STORIES BY… JOEL KRAHN ASHLEY JOANNOU MAURA FORREST MYLES DOLPHIN KEITH HALLIDAY SHARON SHORTY
PHOTO BY ROBERT POSTMA
PLAN A SOBER DRIVER.
Every day more than
170 people are injured and every year more than
1,000 people are killed… …by impaired drivers in Canada.
MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER. When you drink, don’t drive. 2
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
How not to prepare for holiday guests
Joel Krahn/Yukon News
Seeing the northern lights is a big deal for people from Outside.
By Keith Halliday ou don’t really know your partner until you have to plan a Christmas visit by friends and family from Y Outside…
Funloving Fiona, arriving home: Whew! Done work for the holidays! Just in time. My sister and her husband arrive tonight. Hardcore Harry: Are they looking forward to meeting your new Yukon man? Fiona, slightly nervously: Yes. Did you get the tree set up? Harry: You bet! I picked up one of those nice little Christmas trees the City plants every summer on the Lewes Boulevard median. Fiona: You took the whole week off work and didn’t get any farther than Lewes Boulevard? Harry: I didn’t take the week off. I went in to the department every morning. Fiona: Just to put your Rudolph sweater on your swivel chair, turn on Christmas carols on your computer and then leave. Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Harry: That new “delay sending” feature in Outlook is awesome. I got it to send work emails every 45 minutes all week. Gave me time to plan an epic trip for your sister. Fiona: Epic? Harry: Yeah, picture yourself ski trekking with your sister on the Cottonwood Trail. It’s only 75 clicks, with a pretty reasonable 1,500-foot elevation gain. Great views above treeline. I borrowed some skis, bought premium oatmeal and already started drying the chilli. Fiona: Is this going to be like the time you borrowed boots two sizes too small and took me to Log Cabin? Harry: Hey! It’s not my fault you didn’t know your ski boot size in European. Fiona: Anyway, since the closest my sister has been to winter camping is staying at the Fairmont in Whistler, maybe snowcaves in Kluane is a bit of a stretch. Harry: We could do a big loop at Mount Mac. Lower Valley through Beaver Swamp is beautiful. And we could take them out toward Mordor. Fiona: Are you just picking the trails with the most ominous-sounding names? Will this be one of those continued on page 5
3
Letters to Santa from Jack Hulland’s Grade 1 students
Merry
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Fiona: Did you get the spare room set up? outings with the wrong wax and frozen water bottles? Harry: Actually, I had a better idea. I thought they And I’m not sure walking from the SkyTrain to the could stay in the wall tent. It’s cozy with the old wood office has my brother-in-law ready for McIntyre Ascent. stove in there. I’m not finished tuning my skis in the spare Harry: We could do something gas-powered. How room. My expedition telemarks got pretty banged up last about renting sleds and going to the Pass? The rental season. place has those new Ski-doo powder Fiona: Just because you have 12 pairs of skis sleds with the 800 cc engines! 164 horse. doesn’t mean they get their own room! You know, the Rotax 800R E-TEC. Harry: If your relatives stay in the spare room, Fiona: Launching my brother-in-law they’ll just watch Netflix on the big TV all the into space off a 800 cc rocket sled is a time. Outside people are bandwidth hogs. bad idea. They don’t understand what a scarce resource Harry: If he rents it with his air points it is. I was thinking of unplugging the router card, insurance is included. and blaming Northwestel. If your brother-inFiona: Take a moment and remember law gets annoying, we can send him out into Jesse Winter/Yukon News why you know that insurance is the greenbelt to look for windblown trees and Be sure to get insurance if included. fallen cables. putting an uninitiated family Harry: Oh, right. Fiona: Not happening. I’m not bringing them member on a powerful sled. home from northern lights watching at 2 a.m. Fiona: How about a nice little and telling them to get into a wall tent with no Wi-Fi. snowshoe on the Mountain Hero trail, followed by hot Harry: What is this obsession with the northern lights? chocolate in Carcross? Everyone’s seen them. Harry: Well, snowshoeing lets you use your own boots, Fiona: Not if you’re from Vancouver. My sister is really which makes for warmer feet. Or the snowshoe trails at looking forward to it. She watches the University of Mount Mac up to the Sarah Steele hut are nice. I could Alaska aurora forecast on her iPhone. bring my expedition stove for hot chocolate. It can boil a Harry: Or you could just look straight up. litre in just 2.8 minutes. Fiona: Did you get the presents? Fiona: Good. I’ll bring the Baileys. They might even Harry: Yeah, I went to Mac’s and – have fun. Fiona: Got them each a few kilos of books about the Harry: We could take them to Jim’s cabin after. He’s got Lost Patrol and demise of the Franklin Expedition? a sauna. Harry: You say that like it’s bad. I also got a couple of Fiona: To roll around in the snow and get lacerated by gallons of Yukon Brewing’s Longest Night ale. the icy crust in sensitive areas? Fiona, reading one of the Christmas cards on the Harry: Hey! I thought everyone knew not to jump in mantel: This card is to my sister from the premier. How the snow in spring when the snow is crusty. Plus, your did you do that? sister would probably be wearing a bathing suit. Harry: Oh, I bought some Yukon Christmas cards and Fiona: How about the Takhini Hot Springs instead? forged his signature. There’s one from a Yukon Supreme Harry: The black forest cake isn’t as good as when I was Court justice and another from the senator. See, I used a a kid. different pen colour. I thought she’d be impressed. Fiona: Stop it! They might even see the Northern Fiona: Time to go to the airport. Lights. Harry: Super. I’ll put on my best fleece. Harry: Only if you let me freeze your hair into a Mohawk. Keith Halliday is a Yukon economist and author.
