A Living Legacy
Haa G̱aatáa Haa Ḵusteeyí — Our Trapping Our Way of Life, a new exhibit at Haa Shagóon Hídi…
Haa G̱aatáa Haa Ḵusteeyí — Our Trapping Our Way of Life, a new exhibit at Haa Shagóon Hídi…
Twenty-six years after it was first proposed by Pierre Berton, in 1997, and 19 years after it was officially submitted by Canada…
Tr’ondëk-Klondike Achieves World Heritage Status Read More »
Grant Zazula has been a Yukon government paleontologist since 2006, overseeing the territory’s fossil collections, research…
Fossils In The Yukon Read More »
As my son is getting older and continues to appreciate any opportunity to learn about new things, I thought, What better way to embrace…
Built by Reverend Bowen in 1900, the Old Log Church has been a constant presence in Whitehorse. The building has been in continuous…
That’s the word used to summarize the famous and funky log “skyscrapers” of downtown Whitehorse. In 1999, a heritage building report…
Still Fabulous After Three-quarters Of A Century Read More »
Here in the Yukon we are so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible richness of heritage and historical places. Like all things inherited…
What Does Yukon Heritage Mean To You? Read More »
The extreme focus on the drama of the Klondike Gold Rush tends to obscure the stories about the gold seekers…
Tales From Before And After The Gold Rush Read More »
When Elder Lucy Sanderson (née Van Bibber) was growing up in her family home in rural Yukon in the 1930s, she dreamed of travelling.
Growing Up Van Bibber Read More »
By the 1890s, local traders were growing vegetables to supplement a monotonous diet of beans, bread and mouldy bacon.
Celebrating Dawson City’s Historic Gardeners Read More »
When Bob Cameron was a kid in the late 1950s and ’60s, his family spent summer weekends boating on Tagish Lake.
The Sibilla Gets A Facelift Read More »
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…
Breathing New Life Into A 1950s Mystery Read More »
When Pat Ellis walks around downtown Whitehorse, she sees evidence of the past because she knows just where to look.
The ‘Impertinent, Wacky Disorder’ Of Whitehorse In The ’50s Read More »
Parks Canada got the call late last August—a cache of items left behind in 1937 (by legendary photographer Bradford Washburn…
Unfrozen After 85 Years Read More »
The longest night, the shortest day. Either way you measure, if you celebrate during or near midwinter, or Winter Solstice…
Let There Be Light Read More »
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.
‘We have never got rich, but we sure have a good life being poor.’ Read More »
Living in the Yukon, it’s hard not to feel distinctly aware of time, of its passing and of our relationship to it.
Time Travelling in the Yukon Read More »
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
Unearthing a ‘miracle’ Read More »
The Dawson Challengers had a dream to contest for the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup (better known as the Stanley Cup.
The Bookshelf: When Dawson Made Hockey History Read More »
How a traditional walk helps make sense of life. Learning about stamina and resilience between Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope
Dog Gone Long Time Read More »
History of Diamond Tooth Gerties? It was for the Arctic Brotherhood 1901 – 1925, opened in ’71 as a casino by Klondike Visitors Association.
Diamond Tooth Gerties built in 1901 Read More »
Important history of Yukon Indigenous people is about to be told, by the Yukon Association of Non-status Indians
Yukon Association of Non-status Indians: Remembering the Forgotten People Read More »
Northerners; we tell stories. Our northern stories are our wealth & our identity. They are about independent, hardy people full of character.
The Battle at the Mad Trapper Bar Read More »
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
Telling the Yukon’s Untold Stories Read More »
Patricia Joe, of KDFN, recognized as an Outstanding Indigenous Educator. She credits her grandparents for gifting their knowledge to her.
Storytelling Specialist Honoured for Excellence and Leadership in Teaching Read More »
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.
The History of the North American Bison Read More »
The students from the local Robert Service School experience the Yukon artifacts associated with Klondike National Historic Sites.
Students Examine Local Artifacts With a Gentle Touch Read More »
He defied death. He raced against time. What better way to honour the “Iron Man of the North” than The Percy DeWolf Memorial Race.
