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.
Yukon Sauna, started by Tyler and Joyce Rempel, originally came to be when the two wanted a portable sauna for their own use.
It has been a big year for Joella Hogan. Hogan has owned The Yukon Soaps Company, in Mayo (the heart of the Yukon)…
Craft Fairs are a way for local vendors to sell items they have made, and with the Yukon’s dark, cold winters.
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)
Flying to Toronto on Air North: relaxation. No change of airline, no transfer of luggage. I figured they were also going to feed me.
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.”
Unorthodox Yukon is one of the Yukon’s most-colourful spaces. The store’s owner, Douma Alwarid, is funny, open and animated.
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 …
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.
Since the early Gold Rush days, hunting and fishing have played a major and valuable role in tourism in the Yukon.
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 …
As the Kicksled Revolution rings in its fifth birthday, owner and founder Anne Middler reflects on the past & what she hopes will come.
Yukon Venture Angels is an angel investment group. Experienced & first-time angels looking to learn about growing businesses are welcomed.
Jacobs Industries, founded by Edmund Jacobs: the first civilian to drive on the Alaska Highwayand is in the Yukon Transportation Hall of Fame.
International foods from many countries and a variety of cuisine – Middle Eastern, South Asian, European and Japanese.
This model of green investment cooperative is not only a means of developing renewable energy, but also as a safe, reliable investment.
Crêperie La Petite-Maison brings French food to Yukoners. Morin & Veniatare passionate & Yukoners are crazy about their crêpes.
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
How to put a system in place that all of the companies could trust. First eliminate the bad blood between the companies.
Driving taxis in Inuvik in 1972, The minimum fare in other towns was $1. In high-cost Inuvik, the taxi fare minimum was 75c.
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.”
Belly of the Bison offers dishes that are “upscale but simple,” as Scmidt describes them. “The food is elegant comfort food,” she said.
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.
Graphic novels are Gallagher’s favourite art form. This exhibit is an artistic journey to produce a horror graphic novel set in the Yukon.
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.
Meeting Bahm set her on a new personal journey, and professional path informed by his Tlingit heritage and traditional approach to trapping.
with a supportive community, this ice cream maker has been able to stick it out in 2021, and even return with some impressive upgrades.
Whitehorse musician Paris Pick’s most recent video, the title track from her album I Can’t Help It , is blowing up on YouTube
Macarons represent the bonbons side of Jeszika Mae’s business slogan: “Bacon and Bonbons – smoked meats and sweet treats.”
Whitehorse’s canoe and kayak rental companies are shifting their focus to the local market for a summer without tourists.
Anne’s Dumplings took off in the last year. Anne Huang-Power can’t keep up with the demand for her dumplings.
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 …
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.
Smoke and Sow, from food truck to Whitehorse restaurant. The menu includes beef brisket, pulled pork, racks of ribs and whole chickens.
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 ticks off several boxes: it’s well set up, it’s a great facility, it’s something he can grow with, and the location
There’s a whole lot of local in Gather Café and Taphouse, a recent addition to Whitehorse’s burgeoning culinary and bar scene.
Polarity Brewing, the latest addition to the Yukon craft beer scene, is a labour of love.
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.
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.
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 …
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 …
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.
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 »
The Yukon Chef Collective is a group of local culinary professionals giving back by creating meals for the Whitehorse Food Bank
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 »
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.
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
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 …
Meet Lowell Tait: heavy duty equipment, truck and transport technician
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.
[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 …
Cultured Fine Cheese has become a specialty shop that offers the necessary ingredients for a fabulous meal and the perfect snack.
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.
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!
Whatever we do, there is always room for a little kindness. That was the message I took away after meeting with Meg Rodger at her new eatery, Kind Café, on Hawkins Street in downtown Whitehorse.
For more than the past three decades, Däna Näye Ventures has helped Yukon businesses succeed. Now, on the eve of the organization’s 35th anniversary, it has been honoured by Startup Canada for its entrepreneurial efforts.
Carpentry has made my life better by giving me a job I love. I don’t dread getting up in the morning and am happy to go to a job I like with a crew that feels like family.
Full name: Travis Friesen, Skills Yukon alumni, volunteer and board member Age: 30 Trade: Sheet Metal Worker Current workplace: Hvactech Systems What motivated you to get into this career? I was looking for a change in my career and saw an ad for sheet metal. It peaked my interest and the rest is history! Was …
Eleven years ago, Jason Patreau was in Afghanistan with Task Force 1-08, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. (PPCLI.) He would be stationed there for nine months, not only engaging in active, combat but also humanitarian efforts such as rebuilding schools. This would be his sixth and final year with the Canadian …
Nicole Schoeneberg (left) and Hilary Seymour (right), owners of Summit Kombucha, enjoying their blueberry and basil kombucha, at their brewery Have you tried kombucha; the effervescent sweet/sour beverage? Statistics say you likely have. This ancient fermented tea drink is now the fastest-growing market in North America and experts say it could be worth $3.5 billion …
Summit Kombucha is making an ancient fermented drink Yukon’s favourite healthy beverage Read More »
Meet Riley Hildebrand, Skills Canada Yukon alumni: Heavy equipment, truck and transport technician
Even after a year of operating in downtown Whitehorse, Eddie Rideout, co-owner of Wayfarer Oyster House, stresses that his restaurant does more than just oysters. Some people still associate the 6th Avenue eatery with its pop-up origins, when Rideout and co-owners Brian Ng and Andrew Seymour would show up at different bars around town to …
“When you haveit flat tire, you throwit over there and you takeit spare tire from that pile. Every three days you takeit air filter out of car and you putit on dirty air filter pile and then you grabit filter from clean filter pile and putit in car. It’s your job to wash cab, you …
Chef Robert Brouillette, of the storied Gold Pan Saloon in Whitehorse, is passionate about showcasing local ingredients. Brouillette began working in restaurants at age 16. After working in his family’s Québec vineyard for six years and studying in fine French bistros with chefs from Paris, Bretagne and Alsace, Brouillette’s sense of adventure brought him from …
Considering the Caribou RV Park at km 1403 of the Alaska Highway was established in 1974 and your humble correspondent lived in Atlin from 1977 to 1984, I must have driven right by it hundreds of times over the years without giving it a look or even a thought. I knew it was built by …
Facility expansion has made winter growing possible Growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan, and during his high school days, no one knew Lorne Metropolit’s name. But they did know that he was Mac Metropolit’s son and he did good landscaping work. So, he was known as “Mac’s son” and if anyone needed a …
Almost a year into its brick and mortar bagel shop in Horwood’s Mall, Whitehorse’s own bit of bagel bliss is going strong. The smell of boiling and baking bagels is immediate when you step into Horwood’s Mall. Co-owners and operators, Adrian Burrill and Alena Puskas, make bagels with their team (Hannah Warrington, Brent Gallant and …
Well-Read Books celebrates a lifetime of books with its 20th anniversary and it’s a labour of love for the partners that own the store, which has established itself as a venue for the arts community. Over the years, Well-Read has hosted everything from a wedding to a wake, as well as numerous poetry readings, storytellings, …
Well-Read Books will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year and it’s a labour of love for the partners that own the store, which has established itself as a venue for the arts community. Over the years, Well-Read has hosted everything from a wedding to a wake, as well as numerous poetry readings, storytellings, concerts and …
You’d be forgiven for thinking Triniti Technology only sells cell phone cases. Sylvio Lin, general manager for the Whitehorse-based company, knows that’s what it looks like from the outside. “Most people think we just sell electronics,” said Lin. “They have no idea what else we do in terms of repair and servicing.” Beyond the cell …
Virginia Labelle didn’t learn to dive in the Yukon, but that’s where she teaches others how to do it. “I was entranced by scuba after a ‘See It/Try It’ experience at the old Whitehorse Lions Pool. So on our family vacation to Thailand in 1998, I learned how to dive with Big Blue on Koh …
Solar air heating panels could be mounted on the side of the house Energy efficiency and well-ventilated healthy air. Yukon Innovation Prize finalist Shane Wolfe is attempting to maximize the potential of heat-recovery ventilation (HRV) units that are integral for those two concepts to co-exist in a building. Northern construction has worked extensively to balance …
Yukon Innovation Prize finalist Sabrina Clarke was a worm composting novice when she first moved to Montreal. In fact, the city didn’t have a composting program at all and residents had to devise their own solutions. Clarke lucked out by developing an idea she’s parlayed into a new project, Yukon Wigglers. “A friend [in Montreal] …
Worming their way onto a kitchen counter near you Read More »
Russo roasts Firebaen coffee with a bike-powered roaster. “And then I go home and stretch,” he said, laughing.