continued from page 3
ukoners for supporting our (local) business
ou Y Th a n k y
mas & Happy New Year t s i r h C erry
M
Cheryl Buchan Trager bodywork, NTS, RMT
Wishing you the best of health for the new year! The Claim Café will be closing Dec. 24 at 4:30pm for our annual Christmas break
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Alpine Meadow Wellness Centre #3, 404 Hanson St., Whitehorse YT
867-335-6955
5
That’s one big honkin’ Christmas tree “It’s there to promote joy and create that Christmas spirit.” By Ashley Joannou rivers coming in and out of Riverdale one day last month had a unique excuse for being D delayed.
The bridge was closed to make way for a whopper of a tree. Each Christmas, the City of Whitehorse installs a massive Christmas tree at the intersection of Front and Main Streets. This year’s 33-year-old white spruce came from Riverdale, all 14 metres of it. Moving it downtown took some planning, including closing the bridge.
Joel Krahn/Yukon News
The Christmas tree on the end of Main Street is lit up during the Winterval festival on December 5.
Thank you everyone for your patronage over the last year and wishing everyone a
Merry Christmas & the best for 2015. From everyone at Metro Chrysler.
6
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
“The width of the tree, it blocks off more than a lane... the truck came down the middle of the bridge,� says parks supervisor Marc Boulerice. Before a tree makes it to that honoured location, it needs to get Boulerice’s seal of approval. The ideal tree is dense, he says, with no big holes between its branches. “Then just a good, balanced shape,� he says. “Ideally a Christmas tree shape.� That means a bushier bottom that tapers off to a point at the top. To get that shape, most of the trees chosen for the job come from residential neighbourhoods. Residential trees tend to get bushier because they don’t have to fight for space or sunlight the way that tall, skinny, wild-growing Yukon trees do, Boulerice says. Most years, residents with large trees on their lawns volunteer to give them away in exchange for the free removal. This year’s tree came from a family who said it was getting too big for the front yard, Boulerice says. Last year was the first season in a while that a local tree wasn’t volunteered. So staff trudged out to find one. “We went looking in green spaces around town and we found one along Fish Lake Road,� Boulerice says. “It was really tall and had good density, it just didn’t have that triangular shape.� Once a tree is picked for the job, the planning starts for how to get it downtown. Enter ATCO Electric Yukon. With the same equipment used to install utility poles, the company’s staff are able to clamp onto the trunk and hold it vertical while the tree is cut and lowered onto a f latbed truck. The final stop is the legacy of a festively inclined city planner. Boulerice isn’t sure when it happened, but someone thought ahead to install a metre-and-a-half deep pipe in the ground at the intersection of Front and Main to use as a permanent Christmas tree stand. Boulerice estimates about 20,000 lights cover
*/9 s ,/6% s 0%!#% Hope your holiday, has it all! With best wishes and heartfelt thanks from
Contact Ashley Joannu at ashleyj@yukon-news.com
Wishing you a Warm & Cozy Winter! DALL CONTRACTING LTD. • Home heat fuel delivery • Cardlock • Bulk Fuel • Lubricants
667-2468
Besst wishes forr a peacceful an nd joyyous holiday season from the Board and Staff of Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services
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211 Black St. | 393-3360 %FD OPPO UP QN t %FD OPPO UP QN t %FD DMPTFE t %FD OPPO UP QN t %FD OPPO UP QN t +BO DMPTFE Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
the tree, which was officially lit up as part of the Winterval festivities. The thousands of lights used around the city are all energy efficient LED bulbs, he said. “For example, one strand uses 7.5 watts. Whereas in the past, just one light bulb used five watts. It’s phenomenal.� After the city rings in the New Year the tree comes down. “When we take down the tree we often get calls, ‘How come the city’s cutting down this tree that’s been growing at the end of Main Street?’� Boulerice says. The wood does not go to waste. The larger pieces become benches along Whitehorse’s trails. The rest gets dried out and is used as firewood for events or at the fire pit in Shipyards Park. Boulerice says he’s always interested in talking to people who might have a tree to donate. He already has one picked out for next year. “It’s there to promote joy and create that Christmas spirit,� he says. “We live in a pretty dark place in the wintertime, so our hope is really to just create lots of places with these decorative lights to make things a little bit happier and hopefully bring a smile to people’s faces.�
