The Hougen Family in the Yukon

The Hougen Family in the Yukon A Pictorial History 1906–2011

Helene Dobrowolsky

The Hougen Family in the Yukon A Pictorial History 1906–2011

Helene Dobrowolsky

©2012 The Hougen family, Whitehorse, Yukon Citation: Helene Dobrowolsky. The Hougen Family in the Yukon: A Pictorial History 1906–2011. x + 234 pp. ISBN 978-0-9880255-0-9 Front cover photo: Rolf and Marg with 17 of their 18 grandchildren pose by the Yukon River in 1998. Hougen family photo Front cover flap: Rolf and Marg Hougen aboard the cruise ship Queen Victoria, 2010. Back cover photos, clockwise from top left: Margrethe and Berent Hougen in front of the original Rawleigh’s store, 1944, YA 2010/91 #50. Hougen’s storefront, ca. 1970, YA 2009/81 #278. The Hougen Centre in 2005, Karen Hougen-Bell photo. The Hougen family skidooing in Haines Junction, 1969, Hougen family photo.

Produced by Integraphics, Whitehorse

Contents

Foreword

vii

Note about photo sources

viii

Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction

x

Chapter 1. Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

1

Photo essay: White Pass and Yukon Railway Chapter 2. Growing up in the Yukon Photo essay: Sternwheelers Chapter 3. The dynasty begins Photo essay: Whitehorse Winter Carnival/Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Chapter 4. More than a store Photo essay: Hougen’s Limited Chapter 5. Creating opportunities Photo essay: Early Whitehorse Chapter 6. The national and international stage Photo essay: Yukoners Chapter 7. The family Photo essay: The Hougen Clan Chapter 8. The Hougen legacy Photo essay: The Next Generation

20 23 34 37 58 61 88 91 118 121 148 151 174 177 192

A Hougen family scrapbook

197

Appendix 1. The Hougen Family in Yukon

206

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

208

Appendix 3. Curriculum Vitae: Rolf B. Hougen, O.C.

216

Index

219

Dedication This book is dedicated to Rolf and Margaret’s grandchildren: Jared Alexander Hougen Erik Robert Gray Connor Scott Nielsen Fraser James Gray Cody James Hougen Kai Erik Nielsen Patrick Rolf Bell Myles Rolf Hougen Melina Mary Margaret Hougen Pamela-Jane “PJ” Elizabeth Bell Brooke Pamela June Nielsen Logan Michael Gray Tanner James Hougen Alexis Belle Hougen Mason Douglas Gray Jenna Glee Hougen Michael Christopher Hougen Sarah Margaret Hougen

Foreword This history came about at the instigation of our children. They believe — and Marg and I agree — that it is important to share the story of the Hougen family in the Yukon with our grandchildren and generations to come. From this book, they can learn about their ancestors, the history of their community, and how life in Whitehorse and the Yukon has changed over the last century. There have been immense changes during our lifetimes: a great increase in the Yukon’s population, changes in government, the progress of the Yukon’s First Nations peoples toward full equality and autonomy, an economy that rises and falls but somehow always move ahead, and greater ties to Canada and the rest of the world through many improvements in communications and transportation. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our family, partners, employees and fellow Yukoners in helping to bring about these many positive changes. I would like to believe that we lead more by example than by words but there are a few important messages I wish to share with our beloved grandchildren and their future families. Education is extremely important; it will give you an excellent foundation for all your endeavours in the years ahead. Build yourself into a person of integrity and trustworthiness, and ensure you have a reputation for honesty. Seek advice from those around you but in the end make up your own mind. When starting out in your career, be prepared to live simply until you can reduce your debts and are successful enough to afford some luxuries. Whatever you undertake, do so wholeheartedly. If you’re determined, you will succeed. To quote a former business acquaintance: “Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like hell!” While I don’t necessarily agree with this advice, I do — upon reflection — believe that perhaps I did that a few times during my career. Your parents — our children — have studied and worked all over Canada and seen much of the world but in the end they chose to return to the Yukon. Despite our extensive travels, we continue to believe that the Yukon is a land of great beauty and opportunity and the best place to live. Our thanks to those who worked on this family history. Karen, Erik and Greta volunteered to serve as the editorial committee and provided help and good advice. Yukon Archives has digitized literally thousands of Hougen photographs and we particularly appreciate the work of Ian Burnett, Lesley Buchan and Mario Villeneuve. Finally, we offer our sincere gratitude to the team who researched, wrote and designed this book: Helene Dobrowolsky, Patricia Halladay and Rob Ingram. We greatly appreciate your skills, your willingness to accommodate our busy schedules, and your readiness to negotiate and revise until our family vision could be realized. Rolf and Marg Hougen Marg and Rolf during a cruise on the Queen Victoria from Dubai to London, 2010. vii

Note about photo sources Over the years, Rolf and Marg have donated thousands of photographs to Yukon Archives (YA). These archival accessions are as follows: • Yukon Archives, Rolf and Margaret Hougen fonds, 82/346 • Yukon Archives, E.J. Hamacher fonds (Margaret and Rolf Hougen collection), 2002/118 • Yukon Archives, Rolf and Margaret Hougen fonds, 2009/81 • Yukon Archives, Rolf and Margaret Hougen fonds, 2010/91 Most of the photographs in this book come from these accessions as well as Rolf’s extensive personal collection. The credits for images from the Yukon Archives collections use a shortened format, e.g., YA 2009/81 #234. If there is no photo credit, the image comes from Rolf Hougen’s personal archives. In some cases, we have received the same image from both YA and from Rolf. If we have been able to match the two, we have credited the YA source. Photographs from other sources are credited as specified by each institution.

viii

Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the cooperation of all members of the Hougen family. My particular thanks to Erik, who spearheaded this project and videotaped several hours of interviews with his father and mother. Craig, Kelly and Heather, Karen, Erik, Greta and Maureen generously shared their time and memories during a series of recorded interviews. Karen, Erik and Greta volunteered to serve as our editorial committee. Kim Hougen, an excellent proofreader, kindly cast her editorial eye over much of the content. The Hougen Family website was an invaluable resource and I am indebted to everyone who worked on it over the years. I especially appreciated the “Yukon Nuggets” prepared by the late Les McLaughlin in association with Rolf, a series of excellent and entertaining historical vignettes. Thanks to Marg for her gracious hospitality, her recollections and participation in our meetings. Above all, thank you to Rolf for his excellent memory, wonderful storytelling and assistance with countless details. Yukon Archives is the custodian of four extensive Hougen photograph collections. Thanks to the archives staff for their cooperation and assistance during this project, especially in scanning thousands of Hougen images. Joyce Bächli of Mega Reporting Incorporated transcribed many hours of recorded interviews, including a few challenging audiotapes that featured many unidentified speakers and less-than-wonderful sound quality. Patricia Halladay handled design and layout. My partner Rob Ingram helped with proofing text, sharpening photo images and many of the other numerous tasks involved in a large project of this type. Sincere thanks to you all. Helene Dobrowolsky

ix

The history of any private family, could it be related for a few generations, would illustrate the state and progress of our society better than the most elaborate dissertation. Ben Paauwe

Several Hougen family members in Arendal, Norway, 2008. x

Introduction Compiling this book ended up becoming much more than a chronicle of the lives of a prominent Whitehorse businessman and his family. The history of the Hougen family has intermingled with more than a century of Yukon history. Since Berent Hougen first travelled north in 1906 to find work in the Klondike, the territory has undergone terrific political, economic and social changes and, to a large degree, the Hougen family were part of these events. As a prominent community figure, Rolf has made many contributions to Whitehorse and the Yukon through organizations he either began or supported. His businesses have contributed to the economy and provided jobs to several hundred Yukoners. Although he never became a politician, many political leaders have benefitted from his advice and support. He also connected Yukoners to one another and the outside world with ventures such as the Yukon’s first commercial radio station and first local cable television station and by delivering satellite television to the Yukon and all remote regions of Canada through his founding and direction of Canadian Satellite Communications Ltd. (Cancom). Rolf’s keen interest in photography led him to document not only his own family and pastimes, but also major events in his community. His passion for history led him to salvage and preserve the priceless E. J. Hamacher photo collection, which documents the early decades of the 20th century in Whitehorse and the Yukon. We all know that many valuable family papers and photographs end up forgotten in dusty boxes. As an ongoing project, Rolf ensured that his family’s materials were organized, reproduced and available to all through the Hougen Family website and by donating thousands of photographs and other materials to Yukon Archives. This book is yet another way to document and present this history. Well past the usual retirement age, Rolf and Marg remain engaged with their community. Rolf continues his interest in new technologies, learning to compile and catalogue his vast photo collection by computer and, of course, always having the latest in cameras. As his daughter Karen stated: “He’s always on top of what’s new.” The Hougens commissioned this book for future generations of the family: to give them a sense of their origins, how their community and territory and country have changed over the last 100 years, and what their forebears accomplished. While this may be the primary audience, the story of the Hougen family in the Yukon has much to offer all those who are interested in Yukon and Whitehorse history. The story of Rolf Hougen and Marg illustrates the profound influence that can be wielded by an individual and his family when they are motivated by hard work, creative ideas and a strong sense of public duty.

