Gerties? It was for the Arctic Brotherhood 1901 – 1925, opened in ’71 as a casino by Klondike Visitors Association.
Yukon Association of Non-status Indians: Remembering the Forgotten People
Important history of Yukon Indigenous people is about to be told, by the Yukon Association of Non-status Indians
It’s Time for Birds! 37th Yukon Birdathon
In spring &, the Yukon comes alive with birds. The 24-hour birdfest, always held at the end of May, runs this year May 27/28 2022.
Bobbi Rose Koe receives the 2021 Canadian River Heritage Award
30 year old Teetl’it Gwich’in woman Bobbi Rose Koe received the 2021 Canadian River Heritage Award. A lifetime achievement award.
Spring in the Muck
Spring, past projects emerge from the snow and “evidence” of dog. Don’t lament this brown period. Rejoice. Within the rot is magic.
Bringing Joy, One Cup of Coffee at A Time
On a beautiful Sunday in early May, my partner and I headed down to Carcross and noted the signs of spring: the rapidly evaporating snow, the first crocuses and the two Holland America buses coming up the South Klondike Highway. Those tour buses have come and gone over the last few years, but for the …
Placer Mining and ‘Paleobeerology’ in Porter Creek
An isolated stretch of road. 5 beer cans in a pile. “Paleobeerologist” takes over. Yes, there was a party here, probably parked over there.
Safety Against Forest Fires and Floods
The Yukon is indeed a nature lover’s dream. There is a downside. Floods and forest fires that put Yukoners at risk every year.
The Business of Portable Toilets
Porta Potty, outhouse, Johnny-on-the-Spot, and honey bucket. I got to ask every question you never thought to ask about those plastic booths.
It’s All In The Sign
When the animal you are tracking comes into question, just keep walking … You can clearly see the difference in the poop.
Outhouses: Highway Drop-offs
The outhouses along the Yukon’s highways are truly unsung heroes. Here’s what you should know, to better appreciate them.
The Force Is Strong With This One
Johnson puts cultural history and the ways of The Force together. “we are Jedis!” he says, “look at an Elder and that’s a Jedi council member”
Amelia Merhar, on Meanings within Pysanky
To me, pysanky, Ukrainian Easter eggs, is messy memories of making eggs with wax and dye, with my Baba or at Ukrainian Easter events.
KDFN citizen Doronn Fox handcrafted drums for Elders in Whitehorse’s long-term care homes
KDFN citizen Doronn Fox, Helping to reconnect Elders in care through traditional drumming. Part of a series featuring Citizen success stories.
The Battle at the Mad Trapper Bar
Northerners; we tell stories. Our northern stories are our wealth & our identity. They are about independent, hardy people full of character.
Community Ecologies: The Winds of Change
The Haeckel Hill wind turbines, a Yukon landmark for 29 years, led the way in renewable energy when wind power was in its infancy.
Telling the Yukon’s Untold Stories
When Paul Gowdie first learned about the hundreds of Black soldiers who worked on constructing the Alaska Highway in the 1940s, he was surprised. “I’m in a mostly white town, in a mostly white territory, and I attend this presentation and find out that 30 percent of the soldiers who built the highway were Black,” …
Dawson City is getting ready to host its annual Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival
Dawson City is getting ready to host its annual Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival. Get Ready for Some Outrageous Winter Fun!
The value of hunting & fishing to tourism in the Yukon
Since the early Gold Rush days, hunting and fishing have played a major and valuable role in tourism in the Yukon.
Storytelling Specialist Honoured for Excellence and Leadership in Teaching
Patricia Joe, of KDFN, recognized as an Outstanding Indigenous Educator. She credits her grandparents for gifting their knowledge to her.
The History of the North American Bison
The Yukon bison herd is said to be 1,400+. Learn a little North American Bison, it’s introduction into the Yukon and a great Bison recipe.
Students Examine Local Artifacts With a Gentle Touch
The students from the local Robert Service School experience the Yukon artifacts associated with Klondike National Historic Sites.