Please note that we will be closed from Friday, December 25, 2015 ry 3,, 2016 inclusive. until Sunday, January
(867) 667-2970 Collect calls accepted
7
Let it glow By Maura Forrest you’ve spent Christmas in Whitehorse the last few IYoufyears, you might know about 141 Pueblo Crescent. might know it as the house with the singing lights –
the place where cars line up along both sides of the street, while the house’s lights dance in sync with Christmas music blasting from their radios. But what you might not know is that those lights have been manually choreographed down to 50-millisecond intervals. Or that it takes roughly 10 hours to program the lights for every minute of music you hear. The singing lights at 141 Pueblo Crescent are a labour of love. About 10 years ago, Angela and Seamus Venasse saw a beer commercial on TV that showed Christmas lights choreographed to music. They thought it looked like fun, so they decided to try it on their own home. Seamus, a software developer, found some online forums for people who do this kind of thing as a hobby. Through those forums, he found the controller boards he needed to hook the lights up to a computer and the software he needed to program them. He uses a radio antenna to broadcast the music on an empty channel – 99.9 FM – so that people can listen to the songs from their cars. Finding the lights, Seamus said, was a stroke of luck. They
Joel Krahn/Yukon News
Angela and Seamus Venasse strung up over 7,000 bulbs and coordinated them all to music.
needed LED lights, which tend to be expensive. “We lucked out a few years ago. Angela gave me a phone call‌ saying that Superstore was doing their end-of-season sales of all their Christmas lights.â€? He told her to grab a flat cart and start loading it up. They bought everything Superstore had – $5,500 worth of multicoloured lights – for just $280. Angela estimates they
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
now have about 7,000 bulbs on the house, and that’s only over again to build up these things,” Seamus said. about half of what they have in storage. As it is, the lights All the songs are instrumental only, which Angela says she run along every window and corner of the house and cover a prefers. Her latest achievement is an instrumental version of line of trees and small arches set up in the front yard. “Let It Go,” from the musical Frozen, which she programmed But neither of them really knew how much time was going last year. to be involved when they took this on. “Not a clue on that She said she’s gotten used to hearing kids belt out the one,” Seamus said. “It didn’t mention that in the forums.” lyrics to the viral hit from their cars. Seamus spent months Seamus said most people “(People) just pull up and enjoy it and probably building the system, and don’t realize the vast Angela spent about 90 their kids are in the vehicle and they’re amount of work that goes into the hours programming each He said a lot of people think singing lyrics to some of the songs show. of the first few songs, they’ve just bought some kind of though she says she’s a and they’re in awe. We do it just for kit from Canadian Tire, or that “little bit more proficient at they’re using a computer program it now” – these days, each that. Just to make people happy.” that automatically interprets song only takes her maybe the music and synchronizes the 30 or 40 hours. lights. Angela uses a program that lets her slow down the music But the couple doesn’t seem bothered by that. so she can figure out exactly which lights she wants to turn “(People) just pull up and enjoy it and their kids are in the on for each note. vehicle and they’re singing lyrics to some of the songs and “I’m a very auditory person,” she said. “I listen to a song, I they’re in awe,” Angela said. “We do it just for that. Just to listen to the beats and the music behind the song.” make people happy.” Usually, she explained, the lights on the trees correspond The light show will be on every night from 4 p.m. until 10 to piano notes. The strings on the roof will light up with p.m., and until 1 a.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. guitar strums or snare drums, and the lights on the walls are The show ends on New Year’s Day. synchronized with the bass line. But with 88 separate segments of lights, there’s a lot to Contact Maura Forrest at coordinate. “She’s listening to the song over and over and maura.forrest@yukon-news.com
HAPPYHolidays
FROM ALL OF US AT ASHLEY LEY FURNITURE HOMESTORE!