Chapter 1

Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

S

ome people are displaced from their homelands due to war, hardship or oppression. Others move in search of a better life, looking for opportunities to own land, run their own businesses and prosper in a new country. Then there are those free spirits with a compulsion to wander the globe, to experience everything they possibly can. Berent Hougen was definitely one of the latter, a man who tried to live up to his Viking heritage and whose own life resembled a Norse saga. Like the characters in the Robert Service poem “The Men That Don’t Fit In” who “roam the world at will,” Berent was impelled by a restless nature. Unlike many of these lonely adventurers, however, Berent was lucky enough to eventually find his niche. With much hard work, he settled down to become a prosperous family man. This part of the story begins in Norway. On April 6, 1883, Bernt Tarjeison Haugen was born in the small community of Haugen, Norway. The name Haugen means “of the hill.” Bernt, who later renamed himself Berent, was the seventh and youngest child of Tarjei Bjørgulvson Haugen and his wife Sigrid (Siri) Berntsdatter Haugen. He grew up in southern Norway in the community of Evje, about 60 miles (100 km) north of the port of

1

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

Kristiansand. In this rural region, the main industry was a large copper and nickel mine that had operated since 1844. Berent’s son Rolf later described the way that the Haugens lived off the land: In Norway, the properties were generally small, but included both farmland and forests so people could harvest timber as well as produce a variety of farm and garden products. Moose were also prevalent and each landholder was allowed to take four moose a year off his land.

Berent’s travels Life in the quiet valley town did not satisfy young Berent. By age 14 he had run off to sea. In that era, this was the ultimate romantic way to see the world and seek one’s fortune. It was also a path to backbreaking work and a life fraught with danger. For those who survived, it instilled toughness and an ethic of hard work and self-reliance. Details of the next eight years of his life are only available in broad strokes from family stories. He literally sailed round the world twice crewing aboard square-rigged ships. The sailors sang sea shanties to set a rhythm for hauling on the lines that raised the sails; Berent was a shantyman. Many years later, he taught his grandson Erik some of these sea shanties. Although this was the age of steam, it was a time of uneasy transition between sail and steam. The machinery of early steam engines was ponderous and required an immense amount of steam. Hence, boilers Above: Map of southern Norway. Right: Evje, ca. 1920s. Below: Berent Hougen, ca. 1914.

2

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

were extra large, needing vast amounts of fuel that in turn took up valuable hold space. Some early steamships that were converted from large sailing ships still relied heavily on wind and sail power to complete a trip. Much of the commerce of the age was still conducted by fleets of small speedy schooners using wind and sails to freight a variety of cargos, including Newfoundland dried cod, Caribbean molasses and rum and Pacific Ocean seal pelts. Rolf later recalled a few of his father’s stories about this time: He travelled to many countries of the world, but he rather liked Australia and decided to stay there. So he skipped ship. Well, you can’t do that. They put him in jail and the jailers took a liking to him. They said, “You know, we need people like you in Australia.” So they kept him imprisoned until the ship left. As soon as the ship had left port, they released him from jail. Berent stayed in Australia for two years, then joined another ship and sailed on, having decided that he wasn’t going to settle there at that particular time. Berent travelled from the tropics to the polar regions. Years later, he told his children about the Hottentots of South Africa, a people that Rolf and Margaret encountered many decades later during a trip to South Africa with Norm Anderson, Chairman of Cominco, and his wife Tanya while flying up the West Coast visiting diamond mines. During this eventful period, Berent also joined the United States Coast Guard out of San Francisco. The crew patrolled the west coast all the way north to Alaska. At one point, the crew boarded a Russian vessel in the Aleutians, possibly for illegal sealing or fishing in American waters. Berent may have left the high seas, but his life was still full of adventure.

Left, above: The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard ship Eclipse. Berent is in the back row, centre. Left, below: Berent and his brother Hans pose with their parents, Tarjei and Siri, in 1914. Below: A Russian ship at Dutch Harbour, Alaska, ca. early 1900s.

3

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

The first Yukon trip

White Pass and Yukon Railway, circa 1906. While rail travellers enjoyed the dramatic views in comfort, Berent tramped across dizzying trestles on foot. YA 2002/118 #111

4

In 1906, at the ripe age of 22, Berent abandoned seafaring to seek another kind of adventure far inland amongst subarctic mountains and one of the mighty rivers of the world. Eight years earlier, thousands of men and many intrepid women had stampeded to the Klondike, spurred on by stories of gold. The two most heavilytravelled routes to the Klondike began in the Alaskan panhandle towns of Skagway and Dyea, crossing the coastal mountains over the White and Chilkoot passes to the shores of the lakes that formed the headwaters of the Yukon River. Those early goldseekers defied brutal winter weather relaying a year’s worth of supplies over the mountains. They awaited spring break-up making boats and rafts before travelling down the river to the gold fields. When they finally reached their destination, Dawson City, most met with bitter disappointment. The richest ground had long since been taken. By the time Berent embarked on his personal northern odyssey, the White Pass and Yukon Railway (WP&YR) had supplanted the stampeders’ overland ordeal. The railway was completed in 1900 after 26 months of construction in some of the world’s most challenging terrain and climate. The narrow-gauge rail line runs 110 miles (177 km) up steep grades, along sheer drop-offs, through two tunnels and over numerous timber trestles and bridges. It was advertised by the railway company as the “scenic route of the world.” Berent, with almost empty pockets, decided to hike inland along the rail bed. Broadcaster and writer Les McLaughlin later imagined just how it must have felt to trudge the rails during that arduous five-day trip: Tramp, tramp, tramp. His feet sometimes stumbled on the ties which were too close together for his long legs. He kept his eyes down as he laboured along the railroad tracks. The road bed led up, up through a great mountain pass. Hour after hour he walked, shifting his pack often to ease the pain of the straps cutting into his shoulders.

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

On each morning of his hike through the White Pass, a train came up behind Berent Hougen and he quickly stepped aside to let it pass him. In the evening the same train, on its way back to Skagway on the hundred-mile run from Whitehorse, rumbled past him as he slept among the rocks beside the tracks. By the third day the trail levelled out and he walked a little faster. Still the high granite walls towered upward on his left and right. The narrow tracks clung to the mountainside, bridging great chasms that took his breath away if he looked down as he crossed the narrow wooden trestles.

Early Whitehorse The railway terminus, and Berent’s initial destination, was the community of Whitehorse. At this point on the Yukon River, about 28 miles (46 km) below the headwater lakes, volcanic and glacial forces had created a dramatic disruption in the otherwise calm waters. Confined by narrow canyon walls, the river crashed and surged over a rocky bed, creating what became known as Miles Canyon and Whitehorse Rapids. Early explorers and prospectors used traditional First Nations trails to portage around this six-mile (10km) hazard or risked all by boating or rafting through the stretch of rough water. During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897–98, the area was a bottleneck for the hordes of northbound stampeders. Entrepreneur Norman Macaulay built a simple log tramway with horse-drawn carts on the east side of the river, so that travellers could bypass the rapids. Most people opted to protect their cargo, and lives, by paying

The turbulent rapids just upriver from Whitehorse. In 1958, a hydro dam was built across the river, taming the rapids and creating Schwatka Lake. YA 2002/118 #463

5

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

In 1900–01, White Pass & Yukon Route inaugurated a river division, the British Yukon Navigation Company (BYN). BYN set up a large shipyard downriver from the depot and hired hundreds of workers to build its first three sternwheelers: the Whitehorse, Selkirk and Dawson. Within two years, BYN owned all but three steamers on the upper Yukon River (the section of the Yukon River between the headwaters and Dawson City). This integrated rail-and-river transport system allowed for large-scale industrial mining and transformed the gold rush log cabin settlement of Dawson into a modern town.