Environmental reading isn’t all doom and gloom
It’s a new year. Many of us are gleefully planning must-read books for this year, even if every year our ambition leads to a stack of dusty books with plans to “get to.” Unfortunately this year when you turn on the news you won’t find familiar, joyful new year celebrations as the pandemic drags on …
The Percy DeWolfe Memorial Race kicks off March 3, 2022
He defied death. He raced against time. What better way to honour the “Iron Man of the North” than The Percy DeWolf Memorial Race.
Warm up with a slice of Joe
From thirty below to three hundred above: Joe’s Wood Fired Pizza One minute you’re in Whitehorse, standing outside NVD Place (or, as it’s more commonly known, the Old Canadian Tire) and then you walk into Joe’s Wood Fired Pizza and wonder how on Earth you got to Dawson so quickly. Joe Cooke cheerfully waves at …
KDFN Citizen Kiri Geen builds a career in Hollywood North
From background extra to the big screen. KDFN Citizen Kiri Geen builds a career. Kwanlin Dün First Nation Citizen success stories.
The road trip begins: Tuktoyaktuk on The Dempster Highway
When the Tuktoyaktuk (Tuk) highway officially opened Nov. 15, 2017, I wanted to drive it to the Arctic Ocean.
Whit Fraser: A Versatile Man Under the Midnight Sun
Whit Fraser led coverage of the Berger Inquiry & Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. Some argue it defined the North & mayber altered northern life.
Haines, Alaska: Food scene still vibrant even during a pandemic
A trip to Haines reveals things have been far from quiet in the small town of 2,500. The food and beverage scene is thriving.
Five years of kicking up a storm
As the Kicksled Revolution rings in its fifth birthday, owner and founder Anne Middler reflects on the past & what she hopes will come.
First lady of Klondike gold: Remembering Kate Carmack
Reflecting on Tlingit Kate Carmack (Shaaw Tláa) & her contributions to the Klondike Gold Rush, a defining event in Yukon &Canadian history.
Yukon Venture Angels has launched
Yukon Venture Angels is an angel investment group. Experienced & first-time angels looking to learn about growing businesses are welcomed.
Your backyard geology, part 21: Quarries: Gravel, sand and opposition
If you count Fred Flintstone (who was employed by Slater Rock and Gravel Company), people have used quarries since prehistoric times.
Meet Marliese: Postmaster of Haines Junction
When you enter the Canada Post office in Haines Junction, rest assured Marliese Whelan will greet you with a smile
No job is too big or too small for Jacobs Industries
Jacobs Industries, founded by Edmund Jacobs: the first civilian to drive on the Alaska Highwayand is in the Yukon Transportation Hall of Fame.
A Klondike Korner: Sometimes life imitates art
Sometimes art imitates life. Sometimes life imitates art. There are two really clear illustrations of this idea in Dawson City at the moment.
Your Backyard Geology: People and places ending in ‘ite’
Foggite, mordenite and plumboferrite: 3 categories of mineral naming: people, place, or physical characteristic.
Karaky Grocery: Tastes of home
International foods from many countries and a variety of cuisine – Middle Eastern, South Asian, European and Japanese.
Sunshine on my shoulders: Yukon’s first renewable-energy cooperative
This model of green investment cooperative is not only a means of developing renewable energy, but also as a safe, reliable investment.
To catch a chipmunk: It’s not as easy as you might think
I stashed a few peanuts in an awkward place I was fairly certain would prevent the conniving squirrels, but tempt the chipmunk.
Craving Crepes? Crêperie La Petite-Maison brings French food to Yukoners
Crêperie La Petite-Maison brings French food to Yukoners. Morin & Veniatare passionate & Yukoners are crazy about their crêpes.
New kid in the park: Hello, bonjour! Welcome to Kluane National Park and Reserve
I’d moved 2,000 kilometres north, alone, for a 4-year term in a little place called Haines Junction. At Kluane National Park and Reserve
Memories of the Yukon’s only psychiatrist: Still a Yukoner in his heart
From 1995 to 2001 Dr. Jaime Smith was the territory’s only psychiatrist. Jim Robb devotes page 38 in The Colourful 5% V:III to this Yukoner.