Thank you Yukoners for your patronage! We wish all the best to you and yours this holiday season and into the new year! See you on Boxing Day from 9AM - 5PM for TONS of in-store savings! HOLIDAY HOURS: December 24th - 9AM to 4PM December 25th - CLOSED Boxing Day - 9AM to 4PM December 27th - CLOSED December 31st - 9AM to 4PM January 1st - CLOSED 303 OGILVIE ASHLEY FURNITURE HOMESTORE IN THE QWANLIN MALL Phone:867-668-7575 Email: info@ashleyyukon.com
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
9
WITH THANKS From Our Entire Staff AT CHRISTMAS
As we wrap up yet another year, we’d like to acknowledge all the individuals — customers, neighbors, associates, and friends, who have made doing business here such a pleasure for us. Please accept our sincere gratitude and best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season. You’re always welcome here, and we look forward to the privilege of serving you again soon.
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STORE HOURS: Monday to Friday | 7:30am - 6:00pm Saturday | 8:00am - 5:00pm CLOSED EARLY Thursday, December 24th | 7:30am - 12:00pm CLOSED Friday, December 25th CLOSED Saturday, December 26th 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ON CALL SERVICES AVAILABLE. 9038 Quartz Road, Whitehorse, Yukon 867-633-4482 867-633-6910 Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Joel Krahn/Yukon News
Crews dress up trees along Third Avenue.
THE GOURMET FINE DELICATESSEN would like to thank all of our customers for their support and wish them a Merry Christmas, a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
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Give the gift that’s KFC Gift Cards always in good taste. available now.
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
2230 2nd Avenue
HORWOOD’S MALL • WHITEHORSE • 867-333-1112
11
Memories of Christmas in Moosehide By Myles Dolphin
he smell of percolating coee wafted through the air T as Angie Joseph-Rear pushed open the doors to the old dance hall in Moosehide.
Inside, people danced and jigged late into the night, snacking on homemade sandwiches and cake. Joseph-Rear’s father played the fiddle alongside other musicians while a square-dance caller gave instructions to the partygoers. Children danced along the edges of the hall, emulating their parents who had taken up the middle of the room. It was the late 1950s and the Christmas holidays at Moosehide village, about five kilometres away from Dawson City, were filled with nightly dances. “I have no idea how they managed to have a dance every night between Christmas and New Year,� Joseph-Rear said. “They would dance all night, get up the next morning to go to work and do it all over again the next night. But we never knew what time the dances ended because my father would send us home around 9 o’clock.� Joseph-Rear remembers peeking out of her home with her siblings on those nights, trying to spot the first vehicles to show up from town. The holidays were also a time when the children would
Tappan Adney/Department of Rare Books and Special Collections of the McGill University Libraries
Girls stand near the fish drying racks in Moosehide Village during the gold rush era.
cram into a toboggan, hitch up their dogs and visit their relatives in Dawson City. They would spend the entire day playing, Joseph-Rear recalls, and ride back to Moosehide late at night. “It was so nice to be riding when the moonlight was out,� she said. Every kid in Moosehide had a homemade sled. On weekends they were allowed to hitch one dog to it,
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Joseph-Rear remembers. They would carry out chores for elders in the village without even being asked, like fill up their barrels of water or chop wood for them. “We used to go to a nearby island where there was a hillside filled with dead wood,” she said. “We’d pile as much as we could onto our sleds and we’d haul it back to the village. It was all about playing for us, we didn’t see it as work. “We’d see our father do it so we wanted to do it too.” Born in 1946, Joseph-Rear is a former Han language programmer for the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation. She spent her childhood in Moosehide until 1957, when she and others from the village were sent away to residential school in Carcross. It coincided with many others moving away to nearby Dawson City. Joseph-Rear said she’s happy to be able to remember the holidays in Moosehide. About 25 years ago one of her sisters, who lived near the village, came to visit on Christmas Day by dog sled. That brought back some special memories, Joseph-Rear said. “It was a simple, nice, meaningful time,” she said of her childhood. “I wish we could go back to that again.” Contact Myles Dolphin at myles@yukon-news.com
Council of Yukon First Nations
tive holiday a fes s r Year. s New one Wis ll Yuk sperou pro season and a
Grand Chief Ruth Massie, Executive Office, Education, Finance & Administration, Circumpolar Relations, Natural Resources & Environment, Self Government Secretariat, Justice, Health & Social Development and Yukon Native Language Centre.
w w w.duenor thmaternit yandbaby.com
Happy Holidays! Open till Noon on the 24th and 31st . We will be closed December 25, 26 & 28 and January 1, 2016.