Right, above: Sternwheelers Columbian, Sybil, Yukoner and Canadian in Whitehorse shipyards, circa 1905. YA 2002/118 #7

Right, below: A team of 12 horses strains to haul a massive 10-ton boiler to the Pueblo copper mine. YA 2002/118 #327 6

Macaulay to freight their gear around the hazard. Small communities grew up at either end of the tramway: Canyon City at the upriver end and White Horse landing at the downriver terminus. White Horse was the head of navigation for passengers and goods bound for Dawson. The fact that steamer traffic was already travelling from the mouth of the Yukon River upriver to the foot of Whitehorse Rapids influenced the railway builders in selecting the site for the end of the line. In the fall of 1899, White Pass had commissioned the survey of another townsite across the river. White Pass executives tried to call the new town Closeleigh, but the Yukon’s commissioner overruled them and decided the new settlement would continue to be called White Horse (later known as Whitehorse). Over the winter and spring, people and businesses moved from the original settlement and from the dying town of Bennett, B.C. Glowing newspaper accounts listed each new business almost as soon as it erected a tent or began raising log walls. By mid-summer, tent dwellings were being replaced with more substantial structures. Discoveries in the nearby Whitehorse Copper Belt led to a staking rush; nearly 400 claims were located by 1902. One writer optimistically predicted that within a year no fewer than 8,000 people would be living in Whitehorse.

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

In 1905, a catastrophic fire wiped out a major part of Whitehorse’s downtown area, destroying the railway depot, hotels, stores and other businesses. It is a testament to how much the town had grown in little more than five years that the list of affected businesses and offices occupied several inches in newspaper accounts. The Atlin Claim newspaper lamented that some of the “best stocked stores and finest equipped hotels in the north” had been laid waste. Within a day, however, most of the businesses had reopened in tents against a noisy backdrop of hammering and sawing as their new quarters rose out of the ashes. In 1906, the miners of the Whitehorse Copper Belt were enjoying a brief period of prosperity due to a rise in world copper prices. Many of the mines came under new ownership and some were worked for the first time in several years. Two years later, prices dropped from 24 to 12 cents a pound and the copper belt was dormant. The ore was there but high costs of extraction, shipping and refining exceeded the value of the copper. Nonetheless, as the end of steel and head of Yukon River navigation, Whitehorse continued in its pivotal role as supplier to the territory. Left, above: Whitehorse after the downtown fire of May 23, 1905. YA Vancouver Public Library collection #2275

Left, below: Victoria Day celebrations on First Avenue near Main Street, May 26, 1906. Most of these buildings were completely rebuilt after the fire of 1905. YA 2002/118 #263 7

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

Dawson after the rush

Right, above: Although the large dredges were taking over the Klondike River and its tributaries, in 1906 there were still many jobs for hard-working people with picks and shovels. YA 2002/118 #315

Right, below: By 1912, large dredges had dug through much of the Klondike valley. YA A.K. Schellinger fonds #5943 8

At Whitehorse, Berent stopped just long enough to obtain a rowboat. It was May and the river had thawed, but Lake Laberge was still iced in. Berent laboriously dragged his boat over nearly 30 miles (48 km) of lake ice. He then rowed downriver to Dawson City, a total distance of 440 miles (more than 700 km). At that time, the Yukon River was the territory’s main summer highway. All along the way, he would have encountered several small settlements, police and telegraph posts, First Nations fish camps, and maybe a few of the massive cordwood rafts destined to provide winter firewood for Dawson City and fuel for the dredges. The river economy revolved around the sternwheelers. The sternwheeler fleet had less than five months to deliver a year’s worth of goods — carrying everything from eggs to dredge buckets. The long supply line extended from Vancouver or Seattle to Skagway by ship, from Skagway to Whitehorse by train, then downriver by steamboat. On the return trip, the vessels carried Klondike gold. By 1906, the glory days of Dawson had passed. Many of the pioneer prospectors had moved on to other strikes in Alaska. Individual miners were gradually being displaced by large business consortiums that could afford to consolidate claims and water rights and mine with dredges rather than picks and shovels. The wideopen town that once had dance halls, gambling dens and every extravagance to indulge the fantasies of Klondike millionaires had become a respectable community of solid government buildings, schools and limited tolerance for loose living and maverick behaviour. The thousands of newcomers who had streamed north during the gold rush displaced the original inhabitants, the Hänspeaking people known as the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. Their fish camp at the mouth of the Klondike River became known as Lousetown, housing a shanty town, Dawson’s industrial area, a red-light district and

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

a farming area. The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in moved three miles (five km) down the Yukon River to Moosehide, another of their traditional camps. Many died from unfamiliar diseases introduced by the newcomers. Not only were they moved from their traditional camps and fishing areas, but the mining activity destroyed many of their hunting grounds, fisheries, lookout points and campsites. At the time Berent moved to Dawson, and for many years after, aboriginal people were still treated as second-class citizens. Berent worked a few seasons in the Klondike. Like many other Dawsonites, he moved on to Alaska to seek richer pickings during the gold rush to the Iditarod district, circa 1909. His first destination was Ophir, but he soon moved on to Cripple Creek, chasing another gold strike. As one of the first arrivals, Berent helped lay out the townsite. Although he had travelled north in search of gold, he found a steadier living providing services to the miners. He and his partner Henry Cox built the settlement’s first hotel, which they named the Pioneer Hotel.

Above: At right is Berent’s partner, whom he always called “my Texas friend Cox,” the co-owner of the Pioneer Hotel near Cripple Creek, ca. 1911–13. Left: Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in hunters returning down the Klondike River valley after a spring hunt, 1900. YA Isaac and Sadie Stringer fonds, 83/332 #60

Berent sent this postcard to Norway in 1909. A rough translation reads: Dear Parents, I send a picture of me and Gunulf in automobile. I am going to write as soon as I have rested and time allows. A friendly greeting from your son, Bernt. 9

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

Canadian immigrants In 1913, Berent returned to Norway to visit his family. While sailing on a ship between Arendal and Oslo, Norway, Berent met 21-year-old Margrethe Blakstad. She was born in a small community near Arendal called Blakstad. According to Rolf, many Norwegians were named after their home community. After a brief courtship, Berent and Margrethe married on September 17, 1914 and left Norway shortly afterward. Berent had decided to make Canada his home; his decision was partly guided by Canadian government immigration policies. Since Confederation, the 1867 process that officially established the Dominion of Canada as a country, the government had pursued a policy of settling the west by attracting agricultural immigrants from Europe. This campaign did not bear fruit until the late 1800s when the economic depression that had affected both Europe and North America for over 20 years ended. Canadian food exports, especially hard wheat, soared and more farmers were needed to meet this demand.

Right, above: View of Blakstad, ca. 1920s. Right: This shipboard photo of Margrethe and Berent was taken during a holiday excursion to Oslo, May 17, 1914. Far right: Margrethe and Berent’s handtinted wedding photo. 10

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

In response to Canadian advertising abroad, hundreds of thousands of Europeans emigrated to Canada. Between 1896 and 1915, more than 20,000 Norwegians travelled to Canada by ship. Others, such as Berent, took a more indirect route. Berent, his bride and his elderly parents headed first for Minnesota — a haven for many Scandinavian families — to visit friends. From there, they entered Canada via Port Arthur (now known as Thunder Bay) on Lake Superior in Ontario. Port Arthur was an important transhipment point between the western rail line and Great Lakes navigation. The family then boarded the Canadian Pacific Railway for the trip west to the Canadian prairies. Their destination was the small farming community of Ordale, Saskatchewan near Prince Albert, where three of Berent’s sisters had previously settled. Berent’s parents had intended to simply visit their daughters, but the onset of World War I changed their plans. When the war was over, they were too old and frail to return to their homeland. The Hougens spent a few years in Ordale. Margrethe improved her English, learned the life of a Canadian farm wife and gave birth to her first two children. About 1918, the family left to seek better opportunities in northern British Columbia. Leaving behind Berent’s parents, the young couple and their two young sons continued west. Rolf later related family stories of the arduous train journey: My parents got on a train in Saskatchewan, along with some cattle. They actually travelled in a boxcar. They had a cow that gave milk because by then, they had two children: my eldest brother, Thelmer and the second-eldest, Odin. This would be in 1918, because it was the time of the flu that swept all of Canada. My father got the Spanish influenza in Edmonton, but he survived. He was, of course, very strong, very powerful and very healthy. They were lodged on a side railing for quite a period of time until he recovered and then they carried on by train to Burns Lake.

The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 granted a quarter section (160 acres or 64.7 hectares) of free land to any male settler 21 years of age or older who paid a ten–dollar registration fee, lived on his quarter section for three years, cultivated at least 40 acres (16.25 hectares) and built a permanent dwelling.