The Percy DeWolfe Memorial Race kicks off March 3, 2022 Read More »
Reflecting on Tlingit Kate Carmack (Shaaw Tláa) & her contributions to the Klondike Gold Rush, a defining event in Yukon &Canadian history.
First lady of Klondike gold: Remembering Kate Carmack Read More »
2021 marks 125 years since the discovery of gold in the Yukon. This year there is a series of new commemorative activities.
Dredge No. 4 was built in 1912 and operated until 1959. It was designated as a national historic site in 1997.
Modern tech meets heritage conservation in Dawson City Read More »
Robertson, nicknamed Nimrod, was a gentlemen gold miner and inventor, whose homemade choppers were just one of many memorable things about him.
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.
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.
Early geological mapping Pt2 Read More »
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
Early Geological Mapping Expeditions Read More »
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.
The Klondike Gold Rush Steamers Read More »
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.
The earliest geology maps of the Yukon show only the rocks that line the rivers. You traveled by boat, mapping as you went.
Early Geological Mapping pt1 Read More »
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.
The Russian Space Agency gave it to me for helping them out,” he said. He went on to tell me how he had attracted the interest of the Russians
Save a Space Station for a picture Read More »
McNaughton had rescued boxes of photographs showing the southern Yukon town in its heyday, and with that newly acquired collection, the Watson Lake Historical Society was born.
ensuring the history of Watson Lake is recognized–one site at a time Read More »
In the 60s, the Alaska Highway, though somewhat improved from its original construction in 1942, was still a winding, narrow, dusty, pot-holed, nasty road that claimed several lives each year
Road Tales – The Alaska Highway shootout of 1961 Read More »
Sometimes when Joella Hogan returns home after a long day, she’ll find a bag of fresh rose petals on her doorstep. And once in a
Sharing Northern Tutchone stories, culture and heritage—one bar at a time Read More »
Buck Choquette spent his last days and hours in Dawson telling Jack London true stories of his long pioneering life in the Northwest. Is it just coincidence, then, that the main character in his most successful novel, The Call of the Wild, is also named Buck?
The ballad of “Buck” Choquette Read More »
The Hamlet of Elsa—a collection of homes and industrial buildings nestled into the Silver Trail at kilometre 97—transformed from a booming mining town in the
As Elsa moves towards an uncertain future, a former resident reflects on its past Read More »
Doug Davidge finds lost things. Over the course of more than three decades in the Yukon, Davidge has been known to find things that people
I have a clean driver’s slate. I mention this because it shows that most people, no matter how many goofy things they do when they
Vanishing point in an invisible car Read More »
Erin Dixon is interested in how other people live. “I have been interested in other people’s houses, since I was a little kid,” she said.
The Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA) wants Yukoners to learn more about the history in their own towns. As part of the national Culture
Explore culture in your own town Read More »
Rolf Hougen stands with Harreson Tanner beside the bust of Sam Steele that he commissioned Chuck Buchanan to sculpt as part of the centennial RCMP
Main Street or bust Read More »
Sometime before the beginning of winter, the old CIBC building on Front Street will turn grey and I’m quite certain that some people will be
Changes are not always welcome, even if they are historically accurate Read More »
The smoke has begun to clear in Beaver Creek, but hot embers still smoulder along the highway. We haven’t had a fire like this one
Back in those days, ‘20s and ‘30s was known as the Golden Age of Tourism. It was a pretty busy time! I have lots of
Park ranger keeps Inuvialuit stories alive on Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk When Richard Gordon was a young man he worked on an oil rig in the Beaufort
Protecting more than a park Read More »
(Ed. Note: The following article was first written for the Northwest Passage Project excursion to take place last summer from August 23 to September 13
A Northwest Passage to the sea Read More »
Two prominent American tourism publications hit the streets recently. Neither included much of a mention of Dyea, except to list the Dyea Campground in Skagway
Forgotten Town: Dyea, the town Alaska forgot Read More »
Passage routes marked in red which includes the “Chilcoot Pass” and the “White Pass” Sid’s days off consist of visiting with other locals at coffee
Map to the gold fields Read More »
Murray Lundberg – Yukon historian – builds an online community for sharing stories and building a collective memory When it reached 500 people, Murray Lundberg