Wishing you a merry Christmas filled with joy and wonder from our family to yours. Last minute gift guidance, stocking stuffers and more!
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RD !VENUE s 7HITEHORSE s 0( s 2EG (OURS - & s 3AT Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo
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www.eriksavu.ca
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Closed December 25th Dec. 26th 10AM to 6PM, Dec. 31st 9:30AM to 4PM Closed Jan. 1st
206 Alexander St., Whitehorse Phone: 867-668-6543 TOLL FREE 1-866-628-3468
15
BUNDLE UP
HOW TO DRESS FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN THE WINTER Here are some hints for keeping you warm and comfortable. Think layers • A Base wicking layer helps pull moisture from your skin. No cotton, think synthetics or silks. • An Insulating layer for warmth, fleece or wool are the best. • A breathable Protective layer such as Gore-Tex will help keep out the elements such as wind and snow.
n and The Recreatio tion Parks Associa PAY) of the Yukon (R
Accessorize • Mitts and boots that fit properly. • Toques, 50% of your body heat can be lost through an uncovered head. • Buffs are a great way to protect your face and neck. • Wool socks will keep your feet warm even when wet. • Sunglasses and sunscreen for long days in the snow on a sunny day.
one an wishes every
y h lt a e H & e iv t Ac ! n o s a e S y a d li Ho
Please remember to • Check the weather before you go. • Let someone know your plans. • Be prepared, have food, water and other emergency supplies. • Make sure gear has been checked.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
RPAY’S ACTIVE HEALTHY GIFT IDEAS
FREE PUBLIC SKATE & RENTALS!
FOR UNDER THE TREE
• Gift Cards - Give the gift of wellness by giving gift cards for fitness classes or other recreational activities.
Monday, December 28, 2015 10:45 am - 12:45 pm on the ATCO Ice at the CGC.
• Motivational Technology - Fitbits, pedometers or other health apps will help keep loved ones active and motivated.
Sponsored by Midnight Sun Drilling Inc. and RPAY.
• Cooking Classes - Register someone for a local cooking class or lesson and give the gift of healthy eating. • Outdoor Gear - Snowshoes, Nordic walking poles or grips for winter walking are a great way to get active outdoors. • For the Kids - Toboggans, sleds or shovels to make snow forts, are tried and true classics and fun for the whole family. • Don’t Forget Fido - LED collar lights, booties, or a packable dish are great ways to include the family pet in your adventures.
Send completed word search to RPAY for a prize. Mailing address: 4061-4th Ave, Whitehorse Yukon Y1A 3C8
STOCKING STUFFERS • • • • • •
16
Contact RPAY at 867-668-3010 or email us at rpay@rpay.ca. Follow us on Twitter @RPAY1 or Facebook at facebook.com/gorpay
Headlamp - don’t let the darkness slow you down. Wool Socks - to keep those feet warm. Buff or Toque - stay warm and fashionable this winter. Gloves & Mittens - no one likes cold fingers. LED Zipper Pulls - great way to be seen and safe. Pocket Warmers - for those of you who need a little extra warmth.
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Need some motivation to get moving this winter?
Community Services
Check out RPAY’s website for information and ideas. www.rpay.ca
Sport and Recreation Branch
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
17
BUNDLE UP
HOW TO DRESS FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN THE WINTER Here are some hints for keeping you warm and comfortable. Think layers • A Base wicking layer helps pull moisture from your skin. No cotton, think synthetics or silks. • An Insulating layer for warmth, fleece or wool are the best. • A breathable Protective layer such as Gore-Tex will help keep out the elements such as wind and snow.
n and The Recreatio tion Parks Associa PAY) of the Yukon (R
Accessorize • Mitts and boots that fit properly. • Toques, 50% of your body heat can be lost through an uncovered head. • Buffs are a great way to protect your face and neck. • Wool socks will keep your feet warm even when wet. • Sunglasses and sunscreen for long days in the snow on a sunny day.
one an wishes every
y h lt a e H & e iv t Ac ! n o s a e S y a d li Ho
Please remember to • Check the weather before you go. • Let someone know your plans. • Be prepared, have food, water and other emergency supplies. • Make sure gear has been checked.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
RPAY’S ACTIVE HEALTHY GIFT IDEAS
FREE PUBLIC SKATE & RENTALS!
FOR UNDER THE TREE
• Gift Cards - Give the gift of wellness by giving gift cards for fitness classes or other recreational activities.
Monday, December 28, 2015 10:45 am - 12:45 pm on the ATCO Ice at the CGC.