Neil Macdonald (left), Dave Hamelin and Jayden Soroka formed Outpost 31 to create a full-service production company in the Yukon. Their success resulted in an invitation from Telefilm Canada to attend the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in France. In 2018, the Yukon saw vast growth within the local film industry. One of the reasons for …
The Government of Yukon has provided Yukon Women in Mining with funding for a series of events called Yukon Mining Days, scheduled to take place in communities across the territory. Working in partnership with the Government of Yukon and The Yukon Mining Alliance, the events are free to the community and focused on highlighting the …
The summer of 2018 was, unexpectedly, the best summer of my life so far. I was given the rare opportunity to mine gold from the ground up. A fellow truck driver from days past invited me to join his crew in the Klondike Goldfields near Dawson City, Yukon Territory. Yukon is famous for gold, gold mining …
There’s no doubt things are popping with Klondike Kettle Corn. The small business went from selling a few bags of kettle corn at the 2010 Fireweed Community Market to having the product available at local grocery stores, gas stations, fundraisers, parties and via popcorn subscription box. For Katie Young (aka Katie Popcorn), it involved moving the …
A few weeks ago, Woodcutter’s Blanket launched the latest in its expansion efforts—a microbrewery. The bar plans to offer a rotating assortment of beers which will go straight from the kegs to your glass, making the beer “as fresh as you can get it” according to Woodcutter’s co-owner, James Maltby. This has the added benefit …
Modernizing a photographic landmark on Second Avenue Read More »
It’s the ultimate garage sale, especially if you’re the type to keep more bikes than cars in your garage. This spring, the Contagious Mountain Bike Club (CMBC) is hosting its annual bicycle garage sale. Anyone can bring a bike (or bikes) to Shipyards Park on May 4 and leave them with CMBC members to be sold. The …
Whether you’re interested in being a leader or looking to grow your business, speaking in public is a surefire way to establish expertise and credibility in your field. Unfortunately for many, the thought of public speaking is enough to cause them to shrink back and turn down opportunities that come their way. Public speaking seems to …
Some ladies show up in high heels and lipstick; others roll into the dance studio right after having rolled off the couch. There’s no right way to come to class, said Kate Fitzgerald over the phone in late February. Her voice was low and sultry—the result of a cold rather than any concentrated effort to …
Dimensions Tech Services is a specialized company that mostly provides technical training to emergency services staff in the Yukon.
What do you wear to an outfitters ball? The two terms seem to be in contradiction to each other.
The main things I consider, as a painter, are ventilation, natural light and cleanup. Ventilation is challenging in the Yukon because in the winter you lose so much heat by opening windows.
Tyler Nichol, originally from Dawson City, has been building parks since he was a kid on the Dawson Dome and has gone from gold miner to a nationally renowned park creator in Canada.
Eirik Sharp, owner and operator of The Sharp End: Mountain Adventures, with his extensive avalanche background, is bringing change to how the Yukon manages avalanche terrain.
“We’re just at the cusp of changing an entire sport, and it’s coming out of a town of 23-thousand people. It’s incredible where we’ve got to,” said Alastair Smith, co founder of Proskida. Current performance-monitoring technology that’s widely available in the sport doesn’t tell you how much you’re producing; it just tells you how much …
The Deli, as it is fondly nicknamed by so many, is a local icon to most Yukoners (not just those in Whitehorse), as well as to many travellers from around the world. (This tribute was written to help celebrate its 50th Anniversary on December 14, 2018.)
Main Street Society folded into the Chamber. The agreement included making sure there was a Main St. presence.
When you walk into the newly renovated Elements Hair Studio and Day Spa, you wouldn’t know that its location was formerly a swimming pool. You might even forget that you are in Whitehorse. Whitehorse’s only true day spa moved into its new space in the Gold Rush Best Western Hotel in February, expanding its size …
Food security is an ongoing concern for northerners, as remote communities as well as Whitehorse struggle with access to reliable and affordable produce from southern suppliers. Executives at the Yukon-based power company Solvest Inc. think they’ve found a solution. The company is in the pilot phase of a project that aims to provide an off-the-grid …
Long-time Yukoners have watched with interest as the “old Food Fair” building has undergone extensive renovations on Second Avenue. The building has long sat vacant and curious viewers have watched with interest, wondering who the new residents might be. That wait is now over as the new YuKonstruct space has opened for members and the …
Born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Antoinette GreenOliph came to Ontario at 13 years of age. She recalls that her family was the only black family in the neighbourhood and recollects the awkward questions and excluded feelings of growing up different. She fell in love with food at a young age. “I was …
Jasmine Bill (left), Charles Chief, Jacquie Shorty, and Alexander Gatensby receive Whitehorse Motors’ August contribution to the KDFN Youth Advisory Council from Tina Woodland In the old days, it was just carburetors. Now, 50 years later, everything has changed, according to Tina Woodland, owner of Whitehorse Motors. Cars are computerized, the dealership has moved locations and …
Business After Hours (BAHs) are a regular fall and winter activity for networking professionals in Whitehorse.
Anto Yukon’s 100 per cent natural and vegan soaps and essential oils are inspired by by the artist’s favourite Canadian landscapes.
Cindy Klippenstein is a small-business owner with a degree in fine arts degree, who spends her days fleshing, tanning and mounting hunting trophies as the Yukon’s only full-time taxidermist. And she couldn’t be happier.
Each year, in Whitehorse, the Northern Fibres Guild invites the world to one of the Yukon‘s most exclusive sales events—Cranberry Fair.
Alkan Air offers the chance to try flying through their Discovery Flights. Alkan Air Flight School opened three years ago and Jenna Collee, chief flight instructor, said the Discovery Flights get people interested in flying.
To find authentic maple syrup, made from Canadian maple trees, you go to Richard Beaudoin. This Yukoner has taken up the task of introducing Yukoners to authentic Canadian maple syrup.
Chad Thomas, manager of the XY Charlie Crew, is leading the development of top-level wildland fire professionals in the Yukon, for First Nations.
As the only gaming café and comic book store in Whitehorse, Titan Gaming and Collectables is a one-of-a-kind concept North of 60.
by Yvonne Freiderich GoNorth expands its car & RV rental business with RV service, repair and storage at its new location on Mt. Sima Road “Summertime is RV time—for locals and tourists alike! Whether you want to rent an RV or you need your own unit repaired, GoNorth is proud to serve you,” said the …
When Beverley Gray started her business, over 20 years ago, it began with filling a need for her own family.
Garage sales are friendly Saturday morning events where we get a chance to socialize with other shoppers and the households, neighbourhoods and organizations hosting the sales.
In early April, 79-year-old Lorraine White did what lots of Yukoners do: she held a garage sale. White, who was moving to Vancouver Island, sold her furniture and old china at her Takhini senior’s residence, and gave away the rest. Moving on or moving out are two reasons for garage sales. Connecting with community is …
What’s Up Yukon’s weekly recipe developer, Sydney Oland, has undertaken a new venture, the Yukon Chocolate Company. The new business leverages her eight years of experience in the chocolate-making industry to offer chocolate made fresh from cacao beans.