Yukon historian builds online community Read More »
“I don’t know its full history but I found it in an old trunk. It must be from the early 1900s,” said Sid, carrying the
I remember my first conversation with Joe Ben Raven like it happened yesterday. It was the winter construction season of 1972-73 up on the Eagle
Raven kronks, Leprechaun croaks Read More »
Late May brought sun and warmth to the bordertown of Beaver Creek, Yukon. Sid was already back working hard at the Visitor Information Centre. He
Rations and cookbooks Read More »
[two_third] You may have noticed the above quotation comes to you without attribution. That’s for good reason. Nobody seems to know who muttered it or
The London Tower ravens Read More »
Reconciliation. We have all heard the term used in modern-day politics. You may have heard about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or even the 94
Oral history in a modern context Read More »
Very few writers throughout history have bonded with their subjects quite like Edgar Allan Poe and the Yukon’s territorial bird – the Raven
She was not only the first female river pilot on the Upper Yukon, she was also the fastest. No, her name wasn’t Klondike Kate, the
The fastest lady in the Klondike Gold Rush Read More »
One of my many favourite Bill Reid carvings, Raven and the First Men, is part of a Haida creation myth which is permanently displayed in the
There is more to Raven mythology than clamshells and Odin Read More »
U.S. President Donald Trump’s grandfather started the family fortune during the great Klondike Gold Rush. He never reached the Klondike Gold Fields; he was hundreds of miles short.
Family fortune tied to the Klondike Gold Rush Read More »
From now on, whenever Valentine’s Day pops up out of a snowbank in mid-February like a lost and lonely holiday heart/fart, my thoughts will be of Elizabeth Peratrovich and what she accomplished for all northerners.
The Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY) recognized the 30th anniversary of the success of the Redress campaign in 1988.
Remembering (and never repeating) history Read More »
It’s important to reflect each November 11th and remember those young men and women who gave their lives on behalf of their country.
We will remember them Read More »
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a great victory for Canada, but it came at a price. In this battle, there were more than 10,500 casualties and about 3,600 killed. To our knowledge, Herbert Lawless was the only known Yukoner to fall in this battle.
Honouring and remembering sacrifice Read More »
Ruth Treskatis, volunteer and Janna Swales, executive director, proudly display their creations in front of the popsicle stick model of the SS Klondike at the
Rope wreaths and Yukon steamers Read More »
The S.S. Princess Sophia (So-PHY-Ya) under full power in a north-wind whiteout blizzard ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef, halfway to Juneau.
Ship of Sorrow: S.S. Princess Sophia Read More »
Yukon icons Otto and Kate Partridge lived in the beautiful southern lakes region of the territory.
The Yukon’s greatest love story Read More »
It almost appears as if one of the great tourism RV destinations, Haines Road & Alaska Highway, happened by design—but it didn’t.
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11 – Part 6 of 6 Read More »
The Yukon Chamber of Mines has prioritized outreach and community engagement as part of their programming. Heading into its 10th year, the annual Mining and
Celebrating the role of mining in the Yukon Read More »
The Top of the World Highway is neither on top of the world nor is it a highway, but rivals the Dempster for dramatic scenery while it lasts.
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11 – Part 5 of 6 Read More »
Shoeless Joe is the only player in baseball history to win multiple World Series as a pitcher for one team and a home run hitter for another; a distinction that will last forever.
The sordid saga of ‘Shoeless Joe’ Read More »
1949 History of Atlin & Tagish roads “decimated, through inanition, due wholly to the lack of adequate and vital transportation facilities.”
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11 – Part 4 of 6 Read More »
Sitting at Watson Lake you may wonder if you should take Robert Campbell #4 to the Klondike, afterall, it is shorter. The answer is NO!
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11 – Part 3 of 6 Read More »
The Klondike Highway wasn’t done for tourism reasons. The Silver Trail Highway, on the other hand, is a highway geared towards tourists.
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11- Part 2 of 6 Read More »
Editor’s Note: This is part two of two highlighting Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį: Teachings from Long Ago Person Found. It was introduced during the Haines Junction
‘Canadian Ice Man’ tells his story Read More »
The Canol Road is easily the nastiest numbered road in the Yukon and why we opened with it. The worst shall be first and the fast shall be last.
