Yukon

The Yukon is unlike any other place in the world, capturing the hearts and imagination of residents and travellers alike.

A cat yawning

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 vegetables grown with the help of local manure

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.

A black lab

‘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…

Horse dung compressed into bricks

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…

A portable sauna

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.

An open field covered in snow

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…

Lichen

Lichens

Endless forests stand as the majestic backdrop to much of the Yukon, but by looking down, you can see a much more…

A freestyle skier

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.

A hunter with a caribou

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.

Wild Yukon roses

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)….

A collage of various summer camp activities

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.

A statue of a sasquatch

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…

A filmmaker documents archeology work

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…

A hair stylist competing at an event

Skills Canada Interview

Skills Canada Interview with Yukoner Cadence Hartland who is a current high school student and apprentice hair stylist and welder.

A dog musher in a race

Dog Song Rising

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to interview Jess Sears, a dog musher based in the Whitehorse area.

Tedd Tucker's book Yukon Count

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.

A man working under an old car

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.

Soap Maker, Joella Hogan

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)…

The Coast Mountain Sports Building

Safe At Home

The Safe at Home Society is a Yukon organization that works to end and prevent homelessness in the territory…

A painting of candles

Let There Be Light

The longest night, the shortest day. Either way you measure, if you celebrate during or near midwinter, or Winter Solstice…

A Robin

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…

A man sitting alone with a cigarette and beer

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.

A reindeer

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.

A shelf with a variety of products

Choices

Making so many choices every day can be stressful. Sometimes it causes me to lose track of the big picture.

Three Skills Canada competitors

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…

A man standing outside a hotel

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…

The venerable Arctic ground squirrel

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…

A snow covered car

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.

A boardwalk along the beach

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.

Riley Olsen of Skills Canada Yukon

Skills Canada Profiles

I first got interested in welding while working in outdoor education at the University of Alaska Southeast.

Dennis Allen and Elder

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.

A winter scene while driving in a car

Seasonal Change

We are in a state of seasonal change. Not only is the weather changing, but the roads are changing as well.

Order Of Yukon Award

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.

A man and a woman stand outside a log cabin in winter with furs from a season of trapping hanging on the wall

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.

A skeletal display of a wooly mammoth

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.

A woman sitting on a dock beside the calm waters of a lake

Returning Home to the Yukon

Tears streamed down my face as our airplane began its descent, preparing to land at the Whitehorse airport.

A toddler riding on a merry-go-round

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

a group of people warming up before a run

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.

Looking Inside the Insider

Christopher Ross writes about his journalism experiences at the Dawson City Insider from 1997-1999 and what happened after.

fish strew and ingredients

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.

A mother and child smiling into the camera

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.

A coyote stalks through the snow and trees

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.

Parade with old fire truck and Can-Can Dancer

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.

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?

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 …

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The author's bounty from her great-grandmother

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 …

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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.

Dredge No. 4

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 …

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Air North food service

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.

Elder Marie Kochon

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

Douma Alwarid

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.

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.

Porta Pottys

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”

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.

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 …

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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.

Karaky Grocery: Tastes of home

International foods from many countries and a variety of cuisine – Middle Eastern, South Asian, European and Japanese.

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 …

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Taxi sign

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.

field of pumpkins

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.”

The carvers dance

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.

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.

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.” 

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.

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

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.

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 …

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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.”

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 …

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Yummy dumplings

Anne’s Dumplings took off in the last year. Anne Huang-Power can’t keep up with the demand for her dumplings.

Pollyanna-ing the pandemic

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 Troy King

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 …

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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.

Uncle Jimmy Roberts and the Hammerstones were locals whose sound was heavily slanted towards indigenous fiddle tunes

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 …

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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.

Beaver

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, …

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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.

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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.

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.

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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,” …

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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.

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 …

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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!

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.

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 …

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So cheesy

Cultured Fine Cheese has become a specialty shop that offers the necessary ingredients for a fabulous meal and the perfect snack.

Mr. and Mrs. Yukon

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.

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 …

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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