• Motivational Technology - Fitbits, pedometers or other health apps will help keep loved ones active and motivated.
Sponsored by Midnight Sun Drilling Inc. and RPAY.
• Cooking Classes - Register someone for a local cooking class or lesson and give the gift of healthy eating. • Outdoor Gear - Snowshoes, Nordic walking poles or grips for winter walking are a great way to get active outdoors. • For the Kids - Toboggans, sleds or shovels to make snow forts, are tried and true classics and fun for the whole family. • Don’t Forget Fido - LED collar lights, booties, or a packable dish are great ways to include the family pet in your adventures.
Send completed word search to RPAY for a prize. Mailing address: 4061-4th Ave, Whitehorse Yukon Y1A 3C8
STOCKING STUFFERS • • • • • •
16
Contact RPAY at 867-668-3010 or email us at rpay@rpay.ca. Follow us on Twitter @RPAY1 or Facebook at facebook.com/gorpay
Headlamp - don’t let the darkness slow you down. Wool Socks - to keep those feet warm. Buff or Toque - stay warm and fashionable this winter. Gloves & Mittens - no one likes cold fingers. LED Zipper Pulls - great way to be seen and safe. Pocket Warmers - for those of you who need a little extra warmth.
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Need some motivation to get moving this winter?
Community Services
Check out RPAY’s website for information and ideas. www.rpay.ca
Sport and Recreation Branch
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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Smile and say Trees! Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year to all of our Yukon Friends and Family! It has been an honour to naturally serve our community this past 19 years! We look forward to seeing your smiling faces again in the New Year!!! Big Hugs and Enjoy the Winter Solstice from Beverley, Jen, Cathy, Sarah, Fanny, Keighlan
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION SALE!
20% off Storewide
Boxing Day Saturday, December 26th through Thursday, December 31st
Christmas Hours: Closed December 25 & 27 and January 1
2016 Winter Hours: Closed Sunday 0QFO .POEBZ UP 'SJEBZ t 4BUVSEBZ
# .BJO 4USFFU t t .POEBZ 'SJEBZ UP t 4 BUVSEBZ UP t X X X BSPNBCPSFBMJT DPN
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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Pro tips for preparing a holiday feast By Joel Krahn
culinary arts instructor, both like to hone their recipes by bouncing ideas off each other. ed Seal chef Gene Batten leans back into his office “We’ll start throwing stuff out there,” Batten says. chair and considers the hypothetical challenge: “What if we did this, or what if we do a twist on prepare a Yukon moose roast for Christmas dinner. something else. “I think I’d sous-vide it,” he says, referring to a method “All of a sudden something will click for both of us that of cooking that could work. sees the meat And then we try vacuum-sealed it, and voila, it and placed in works.” a precisely“Recipes are controlled water a guideline,” he bath. The best says. roast he’s ever But one thing made was cooked that doesn’t in the high-tech allow for artistic machine for 48 interpretation hours. “It was like is the internal eating a filet. You temperature could literally cut of a roast it with your fork.” turkey. Batten, Batten’s Cumming roast would be and chefs butterflied – cut everywhere partway down the agree on 74 C – middle, akin to which is 165 F Joel Krahn/Yukon News opening a book – for the bird. Ryan Cumming, left, and Gene Batten, two of the Yukon’s top chefs, offer tips flat onto the table. on surviving holiday cooking. Stuffing inside Then he would the turkey stuff it with cranberries, mushrooms and wild rice, and needs to be brought to the same internal temperature finally make it into a roulade by rolling it up like sushi. to kill off any bacteria. The trouble is that by the time Not many Yukon home cooks will possess the culinary the stuffing reaches this temperature, the turkey meat is chops or fancy cooking gadgets available to Batten, the likely overcooked. culinary services coordinator at Yukon College. But his Cumming’s solution? Cook the two apart, then stuff it recipes could offer some inspiration for the big meal this together as the turkey is resting. Christmas. “All the juices that come out of the meat still get into Batten and fellow chef Ryan Cumming, the college’s the stuffing,” he says. You still get that flavour, but you
R
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
don’t have that dry turkey, and you don’t have that risk of salmonella poisoning.â€? Between preparing a turkey, seeing to kids, and welcoming family and guests, time management in holiday cooking becomes crucial, says Batten. That means having as many items ticked o the to-do list in advance as possible, whether it’s shopping, cutting and dicing vegetables, or even making the dessert. “I try to plan it where I’m not in the kitchen all day,â€? Batten says. “On Christmas Day I’ll just put all the ingredients together and in it goes.â€? “You can never be too far ahead on your plan,â€? Cumming agrees. “The last thing you want to do is miss
out on whatever else is happening because you didn’t peel your carrots the day before.� Another pitfall Cumming warns about is running out of space in the fridge or oven. Not having space in the fridge for a brining turkey can create a huge headache, so Cumming and Batten both agree, clearing space for items that need to be refrigerated is one of the first things they do. “If that means you have pizza or whatever else before, that’s kind of the way it has to be.� Contact Joel Krahn at joel.krahn@yukon-news.com
Season’s Greetings from NGC Builders
s a m t s i r h Mer ry C to all from the Yukon Liberal Caucus.