The Yukon’s Magnificent 11 – Part 1 of 6 Read More »
Remembrance Day is now as much an opportunity to recognize all those men and women who have served and returned home. We owe them thanks. That’s why we wear our poppies and hold our ceremonies, to support and remember.
What has bringing up children in outdoor experiences and enjoying the life of camping, fishing and hunting done for the children?
Bringing Up a Family the Old Fashioned Way Read More »
With the exception of sports figures, Max Fraser contends, Canadian heroes seldom get the respect they deserve. The Whitehorse filmmaker and military history buff wants
From Bonanza to Bucharest Read More »
You wouldn’t think a person could go ghost hunting in the middle of the day in the middle of summer, but MacBride Museum offers six
Ghost-Hunting in the Whitehorse Copperbelt Read More »
As someone who has always been very interested in Yukon history the Fort Selkirk Historic Site was definitely on the list of places we wanted
Visiting Fort Selkirk Read More »
Ever since I was a child I would see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and think, “Wow! Our national police force is beyond cool!”
Times have changed since 1933. Monopoly was invented, Joan Collins; Joan Rivers; and Willie Nelson were born. So was this columns author.
How Times Have Changed Read More »
The cancan that began as an 1830s dance craze in Paris was a direct revolt against the rules imposed by men, society, press, clergy and
The Legacy of the Klondike Cancan Read More »
The history of how we move is full of wild and wondrous stories about survival, romance, perseverance and everyday life. It’s also a great lens
Planes, Trains and Automobiles Read More »
On November 28, 1891, the New York Sun dedicated a full page to the cancan. Titled “Eccentric Paris Dance,” the article highlights Paris cancan stars
The Cancan Arrives at the Klondike Gold Rush Read More »
“Everyone talks about the Goldrush. I’m interested in the gaps in history. The points in between,” says Yukon writer Michael Gates, author of From the
Filling the Gaps in Our History Read More »
Allow me to take you back in time to when the words of today had a great difference in meaning… Close your eyes… and go
Do You Remember When? Read More »
During the 1890s, the United States was a melting pot of entertainment – and vaudeville became the perfect vehicle to showcase this wealth of diversity.
Can You Do the Cancan, Kate? Read More »
Appearing nightly in vaudeville, burlesque, ballets and operas, on tiny rustic stages of the Wild West mining camps and in the frontier theatres of the
The Cancan Under Arrest Read More »
by: Jillian Christmas Stepping off the plane in Whitehorse The last thing I expect to see is home Imagining I might roam this great black
February is Black History Month Read More »
The child’s heart that beats in my aging breast is breaking. They’re shutting down the circus. After 146 years (exactly twice my life span so
Farewell to the Big Top and its Big Thrills Read More »
Valentine’s Day is parallel to Disney stories, The initial holiday is more comparable to Grimm’s Fairy Tale, intertwined love with gore.
I have been told the “winner writes history.” Taking this idea a bit further and you might think history is all about battles, economic or
McQuesten’s Diary a Historic Treasures in a Box Read More »
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States of America. The wealthy and patrician New Yorker, whose New Deal policies helped pull
That new guy next door is definitely one of a kind Read More »
Although the cancan made its North American debut with Offenbach’s opera Orpheus of the Underworld in 1861, it wasn’t until it appeared in the first
Delightful Devilry: The Cancan Invades New York Read More »
On June 20, 1819 the composer who was destined to pen the cancan theme song was born. His name was Jacques Offenbach. Born in Cologne,
The Cancan as Theatrical Spectacle Read More »
Life on the river was isolated, especially in winter when the steamboats were not running. Sometimes visitors did stop in to catch up on the
Harvey Burian: Growing up Multicultural on the Stewart River Read More »
Remembrance Day has taken more meaning for me lately. Recently Yukon Archives shared some information about some Japanese from Dawson City who served in the
Remembering Japanese Canadian Soldiers of WWI Read More »
“There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken
Hepburn Tramway Historic Walk Read More »
In her book “DANCING” Lilly Grove describes the invention of the chahut which evolved into the cancan. “About 1830, a stage dancer called Mazarie
The dance craze with a kick! Read More »
Although women of Paris played an integral role in the French Revolution, once the dust settled they were given a stern message by the new
The Laundress and the Kick Read More »
The Hidden Histories Society Yukon collects stories and research on people of Asian and Black heritage who have contributed to the Yukon. It’s been doing
Pioneer Agronomist Read More »
The lure of the Yukon brought many enterprising people north. Togo Takamatsu was one of them. He was born in Chojumura, Japan on February 10, 1875
An Enterprising Adventurer Read More »
In the view of Dr. Ken Coates, the North’s response to the challenge presented by World War I was to do the opposite of what
The Yukon and the First World War Read More »
During the Great War of 1914-1918, nearly a thousand Yukoners enlisted for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, or fought for Britain, France and other
Mrs. Black Goes to War Read More »
Jim Christie was born in Scotland in 1867. He emigrated to Manitoba and then came to the Klondike in 1898. The short, wiry Scotsman took
Surviving a Grizzly Attack and the Great War Read More »
Joe Boyle came to the Klondike with the first wave of gold-seekers in the early summer of 1897, but soon left with a dream of
Joe Boyle: The Klondike King Who Became a War Hero Read More »
Canada was part of the British Empire, so when war was declared by Great Britain on August 4, 1914, Canada, too, joined the the conflict.