The quilt of many poppies
Joseph Novak is a World War ll veteran and possibly the last in the Yukon who served overseas. Joe moved into Whistle Bend Place early this year and has delighted co-residents and staff with his passionate storytelling, unshakable love of music and gratitude for life. In October of last year, Joe was given a 7×7-foot …
Misfits versus City Hall – Part 3
Contrary to the adage “You can’t fight City Hall,” we had – and we’d won. A 25c raise sounds like peanuts. The fact is we received a 33% raise
Sam McGee Hike from Conrad
If you’re looking for an adventure day hike with rewarding views at top, look no further than the Sam McGee trail near Conrad Campground.
Jim Robb is still coming up with new ideas
Imagine our understanding of the Yukon without Jim Robb. Colourless without characters like “Wigwam” Harry, Andy Hooper and Buzz Saw Jimmy?
Misfits versus City Hall – Part 2
How to put a system in place that all of the companies could trust. First eliminate the bad blood between the companies.
Misfits versus City Hall – Part 1
Driving taxis in Inuvik in 1972, The minimum fare in other towns was $1. In high-cost Inuvik, the taxi fare minimum was 75c.
Pumpkins in the North
Getting Pumpkins to the Yukon isn’t easy. There’s a lot of shipping logistics to bring them from B.C., maybe Alberta, maybe even California.”
A momentous community event
Yaxkasei’s Hoo Haa commemorative totem pole unveiling. Stories, exhibit opening and performances by the The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers.
Welcome to the Belly of the Bison!
Belly of the Bison offers dishes that are “upscale but simple,” as Scmidt describes them. “The food is elegant comfort food,” she said.
Recycling your wreck
Some old trucks are a source of antique reverence to the past, but too many abandoned cars are an unfortunate part of Yukon’s landscape.
Robert Service’s great-granddaughter honours her ancestor
Robert Service’s great-granddaughter honours her ancestor. Charlotte Service-Longépé wrote Robert W. Service La Piste de l’Imaginaire.
A Yukon Horror Story, So Far
Graphic novels are Gallagher’s favourite art form. This exhibit is an artistic journey to produce a horror graphic novel set in the Yukon.
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in BioBlitz
Search and identify species in Dawson City and its surrounding in the traditional territory of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
Infinite flavours of Asia: Yukon Asian Market
If a customer asks for something, she’ll try to find it for them and the selection is impressive. There are products from many countries.
Homecoming for Brandon Isaak
“We wanted to do a record and we didn’t have long to do it,” says Isaak. “So we just did it live in a day, basically.”
Klondike Korner: DCMF 2021 is reborn in a smaller, later version this COVID year
September 10 to 12. DCMF is a bite sized three day event spending days in the Waterfront Park Gazebo and nights in the Palace Grand Theatre.
A bear spray refresher
They may still be good, but who wants to learn they don’t work while facing a bear? Each container has only eight seconds of spray.
Finding History
Beaver castoreum found on an ancient throwing dart has led to new discoveries on traditional hunting technology in the North
Moose Bush: The way-posts home
In the North, we measure distance by the amount of time it takes. A way-post is an item that marks your progress along a road or trail.
Vanessa Ægirsdóttir’s magical place
Meeting Bahm set her on a new personal journey, and professional path informed by his Tlingit heritage and traditional approach to trapping.
Business Profile: Half Moon Ice Cream
with a supportive community, this ice cream maker has been able to stick it out in 2021, and even return with some impressive upgrades.
125 years of gold
2021 marks 125 years since the discovery of gold in the Yukon. This year there is a series of new commemorative activities.
Paris Pick – A Star is born
Whitehorse musician Paris Pick’s most recent video, the title track from her album I Can’t Help It , is blowing up on YouTube
Bioblitz is back & going to Dawson City
bringing experts and aspiring citizen scientists to one location for a day of counting and identifying as many species as possible.
Family Feud Casting… In The Yukon!