Fahrenheit Hair originally offered only hair services, but have recently expanded into further beauty services that include body sugaring, massage, threading, organic skincare and lash extensions.
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 Exploration Camp, which is held during Yukon Mining Week each spring, is one of two major events geared towards that work. (Family Day, held during the annual Geoscience Forum in …
Big Bear Donair shares a parking lot with the old Salvation Army and wouldn’t be the first location many would look to for a new business venture.
Tagish-based open-source technology guru and founder of Open Broadcaster, “Radio” Rob Hopkins is a driving force behind the use of this technology in northern Canada A group of broadcasters and open-source technology enthusiasts are having get-together at the Days Inn in Whitehorse on March 23. The open-source North 60 conference brings together professionals from different …
Take a drive south of Whitehorse, using the mountain range and tall pines as your guide, you will find yourself in the lovely community of Carcross. In this little hub works a very talented jeweller, Shelley MacDonald.
I meet the architect Mary Ellen Read at the cocktail bar Woodcutter’s Blanket in Whitehorse. With a grin she guides me around the windy corner to show me a pit, where you can see the log building’s basement’s concrete exterior, a face normally covered by earth. She checks with James Maltby, the owner of the Woodcutter’s, …
Changing northern skylines: Mary Ellen Read and the art of collaboration Read More »
Chris Gishler, owner and operator of Equinox Adventures, has spent the last 15 years building and developing his outdoor adventure and education company as the Yukon has continued to grow. Back in 1999, Gishler arrived to Whitehorse in preparation for a Mount Logan trip in Kluane National Park, only to discover plane issues, which led …
Brenda Buren (left) and Lindsay Agar (right) present staff from BMO ribbons for Best Bank and Best Overall in the 2017 Business Decor Competition Yukon businesses have been celebrating Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous with window painting and decorating for decades. The festive atmosphere builds anticipation for the event and helps cultivate the Klondike Gold Rush-era feel …
It’s the year of the woman, ladies. In the height of the #MeToo movement, Times Up, and many other global shifts, women are taking a stand and making change by acknowledging that we face unique challenges and tackling them head on.
People want to be creative, but they don’t necessarily want to have to have all the stuff it takes to do a craft. They can come here, pay the one price, and then take their piece home with them.
There’s a new brewery opening in the Mount Sima area. Deep Dark Wood Brewing is hoping to be open and available to the public around Christmas.
Icycle Sports started in the summer of 1998 by Patrick Plemel in his basement in Riverdale. In 1999 they opened their first location on Wood Street, then had multiple locations until 2006 when they moved to their current location on Quartz Road. Since its inception, it has undergone many changes, including a change in ownership. …
It’s been 20 years since Thomas de Jager first discovered the Yukon. Today, he runs his successful business Yukon Wide Adventures that gives locals and tourists the opportunity to enjoy the Yukon’s outdoors. Thomas, originally from Monheim, Germany first came as a tourist through Alaska and the Yukon in 1996. His parents were avid kayakers …
Third generation, born-and-raised Yukoners, brothers Myles, 26 and Tanner Hougen, 24 have begun their own journey into the Yukon entrepreneurial market.
When you decide to pursue baking as a career, there’s only so far you can go up before the only option is opening up your own place.
Head to Toe is the first ever salon to offer a bar service to their customers, including mimosas, house wines, scotch, coffee and baileys, and import and local beer.
The 45th annual Geoscience Forum is organized by the Yukon Chamber of Mines as an opportunity for everyone to learn more about mining, aviation, the environmental sciences and other aspects of the mineral exploration industry.
Jessica Westman grew up in Marsh Lake, but spent her school and work life in Whitehorse. Like many Yukoners who grew up in the territory, she left for 10 years to attend university and get work and life experiences before realizing there is no place like home. She moved back to Whitehorse in 2015 to …
Located at 204 Strickland St., the Arctic Star Printing building has been a part of the downtown Whitehorse scenery since 1983. Now they’ve got a new location. The company acquired Inkspirationz at 120 Platinum Road in July, and as of September 11, the two companies are now operating from the same workspace. “It will allow …
For Patrick Jackson, the owner and operator of Changing Gear, it seems like only yesterday that he moved from Vancouver up to the Yukon, but 20 years later he’s still here using his experience and passion to run a successful store. Jackson started the sporting goods consignment store Changing Gear just over a year ago …
Independent Management consultant Stefan Voswinkel has a question for Yukon entrepreneurs: “What does success mean to you?” Voswinkel is running a five-session workshop aimed at helping business-minded Yukoners figure this out for themselves. He says it’s essential to prioritize your values. Once you’ve reached the point where you know what your goals are, it makes …
From pizzerias, to cell service providers, to gyms and cheese shops, the landscape at Horwoods Mall has changed a lot over the past decade. Amidst all that turnover, one perennial business has proven that it can handle a little change in season, and though they have moved walls within the Front Street location (three times, …
Wondering how to get your business from side hustle to full time? Struggling with balancing kids, hobbies and relationships, while building your brand? Looking for inspiration and motivation to get you through the inevitable blocks and challenges that comes with being an entrepreneur? Women face unique challenges when launching into the world of business. For …
Local Female Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Business Advice Read More »
To hear Hugh Kitchen tell it, operating a Northern aviation business seems a lot like trying to romance a porcupine. Besides needing opportunity, courage and excellent timing, “you have to be flexible and fast on your feet.” Kitchen ought to know. He’s been involved with Whitehorse-based Alkan Air for the past 35 years, both as …
Rhiannon Russell: You opened in June 2016. How has the first year of business been? Luann Baker-Johnson: Absolutely spectacular. The community support is phenomenal. We always thought that this medium is wonderful and almost addictive in nature. It is. We’ve had over 5,000 people come in here for Hot Dates — that’s a one- or …
If something isn’t working, try differently, not harder. Art therapist Zoë Armstrong lives by these words, but last fall, she embodied this expression even further: she decided she needed a change from the local counselling agency where she had been working for five years. It wasn’t that Armstrong wasn’t connecting with, and forming meaningful relationships …
Yukon Women in Mining wants to raise the profile of mining as a vibrant career option, especially for Yukon women and youth. To do that in May they launched the Experiential Extravaganza in three Yukon communities. Over 30 representatives from 20 companies built a travelling exploration camp in Pelly Crossing, Faro and Dawson City to …
Hot dog carving is my latest passion project. This past weekend I became the general of my own army comprised of perfectly seared men and women armed for battle in a soft and squishy white bun. You too can become a leader among men, all you need is a paring knife, a packet of hot …
To devote an entire issue of What’s Up Yukon to the celebration of the hot dog, one must completely understand exactly what a hot dog is … and isn’t. Immediately what scratches at the mind is the question: What is the difference between a sausage and a hot dog? I laugh, because I know exactly …
Fireweed Jelly Yield: approximately 15 x 125 ml jars Ingredients: 8 cups fireweed blossoms (no stems or leaves) ¼ cup lemon juice 4 ½ cups water 2 packages powdered pectin 5 cups sugar Method: Collect the fireweed blossoms. Avoid the green stems and leaves. I harvest the blooming stalks while my patient wife picks and …
When Leonard Linklater was growing up in Inuvik, NWT, there was one radio station on the dial. The CBC. Through the airwaves, Indigenous voices carried messages and music. “Louis Goose, Les Carpentier, they were all on the air! I was used to hearing Indigenous voices. Not a lot of them – the main broadcasters were …
Erik Nielsen International Airport Manager since October 2016, Robert Manlig, the first Filipino Canadian to hold the position, has found his calling in the Yukon. “Aviation has always been the love of my life. It’s an exciting industry,” Manlig says. “It never gets old watching planes land, take off and listening to ATC (Air Traffic …
When you’re in the backcountry, sometimes you don’t have a lot, but you need something fast, tasty and hot. This is a simple, highly adaptable dish that can be made almost anywhere, with a wide variety of ingredients. This version uses kidney beans, but any kind will do. Only the eggs and tomatoes are essential. …
It’s May. The time to spring-clean which, for me, means emptying out my closets and passing on the gently-worn-but-no-longer-fitting clothes to someone else to love. Especially my jeans, which have survived my hopes of losing weight or growing taller or simply waking up one day with a perfect body. The jeans that are like new, …