Flat Feet and Brave Hearts: The Yukon at War Read More »
Lucile Hunter was an intrepid Yukon pioneer. Just 35 years after slavery was abolished in 1863 in the United States, she and her husband, Charles,
Yukon Hidden History: Extraordinary Endurance Read More »
February is known as Black History Month, March is known as Women’s History Month. In the Yukon, January could be known as Yukon History Month.
Explore, Dance, and Learn Read More »
It took a king, a pope and a former prime minister to make me rethink my scepticism about extrasensory perception. Let me set the scene.
Sometimes Your Mind Kicks Up Things You Don’t Want to Believe Read More »
A few years ago, my brother found an ancient tool that had migrated upward through the soil in the middle of his wheat field in
Reminders of Time Past Read More »
The next time you travel north on the Alaska Highway between the Fish Lake Road and the Porter Creek Super A, ask yourself why the
Germany: a land of farms and old cities, and the destination of my travels every two years. It is a land with a past. Most
Out on the old Alaska Highway, halfway to Haines Junction and only a few kilometres from Champagne, an observant traveller may spot Kwaday Dan Kenji,
The Kwanlin Dün First Nation recorded elders’ stories in 1993. This turned into about seven boxes of transcripts, which sat in an office. Elders gathered
Formerly Tools, Now Artifacts on Display Read More »
A quarter century is a long time; however, 25 years ago the building the Yukon Transportation Museum (YTM) calls home was already old. The structure
The Yukon Transportation Museum is 25 Read More »
Enzo Ferrari emerged from World War II with a bold plan to design and build automobiles under his own name. At first, he favoured the
Enzo and his Masterpiece Read More »
Melissa Carlick learned about residential schools in a class, First Nations 100, during her first year at UNBC in Prince George. Afterward she asked her
I have been on an ad hoc personal journey to find my father’s heritage for several years. He passed away when I was only about
Peterson & Sons from Mile 0 TO 918, Alaska Highway Read More »
There’s only one archived photograph that proves croquet is part of Yukon’s past. When she saw it, Nancy Oakley’s imagination sparked; she’s got big plans
Making Croquet History Read More »
Dwayne and Nellie Backstrom might never be listed in the pages of The Colourful Five Percent; I don’t think they would care to be. But
Rendezvous – it’s always been our mid-winter break. A chance to unwind. It’s competition, and horseplay, and fun.
Rendezvous In the Old Days Read More »
It’s the biggest party in the territory, and this year Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous celebrates its 50th anniversary. For a lot of Yukoners the festival represents
The Evolution of Rendezvous Read More »
Dawson City Yukon, on the shores of the Klondike River, has often been described as a living ghost town. Which means, of course, along with
Dawson City Yukon: A Living Ghost Town Read More »
Helene Dobrowolsky found her vocation as an author and historian by happenstance. “After a few years of camp cooking, a friend told me about a
The History Hunter Read More »
Change sometimes takes time, even if the change means a return to the familiar. On July 26, 1978, the Whitehorse Star reported that, “a beautification
Naming and Renaming History Read More »
A 1920s Love Story, a Ryan B-1 high-winged monoplane named the Queen of the Yukon and the start of the Yukon Airways and Exploration Company.