Left, above: Berent’s parents, Tarjei and Siri Haugen, at the Port Arthur train station in 1914. Left, below: Berent visiting his sisters Emma Thompson and Sara (Siri) Senum in Ordale, Saskatchewan, 1950. Rolf Hougen photo 11

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

The Tatalrose years

Right, above: Floating ties in François Lake. Right, below: Nothing about the tie plant operations was mechanized. 12

The family settled in northern British Columbia (see map, left) near the small and remote community of Tatalrose near François Lake (locally referred to as Frances Lake). It was in a hilly wooded area about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Burns Lake. Rolf recalls that there was a ferry across the lake. From Keefes Landing on the south side of the lake it was about another eight miles (14 km) west to Tatalrose. The family travelled by horse and wagon; this was a time before motorcars were widely available. The sailor and the city girl settled down to become homesteaders: clearing land, raising buildings and doing the many jobs needed to run a farm. For nearly 25 years, the family lived in this remote area. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was completed to the new port of Prince Rupert in 1914. It was a time of few roads, and railways made a major contribution to the economy; they were the only viable method of overland long distance transportation. Completion of the line from Winnipeg to Prince Rupert gave Canada a transcontinental link from Halifax to Prince Rupert, literally from sea to sea. Between 1918 and 1923, Canadian National Railways (CNR) was formed from a collection of local railways, including the Grand Trunk Pacific, that were unable to survive on their own. Berent soon began a business shaping or “hacking” timber into ties for CNR. His tie camp, located in the forested area north of Tatalrose, employed several people, many of whom were Norwegians and Germans. Gas-powered portable sawmills were not yet available

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

and the workers cut the ties by hand using crosscut saws and axes, cut them to length and flattened the surfaces with a tie axe or broadaxe, heavy tools with blades 10 to 12 inches (25 or 30 cm) wide. The finished ties were rafted east on François Lake, then along a river close to the railway construction camps. Although Margrethe was usually at home working on the farm and looking after the family, she did spend some time at the tie camp. During one of these visits around 1920, their house burned down. No one was hurt but the couple lost many cherished possessions, including Margrethe’s black silk wedding dress and Berent’s diaries of his travels. The resilient pair immediately built a much larger house to accommodate their growing family. Five more children were born: three sons and two daughters. The seventh and last child, Rolf Blakstad Hougen, was born December 17, 1928. (All birth dates and full names can be found in the family tree in Appendix 2.)

Berent and Margrethe with Swanhild and Borghild and an unidentified woman and baby in front of the Tatalrose farmhouse. 13

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

I want to explain the names. They are all strange names. My father was a student of Viking history. When he immigrated to Canada, he changed the name “Haugen” to “Hougen,” because he said that was the way it was spelled in the time of the Vikings. It seems bizarre but that’s the story. Also, the names are not all commonplace in Norway, but he again got some of the names from Viking lore and that’s why we’re all saddled with some pretty unique names. My name is quite common in Germany but not so common in Norway. Rolf Hougen, 2008

The Tatalrose home and abundant garden, ca. 1930s. 14

Berent took pride in what he considered to be his Viking heritage. His seven children were given imposing Norse names: Thelmer, Odin, Magnus, Swanhild (Swanie), Borghild (Birdie), Einar (Blondie) and Rolf. Rolf gives a vivid picture of life on the farm, the wealth of food it supplied and the immense amount of work required to harvest, butcher and process it all. The farm was a mixed farm. There were horses, cattle, ducks, geese, turkeys, sheep, and pigs … everything you can imagine. Grain was produced as well. The grain was threshed by a thresher that was towed from farm to farm every fall by an old Englishman. It had a tractor and a big belt that went from the tractor to the threshing machine. The wheat and oats and barley that had been harvested were thrown on the old threshing machine and out came your grains. My mother and dad made their own flour. They had a grinding machine with a large pole to which a horse was hooked. That horse would go round and round — it couldn’t go anywhere but in a circle — and that produced flour and cracked wheat.

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

We were self-sufficient in grains and we sold the surplus. It was also used as feed for the chickens, the geese and the turkeys.

There was always something entertaining happening on the farm. Rolf and a young friend play with a baby goat.

We harvested the hay: cutting it all by horse-drawn mowers, horse-drawn rakes, horse-drawn everything. It was stored in a hay loft and used to feed all of the animals throughout the winter. The lower level of the barn housed the animals. My parents butchered cattle and my dad took the butchered beef down to Prince Rupert to sell. We sheared the sheep of their wool and sold the wool. We then butchered the sheep and also shipped the mutton to Prince Rupert to sell to the butcher shops. The cows produced milk. A hand-operated separator separated the milk and the cream. The cream was put in containers that were set out on the road every week. There were just very narrow gravel roads. Creamery trucks came by to pick up the cream and take it to Burns Lake, where there was a creamery, and it was made into butter. Also, on the farm, we used the cream to churn our own butter. We also made cheese, all from the cow that produced the milk and the separator that separated it. So, we had milk to drink, we had butter to eat, and we made cheese as well. We had chickens and eggs and we marketed chickens in the fall. We raised turkeys, geese and pigs. It was food for the table, and also, all of these products were also sold in the marketplace, principally Prince Rupert, which was the closest large community to Burns Lake. It seems nothing was wasted and I don’t think I ever saw a can. Sugar was purchased in the store — salt, of course, and pepper. We also had large gardens: potatoes were harvested in the fall and put in a root cellar, cabbage likewise, and cauliflower. We had berry bushes: raspberries, strawberries, and red and black currants; but the climate didn’t support fruit trees. All of these things were “canned” — not canned really, put in glass jars. Basically we ate only what we grew on the farm. We would even render lard from heating or boiling pig fat. The family made their own wine. The wine kegs — like 45-gallon drums — were always on the go with homemade wines: rhubarb wine, currant wine and dandelion wine. We also made homemade beer. There

15

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

was a community hall. Each region had its own community hall and put on big dances. You hooked up the horse and sleigh in the wintertime, heated stones on the stove to put on the sleigh so you could keep your feet warm under the blankets if you went from your home to the dances and a party and so on. All of this was just part of a rural community life. Of course, everything was fuelled by wood: wood heaters and wood kitchen stoves. When you washed clothes, originally the clothes washer was a hand-operated one. I recall later on, a gas-powered washing machine was developed, but initially, it was all done by hand. There was a summer kitchen so the breeze could blow through. The cooking was done in the kitchen, of course. I was back there a few years ago, and I was quite surprised that it was a fairly large home for the day. It had a basement cum root cellar underneath, no concrete but a hole in the ground. This was where all the cabbages, turnips, carrots and everything were stored because it stayed cold. There was no refrigeration at all but the farm had an ice house. In the winter, ice from the lake was cut into blocks, stored in the ice house with sawdust, and would last the whole summer. So the ice was the source of cooling throughout the year.

Part of the Hougen farm at Tatalrose. 16

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

All drinking and wash water was hauled by hand. The sewage system consisted of outhouses, supplied with Eaton’s or Spencer’s catalogue paper, and a designated spot to dump slop water. Rolf recalled that washing large bulky items such as bedding required a major annual expedition. Despite the daunting amount of work needed to keep the farm going, there was still time for fun. Rolf and Einar had ponies that they saddled and rode to visit friends and neighbours. They also had bicycles. Rolf’s brother Thelmer became interested in photography and set up a darkroom in the house. When Rolf was young, he walked to school, a distance of about a mile. In winter he skied to school on skis made by one of the farmhands, a Finnish man. We had a Finnish fellow working for us who made the skis and he would shape the front by creating a big wood block — it was curved — soak them for a length of time in boiling water, and then bring them out and attach this wood mould to them and let them dry to give them the curve. We had a ski hill with a little jump, and we would do that. Rolf began hunting at a young age for duck, grouse and squirrels. Before age 12, he was skinning squirrels and selling them for 25 cents a hide. Rolf remembers having a pet owl that went out to hunt every night before returning to the farm. For several years, he even had a pet moose. By age 12 or 13, Rolf was driving the family Model T. One particular trip made for a memorable family story. I recall once when my mother and I went down to McDonald’s Landing to visit her good friends the Hamries. The Model T

Once a year, all the bedding was loaded on a wagon — and later, an old Model T, which I actually drove — to go to François Lake to a place called McDonald’s Landing. They built a fire, heated the water, washed the blankets; and then, to rinse them, walked out into the lake and thoroughly rinsed the soap away from the blankets and the pillowcases — you name it. Rolf Hougen, 2008

Left, above: Swanhild (Swanie), Borghild (Birdie), Margrethe and Berent by the family car, 1929. Left, below: Margrethe and Berent with Rolf’s pet moose at Tatalrose, B.C. 17

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

had what they called a Ruckstell axle ... if you shifted gears and you missed the gear, then even the brake didn’t work. On the way home, I almost reached the top of this hill, tried to shift to a lower gear and missed. Therefore, I didn’t have a brake. So, we started to roll back on this hill, just the two of us. And in order to stop the Model T, I turned to the hill on the side. It climbed up the hill and then rolled over on its side. Neither of us was hurt. Subsequently, we got a long pole — the Model Ts weren’t very heavy — and progressively moved it. We were able to right it, start it and drive home. Rolf’s early education took place in a one-room school house that taught grades one to eight. For grades seven, eight and nine, Rolf attended school in Prince Rupert, staying with his brother Thelmer and his sister-inlaw Florence. This was long before construction of the highway west of Prince George. To travel to Prince Rupert, the family had to drive to Burns Lake and then take the CNR train to the coast. It wasn’t until World War II that the United States Army helped complete the road from Prince Rupert to Terrace. In support of Great Britain, Canada had declared war on Germany in 1939. By 1942, Prince Rupert, strategically located on a superb natural harbour, had become a busy wartime port. Its population tripled as an estimated 150,000 Canadian and American troops passed through. Both the U.S. Army and the Royal Canadian Navy built bases to house their troops. After the United States entered the war in 1941, the Americans invested heavily in developing the port facilities. More than 100,000 tonnes of explosives were shipped from Prince Rupert to the Pacific Theatre and nearly 74,000 troops embarked from there for Alaska. Thelmer was