Meg Rodgers is a self-proclaimed “whole food junkie” who exudes kindness in everything she does. It’s not only in the name of her baking company, Kind Whole Foods, but in the kindness she extends to the planet, via the mouth-watering, cruelty-free delicacies she so passionately creates as part of her self-started business. “I think we …
The mining industry plays an important role in the lives of Yukoners. The Yukon Chamber of Mines wraps up their annual mining week with a free interpretive tour of the Whitehorse Copper Belt region on the evening of May 4th and the Mining Exploration and Discovery Camp on Friday May 5th at the S.S. Klondike …
This is the story of a carpenter. If you did not see the accompanying photo, you can be excused for imagining it is about a man because, with a few exceptions, this trade is dominated by men. Katelyn Dawson is one of those exceptions, and she is all the more exceptional because she doesn’t fit …
Oh what a wonderful time we live in. If you are in a strange, new city and need to know where the best coffee is served, there is an app for that. Just touch your smartphone. If you need to know if those noodles are gluten-free, well, the package has a barcode and you have …
Food is important to me because I have a large family. Five boys under the age of nine” says Sonny Gray, CEO of North Star Agriculture Corp., as his company will soon announce plans to start construction in the Yukon. Like many in the Yukon he’s concerned about fresh produce. Yukoners like to buy local …
Don’t you just hate it when you place your order for a dinner, after agonizing for 10 minutes, and then see something even better being carried past your table to someone else? The Cellar Steakhouse and Wine Bar, at the Edgewater Hotel, finally has as a solution: They are called Tapas. These mini-meals are miniature …
Sometimes, you just need cake. I’ve baked this from scratch before, but this is the one time I’m going to advocate boxed over homemade: when you’re deep in the backcountry it’s just too much fuss to pack in all the things you need to make a decent cake. The last time I made this, I …
Applications are open until March 12 for the third annual Yukon Innovation Prize. The contest, which is hosted by the the Yukon College’s Cold Climate Innovation program and the Yukon Department of Economic Development, is seeking health and wellness-related entrepreneurial ideas related to the unique challenges posed by living in the North. Previous themes have …
Sometimes when you’re in the bush you need lots of calories, but you don’t have lots of time (or energy) left at the end of the day. By prepping the first part of this three part recipe for dinner, you have yourself a hearty, quick breakfast, as well as lunch or dinner the next day …
Stepping into Johnson’s Crossing Lodge nestled off the Alaska Highway at historic Mile 836 feels more like walking into your mom’s living room than a highway lodge. Vintage tins and rusted relics line the shelves overtop a cozy room with tables and chairs. A table top is scattered with hundreds of puzzle pieces waiting to …
Joe Sparling, the co-founder and president of Air North, says he hears many of these stories through the comment cards. “The one that catches my eye over and over is, ‘It feels like you are home before you get home.’” Sitting in his office, at a desk his father used before him, he says, “I …
It’s a chilly January evening, and 20 some kilometres south of Whitehorse, the cyclic hum of a whirring metal drum comes to a climactic finale with a “snap, crackle, pop.” It may be cold outside, but 34-year-old Michael Russo, dressed in insulated overalls and a down filled jacket, is aglow as he steps off an …
We also enjoyed petting the many friendly animals that live with the host family. Eight dogs, a horse, a donkey and several chickens can keep adults and kids busy during their stay. Looking inside the guestbook we realized just how many guests have already had a great time in this cabin since 2008. Phrases like …
Saturday, Nov. 19 is the Yukon Chamber of Mines’ Family Day and on Sunday the Forum Trade Show showcases the industry. Monday the Core Shack opens with drilling samples of recent prospects. Mann, an independent consultant, hasn’t missed the Geoscience Forum since the late ’80s. “If you live and work in this territory it’s the …
The Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, a cultural hub of our capital city, will see national delegates focused on aboriginal economic development arrive on Monday, October 3 for the CANDO 23rd annual conference: Partnerships for Prosperity, Change Collaboration and Opportunity. CANDO (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) is a federally registered, non-profit society that …
Bring on the cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice – it’s fall! My Facebook has been blowing up with harvest pictures: oversized squash, pounds of potatoes, and buckets of berries. I’ve also been seeing pictures of other people’s canning projects, which always inspires and motivates me to come up with new and exciting recipes. If you …
Etsy.com’s coast-to-coast pop-up event is back in Whitehorse for a second year, celebrating local artisans. Over a dozen vendors will be there with wares for you to touch, smell, see and drool over, and buy. The event takes place in 38 communities across Canada on the same day. Etsy.com is a online forum where …
Imagination & Artistry at the Whitehorse Etsy Sale Read More »
When I was a kid, we had yellow curry powder in the house for exactly three dishes: curried rice with raisins, curried chicken steamed buns and these deliciously addictive curried crab puffs my parents would make for special occasions. Although very mild as far as heat level goes, the power of that spice has always …
It is possible to come up with a million-dollar idea. But, from that eureka moment to seeing your bank balance tip over into seven figures, there is a lot of planning and cajoling and spending and risking. A lot. Getting a good start and staying on track is crucial. That is why the folks at …
I recently discovered a great trick for keeping strawberries fresher for longer: wash them in a one part vinegar to 10-parts water solution, then leave them out to dry before storing them in the fridge. There’s no vinegar aftertaste, and your strawberries will last way longer! I figured this trick would work equally well on …
Jackie Yaklin is a true knitter. If you see her at the dentist office, she likely has knitting needles in her hands conjuring up something warm for someone. “It is like an obsession and I seem to be really obsessed with starting projects,” she admits. “I have four projects going on right now.” Yaklin likes …
Not quite a year ago, Jesse Cooke was in Ottawa to receive the Parks Canada Youth Tourism Entrepreneur Award. He was being recognized for his business, Husky Bus, which he launched in the summer of 2012. Even then, as he announced at a subsequent meeting of the Dawson City Chamber of Commerce, he was already …
Having trouble finding uses for your abundant mango crops? Look no further than this exotic chutney, combining the bright, tropical flavour of mango with the warm, spicy-sweet tones of cumin. If you’ve never had it before, chutney is sweet and savoury, with a chunky, salsa-like texture. It’s a perfect addition to a cheese plate, a …
My first try at making wine jelly occurred recently while visiting my hometown of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. My mom and I spent an afternoon together attempting a wine jelly and a cherry whisky jam. I say “attempting” because the results were less than ideal. This could have been due to a number of things: a …
The Yukon Association for Community Living is trying something they’ve never done before: they’re entering the film business. The organization has a mission is to advocate for, and support individuals with, developmental disabilities and their families and guardians have made a film as a promotional tool to attract employers to hire their clients. Kathleen Hare, …
Just because you have a great idea for a business, it doesn’t automatically follow that you have an idea of how to get it up and running. What does follow is a lot of research into areas you may have no experience with: market studies, permitting, supply chains, advertising, patents, etc. StartUp Whitehorse aims to …
Feeling thirsty this Saint Patrick’s Day? Your librations need not come from far away this weekend. Home-grown beer and spirit producer Yukon Brewing has recently released something new into their line up; a Yukon-made whisky, Two Brewers Single Malt. February 13th marked the much anticipated release of their first batch, of which approximately 700 bottles …
One thing I often notice about winter is the way it makes you really appreciate warmth. It feels great to get out of the cold, cuddle up under a blanket and enjoy a hot beverage while you jealously flick through pictures online of other people’s beachside holidays. I’ve lived in Yukon for almost a year …
Up until mid-July of last year, I had always had the same car – a 1999 standard transmission Honda CRV. When the rear CV joint went, I was cash strapped and just needed a vehicle to get me home to the Yukon from Naramata, BC, where I was working as a cherry picker. I wound …
Suppose you are a French entrepreneur, and you are looking for a new business idea to develop in Whitehorse. What do you do ? For a safe bet, you stick to the old saying “Do what you know.” Entrepreneur and epicurean Sylvain Belmondo did just that. After many months in the making, the Gourmet …
Not just gold glitters in the Klondike. For Dawson City single-mother & entrepreneur, the pasties she makes sparkle too.