Family Feud Canada is looking for families including Canada’s north, for their unique way of life and sense of community
Didee & Didoo: Global Warming
In the future we won’t need snowshoes, In the future we won’t go ice fishing. In the future we won’t need winter roads.
Come and see the wildlife!
The Yukon hasn’t seen many nice days yet this summer, but there are still ample outdoor opportunities. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve, for example, has a full season planned.
Friday is Concert time at the Gazebo
Most Fridays this summer, whether there is rain or shine, it will be concert time at noon at the Front Street Gazebo, in Dawson City.
How We See Things
Odile: Look at the beautiful trees! Allan: Where’s my chainsaw? Odile: Look at the cute fox! Allan: Where’s my trap? Odile: Look at the adorable rabbit! Allan: Where’s my snare? Odile: Look at the magnificent Caribou! Allan: Where’s my rifle? Odile: Look at the cute fish! Allan: Where’s my fishing rod? Odile: Look at the …
If you visit Old Crow
If you visit Old Crow Sadie will take you to the mall Mason will show you the traffic lights Abbie will take you on the elevator…
Jeszika Mae’s Joy of Cooking
Macarons represent the bonbons side of Jeszika Mae’s business slogan: “Bacon and Bonbons – smoked meats and sweet treats.”
The joys and surprises of the annual birdathon
Saturday, May 29, birders will head out to identify as many different species as they can. They’re encouraged to go by their own power – foot, bike or paddle.
Racing the clock
The only rule that water seems to obey is that of gravity. Parks Canada collects water samples of The Dezadeash twice per season.
Canoeing this summer?
Whitehorse’s canoe and kayak rental companies are shifting their focus to the local market for a summer without tourists.
Old Fashioned Candy
I used to eat smarties with Stevie I used to eat jelly beans with Adeline I used to eat jawbreakers with Ernest I used to eat candy necklaces with Doris I used to eat tootsie rolls with Glenna I used to eat hard candy with David I used to eat licorice candy with Dianne I …
Yummy dumplings
Anne’s Dumplings took off in the last year. Anne Huang-Power can’t keep up with the demand for her dumplings.
Modern tech meets heritage conservation in Dawson City
Dredge No. 4 was built in 1912 and operated until 1959. It was designated as a national historic site in 1997.
Pollyanna-ing the pandemic
What I’m writing about in this column are the benefits and blessings of technology that I’ve discovered in the last year.
King of Bowls
Night Market offers a taste of Thai Troy King, the executive chef behind the recently-opened Night Market, is a person who seems to live by the Asian-fusion restaurant’s slogan, “grab life by the bowls.” King is already known for heading up the team at Wood Street Ramen. I meet with him to talk about Night …
The pandemic creates the space to share stories in a new way
As the Ice Melts is a project that takes the form of two videos which present stories and poetry on the theme of our changing environment. The work has been put together by Bielawski, Lilley and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations storyteller, Ron Chambers.
Spring clearances in Dawson
In some ways, our streets are better in the winter. Spring makes it harder to get from the street to the boardwalks. Dawson is not a friendly town for people with mobility issues.
Yukon Swallow and Bats on Farmlands
For the past two years, Maria Leung and team have been studying a few swallow species in and around farmlands in Yukon, namely Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Rusty Blackbird, and Little Brown Bat, with the support of local farmers and landowners.
Didee & Didoo – My Family Tree
If Goldilocks is my mother Charlie Brown is my father Jack Frost is my grandpa Gingerbread Man is my brother Jack and Jill are my twins Winnie The Pooh is my sister Frosty The Snowman is my uncle Curious George is my cousin Little Red Riding Hood is my aunt Santa Claus is my grandpa …
Live music returns to Dënäkär Zho
COVID-19 pretty much shut down live music in Dawson in 2020. This year the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (Dënäkär Zho), in partnership with the Dawson City Music Festival, has been trying hard to bring some of it back over the last few months.
Spring in a rush of wings
Celebration of Swans is back! Bird lovers rejoice! After an unprecedented hiatus, Celebration of Swans returns this year to Swan Haven at Marsh Lake, with events, activities and avian fun, with some new COVID-19 safety measures in place. The annual event, which marks the return of tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl, such as Arctic …
Dress Local
Audrey Levesque is the creator and maker of Made by Auds. She designs, cuts and sews her small garment collection from a room in a Gold rush-era hotel in Dawson City.