Andy and Esmé Cruickshank Read More »
My friend Paddy Sumner’s had a past that was rich in memories, a present that was always adventurous and fun, and a future that was
Leading a Heroic Life: Jane Jacobs introduces us to one of her favourite people Read More »
It’s been 50 years since the worst RCMP plane crash in Yukon history. On July 13, 1963 at 8:10 p.m. a DHC-2 Beaver (CF-MPO) on
Lost but not Forgotten: RCMP honours officers killed in 1963 Carmacks plane crash Read More »
Teens are not known for their love of history, but at least one Yukon museum is trying to change that. The MacBride Museum of Yukon
Yukon Teens Connect with the Past Read More »
The next time you find yourself spinning around the traffic circle at the bottom of Robert Service Way, you may want to try that offshoot
A Sternwheeler Ride Through History Read More »
A friend of mine turned 30 on the weekend and to celebrate, about a dozen of us hiked into Rainbow Lake, 20 kilometres south of
The Mad Trapper Didn’t Wear Tubbs Read More »
Canuck Chuck Lands Difficult “Job” Wrangling a bevy of beautiful can-can dancers and introducing them to the world is a tough job, but Canuck Chuck,
Bold strokes of the present, intriguing photographs of the past: two new shows at Arts Underground offer you the Yukon in stereo. Simon Gilpin displays
Yukon Past and Present Read More »
I am a “DIYer.” I like making things for myself, family and friends. My kit includes wool, paper, stickers and beads. Books and magazines give
In Praise of Do-it-Yourself Culture Read More »
In the summers between my years at the University of Lethbridge I would work at the Yukon Transportation Museum (YTM). I sold trinkets in the
A Fitting Tribute (Clothed or Not) Read More »
Sitting in the dining room, at 609 Strickland Street, I visualize the house as it was when Bob Jacobs lived here as a child. This
Walls Can Talk: 609 Strickland Street … Then and Now Read More »
“I did the work in a consciousness manner and not with the idea of cutting corners,” Michele Silvestri wrote me from his home in Langley,
Walls Can Talk: A Moving Story, 701 Cook Street Read More »
From a little shack in “Sleepy Hollow”, to 403 Lowe Street, the house we see today has been transformed. The land was titled in 1960.
Walls Can Talk: Transforming 403 Lowe Street Read More »
Sandor Istvan Elek , founder of Sandor’s Clothing Ltd, was considered a bit of an outsider when he arrived in Whitehorse, but very quickly gained
Sandor Istvan Elek: Energetic Entrepreneur Read More »
In 1954, Earle Smith arrived in Whitehorse. He came with the RCAF and was stationed here for a number of years. He left the territory
The Lives of Maryhouse Read More »
The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous began in 1945. The prime feature of the festival was the colourful dog races made up of working dogs owned by
Nostalgia for Rendezvous Past Read More »
“We think it was originally an army wash house,” Lee Nunn informs me as we discuss 410 Ogilvie Street. Pete McCracken, carpenter extraordinaire, responsible for
Walls Can Talk: 410 Ogilvie – Squeaky Clean Read More »
Joanne Baines, current owner of 206 Hawkins Street, says she can’t remember who told her that Albert Henderson built the house for his sweetheart, but
206 Hawkins: The Riverboat Captain’s Braw House Read More »
Over 100 planes will be in the Yukon this weekend as the Century Flight Club heads for Whitehorse, its first destination event following last year’s
A land where pilots are noble Read More »
Research to date has taken me into post-Second World War homes. Recently however I had the opportunity to visit 509 Wood. I think of this
509 Wood Street: An Elegant Grandmother Read More »
When these planes pass through an airfield, they gulp up 20,000 litres of aviation fuel. It takes a total of two hours to watch them
One-hundred planes over the Yukon Read More »
I appreciate meeting people who live their life philosophy. Suat Tuzlak is one such person. I admire his philosophy about good wholesome food. I applaud
510 Hawkins: the kachelöfen Guest House Read More »
Nestled between the T.A. Firth Building and a small apartment building, 308 Hanson looks like a relic from the past. It is the only house
308 Hanson: A Cozy Staff House Read More »
Arthur #1 lived in Atlin, B.C. when he first encountered Arthur #2. Arthur #1 noticed a withdrawal from his bank account he did not authorize.