The office is spacious, warm, comforting. An oh-so-welcoming leather sofa and recliner are along the far wall under a soft pool of light. One wall is painted a deep blue; another, a deep purple. “Those are my favourite colours,” says Lee Ann Thomson in a profoundly soothing voice. Then she admits, “And, yes, blue and …
Standing in the hallway of the Horwood’s Mall, looking into Climate Clothing, you don’t immediately see the First Nation influence in the neat rows of clothing. You see earth tones, trending toward the dark due to the season, and little surprises here and there in a comfortable store. But First Nation teachings lives in the …
The Potluck Community Co-op is ready for its next step. For the past year and a half the Potluck, focused on ‘good food’ beginning with local and organic, has run a weekly pop-up shop with online ordering. While ‘breaking even’ according to board member Bernie Hoeschele, the little business has been challenged by wanting to …
When your friend blows into town, you hang onto your hat and lay on the groceries, especially the Stolichnaya Vodka, or “Stoli”, as he calls it. Your friend is a Martini drinker, and particular about his cocktail of choice. He likes a dry Martini, so the vermouth must be dispensed via a tiny spray bottle. …
Proud Yukoners want to shop Yukon – but sometimes it feels hard to do that. With so many of our goods and services being provided by companies on the Outside, it often feels like we’ve got no choice but to shell out to the big boys. For those who prefer to shop in their own backyard, however, …
If you’ve walked past Bocelli’s Pizzeria lately, you may have seen a small sign in the window advertising its farewell. The local makers of saucy, thincrust Italian-style deliciousness are closing their doors. On Friday, August 28, the pizza oven will fire for the last time. Bocelli’s has been at the corner of 4th Avenue and …
There’s a reason people like me should never play the stock market. Some time ago, when I heard that a new arts and entertainment magazine was in the works, the cynic in me said it wouldn’t last six months. These things never do. I could not have been more wrong if I’d bet my backside …
One of the many remarks I got when I was selling queen raffle tickets during Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous (YSR) events was, “I have never won a prize”. My usual reply was, “You are already a winner by purchasing the raffle tickets, because you have made a contribution to the community”. My dear friends, by purchasing …
In some dream world, working from home is easy. Get up early in the morning, park on the sofa, sip cup of coffee after cup of coffee, pound stories into the faithful laptop, wear wool socks and an afghan. The sun pours in the window so that it’s appreciated but not a hindrance to vision. …
Earlier this year, at the Toronto Interior Design show, the Cubitat was introduced. This lifestyle cube is 10’ x 10’ and features a bed, bathroom, kitchen and television. All you need to do is hook up water and power and you have yourself a compact living space. Smaller living spaces have become increasingly popular. Now …
There is the story of an ice cream shack in Carcross that had no ice cream for the weekend. So, an employee of G-P Distributing put foam insulation in the back of her car and made the 90-minute round trip to stock up the freezer. That’s an amazing story to anyone but Kyle and Tyler …
Micah Quinn likes a challenge — whether it’s hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada (4265 kilometres) alone, or re-imagining a local Whitehorse coffee shop as a dynamic new hub for the community, he’s up for it. Late last year Quinn was finishing a contract at Yukon College. He had spent the last …
Whitehorse is a town of natural beauty and diverse niches, and quite the opposite of global hub, New York City. Not everyone is caught up in high fashion comas, there are no large bright billboards in the centre of town, and financial institutions are housed in small banks instead of blocks of skyscrapers. When it …
From the modern glass and metal outer door, to the wooden old-timey inner door, The Wheelhouse Restaurant’s guests are instantly transported back to the Whitehorse of the 1930s. If they take the tour, those guests aren’t sure if they are smiling at Art Webster’s enthusiasm, or at the sheer cleverness of the coat rack and …
When one walks into Horwoods Mall from the Front Street entrance in downtown Whilehorse it’s hard to miss him. There, in one of the building’s charming nooks and crannies, sits John Houle with greyish hair protruding endearingly from a small, black skull cap. Houle is the owner/operator of ProPass, a one-stop-shop for all your photo …
I like blank, plain walls in the kitchen. Uncluttered and simple. If the paint is the same colour as every other wall in the house, even better. Crap! I am not even kidding myself, here. We have a very nice kitchen, but those walls are just a glaring bore. I guess I won’t be binge-watching …
Ogilvie General Contracting is a small company; Graydon Keenan is it. And he and his long time friend Jona Barr took his first big project together. It wasn’t just any job. This was for their friend Elijah Stick’s mom, Jan. “I knew I wanted to make it special for Jan,” he says. “She’s like family …
It may not be a bar where everybody knows your name, but they sure as heck have seen you shoveling your driveway. It’s a neighbourhood pub. Its busiest nights are between Monday and Friday as Porter Creek welcomes home its residents after a long day of work. And Bailey’s Pub and Grill may not be …
To descend the stairs into Bear’s Paw Quilts is to descend into colour. Quilts and colourful fabric samples line the walls. This is more than a fabric store. It’s a school, and a conduit to a world where quilting is the art of choice. Quilter, business owner, and teacher Ruth Headley attributes Bear’s Paw’s twelve years …
It’s not really a truck with a paper shredder in the back; it’s more like a shredder-onwheels. And when you see the shredder-on-wheels parked outside a business on a Thursday with its lights flashing, paper isn’t shredded by page. No, no. These folks deal in 100-pound batches; 200-pound; and 300-pound. “It is the low-stress part …
At the request of some Facebook friends I spent about a week in late December taking a series of pictures showing the retreating daylight hours. Some of them were people who used to live here — friends and former students. They wanted to remember what it was like. Other requests were from people as far …
Most nights, I go somewhere in the hills behind Riverdale, buried in all my warm clothes, and there, standing still, I look at the sky for long hours, until the cold air makes its way through my layers. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, an opening in the clouds reveals dim lights over the northern horizon. Or, …
It is a busy Monday afternoon when Margriet and Al Aasman open their office for an interview. They are sitting in the meeting room where they do their brainstorming and workshops. One can feel the creative atmosphere in the room , with a white board full of notes on the wall, red lamps in the …
I usually keep a cool head in chaos. This was not the case one fine Friday when I stopped by the Whitehorse Real Canadian Superstore (Superstore) after work to pick up a few things for dinner. Superstore is a large Loblaws-brand grocery store, and since the closure of Extra Foods (the only other large grocery …
Perspectives on the Whitehorse Extra Foods (aka Yellow Store) Renovation Read More »
Amy O’Rourke’s business was financially successful from the outset — so successful, she folded it in less than a year. She will talk about her experience at Baked Café on November 20. As founder of Cozy Foods, O’Rourke prepared and delivered home-style frozen meals to time-strapped customers in Whitehorse . Cozy Foods founder Amy O’Rourke …
In the beginning it was available only to the people of Riverdale. But now — two years later — the Yukon Blue Bin Recycling Society has grown large enough to offer recycling pickup to every major residential area in Whitehorse. Their service is simple; every two weeks a Blue Bin representative comes by to pick up recycling …
Dawson City’s blend of old-time charm and contemporary conveniences gives it a rare appeal, so it’s fitting that a taco cart will soon grace this beautiful little Klondike town. Dawsonites Georgia Hammond, Allie Haydock, and Blake Cameron can’t wait to get Aloha Tacosrolling. The trio behind Aloha has known each other for years, and have …
So you just bought a new place, and you didn’t pay too much attention during shop class, so you hire a contractor to do some work. But how do you avoid home reno nightmares? Bill Greer, director of capital maintenance at Yukon Housing Corporation, shares some ideas. First of all, the scope of a contractor’s …
“Marketing is a hated part of the music business that musicians need to get right,” says Steve Reed, executive director of Music Yukon. But he and Music Yukon want to help. They have organized a weekend of seminars that promise to deliver practical advice for musicians to amp up their careers. The conference is called …