The Ice pool Contest is a go for 2021
The Ice Pool Lottery, officially known these days as the Dawson IODE Ice Guessing Contest, has been around in various forms since 1896. The Dawson Chapter of the IODE officially took over running the event in 1940 and has managed to keep it going in spite of pandemics and other natural disasters.
Bringing BBQ to the masses
Smoke and Sow, from food truck to Whitehorse restaurant. The menu includes beef brisket, pulled pork, racks of ribs and whole chickens.
All that glitters is not gold
The Yukon is well-known for its gold, but less known are the gemstones. What determines whether a mineral can be called a gemstone is open to interpretation.
Knowing the Canadian beaver
Back in the 50s and 60s, before many of my readers were even born, as a conservation officer I had the pleasure of undertaking many studies on specific wildlife. These included banding waterfowl, tagging and following fish species, partaking in tagging waterfowl, netting and tagging fish, big game management such as flying the winter yards, …
Photo-bombed by a moose
I didn’t see the moose when I took the pictures, nor when I looked at the images the first time. I was too busy enjoying the shots of the sun-kissed Three Guardsmen peaks and the brilliant skyline. I had been photo-bombed by a moose—twice! Imagine the story the moose had to tell back with his buddies.
Interview with Hunter John Sandluck
What motivated you to get into this career? While doing the Work Experience Program at F.H.Collins High School, I was able to experience working at Hvactech Systems and found a lot of enjoyment in the work and with the people. Was there someone who got you excited about this path? I first became intrigued with …
Changing Gear changing hands
Changing Gear ticks off several boxes: it’s well set up, it’s a great facility, it’s something he can grow with, and the location
Chew on this
Robertson, nicknamed Nimrod, was a gentlemen gold miner and inventor, whose homemade choppers were just one of many memorable things about him.
Remembering Joe Loutchan
Loutchan played a weekly gig at the 98 Hotel for over 40 years, and the strains of his lively, heart-warming, toe-tapping music could often be heard coming through the doors as eager music-loving patrons came in and out of the bar.
A chance on winter
The process of watching, listening and trying to identify a bird will help you remember that species, and perhaps that particular bird, forever.
Looking back (way back)
My interest in ancient archaeology happened when I turned 62. True, it was a little late in life to go back to life studies, but I was digging in my garden back in north central Ontario when I came upon some old bone structure.
Local beer and good cheer
There’s a whole lot of local in Gather Café and Taphouse, a recent addition to Whitehorse’s burgeoning culinary and bar scene.
Of time and tech
I thought that as I aged, and if my eyesight couldn’t be fixed by cataract surgery, it would be good to be able to do more things by voice and by ear.
Didoo survived without these things
Didoo survived without an electric knife. Didoo survived without an electric kettle. Didoo survived without a microwave. Didoo survived without a toaster. Didoo survived without a dryer. Didoo survived without a washer. Didoo survived without a vacuum cleaner. Didoo survived without an electric toothbrush. Didoo survived without an electric egg beater. Didoo survived without an …
Carrying Capacity: one of the most misunderstood factors
Too many or too few of a species can be a disaster for any animal. Take deer for example. Too few can spell disaster when you consider possible recovery time and all conditions the population faces.
King of the Medevacs – Part 2
I argue that if Laserich had been American, I would not be telling you this story. You would have already seen it on the big screen.
Ice road woes (and whoas)
I was driving back to Red Deer from Calgary the other day and got a speeding ticket in a blinding snowstorm. The cop told me there is a law in Alberta that states that speed limits are reduced to 80 km/h when winds exceed 70 km/h. I told him, in no uncertain terms, that I’d …
King of the Medevacs
Inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame with more than 45,000 hours, 5,000 medical trips a perfect safety record
A house you can finally afford
Artists Jared Klok and Bennie Allain collaborated on their sculpture “A House You Can Finally Afford.” It was displayed as part of the Riverside Arts Festival.