508 Wood Street: The Tale of Two Arthurs Read More »
Lusia visits with Grandma and Grandpa now. She helps out in the garden that Grandma has tended for decades. When Lusia’s grandparents first moved in,
Well, the tourists I have seen are the best. One summer as I folded my laundry I spied a couple of young, robust Austrians also
The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, built from 1954-57, demonstrated strongly how technology became a dramatic part of how nations claim space in the North,
Everyone knows the Yukon is a laid-back, sleepy little place – especially come November, when we gorge ourselves on seal blubber before bedding down with
Hibernate? Not Us. Read More »
Remembering Duke, Dr. Ron Pearson smiled. “I still do not know how he did it. The box of doughnuts was still taped shut, sitting on
Duke the Doughnut Thief Read More »
Everyone, it seems, has been interested in the project. I spoke with Tanya Handley about Fenix House. She recalled many downtown residents stopped by regularly
Do you ever wonder how an idea comes into your brain? Once it’s there it is up to you whether or not you proceed to
In a show of pre-season energy akin to athletes’ pre-game excitement, Parks Canada interpreters Carrie Docken and Carly Sims gallantly put on their copies of
There are times when I joke with friends about the appeal of socialism. After visiting the House of Terror, a museum in Budapest dedicated to
An Afternoon at the House of Terror In Budapest Read More »
Walk down Main Street any Friday night. The lights are on at 506 Main Street. While decades ago Main Street – west of 4th Avenue
506 Main Street Sam N’Andys: Food and Fun Read More »
The 1981 International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country Skiing World Cup organizing committee involved hundreds of Whitehorse volunteers.
Landing the Cup Final Read More »
One of the interesting names on the map in Yukon history is Dead Horse Gulch. It’s a name that has been well-earned. During the height
Looking Back: 3,000 Horses Read More »
My friend Jan O. recently told me she liked my research ideas about the Memorial Bench people. She said she worked with Joan Veinott and
Joan Veinott: An Amazing Woman Read More »
The love and respect for the man is so vivid in all the articles I have read. A dear friend of Desmond Carroll graciously lent
Desmond Carroll: Enthusiasm and Hospitality Read More »
When James Domville Richards joined the Klondike Gold Rush, the Yukon became blessed with one of its most endearing characters. The quiet, reserved man –
Looking Back: The woodcutter’s tale Read More »
Every now and then, a figure emerges out of the shadows of history with so much success and so many adventures that you swear they
Looking Back: The most interesting man in the world Read More »
You have 10 minutes,” the International Ski Federation (FIS) representative in Lake Placid told Don Sumanik and Bjorger Pettersen. So they made the best of
Landing the Cup Final: Part 2 Read More »
On a typical 2011 August day I walked the Millennium Trail. When I started out it was sunny and warm. I stopped at a favourite
Heart of the Trail Read More »
I’ve always had trouble when it came to focusing on a particular passion in my life. Anyone who knows me would likely say that I
Lifetime Love of Vintage Bikes Read More »
One hundred years ago, the Yukon’s First Lady, Martha Louise Black, set about making a statement with her gardens. Black moved into the Commissioner’s Residence
First Lady of Northern Gardening Read More »
Friends and colleagues called her “The Tall One”. Jan Phenix Blair was an occupational therapist in Yukon from 1995 to 2000. Her mother, Anne Blair,
Jan Phenix Blair: The Tall One Read More »
David Neufeld strings a tarp between spruce trees. No tree in the right spot? He guys out his boat pole as a support. He sets
Artrepreneur: A Voice for the River Read More »
Quick! Off the top of your head, how many world-famous geologists can you name? None? We can fix that. There is at least one you
Looking Back: Hercules of the North Read More »
I walked the Millenium Trail one day in late February, looking for the memorial bench for Norma Kobayashi. Along the way I met a grandpa
Norma Kobayashi: Kind and Gentle Spirit Read More »
What do Lily Munster, Jonas Wilkerson (the brutal overseer in Gone with the Wind),Battlestar Gallactica’s “Helo” Agathon, Howard Hughes’s mother and Charlie Chaplin’s movie double