A Yukon Company Since 1987
BONDED GENERAL CONTRACTOR $PNNFSDJBM t %FTJHO#VJME $POTUSVDUJPO .BOBHFNFOU 1SPKFDU .BOBHFNFOU t .VMUJ 3FTJEFOUJBM
Sandy Silver Leader, Yukon Liberal Caucus
Office Location: 7209 7th Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Office Phone: (867) 668-4578 Office Fax: (867) 633-4530
www.ngcbuilders.com
HEY MOM, ak Tonight! Take a Bre Fli gcXZ\ fi pflij# fli [\c`Z`flj @kXc`Xe Zl`j`e\ Xe[ _Xe[$kfjj\[ g`qqX dXb\ `k \Xjp kf \eafp X ]Xd`cp d\Xc n`k_flk k_\ nfib% Pizza • Pasta • Wings • Donairs • Calzones & Much More!
<kbb C[dk edb_d[ 6 mmm$jedoif_pp[h_W$d[j Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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Joel Krahn/Yukon News
Jackson Huebschewerler gets a picture during a visit with Santa at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre on Nov. 28.
The Th e cr crew ew a att th he
wou uld d lik ke to wi wish h alll th heiir am maz azin ng cu cust stom omers s a very Mer e ry Chr hris istm tmas as.
JAVA WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 24 THROUGH JANUARY 5 REOPENING JANUARY 6TH WITH OUR ANNUAL CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY!
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Thank You for a Great 2015!
106 Copper Road | Whitehorse, Y.T. | 867-667-6613
www.duncansltd.ca
Wishing... all our customers and their families a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy & Prosperous New Year!
:XeX[`Xe K`i\ Jkfi\ +,)# (/ :_`cbffk NXp N_`k\_fij\# PK /-. --/$*-,) Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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ve Ch ryone py ristmas Ne w Year
e ng i h s wi rry
e a M Hap a nd
From all the staff of GE!
Happy Holidays
The gals from The Deli and the gents from Yukon Meat & Sausage wish all of our customers a safe Holiday Season! We thank all of our customers for their business in 2015, and look forward to serving you in 2016!
Open until 12 NOON on December 24th. Then closed for our winter break, reopening on Tuesday January 12th, 2016
Wishing a Wonderful Holiday Season to all Yukoners
Dawson, Aurora, Melissa & Larry
Hon. Larry Bagnell, Yukon Member of Parliament Tel (867) 668-6565, Fax (867) 668-6570 email larry.bagnell@parl.gc.ca. #204, 204 Black St, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2M9
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
KLUANE Freight Lines Ltd. would like to wish everyone a
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
YUKON’S TRUSTED GENERAL FREIGHT CARRIER!
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
1 0 0 P L A T I N U M R O A D W H I T E H O R S E , Y U K O N 667-7447
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A hard-knock holiday By Sharon Shorty tell people and my audiences that our family was so poor that we had two books in our house: the Bible I and the Sears catalogue. That was mostly true. Long ago,
we also used to have the Eaton’s catalogue. When I was at Whitehorse Elementary in the 1970s, it was clear which families were well off or like us. A well-off family? A Barbie lunch kit with beautiful pink thermos that I envied. These classmates would have pristine white bread sandwiches. My lunch was in a re-used paper bag containing moose-meat sandwiches and a jar of milk. As Christmas approached, we would walk down Main Street and admire the huge toy displays at Hougen’s Department Store and Jim’s Toys and Gift Shop. It was a kid’s dream. The end of Main Street gleamed with a huge Christmas tree. I wanted Barbies and her house, dolls, board games and a Spirograph. A highlight for us every year was getting the Sears Christmas Wish Book. It had beautiful, free, full-colour pictures of every Christmas wish that we had. We would take turns thumbing through it with my brothers and cousins. Every page we turned, we would point at a picture and claim the toys: “This one is mine!” A regular December school assignment was to write out our Christmas wish list to give to our parents. We dutifully
Ian Stewart/Yukon News
Like children all across Canada, Sharon Shorty would pore over the Sears Wish Book every Christmas.