The making of a mine takes science, luck and beer
The Brewery Creek Mine is located 60 kilometres east of Dawson City, but this story starts east of there, in 1979. That’s when Rio Canex Exploration Ltd. staked the “IDA” claims in response to the results of a Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) stream sediment sampling program.
Anything you can imagine
The sky’s the limit for Lukas Kobler, a forward-thinking entrepreneur who sees endless possibilities in what 3D printers can do. Kobler, a full-time engineering student at the University of Calgary, is juggling online courses while running his business, Yukon 3D Solutions, from his home in Whistle Bend. Some of the 3D prints he recently completed …
Learning from the land
The Porcupine Caribou Herd is one of the largest barren-ground caribou herds in North America. It numbered approximately 220,000 when it was last counted in 2017, a record-breaking high. Despite this, the herd faces challenges.
Dublin Gulch
The present book, one of several projects Michael Gates has had on the go since he retired, is one he was commissioned to write by Victoria Gold, the owners of the Eagle Gold Mine.
Early geological mapping – Part 2
One project was to traverse and map the Mackenzie Mountains near the Yukon-NWT border by Joseph Keele who spent an entire year in 1907-08.
Connecting this holiday season
Like our need for connectivity, much of the Yukon’s wildlife also needs to be able to travel from one place to another.
Brothers in beer
Polarity Brewing, the latest addition to the Yukon craft beer scene, is a labour of love.
Early Geological Mapping
When you fly over Yukon and British Columbia, look out your window if you can. You will see an endless, rugged landscape, broken by lakes and rivers. The first geologists who came to map this vast land did not have the fortune to do a flyover first. As different means of transportation evolved over the …
Going to the dogs!
Road Dogs is a music store, a coffee shop and the new Yukon Online Marketplace. It’s a place to buy a guitar, peruse vinyl while you enjoy a great cappuccino, and the pick up spot for a new online marketplace for Yukon products.
Viewing Stones – Part 2
If you are looking for your own viewing stone, the best rocks tend to be those that erode into interesting shapes.
The Gwich’in’s journey to protect the Arctic Refuge
Which land mammal migrates farther than any other? It’s not the wildebeest on the savannas of Africa, or the antelope on the Tibetan steppe. It is the Porcupine caribou herd, right here in the Yukon.
Fruits of the wine
You may have heard, we have a winery in the Yukon now. This winery comes from the team at Yukon Berry Farms. They were looking for a way to use their haskap berries to create secondary products that have a long shelf life and good margins – fruit wine.
What we can learn from the passing of the passenger pigeon
On Sept 1, 1914, the passenger pigeon went extinct. Considering the bird’s once-plentiful population, have we learned anything from this.
Viewing Stones – Part 1
Gongshi, suiseki, and suseok are the art of stone appreciation. It originated in China during the Han Dynasty
The Klondike Gold Rush Steamers
In these days of highways and 1000-year level flood dikes, it’s easy to forget that the best way to get to Dawson used to be by sternwheelers. While most of the stampeders made their way here in small boats and rafts in 1898, a sizeable number cruised to the fledgling town from St. Michael’s, Alaska, in riverboats and steamers and, once the White Pass chugged into Whitehorse, still more hopped on boats from there.
How to have it all at Thechàl Dhâl’
Round the curve north of Haines Junction at the base of Thechàl Dhâl’ in Kluane and you may encounter Dall sheep.
A smooth recovery
A golden eagle is recovering at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve after arriving in August, weighing only half of what a healthy eagle should weigh. The bird, brought up from Watson Lake, had a fractured scapular, which was preventing him from flying.
Factors in wildlife management
Look at a section of forest that has been harvested. A group of conservation-minded people entered the cut and made a number of bush piles. The bush pile becomes a safety net for rabbits, squirrels and other such creatures, but let’s not stop there.
Back to the land
On an evening in early November, Teri-Lee Isaac and her family butchered a caribou that was given to them by family in Fort McPherson. While the practice gives the family a freezer full of wild meat for the upcoming winter, it also connects them to the land, and to Northern Tutchone cultural practices that have been passed down through the generations.