Let’s talk about beer. OK, not specifically about beer. Rather about the significant contribution a brewery like the Yukon Brewing Company can make to promote the destination it was born in. Mark Beese, the brewery’s enthusiastic sales manager who could talk beer any day any time (and does), put it this way, “Beer is what …
The fondue is one of the most social of meals. It requires the diner to wait between bites and, thus, has lots of opportunity to chat with others at the table. So it is no surprise that Wolf’s Den Restaurant is owned and operated by a Swiss couple, Harry and Yvonne Ochsner. You see, in …
Fondue in the forest is a social event: Wolf’s Den Restaurant does it the European way Read More »
Gerry Steers has the patience of a saint. The owner of Gerry’s Computer Magic spends her days doing what she loves best – photographing animals. But it’s not easy. “It’s a gift from God if they all stay still,” she says. “In fact, it’s almost impossible. You need a lot of patience. You have to …
I’ve known Mark Stenzig, owner of Up North Adventures, for a few years. But my most memorable meeting with him was during Christmas 2003. My brother, visiting from Calgary, and I had decided to try out a new pair of snowshoes that he and my sister had given me. A cold but beautiful day, we …
Up North: Up-and-coming, award-winning outfitter is just a nice guy Read More »
Like many Yukoners, I had dinner at La Gourmandise Creperie and World Cuisine when it first opened last fall. It was a wonderful experience, but the portions were too big … I had no room left for dessert. So, I decided to return just for dessert. My LDC and I arrived at 8:00 on a …
For this issue, I interviewed three people who, in the business world at least, walk in very different circles. There was Craig Hougen and Mary-Jane Warshawski, the couple who have 20,000 square feet of retail space on Main Street; and Jason Seguin, former artistic director of Nakai Theatre and fine-food enthusiast. Craig and Mary-Jane spend …
Becki Brauen, literally, began her business, Lilli Pie Lotions, in a garage six years ago. Literally, she pounded pavement and knocked on doors; she set up a table at Qwanlin Mall. Just like many craftspeople in the Yukon, she saw her first blush of success at Spruce Bog. Today, Brauen is the BDC’s Young Entrepreneur …
The most popular door leading into Board Stiff is the one that opens from Bent Spoon Café. “We encourage people to carry coffees in,” says co-owner of Board Stiff, Craig Hougen. “That reflects the idea of ‘come in, get a coffee, do the tour’,” adds his wife, the other co-owner, Mary-Jane Warshawski. With 20,000 square …
We are lucky in Whitehorse; there are testaments everywhere to the fact that our community values creativity. There are several galleries, coffee shops and government buildings displaying an ever-changing array of artwork. Craft fairs abound and many Yukon musicians are spreading their works throughout the country. It is easy for people who don’t create regularly …
Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council indicates a decline in our overall labour force from a growth rate of 1.4 percent in 2005 to 0.4 percent in 2016. Technology is a tool that helps fill the gap, allowing industry operators to allocate human resources where they are most needed. Think automated checkout or bank machine and …
THOSE WHO SAY YES, SAY: As computers become more and more sophisticated, they become more and more useful. And, the more useful they are, the more of a necessity they become. Some may wince at the word “necessity”, but they need to realize that computers can go to more websites than just YouTube and MySpace. …
Should employees be allowed to use work computers for personal use? Read More »
“It’s hard to think of myself as a young entrepreneur, I’ve been doing it so long,” says Mrs. Lee Randell. She and her husband, Mr. Lee Randell, bought Peak Fitness in 2001 and have run the gym together ever since. When they bought the business, Mrs. Lee was just 23 years old and they were …
There is a commercial on television that implores people to “fire your boss” and become self employed. Catchy line. In many ways, it sums up the feelings of many. In Ammanda Partridge’s case, however, she didn’t so much “fire her boss” when she bought KB’s Esthetics from her own boss, Kathleen Burke, as she did …
Andrew Finton, of the Sundog Retreat Carving Program, likes to point to Calvin Morberg as one of his successful young carvers. Today he has a long way to point. Morberg’s off on a cultural delegation to Siberia. Four and a half years ago, Morberg sold his hand-caved masks out of towel-lined shoeboxes on Main Street. …
You’ve got a problem and you need to fix it. Where do you start? With questions, of course! In essence, you have a conversation with yourself, your staff or your team, focusing on the problem that needs fixing. Your questions will work better if you ask the right kind of questions and in the right …
The labour market. It’s an issue that has been discussed to no end and we still haven’t reached a solution. Where do we find staff for our tourism businesses? Of course, we’ve been presented with numerous options from increasing wages to offering more benefits and from hiring retirees to searching the foreign labour pool for …
Those of us in the workforce who are over the age of 30 have one thing in common: we have nothing in common with those under 30. Those elements that are true in this sweeping generalization (crafted solely to offer a punchy lead) are a pity: we “old folks” should have more in common with …
THOSE WHO CHOOSE YOUTH SAY: Let’s face it: whomever you hire will likely be gone within five years. Workers are transient these days and that is not a situation that is unique to the young. However, a young person will not try to fool you into thinking they will spend a long time with you. …
Should I hire a young person or someone with experience? Read More »
I love Eggs Benedict. It is the ultimate comfort food for me … on weekend winter mornings that is. So, imagine my joy as I anticipated our visit to High Country Inn’s Bistro On Fourth. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 7 a.m. To 2 p.m., it has an Eggstravaganza that features the beloved Eggs Benedict. …
Sure, it’s a smart phone. I don’t think the name is wrong, so much as how the name is understood. If you are smart, you can get this gadget to do a lot of really cool stuff. But until you’ve smartened up a little bit, it can be a real pain in the… Let me …
Simonne Chalifoux is well on her way to becoming an expert on the single scene in Whitehorse. As the founder/organizer/host/everything else of the Whitehorse Singles Group, she has seen what works, what doesn’t work, the failures and the successes in the single world. Well, being older and single, to be more precise: “People in their …
Ray Mazurak was studying at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver when the idea of owning and operating his own portable food stand first began to percolate in his head. The 28-year-old saw a little burrito stand on Commercial Drive and knew right then he wanted, what he calls, a gold mine of his …
Whimsy, angst and wit play in Joseph Tisiga’s drawings for the show Indigenous Incisions — or an Indigenous Ambivalence of the Abandoned Modern Man — opening Sept. 4 in the Yukon Arts Centre Community Gallery. Or should I call him J. Ciga? That’s how he signs his drawings. Ciga (pronounced cih-guh, with a short sharp …
Dang. I thought I was early. Practically the whole class is here already, heads bowed over their work. I look at the clock. It’s only ten to. Aha. All these ladies (and one gentlemen) have lots of beading to do. I’m taking part in a moccasin-making class. Shelby Blackjack shares her skills with easygoing encouragement. …
I’m back at Lil’s, slurping on another old-fashioned chocolate milkshake. There’s a family in the next booth talking to a young woman at a table. Her back is to me. I’m busy trying to think of a place to rent The Man Who Knew Too Much. It’s my turn to pick a film for movie …
“Sure, go ahead and laugh. You may think I’m joking, but … my tongue is insured.” I suppose, since she claims to be the world’s highest paid Dog Food Taster, that might not be out of the question. But if you could be the world’s highest paid taster of anything, I’d much prefer the earlier …
I was watching one of the Sunday-morning news shows and heard something that crystallized, in my mind, what is wrong with the financial sector. A Republican (you need to pronounce it like I do by first drawing out the “Reee” just a bit, and then spit out the “pub!” and then tack on the “lican” …
I watched the city worker dump my garbage into that “trash compactor on wheels” and I found myself wondering: Does he get to work four days a week now? When he found out that this new automated system was coming our way, did he go home and tell his wife excitedly, “Hey, Hon, I can …