Right: This portrait of Rolf at age 14 was taken in Prince Rupert. Far right: Aerial view of Prince Rupert waterfront, U.S. Army warehouse, CNR yard and part of the downtown area, 1947. Prince Rupert City & Regional Archives & Museum of Northern B.C. 18

Chapter 1: Norwegian roots/Canadian beginnings

employed in the naval yards as a shipwright, helping to build Liberty Ships for the war effort. Thelmer and his wife later moved to Vancouver, but Rolf stayed on in Thelmer’s house for another year or so with his sister Swanie. In Prince Rupert, Rolf had his introduction to the retail business. By that time, Berent and Margrethe were running a small grocery store from a room in the rear of their Tatalrose home. They sent Rolf their orders. He in turn went to the wholesale grocery supplier to select the items, shipping the order to Burns Lake by rail. Rolf also earned pocket money by working in a local store after school and on weekends. The Variety Store on Main Street was owned by Gordon Bryant, who later became mayor of Prince George. Rolf kept in contact with his former employer, who visited the Hougens in Whitehorse many years later. Rolf’s life on the farm gave him an ethic of hard work and resourcefulness. He also proved to be resilient and adaptable. When he moved to Prince Rupert, he found opportunities in his changed circumstances where another farm boy might have found only bewilderment. He joined the Sea Cadets, worked part time at a local store and even began an entrepreneurial venture, creating souvenir crests that he sold to Canadian and American servicemen (see page 27 in Chapter 2). As for Berent, his travels had not yet ended. His fascination with the north lured him to the Yukon yet again. This time he went with his wife and his youngest child. Although Berent’s great adventures were slowly winding down, he had instilled in his son Rolf both his love of travel and a willingness to try his hand at new ventures wherever they might present themselves. Rolf was just embarking on his own great life saga.

Left, above: Rolf was a member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets from 1941– 44. In 1943, Rolf attended a summer camp at Whytecliff Park near Vancouver. Left, below: Berent and Margrethe at their 50th anniversary in 1964; a portrait of young sailor Berent hangs on the wall. 19

This wooden water tower was just south of Carcross. The Tutshi is tied up in the background. YA 2009/81 #731

Building the rail line down the middle of Broadway in Skagway, June 15, 1898. YA 2002/118 #1133

First trains into Whitehorse, June 7, 1900. The railway wasn’t completed until July 29, 1900.

When this steel cantilever bridge was completed in 1901, it was the tallest of its kind in the world.

YA 2009/81 #728

Rolf Hougen photo

Trains offloaded freight behind the Whitehorse railway depot to be shipped downriver to Dawson City and other settlements. YA 2009/81 #138 20

White Pass and Yukon Railway

The railway’s hardworking rotary snowplows tackled mammoth drifts up to 12 feet (3.7 m) high. YA 2002/118 #128

For over a century, section crews have needed picks, shovels and strong backs to do basic repairs to the rail line. YA 2009/81 #738

The tiny Duchess locomotive hauled freight on the 2.5-mi. (4-km) Taku Tram between Atlin and Tagish lakes. Passengers sometimes had to get out and push. YA 2002/118 #113

In the early 1950s, White Pass replaced its steam engines with diesel locomotives. YA 2009/81 #736

A family on an outing, early 1900s. During the gold rush, horse-drawn carts hauled freight around the Whitehorse Rapids over log tramlines. YA 2002/118 #1139

21

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

Chapter 2

Growing up in the Yukon

T

he lure of the north and new economic opportunities drew the Hougen family to the Yukon Territory in 1944. The Yukon that Berent returned to, nearly 40 years after his first visit, had undergone its second great upheaval since the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897–98. World War II, the Japanese invasion of American territory and two wartime mega-projects had completely transformed Whitehorse. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Whitehorse was a placid town of about 350 people that doubled in size when sternwheeler crews arrived for the summer navigation season. As the end of rail and head of Yukon River navigation, the town’s main function was to tranship freight and groceries from the Outside to more remote Yukon communities and, on the return trip south, ship out gold and silver-lead ore from Dawson City and Mayo respectively. The town in the river valley was mainly confined to the eight blocks between Hawkins and Strickland streets. Most town dwellings were simple single-storey structures made of framed lumber, log or a combination of the two. In winter, the mighty riverboats docked on their ways must have seemed like skyscrapers in comparison.

23

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

White Horse townsite plan, ca. 1900. Until 1945, the section of the Yukon River upstream of the Pelly River was officially known as the Lewes River. Yukon Archives, YRG I, Series 1, vol. 13, f. 2788 24

The few sidewalks were wooden and, depending on the time of the year, the streets were mud, dust or frozen snow. The Baxter and Chambers ranches to the north (areas now occupied by the Yukon Inn and Erik’s AudioTronic) were considered to be rural properties. Living conditions would seem rudimentary to us today. Few houses had full plumbing. Many had large barrels in the kitchen that were refilled by a water delivery service, and most had outhouses in the backyard. Only local businesses and a few homes had telephones. Most communication with the outside world was by telegraph messages tapped out in Morse Code, at the Dominion Telegraph Office on First Avenue. While some had electric stoves and refrigerators, many cooked on wood stoves and kept perishables cool in “ice boxes,� early fridges with a chamber to hold a large block of ice that was regularly replaced. Most heated their homes with wood and every winter the volunteer fire department could count on fighting at least a few house fires caused by faulty stoves or dirty chimneys. Cartage businesses operated by the Cyr and Ryder families had a brisk trade in hauling water and cordwood to Whitehorse residents. Whitehorse was still very much a company town. The group of companies known as the White Pass & Yukon Route was the major employer with hundreds of full-time and seasonal workers on the railway, the docks and on the great riverboats. The shipyards of the River Division, the British Yukon Navigation Company, were a large complex farther downstream on the riverfront, and included all the facilities necessary to build and service the majestic sternwheelers. First Nations men worked seasonally as deckhands

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

and longshoremen, and entire families worked in the large wood camps that provided cordwood to the hungry boilers of the sternwheelers. Mines in the nearby Copper Belt were inactive and tourism had declined since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Long-distance travel was not something to be undertaken lightly and every trip to and from the Yukon was an expensive and time-consuming adventure. Although air travel came to the Yukon in the 1920s, the planes were small, the airfields were few and rudimentary, and not many could afford the fares. By the 1940s, most people still travelled by steamship up the west coast to Skagway, then took the White Pass and Yukon Railway to Whitehorse. The steam engines took at least eight hours to travel 110 miles (177 km) over the narrow gauge railway through the Coastal Range along precipitous mountainsides and over rickety-looking trestle bridges spanning deep chasms. After Rolf and his mother completed this trip in October 1944, Margrethe swore that she would never take that terrifying train ride again. When war broke out in Europe in 1939, it must have seemed very remote to most Yukoners. People followed the news and some enlisted, but otherwise daily life continued much as usual. On December 7, 1941, a bombing raid on Pearl Harbor, half the world away, brought the war very close to home. The Japanese also began bombing and even landing on the Aleutian Island chain, potentially giving them access to mainland Alaska and a staging site for attacking the North American continent. These invasions of American soil brought the United States into the war and prompted swift defensive action. Within months, the Canadian and American governments agreed to build a highway to Alaska through British Columbia and the Yukon.

Left: View of prewar Whitehorse showing the docks, warehouses, steam-operated derrick and the downtown area. YA 2002/118 #38 25

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

Below, left: A U.S. Army military band serenades local citizens in front of the train station, ca. 1942. Photo by Odin Hougen

Below, right: Aerial view of Whitehorse airport  and RCAF buildings, ca. late 1940s.