We’re Wild About It!
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve voted into the top 10 percent of worldwide attractions to visit on Trip Advisor.
Powering the North
When it comes to energy, northern communities require sustainable, reliable solutions. There are many challenges to planning a power project in the North, including severe weather and electric power networks that span great distances. Renewable energy technologies can work, but they need to be carefully planned and designed so they meet the power needs of …
Hannah Warrington of Half Moon Ice Cream
Meet a maker! What do you make? I make handcrafted, traditional custard style-ice cream. It is made with all natural ingredients – I don’t shortcut by using starches or stabilizers – and so my ice cream is very dense and creamy. I have been making a variety of flavours, a fun part of making ice …
Tie one on
Whitehorse is home to a tiny fly shop with a big heart Big fish. Tiny fly shop. At just 10 feet by 12 feet, and built in a mobile tiny-home style, H20 Troutfitter fly shop – located in the parking lot next to the Gold Pan Saloon in downtown Whitehorse – is the smallest fly …
Yukon athletes honoured by Sport Yukon
For 44 years Sport Yukon has been handing out awards to the Yukon’s top athletes, coaches and sport administrators. The 2019 crop of honourees continues this trend, despite COVID-19 necessitating the distribution of the awards to take place at a distance.
Early Geological Mapping
The earliest geology maps of the Yukon show only the rocks that line the rivers. You traveled by boat, mapping as you went.
Heroes
Sid reflects on the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19 and our current reality. He said the only other time in his life when he felt stuck was during the War.
Avoiding a “grizzly” situation
Wildlife viewing is a favourite Yukon pastime. How does the Species at Risk Act & better understanding Canada’s biodiversity protect that?
Locally raised, locally made
July 22 is National Hot Dog Day (which is, apparently, a thing) and why celebrate with just any ol’ meat on a bun when you could have one made with locally raised pork? Support a farmer, love your butcher.
Heading out to hit the outdoor head
The Klondike Visitor Association (KVA) is hosting one of its most beloved and ridiculous events, The Great Klondike International Outhouse Race on August 1 in Dawson City.
Factors in wildlife management
Progression. Now there’s a word that’s important to the future of all wildlife. Look at a section of forest that has been harvested. A group of conservation-minded people entered the cut and made a number of bush piles. The bush pile becomes a safety net for rabbits, squirrels and other such creatures, but let’s not …
Putting delicious food into the hands of Yukoners
Wayfarer Oyster House provides takeout and off-sales during the time of COVID-19 COVID-19 has dramatically changed things for Yukon’s restaurant community, including Wayfarer Oyster House. “If there’s a word to describe everything right now, it’s different,” explained the co-owners of Wayfarer Oyster House, Andrew Seymour, Brian Ng and Eddie Rideout. “Like our peers across the …
Putting delicious food into the hands of Yukoners Read More »
Cooking up some good
The Yukon Chef Collective is a group of local culinary professionals giving back by creating meals for the Whitehorse Food Bank
Sundog: Where Taking Care of You Feeds Other People Too
When guests started cancelling in February, Yukon resort owners Heather and Andrew Finton knew 2020 was going to be a challenge. When the borders to the States and around the world closed they knew their tourism business needed a brave new start. “We looked around at what’s here on site, and how to share it,” …
Sundog: Where Taking Care of You Feeds Other People Too Read More »
Pho-fix
Making sure Yukoners can still get their pho-fix is not the only way Lan Tang, owner of Pho 5 Star Restaurant, is contributing during the pandemic.
Well Read and Welcome Back!
We will continue to offer curb-side pick-up for those that are not ready to come in and browse or for anyone with a cold or other symptoms. Based on books we have in stock our staff has come up with three book recommendations for people eager for new things to read
Support local with a beer and some Indian food
Things are different for everyone in the new COVID-19 world and companies everywhere are having to change their business models to adapt. Nowhere is this truer than for the Woodcutter’s Blanket. “It’s been difficult, it felt like it happened overnight,” said co-owner James Maltby. “It has forced us to do a 180 on our business …
Collecting memories: Fill your suitcase with rocks
People bring back all kinds of artisan objects to remind them of a special place they have visited, but I tend to collect rocks.