Deanna Slonski has always had a flair for interior design. “My parents owned a furniture and appliance store when I was a kid,” she says. “I worked there helping people pick out items and fitting them together – essentially I was the in-store decorator. I’ve always had a passion for it, I’ve always loved it, …
On May 22 and 24, Whitehorse is hosting the annual International Toastmasters Conference, which has delegates coming to the Yukon from as far away as Alaska and Alberta. The theme is leadership on all levels and in all walks of life. The event starts Friday evening with registration, entertainment and an opportunity to connect with …
Pat McKenna takes a cook’s tour of famous, infamous and soon-to-be famous Yukon chefs. Featured today is Mary-El Kerr of Whitehorse. Mary-El Kerr, owner and operator of Mary-El Fine Food & Catering, brings a wide variety of expertise and pizzazz to the table. An early start cooking at her father’s restaurant launched Kerr into course …
If you like to camp in comfort and enjoy a challenge, take a Dutch oven. Breads, bannock, cinnamon buns, upside-down-cake, succulent meats and baked fish are taken to a new dimension over an open fire. The trick is to keep only a few coals underneath and more on top of the Dutch oven. This bread …
Have you ever returned from a restaurant and just felt … satisfied? It would have been a night when the ambiance was comfortable, the service was unobtrusive and the food was definitely something you don’t often experience. Even if you shared your meal with the best of friends, it was the dining experience itself that …
Marlene Collins wants Arts Underground to be more than a place for artists to show their art or to take or teach a course. She wants artists to spend time there. She hopes to do this by providing more services. Arts Underground proponents seek to support artists, to provide fertile soil for them to grow …
My eyes were closed as my teeth rested in the juicy, flavourful shawarma. It was beautifully spiced and juicy meat, wrapped in a warm pita along with lettuce, hummus, tomatoes and a homemade Tarator sauce. I was instantly transported back in time, 30 years, to Oromocto, New Brunswick. It is where I tasted my first …
From the Middle East, to the Maritimes, to the Yukon Read More »
Sometime near the end of October, I was making pumpkin soup with a friend of mine. There was one missing ingredient: fish sauce. We meticulously sifted through the shelves of a local grocery store, but came up empty-handed. We got the staff involved in the search – still nothing. Just before giving up, my friend …
From my seat, I could see a toboggan hill, trees, mountains and blue sky. Not such a bad view for my lunch in the middle of a busy day. All the more incredible is that this place is just two minutes from downtown and two minutes from Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, et al. It is the …
With not one, but two new editors now in harness at What’s Up Yukon, our loyal readers may be wondering what that means and how their magazine might be changing. To answer those questions, here’s part of a cyber-chat between Meg Walker in Dawson City and Ken Bolton in Whitehorse. It has been edited, of …
There’s a gorgeous new gallery in town. You climb the stairs at the back of Triple J’s Music’s new location, past a potter’s wheel, past walls lovingly embellished with graffiti, past a purple bicycle with a purple-patterned velvet banana seat. Then you come to the entrance of Gallery 22. Professional-quality vinyl lettering lists the artists …
Brushy hard edges, soft edges of colour flowing into one another; bold graphite squiggles, brushed plonks of colour that hover above the rest in their chromatic intensity. I love to write about art. I love to stand before the piece and have the experience, then try to put that into words. My intent is to …
Here are two lightweight and quick-to-prepare recipes sure to deliver loads of flavour and little weight while being carried in your pack, canoe or kayak. The taste of a meal increases dramatically when eaten in our fresh Yukon outdoors. Once you are at camp, it brightens everyone’s outlook when hearty foods are offered to weary, …
As you are reading this, there is a different editor preparing the next issue of What’s Up Yukon, as I have stepped aside to allow some fresh blood to take this beloved paper to the next level. That editor is a friend of the paper, Elaine Corden, editor of North of Ordinary. She is filling …
It is with your support these past years that our community entertainment magazine has grown to what it is today. We didn’t create the events, shows, concerts, and games that are featured in this magazine… Yukoners did. It is our neighbour’s talents and creativity that is featured in story after story. Quite frankly, Yukoners have …
We would like to share this award with all of you Read More »
He was a staple of this summer’s Fireweed Market, held every Thursday in Shipyards Park. At the far end of the market’s stalls, you’d find him cooking underneath a modest white tent. In fact, most aspects of his operation are modest. But not the line-ups. He is Gadi Katz, better known to some as “The …
Do you dream of art you can’t afford to buy? Maybe you can rent it. I recently rented work to an office and to an individual. Quite a few people told me it was a novel idea they thought more people should know about. Hoping they’re right, here’s a primer. As far as I know, …
The first thing that strikes you when you walk into The Neighborhood Pup is a sense of calm, bright spaciousness. But wait a minute. Isn’t this supposed to be a daycare centre? Sure, there are shelves with plastic bins for favourite toys and other accessories – each bin carefully labeled with the attendee’s name. But …
Home-based business owners always face a challenge when it comes to finding their business space. Local clothing designer Shauna Jones works from an unusual location – under her bed ! Jones made the choice when she moved into a place that had only her own bedroom for an office. She had a loft bed made, …
One of Whitehorse’s oldest commercial art galleries has changed hands. Art Webster started the North End Gallery at First Avenue and Steele Street 12 years ago. “It was April of 1999 – the last century – when we opened our doors. It was about half the space you see now, and it took about six …
The next time you tune into Fox News, take a good look at the network’s iconic rotating cube in the lower left corner of your screen. Or while you’re watching a basketball or hockey game on satellite TV, consider those clocks ticking down on games being played in various cities across the U.S. The man …
So what’s Dean Eyre doing here? He’s taking the job of finding the right bikes for people really seriously – and having fun doing it. Eyre is the owner of Cadence Cycle at 508 Wood Street, in the centre of downtown Whitehorse. Yes, it used to be Phillipe’s Bicycle Repair but since January 2010 Eyre …
In the quarter century since the late Rob Harvey founded Yukon Engineering Services (YES), the company has had its hand in the majority of mining venture in Yukon and northern B.C. It’s not hard to see why. With expertise in everything from designing tailings and water dams, to conducting site surveys and mapping, ore body …
When John Small started his expediting business, he was operating part-time from his home. His sole vehicle was an eight-year-old, two-wheel drive Yukon Government surplus half-ton he used for deliveries to the Minto mine site. That was back in 2004, when the Yukon’s mining industry was in “dire straits.” Fast forward seven years. Small’s Expediting …
One sure sign of spring in the Yukon territory is the annual arrival of the swans. Another is the opening of Candy’s Fruit Stand in downtown Whitehorse in early May. Candy Kent is a character written from a Dickens novel, always aware of the situation at hand and with a fresh-yogurt sense of humour, prepared …
The Yukon is often suited to those with a hands-on lifestyle. The territory is brimming with active, independent, multi-skilled residents. And women in the professional trade field are growing. One organization in Whitehorse is contributing to this growth that by educating young women in high school from across the territory and providing them with opportunity …
Every serious do-it-yourselfer knows you have to own a bunch of tools. Right? But surely, it’s cheaper to rent them. Right? Maybe yes, maybe no. Bruce Beemish, who describes himself as “chief cook and bottle-washer” at Yukon Service Rentals, isn’t shy about giving advice. If you’re thinking about renting a reciprocal saw, or a cordless …
Retirement isn’t exactly Terry Coventry’s thing. Although it’s been almost a decade since the Whitehorse shoemaker closed his Ogilvie Street shop nearly a decade ago, he continues to operate on a scaled-down basis from his Crestview home. And he doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. Mind you, that’s not what he thought 10 years ago. …
If you’re stuck in a mindset that thinks of tattooing as a back-alley operation for drunken sailors, outlaw bikers and the low side of life, you haven’t been paying attention. And you certainly don’t know Dan Bushnell. An hour spent with the soft-spoken, 38-year-old Whitehorse artist yields a Cook’s tour of reflection on anthropology, sociology …