26

This decision had a profound effect on the entire Yukon but particularly the residents of Whitehorse. During what was later termed the “Friendly Invasion,” tens of thousands of soldiers and civilian workers flooded into the Yukon. In March 1942, the first of several trainloads of American troops emptied out at the station and the soldiers marched up the escarpment to set up a large “tent city” north of the airport. Their mission: to help build the Alaska Highway or Alcan — the 1,500-mile (2,400-km) road between Dawson Creek, B.C. and Fairbanks, Alaska. Within months they were followed by civilian contractors of the Public Roads Administration charged with turning the pioneer tote road into an all-weather highway. Airports were upgraded to handle more traffic and serve as supply points to support construction. These airports also served as staging and fuelling stations for the Lend-Lease program, whereby thousands of aircraft were flown from Montana to Fairbanks and thence to Russia to assist the war effort on the eastern front. Soon there were rumours of another mega-project called Canol, short for Canada Oil. This ambitious, expensive and overly optimistic enterprise resulted in construction of a road and pipeline from the oilfields of Norman Wells, NWT, 600 miles (960 km) over the Mackenzie Mountains to a new refinery in Whitehorse. The goal was to provide a secure source of aviation fuel far from the menace of Japanese bombers. By 1944, the town had been transformed. With its air, train and river connections, Whitehorse was a transportation hub and a logical choice for the Northwest Service Command, headquarters for all military

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

defence projects. Complexes of army offices, barracks, Quonset huts and great dumps of supplies filled up the edges of the townsite flat and moved up to the surrounding escarpment. Workers in the refinery were the first residents of what is now the Takhini subdivision while the great structures of the refinery sprawled over most of what is now the Marwell industrial area. People flocked into Whitehorse from all over the Yukon to find work and be part of the excitement. Many of these newcomers occupied shacks in the growing squatter communities along the riverfront. For a teenage boy who had spent most of his life on a remote farm, this was an exciting new place brimming with possibilities. To some degree this was a familiar milieu, mainly due to the predominance of the military. While attending school in Prince Rupert, Rolf had encountered some of the thousands of American and Canadian soldiers and sailors deployed to this strategic wartime port. Indeed, the young Rolf first showed his entrepreneurial bent and a surprising artistic flair by creating military mementos and marketing them to servicemen. During his time in Prince Rupert, Rolf joined the Sea Cadets and for a time even considered a military career. I was in the Sea Cadets and went to sea one time on a cruise from Prince Rupert to Vancouver and stayed at a place called Whytecliff Park where we had our base camp. It was an

In my early teens, I earned money by making crests of the U.S. and Canadian military forces. I used tinfoil, transparent colours and lampblack on glass, then left provision for the soldier or the airman or the seaman to insert his picture and send it home to Mom. All very amateurish, but I sold hundreds of them. When I moved to Whitehorse, I continued making them for the first year or so.

Far left, below: Gambling flourished in Whitehorse during the war years and after. These men are playing Ace-Away, a game that came to Whitehorse from Texas during construction of the Alaska Highway. Left: A sample of one of the hundreds of military crests Rolf created and sold in the 1940s. The photo on the crest shows Marj Hougen and Magnus, who was in the RCAF. 27

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

interesting period. I pursued going to Royal Roads after high school, but nothing came of it. I was already too involved in business. Two older brothers joined the forces. Magnus enlisted in the army, switched to the Royal Canadian Air Force and ended his career as a flight sergeant. Thelmer, who enlisted in the navy, earned the rank of Petty Officer and served in British Columbia, the Maritimes and Ontario. And what specifically brought the Hougens to Whitehorse? This is Rolf’s account of his family’s decision: Odin, my second eldest brother, went to the Yukon about 1941. He worked on the building of the Alaska Highway and eventually took on the Rawleigh dealership. Rawleigh products are a line of household items, medicines and foods that are sold door to door, similar to Fuller Brushes or Watkins Products. He rented a little store at Second and Wood where the Justice Building is today. It was about 16 by 20 or 24, less than 400 square feet in size. That became the base to unpack, store and even sell the products, as well as door-to-door sales.

In 1946, even after adding drug sundries, knickknacks and so on, the total volume of business was barely over 14,000 dollars, and the net profit was less than 1,000 dollars. Nevertheless, it was the beginning.

Far right: In 1942, Odin Hougen was a cook with a survey crew working on the Alaska Highway. 28

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

Odin wanted to leave to join the navy. So my father came to the Yukon in June of ’44 and took over the Rawleigh agency. My mother and I joined him the following October. We travelled up the coast by boat from Prince Rupert and in on the White Pass railroad to Whitehorse. Rolf had been surprised to find that Whitehorse was “a total shack town” with very modest homes, outhouses and water delivery. The other unexpected discovery was that, with the wartime military occupation, Whitehorse was also very much an American town full of soldiers, construction workers and even American students attending his high school in a former military barracks building. American Independence Day on July 4th was more widely celebrated than the Canadian national holiday on July 1st, Dominion Day (now known as Canada Day). The family all worked hard to make a go of the fledgling business. Margrethe staffed the counter while the salary from Berent’s labourer’s job at Standard Oil refinery helped support the store. When the family sold the Tatalrose farm for $6,000 (equivalent to nearly $80,000 in 2009 dollars), the money was immediately invested into the business. Rolf recalls carefully monitoring the stock and hurrying home from school to check whether the more expensive items had sold yet. As well as working at the store, Rolf found other jobs as “there just wasn’t enough money to go around.” For a time he pumped gas for Taylor & Drury Motors. He also had a part-time job handling deliveries for the Taylor & Drury store after school, on weekends and on holidays. He later recalled of the Hougen store: We opened the store in the morning and we were open until at least 9:00 or 10:00 every night. We lived in the back of the store in a very, very small area.

Eventually, we bought a building. There were no bylaws, no rules, no electrical standards or plumbing standards. Well, you didn’t need plumbing, there was no sewer and no running water — nothing. Rolf Hougen, 2000

Left, above: Two U.S. Army Military Police pose with Rawleigh products in Hougen’s store. The U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and American construction companies moved to Whitehorse in early 1942 as part of the war effort, and the population ballooned to 30,000 people. YA 2010/91 #54

Left, below: Taxis in front of the White Pass Hotel at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue, 1947. Hougen’s Variety Store was at the back of the hotel. 29

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

Below, left: Mr. and Mrs. B. Hougen in front of the Rawleigh’s store at Second Avenue and Wood Street, 1944. YA 2010/91 #50

Below, centre: The little store had received a facelift by 1946. Children’s clothing and toys were added to the inventory. Rolf worked in the store before and after high school and on weekends. Rolf also began a photography and photo finishing business with his partner, Sgt. Bruce Cameron of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. YA 2010/91 #52

Below, right: In 1947, the store moved to the White Pass Hotel building on Front Street. Rolf’s brother Blondie is standing in the doorway. That year Hougen’s Variety Store had sales of $41,000, with a profit of $4,726. This was, however, before any wages to family members. YA 2010/91 #56

30

The small building that housed the store and living quarters was rented from local lawyer W.L. “Deacon” Phelps (grandfather of Willard Phelps), also a lawyer and Yukon politician. The Hougens carefully wrote up orders by hand and sent them out by mail. Long-distance telephone service was extremely expensive and rarely used. Stock arrived by railway four to six weeks after being ordered and was stored in one of the long warehouses by the river. In winter, Rolf took a sleigh the three blocks to the warehouse then hauled the order back to the store to unpack it. If the shipment was large, he might borrow John MacIsaac’s pick-up truck to collect the goods. Eventually, Rolf acquired an old Model T Ford. The tires tended to flatten out in very cold weather, causing them to bump when the vehicle started to move. Customers included local residents, military people and employees of the large American construction companies working on the highway and the Canol Project. The huge influx of workers stressed town services to the limit. The few services and small local businesses were totally unprepared to deal with the thousands of newcomers. A familiar scene in wartime Whitehorse was line-ups at the cafes, the post office, the bank and — in particular — the liquor store, located in a large frame building at the current site of City Hall. Demand was so high that people were able to sell their spots in the liquor store line-up. Rolf described the other retailers in Whitehorse at that time: There was a large Northern Commercial, which was an Alaskan company based in Seattle. They had a large store, groceries and everything else. Taylor & Drury had their start at the turn of the century and had branches throughout the Yukon. They had a large department store. And on Main Street, there were jewellery stores and specialty stores and fur stores and meat stores and all these specialty stores, very small generally speaking. So, there was quite a bit of competition — and of course, we were so small, we were totally insignificant. I must say that over the years, we grew and we grew and we grew; and eventually all of the others faded away, and we continued to grow. I guess they found it hard to compete with us.