In the footsteps of her great-grandfather
In 1898, Ione Christensen’s great-grandfather and his four sons hiked the Chilkoot Trail on their way to find fortune in the Klondike gold fields. Over her lifetime, Christensen, who recently turned 86, has spent a lot of time on the historic trail herself.
Muskrat season
In the delta, March meant one thing—muskrat trapping season was open. And trapped muskrat pelts fetched damned near $2.50 apiece back in 1976.
Podcasting for fun and fortune
I know computers and have taught school students the miracles of manipulating music and noise with software. I could turn my stories into podcasts!
Turning a hobby into a career
Meet Lowell Tait: heavy duty equipment, truck and transport technician
Asbestos, the miracle mineral with a dark side
Throughout history, asbestos had been known as the miracle mineral due to its unique properties. Asbestos can be woven, it does not rot and it is waterproof.
Reaching out for that long-distance feeling
I just finished a long-distance chat with my nephew. Really long-distance; he lives in Hong Kong. The line was clear, and the conversation lasted nearly an hour. The cost to each of us? Not a single penny.
Bringing more than tourists
At the 16th annual Bravo Awards, the Yukon Convention Bureau (YCB) recognized those who live here and make a difference by offering the best spot in Canada to hold a conference or meeting.
Seventy tales from the Yukon, Atlin and Tibet
Peter Steele’s book arrived on my desk at just about the time in my cataract affliction when I was unable to read it, the white glare off the paper turning the printed words to grey smudges. Eventually I was piqued enough by this that I sought it out in the various e-book options and found …
Dawson’s Thaw di Gras
Dawson celebrates almost spring, sort of end of winter, with a local event called Thaw di Gras. An obvious play on New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.
Getting on the Wrench
[one_half] What motivated you to get into this trade? When I was in high school I joined a Skills Canada Yukon Skills club for hairstyling. After learning about the trade I was totally motivated to make hairstyling my full-time career. Was there someone who got you excited about this path? Erin Neufeld, who was my …
So cheesy
Cultured Fine Cheese has become a specialty shop that offers the necessary ingredients for a fabulous meal and the perfect snack.
Following Her Passion On A Daily Basis – Meet Bell Laosomboon
Growing up in Thailand gives someone an appreciation for food. Like in any culture that is food-centered, you learn from an early age to appreciate the composition of various dishes.
Representing Kluane
Each year, the Yukon Order of Pioneers (YOOP) selects Mr. and Mrs. Yukon in recognition of two longtime Yukoners who have made lasting contributions to their communities. This year they have named Valerie Drummond (born Wakefield) and Dan Drummond of Haines Junction as the worthy representatives.
Volunteerism, a true Rendezvous tradition
Without volunteers the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival (YSR) would have never started, let alone gotten to its 56th year.
Pinoys on Parliament
From February 21 to 23, young Filipino-Canadians will converge on Ottawa for a youth-led national leadership conference. Pinoys on Parliament will bring together 200 delegates from coast to coast to coast. “Pinoys on Parliament was born out of the idea that although Filipinos compose one of the largest minority groups in Canada, they are still …
Deep roots
Her name is Wolf Mother, Ghoóch Tlâ in Tlingit, and Colleen James in English. She grew up in Cowley, about halfway between Whitehorse and Carcross. Her mother was Tlingit and her father was English.
“Never a Boring Day”, Meet Joel Stacey
I was motivated to begin trade school when I realized I was enjoying my summer carpentry jobs more than my university studies, and could get paid to do it!
Bent rocks – Part 1
Living where we do in the cordillera region of western North America, we are able to see the power of plate tectonics up close. How do all these rocks get all bent out of shape?
Bizarre ice
A rare combination of crystal clear ice, a shallow, and variably coloured lake bottom, and a bright sunlight reflection set the stage for this unique environment of surreal dimensional ice phen