All Yukon’s a Stage Read More »
It was inevitable, considering the sheer volume and variety of people who joined the Klondike Gold Rush, that a few people with connections to the
Looking Back: Fickle Fortune Read More »
The Klondike Gold Rush brought people from all over North America and the world to Dawson City. It should be no surprise then, that among
Looking Back: House of Life Read More »
If one takes a stroll in the hills behind Whitehorse General Hospital, they’ll find what looks like a short road that runs up the slope
Landscaping Landmark Read More »
On Christmas Eve, 1900, the Monte Carlo Saloon in Dawson City was the place to be. Men from all over the world crowded the dancehall,
Looking Back: When Johnny met Kate Read More »
One of Walter Holway’s favourite activities was participating in Edna’s “Anytime Thanksgiving” suppers. The couple didn’t wait until the actual Thanksgiving holiday to host a
Walter Holway: Anytime Thanksgiving Fun Read More »
What a glorious Saturday afternoon! I wandered the path in Bert Law Park, on Temptation Island. The sun was warm on my skin, but there
Bert Law; a Yukon Pioneer Read More »
One morning in the mess hall, the man sitting across from me took a sip and—as much to himself as anyone else—said, “I think this
That Summer in Elsa Read More »
The Bonanza Creek Road winds through piles of dredge tailings—hills of gravel mounded like ground deposited by a gigantic earthworm—and abandoned, rusting mining equipment. This
Putting the Giant to Rest Read More »
They rolled out of Dawson Creek, B.C. on August 4: 77 historic military vehicles, plus 36 civilian support vehicles, with drivers from the U.S., Canada,
We Got Us a Convoy Read More »
“I liken her to a fizzy drink—refreshing, invigorating and fun.” “She was a hummingbird with high energy.” Those colourful terms are how two very good
Sylvia MacIntosh: Respected Lawyer, Mother, Friend Read More »
Sam McGee was a real person, but nothing like Service’s character. He stole the name off of a deposit slip.The two men never knew each other.
Looking Back: The real Sam McGee Read More »
Herschel Island is the Yukon’s most northerly point, and one of its most beautiful. For a stretch in the late 19th century, it was also
Looking Back: Snowball Read More »
A man once had a dream. He had a vision of a secure, environmentally-controlled building with reading rooms and plenty of white gloves. If this
A Glimpse Into the Vault Read More »
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Klondike might not be cattle. But the men who moil for gold need
It all started when Bill Simpson went to the wrong meeting. “Went to a meeting. Paid my dues. Thought I was joining the Golden Age
A Very Active Elder Read More »
In 2008 my sisters and I travelled to Ireland. We were looking for “Grandma’s house” and the “Dale Castle”. One afternoon in Dublin our taxi
Coming Home: 509 Strickland Read More »
BY ALICE CYR, Tagish OHMIGOD!! This river is seriously running downhill! I am the front paddler in the lead canoe poised on the brink of
The River’s History, Is Cyr History Read More »
BURWASH LANDING If you are fortunate enough to have already driven through portions of Kluane National Park, you know the breathtaking scenery that lies behind
Museum Prepares You for the Drive Read More »
So, you are not the type to visit a museum … or your latest trip to a museum has left you wanting to learn more.
Virtual Stampeders Read More »
If you were around Main Street doing errands today, there’s a fairly good chance you visited one. If you reside in the downtown area, you
These Old Buildings Can Talk Read More »
Museums in the Yukon are becoming more than just a one-time stop over for many visitors and Yukoners. The variety of programs and services offered
Museums Can Pull Double Duty Read More »
I’m sure that most of you are aware of the little yellow trolley that chugs along the waterfront every summer. But what you may not
Free Rides On That ‘Other’ Train Read More »
Over the past year, a few people have pointed out the perceived oxymoron in the title of this column. “Museums are not fun,” they say.
Museums Are Even Funner This Week Read More »
The Heritage Places Poster and Photo Contest allowed Yukoners to express themselves creatively, a challenge taken on wholeheartedly by many
Historic contest in pictures and words Read More »