There’s no place like
Home for the Holidays
414 Baxter Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2T5 Phone: 867-668-6068 | Fax: 867-668-6052
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
did this. One night, when I had the Christmas Wish Book to myself, I cut out every toy that I wanted, and every artificial Christmas tree with fancy food baskets that I hoped to have at home, but we never did. In those days to place an order for the catalogue, you took out the envelope in the middle and filled it out. Well, being seven years old, I didn’t understand the process. I put every one of my cut out pictures of toys, Christmas trees, chocolates and gift baskets in the envelope and sealed it. I may have written my name on it. Then I mailed it to Sears. For weeks, I waited for my order. Alas, it did not come. But in the meantime, my dad and brothers would go find a blue spruce tree for us to decorate. Chocolates would appear, along with our favorite mandarin oranges. There would be gifts under the tree. And, somehow, I would manage to get my favourite toy that I wished for (thanks to my mom). Years later, I miss my moose-meat sandwiches. I admire my mom for being ahead of the trend of re-using things. I still wish for a nice lunch kit – but I would like it to be Gramma Susie on it instead of Barbie! I finally got my very own Spirograph last year. And I always wondered what that Sears catalogue worker thought when they opened up my hopeful Christmas Wish Book wishes.
"EST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON You are invited to attend the Commissioner’s New Year’s Levee, Friday, January 1, 2016 2–5 p.m. Westmark Whitehorse Season’s greetings to all from Commissioner of Yukon Doug Phillips
Sharon Shorty is an award-winning storyteller, actor and bannock maker. She’s best known for her comedic role as Gramma Susie. She was born and raised in Whitehorse and is a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council.
Haines Alaska
Tom Ganner
Winter is here... we’re just waiting for you!
www.visithaines.com Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Upcoming Events January 15-16, Alcan 200 February TBA: Dick Hotch Basketball March 17-25th: Freeride World Tour
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Has Been Born
A Savior Join us for any of our
FREE Christmas Events!
Dec. 19 Dinner & Drama at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 25 Christmas Morning Service at 11:00 a.m. Dec. 25 Concert (hosted by the Filipino Ministry)
at 6:00 p.m.
May the love and compassion of our Savior ďŹ ll your heart with peace and contentment. We wish you a blessed Christmas.
CHURCH
OF
THE
NAZARENE
Sunday Worship: 10:45 | Filipino Service: 4:30 | Daycare: Monday-Friday $FOUFOOJBM 4U t t 8)*5&)034&/";"3&/& 03( # J C M F 4 U V E Z , J E T $ M V C :P V U I ( S P V Q
Happy Holidays FROM THE
WHITEHORSE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
On behalf of the Government of Yukon, Tammie and I send you warm Christmas greetings and wishes for a beautiful holiday surrounded by family and friends. May the spirit of peace and generosity grace your home during this season and throughout the New Year.
Darrell Pasloski, Premier
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
The Yukon Beer Festival Society would like to recognize our sponsors who helped make this event successful. A huge thank you to our sponsors: Aasman Staples Air North Dean’s Strings and Music Supplies G-P Distributing KBL Environmental Ltd Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters Northern Vision Development Yukon Brewing Town & Mountain Hotel Unity Clothing Inc Igloo Ice Sales What’s Up Yukon Whitehorse Beverages Whitehorse Blue Bins P&M Recycling Depot Icycle Sport Robbyn’s Grill Haines Packing Co. Andrew Stratis Shannon Mallory
Seasons Greetings from m
Board B ard and nd St Staff ff at the
Yukon Chamber of Mines
www.yukonminers.ca
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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Joel Krahn/Yukon News
A winter scene is reflected on Nares Lake in Carcross.
Merry Christmas!
Closed for the holidays Dec 25 and 28th and closed early (4:00) Dec 24 and 31 After-hours emergency service available 7 days a week and throughout holidays!
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107 Copper Road | Whitehorse, Yukon | 867.633.5700 | Hours: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM M-F
Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a joyous and healthy 2016
Senator Daniel Lang daniel.lang@sen.parl.gc.ca
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Published by YUKON NEWS December 18, 2015
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YUKON’S TRAILER SPECIALISTS
1UALITY 0RODUCTS FOR #HRISTMAS
www.taittrailers.com taits@northwestel.net Phone: (867) 334-2194 anytime H o r s e , S t o c k , C a r g o , F l a t - D e c k & R e c r e a t i o n a l Tr a i l e r s