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

High school Rolf’s high school was a two-storey barracks building located in the Dowell Construction Company area, near the present site of Qwanlin Mall. He attended Grades 10 to 12 there and recalls that there were still boxes and files of abandoned office records lying about. Initially there were twelve Grade 12 students, a number of them American. Parents petitioned the federal Minister of Mines and Resources for a new school, citing the dismal condition of the improvised high school. Federal official C.K. LeCapelain echoed their concerns in a 1949 letter: It is of temporary wooden construction without central heating, there being 19 oil stoves scattered throughout the building. The stairways are too narrow; the fire escapes made of wood; the insulation is poor so that the building is cold and draughty in the severe sub-zero weather sometimes experienced in that locality; the windows are draughty and give insufficient and improper light for the classrooms. The building is

Left, above: Rolf took this photo at the White Pass Summit on the railway. His high school basketball team regularly took the eight-hour train trip to Skagway for games. Rotary plows cut a narrow trough through the snow drifts, creating banks as high as three metres. Left, below: Whitehorse High School students, Grades 9–12, with teacher Mr. M. Warwick, 1945, in front of the Dowell Construction Company building that housed their classes. Back row, l-r: Pierce Williams, Henry Nielsen, Frank Hoggan, Howard Dutzi, Rolf Hougen, Owen Williams, Tom McLaughlin, Niel Keobke, Jack McIntosh. Front row, l–r: Bill Huskins, Vern Mushett, Pat Keith, Peggy Cowan, Bernice Russell, Pat Mallory, Lynn Cowan, Betty MacBride, Teresa Porter, George Krautschneider. Missing: Barbara Baxter, James McCann, Donna Miller, Ed Wirsch, Larry Chalmers, Jim Thompson, Doreen Lee. 31

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

* Marjorie Almstrom, A Century of Schooling: Education in the Yukon 1861–1961, p. 209; 1991 typescript.

surrounded by warehouses and equipment shops and there are no playgrounds. At the best it is a makeshift and at the worst it is a firetrap. No wonder the parents are worried over the safety and health of their children.*

The YPA

Below, left: Crowning the May Queen, 1945. Below, right: Marching up Main Street on YPA Sports Day, May 24, 1948. L–R: Scottie Munro, ? , Madeline Perchy, Jean McLaughlin, Vimy Yeulet, ?, Howard Ryder, ? .

32

While attending junior high school in Prince Rupert, Rolf belonged to a church-sponsored social group called the YPA or Young People’s Association. Soon after moving to Whitehorse, he took the lead in forming another group also known as the YPA. Its purpose was to organize “fun events” for teenagers and it was unique in that all the planning and organizing was initiated by the young people themselves. Rolf recalls that a few of his fellow members included Bucky Keopke, Bill Jeffries, Betty MacBride, Teresa Porter and Howard Ryder. As well as organizing dances, sporting events and excursions, the young people even obtained their own building. Here is Rolf’s description of the group’s operation: We bought a surplus army barrack building, located about Strickland and Seventh, and arranged to move it to Fourth and Hanson, where the T.A. Firth building is now. We fixed it up and that was our clubhouse. We ran our own club and I was the president for quite a number of years. Parents started to get concerned about how these kids could run their own show. So, we invited the Kiwanis to attend our dances as chaperones to assure parents that we were doing okay.

Chapter 2: Growing up in the Yukon

Every year, we had a May Day celebration with parades, ball games, booths, a May Day Queen and everything — you name it. I’ve got hundreds of pictures. It was a very active organization. The YPA continued from 1945 through to about 1961, long after I had outgrown it, you might say. A lot of things that were successful back then became more difficult after television because people stayed home and watched TV, rather than go out to gatherings and parties. That was probably the first community venture that I got deeply involved in and headed up from its beginning. Subsequently, I was involved with starting many other organizations. A few lifelong themes emerge from the story of Rolf’s life at this time. Here we see a young man who was already an experienced entrepreneur accustomed to hard work and willing to make sacrifices to develop his family’s business. We also see a sociable teenager who participated in the many doings of his new community. Finally we see a community organizer who, through his work founding and running the Young People’s Association, learned the skills he would later bring to many other volunteer endeavours.

By the time I was 15 or 16 I had started taking photographs and I began developing and printing film when we moved to Whitehorse. The camera at that time was a Kodak 616 bellows fold-out camera. Flash was quite new and synchronizing the shutter with the flash going off was always a challenge. If you had the camera outside in the cold, the mechanical adjustment would get out of sync due to the metal expanding and contracting. Rolf Hougen, 2009

Above, far left: YPA Sports Day in the ballpark at 4th Avenue and Main Street, May 24, 1945. The T.C. Richards building is visible across Steele Street. Above, left: Rolf on Main Street in front of the Whitehorse Inn. 33

In the early 1950s, the Klondike was refurbished for tourist cruises. This proved uneconomical, so the vessel was retired in 1955, marking the end of the sternwheeler era.

HRH theBoarding Duke of Edinburgh visited the Klondike for aWhitehorse in 1954.cruise With local dignitaries, to Lake Laberge. he travelled to Lake Laberge on the newly renovated Klondike. Rolf Hougen is on the upper deck, fifth from right, with the camera.

For five months every year, the Whitehorse riverfront was the focus of the town. Here the sternwheeler fleet was serviced by the docks, warehouses and shipyards of the British Yukon Navigation Company (BYN).

The Klondike fuels up at a wood stop along the Yukon River. From the 1920s to the early 1950s, the Casca and the Whitehorse were BYN’s main passenger vessels. 34

The Yukoner in the Whitehorse shipyards. When the Yukon’s population dropped after the Klondike Gold Rush, many sternwheelers became abandoned derelicts.

Sternwheelers

The deckhands and stevedores who loaded and unloaded hundreds of cords of wood and tonnes of bagged ore and other freight were critical to sternwheeler operations. The Gleaner tied up at the wharves in Carcross. At left is a wooden derrick used to load heavy cargo.

The Klondike on “ways.” Every fall, the sternwheelers were winched up these greased sloping wooden ramps, then blocked up for winter.

An unidentified captain poses by the wheelhouse of his vessel. Sternwheeler captains and pilots were the royalty of the waterways.

The last trip of the Klondike was overland. It took four tractors and eight tonnes of soap to move the vessel to its current location. Parks Canada refurbished the Klondike and Keno in the 1960s. l-r: Erik, Karen, Kelly, Greta, Maureen and Craig Hougen. 35

Chapter 3

The dynasty begins

T

he story of Rolf’s meeting, wooing and wedding Margaret has a fairy tale quality. He was smitten the moment he first saw her across a crowded room. Then, just as they were getting to know one another, she disappeared. Rolf had to travel a great distance to win over her family and secure her return. After their joyous wedding, they had a fabulous European honeymoon. After that, it was home, to start a family and get back to work. Of course, there is much more to this romantic love story, but the tale only improves with added details.

An Edmonton upbringing Like her future husband, Margaret Van Dyke was a first-generation Canadian born to European immigrants. Her parents were a Dutch couple who decided to emigrate to Canada, marry and try homesteading. Martha Van Den Kieboom came from Raamsdonkdveer near Breda; Gerard Van Dyke grew up in Noordwijkerhout near Leiden.

37

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Margaret thinks that they may have been leaving behind ingrained prejudices as well as seeking new opportunities. Martha had been raised as a Roman Catholic; Gerard was Protestant. In those days, this was considered to be a major cultural difference and Gerard’s family were most unhappy that he planned to marry a Catholic. The couple married in Saskatoon in 1925 and settled briefly in Weyburn. Within a year or so, they moved to Edmonton, where they had their first child. As Marg later explained, the ordeal of childbirth was intensified by a language barrier: My mother’s first baby was born in hospital and it was so traumatic for her. She couldn’t speak English. She didn’t understand anything. They couldn’t understand her. So, she decided from then on she’d always have her babies at home, which she did. So, we three were born at home with a woman who came around and delivered babies. Eventually, the doctor would come and check us out.

Above: Marg’s maternal grandparents, Holland. Right, above: In 1925, Gerard Van Dyke married Martha Van Den Kieboom in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Right, below: The young family. L-R: Adrian, baby Margaret and Anne with their mother, 1930. 38

Margaret (Marg) Kieboom Van Dyke was born on November 21, 1929, the third of four children. Her three siblings were, in birth order: Johanna (Anne), Adrian and Rosalyn (Ro). Marg’s father was fluent in English, the result of spending a few years stationed on the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey while serving in the military during World War I. In Edmonton, he worked for a dairy as a delivery man, driving a horse and wagon to deliver milk, butter and cream to local homes. Despite being born at the onset of the Great Depression, Marg’s family never suffered privation. The family had a small house in west Edmonton area near the Charles Camsell Hospital. Her father had a steady job and her family always had fresh food from a large garden.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

When World War II broke out, Marg’s family was greatly concerned about their relatives in the Netherlands. Marg’s mother faithfully wrote both families every week. The Van Dykes sent food parcels overseas with coffee, tea and other hard-to-get items. The mail was very slow, however, and there was always uncertainty as to whether the packages reached their destination. The family retained a few Dutch traditions. On the evening of December 5th, the children put out their shoes for Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus. The next morning, each shoe contained an orange and a few candies or a piece of black coal, depending on whether the child had been good or bad. The Christmas tree was a magical sight, alight with candles. Each child received one gift. Marg still has fond memories of a special doll she received one year. Marg’s favourite family holiday was Easter and in 2008, she explained why: I think my most vivid memory is that every Easter we would all get brand new clothes — coat, hat, new dresses — all made by a dressmaker. That seemed to be the highlight of the year, our new outfits every Easter. The family all spoke Dutch at home until Anne started school. Then English became more predominant. Marg attended elementary school at Grandin Catholic School. From Grade 9 on, female students attended St. Mary’s High School; the boys attended St. Joseph’s. Margaret and her friends spent most of their free time outdoors playing games such as baseball and Kick the Can. At school she took part in various sports such as basketball, baseball and roller skating. She has fond memories of her childhood: …You could go away for the day, and your mother knew that you were just out playing somewhere. There was never a concern, never a worry that you would not come home. It was a wonderful time to be living, so carefree.