If you set out to discuss knives with George Roberts, be prepared to invest some time. When it comes to the properties of various metals, exotic hardwoods, modern acrylics and animal byproducts such as ivory, bone and antler – and how to work with them – the man has an encyclopedic knowledge he’s willing to …
the plan was to escape the Yukon cold and start a small boutique hotel in Costa Rica. That’s why Karlo Krauzig and his wife, Sarah, spent four months scouring the Central American country in search of the ideal location. But when they learned that Sarah was pregnant with twins, the couple decided to head home. …
It was novelist Lawrence Hill who told me while we sipped tea in the Downtown Hotel dining room in Dawson in March that his early career as a journalist taught him to embrace the adventure of his stories. The beauty of living in the North is the adventure that is innate to every story. Pursuing …
As the summer high season for art sales slips away, artists might find themselves thinking about showing in cities outside the Yukon, where the high season for art sales occurs in the fall and winter. It sounds like a no-brainer. It’s an accepted fact that the Yukon art market must be small because our population …
Janice Lattin traces her fascination with used clothes to the days when her late mother, Dorothy, was in charge of the annual rummage sales for the Anglican Church. Despite being told to wait, Lattin and her siblings would comb through the big bags of donated goods, looking for hidden treasures. “If you begged her hard, …
Beards, chainsaws, ingenuity, beards, rusty trucks, dogs, beards, puns, beards and beards, and grinning balls of lichen—these are the things the Klondike Drawing Company (KDC) is made of. Aubyn O’Grady and Rian Lougheed-Smith have used skills they learned in the Yukon to begin an illustration and silk-screening business in the heart of the Dawson City …
They are sturdy but simple wooden boxes. But they’re indispensable to the mining industry – exploration programs go through them by the thousands every year. And a little known plant in a quiet industrial park in the north-west corner of Whitehorse churns them out year-round for shipping throughout the territory, as well as Alaska and …
Dawson man-about-town Greg Hakonson is always an enthusiastic guy, putting his energy into construction, cooking and the local arts scene – he’s been a driving force behind the Dawson City Arts Society for more than a decade. But ask him about the Trekke® Lumbar Lift, a device he invented to relieve lower back pain, and …
This is the second and final part of a cyber-chat between What’s Up Yukon editors Meg Walker in Dawson City and Ken Bolton in Whitehorse. KB: I was a bit puzzled the last time we spoke when you said you’d like to seeWhat’s Up Yukon cover fashion. I hope you don’t mean photos of anorexic …
When foodies get restless, they debate “the $100 hamburger”. It’s an intellectual exercise that asks the question, “What would you have to do to justify charging $100 for a hamburger?” So, it was with great interest that I watched my Lovely Dinner Companion order a Bison Burger at Skky Hotel’s Volare Restaurant. It was only …
Wendy Whitemore has lived alone on the land in Ontario for 10 years before embarking on about 10 years of solo travel. During those travels she explored Canada’s North, ranging over the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Being alone suits Whitemore: “I don’t feel alone when I’m on the Dempster. I feel totally connected to the …
Owning your own business offers great rewards, with equally great opportunities. But some entrepreneurs consider themselves working alone in business, especially if they are filling a unique niche in the marketplace. There is more to business life than flying solo. Many successful businesses have formed strategic alliances, with like-minded businesses, that gives their business the …
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Q: What do you think about organizations teaming up or Partnering in the Yukon? I posed this question to the members of TIA Yukon, with regard to the tourism industry. The responses were clear and passionate. Forming partnerships is paramount to success … but proceed with caution. We have many innovative and successful partnerships in …
A chamber of commerce is a member-based organization geared toward supporting local businesses and organizations in various ways, including promoting economic growth and positive business conditions, marketing, research, training, business exploration and development, facilitating commercial development and providing contacts and networking opportunities. One of the most important vehicles to get all of this done is …
Trevor Mead-Robins’ suburban home in Whitehorse appears rather average from the outside. But a small green sign on his front door and another near the side entrance lead you to something a little less than ordinary. A kitchen setting – complete with an oven, cabinetry and tile flooring – has been transformed into a computer …
So, you are a gold bug. How appropriate when it comes to investing if you, the true Yukoner, see the mother lode in “them tars”. Well, before you make the faithful jump, think again. Yes, the global markets are all in a turmoil (what an understatement). Yes, your portfolio is bleeding at the time gold …
I don’t know if there has been an industry more affected by the advancement of technology than ours. I remember the days when graphic design was just cutting and pasting. Today’s designers “computer manipulate” while software such as Photoshop,InDesign and Illustrator allow untrained designers profess to be designers. I am not going to get into …
Over the past 10 years, computers have greatly changed how some artists make their work and how most of them do business. When Lisanna Sullivan started out as a photographer in high school and university, she developed her images in a wet darkroom. Leaving those institutions, she stopped shooting. Without the ability to develop the …
“How can you have a collaborative work environment, where the team gets more accomplished because the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts, when you don’t share an office space?” My skeptical friend posed the question, but I am sure by the tone of it that the question mark wasn’t pronounced and the …
Mike and Donna Larsen can set up shop and work wherever they happen to be. All it takes are four laptops, an Internet connection, a schwack of cell phones to stay connected with their offices, a printer and a “home base” in Marsh Lake with a pool of trusted staff. The Larsens own and operate …
How times have changed. I can remember the first computer I purchased for our business back in the mid 1980s. We were so proud of the IBM AT which didn’t have an operating system and worked off of DOS with a 10 Meg Hard Drive. I remember when we got our first fax machine and …
BY JANELLE HARDY Making the most of technology, in an industry devoted to getting people as far from the trappings of daily life as possible, may seem like an oxymoron. But, as Nahanni River Adventures has discovered, informed customers made happy by access to a crisp, organized and in-depth website get the most out of …
The ways in which technology improves the productivity of a business continue to grow. By selecting a technological system that is right for you, you allow your business, colleagues and consumers to flourish. From modern point-of-sale systems, to web-based technology, to mobile wireless communications, there is a multitude of ways that you can implement technology …
I have always been skeptical about my brother, Karl, never going to school … but now my doubts have vanished. I am so proud of him. When Karl was only 14, he started his apprenticeship with our Dad, Martin, to be a machinist. Karl was not attracted to this trade because of the potentially high …
Dean Tower has just fulfilled one of his long-term dreams: He has a room full of instruments. Having just opened his first music store, Dean’s Strings and Music Supplies, Tower grins from ear to ear as he talks about his new endeavour: “My whole life I wanted a whole room full of instruments and now …
I see the office building being replaced by the virtual office and I see this happening over this generation. – Mark Beese, 2008
Despite what Charles Lamb said, youth is not wasted on the young. Young workers have the strength, potential and eagerness to excel at whatever captures their interest. They will ask questions and learn at the rate set by their employers. If an employer nourishes that interest and shows concern for the young employee, in their …
BY TARA McCARTHY Tucked away in the industrial area of Whitehorse is a small office focused on huge opportunities. Dan Curtis says he could probably go on all day about the possibilities out there for young workers, as the buzz and beeping of heavy machinery filters through his window. Curtis is the executive director of …