Left, above: In 1938, the Van Dyke family posed in front of the family auto, a 1935 Hudson-Terraplane fourdoor sedan. L-R: Adrian, Gerard, Martha, Anne, Margaret and Rosalyn. Left, below: The Van Dyke family in 1947. L-R, back: Rosalyn, Joanne, Adrian and Margaret; front: Gerard and Martha. 39

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Right, above: Red Cross nurses ready to board their flight from Edmonton to Whitehorse in 1952. Marg is third from the right. Right, below: Margaret Van Dyke poses in her Red Cross uniform, 1952. 40

In 1947, the Red Cross began its national Blood Transfusion Service, setting up clinics across the country for blood donors. Margaret was hired to be a Red Cross nurse. She was based in the Edmonton depot and travelled by RCAF aircraft to Yellowknife and Whitehorse and by car to Alberta communities to hold clinics. In Alberta, the staff used a complete mobile unit that included cots, sheets, sterilized bottles and needles. The unit also had trucks to haul the equipment, a refrigerated van for blood storage, and a station wagon to move staff from town to town. The staff included a doctor and a lab technician. This was her first job and she enjoyed every minute: It was a great job. You met a lot of people. Every day there were clinics and I travelled a lot. I travelled to the Yukon and to Yellowknife on military aircraft. Yes, it was a fun job. I loved it! Margaret worked for the Red Cross from 1947 until January 1953. By then, Marg’s father had a new job as manager of Wolf Willow Farm, a job he held until 1964. This was a large property belonging to the Munson family, located on the North Saskatchewan River near the Edmonton golf course. Curtis Munson was a wealthy American who had developed Sterling Collieries and the Coal Valley Mining Company, which sold coal to the Canadian National Railways. The farm had a few horses and some cows but was used by the family primarily for relaxation. Marg first visited Whitehorse in 1949 during her work with the Red Cross and returned in 1952. A year later, she made another visit to the Yukon, a trip that would change her life forever.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

A terrific time to be young The Whitehorse that Marg first visited in the early 1950s bore little resemblance to the sleepy little town by the river of the 1930s. By 1956, the community’s population had grown to more than 2,500, seven times the prewar population. As the population of the entire Yukon was only 12,000 people, this amounted to a little over 20 percent of the population of the entire territory. The stress of a prolonged world war and its anxieties and shortages had ended. Yukoners were more than ready for the good times. With the removal of all travel restrictions on the new Alaska Highway in 1948, there was an increase in southern influences. There were new people in town and the presence of the Canadian Army and Air Force added to the social mix. Whitehorse was moving into the modern 1950s. Like today, both recent and long-time northerners enjoyed the great outdoors. In summer, people hunted, fished, boated and camped. In winter, they snowshoed, skied and let loose during the annual winter carnival. Rolf continued to document the lives and activities of his community with hundreds of photographs. Looking at the vast number of images in Rolf’s albums from this time — depicting carnival events, parades, dances, fishing trips — one can only conclude that it was a terrific time to be young. This very busy and sociable young man went everywhere and photographed everything.

Above: Rolf’s badge from the Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club. Left, above: This view of downtown taken from the old road to the airport in the early 1950s shows both army barracks from the war years and new construction, most notably the federal building completed in 1954. Far left: Relaxing aboard the Army boat Turtle during a trip to Ben-My-Chree, 1950; Rolf is in the middle wearing hat. YA 2009/81 #1053

Left: Rolf in front of Sam McGee’s cabin, still in its original location on Elliott Street. 41

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

The thoroughly modern ’50s

Above: Rolf with his main camera, a 4x5 Speed Graphic, ca. 1946. YA 2009/81 #636

Right,above: The staff of the 98 Cocktail Lounge dressed for a Hawaiian theme night. YA 2009/81 #126 Right, centre: Whitehorse Star, May 25, 1951

Right, below: Rolf with his Rolleiflex. YA 2009/81 #170 42

In 1951, Whitehorse followed a national trend by opening its first “Cocktail Bars.” These lounges were aimed at a more sophisticated clientele than the casual taverns where miners and construction workers dropped in to quaff beer at day’s end. Patrons dressed up to visit these upscale establishments to enjoy specialty drinks or cocktails mixed by the glass. The opening of the Yukon’s first cocktail bar in the Regina Hotel merited a banner headline on the front page of the May 25 issue of the Whitehorse Star. A week later, a fulsome article in the Star described a “lavish” and “ultra-modern” cocktail lounge that had opened just a few doors up Wood Street in the 98 Hotel. The story detailed the finishes, furnishings, “magnificent bar” and the qualifications and experience of the “first class competent bar man,” Cal Miller (who later ran his own establishment, the Capital Hotel, for many years). The trend caught on and soon there was the Rainbow Room in the Whitehorse Inn and the Tourist Services Cocktail Lounge in what is now the Yukon Inn. Rolf was on the spot with his camera documenting these new palaces of pleasure. His photography was a commercial venture as well as a personal passion. One notable commission involved travelling the length of the Alaska Highway in 1946 for the new bus service being offered by White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&YR). Rolf later described the early days of the photography service at Hougen’s store: I was always interested in photography. At one time, the 98 Hotel was a nightclub. I would go into the nightclub and take photos. The next day, customers came into the store to pick up the prints. We also offered a photofinishing service and developed the films at night. I did this work with a good friend, Bruce Cameron, who was then a sergeant in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. They had their operations kitty-corner from our store [at the corner of Second Avenue and Wood Street].

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

The new Yukon capital became a destination for a number of national and international notables. Rolf and his camera were there to meet and greet them. The first Canadian-born Governor General, Vincent Massey, visited Whitehorse in 1956. Nearly 300 Yukoners met the Governor General at a gala reception in the RCAF Officers’ Mess on April 3, hosted by Commissioner and Mrs. F.H. Collins. In 1959, HRH Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, visited Canada. It was the longest royal tour in Canadian history: during the rigorous 45-day trip the Queen and her party travelled 15,000-mile (24,000 km) to visit all ten provinces and both territories as well as the United States. In Whitehorse, the Queen and Prince Philip visited MacBride Museum where they met Bill MacBride and Patsy Henderson, one of the Tagish men present at the discovery of gold on Bonanza Creek. They then took a short trip on the White Pass and Yukon Railway to McCrae and back and admired new developments such as the just completed power dam. The Queen missed the Sunday morning service at the Old Log Church due to illness, and the world soon learned that she was pregnant with her third child, the future Prince Andrew.

Whitehorse Winter Carnival The town’s first winter carnival, held in 1945, was sponsored by the “All Union Committee of Whitehorse.” It was a fundraising endeavour by the Yukon Labour Party to assist their federal candidate, Tom McEwen. The event featured a Queen contest,

Left, above: Governor General Vincent Massey visits with Hootalinqua Sam in front of MacBride Museum, April 1956. YA 2010/91 #2

Left, below: Marg and Rolf are presented to Her Majesty, July 18, 1959. Commissioner Fred Collins and his wife Sybil are looking on. YA 2010/91 #1 43

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Dog Derby, dances and a ski-jump competition. Although the carnival was a great success, it was no help at all in electing McEwen. He ended up trailing the Conservative incumbent, George Black, in the election five months later. The community followed up on the success of the 1945 event to sponsor the carnival for the next five years or so. Rolf became one of the organizers and later recalled some of the highlights: In ’49, I was treasurer of the Whitehorse Winter Carnival and in charge of gambling. We arranged to use the 98 Hotel dance hall as our gaming hall. We didn’t know much about gambling. We brought in a couple of professional gamblers from Calgary to run the tables and instruct others on how to run the games. But I recall the professionals from Calgary made a lot more money for the carnival than the amateurs from Whitehorse who were running similar tables. We raised $14,000 that year, all of which went into building the new civic centre. We had dog teams on the river and ski competitions. People attended from Juneau, Fairbanks and even Anchorage. Queen candidates were sponsored by communities, including Skagway, Alaska. Right: Whitehorse Winter Carnival, 1948. L-R: Margaret McLaughlin, Tom McLaughlin, Bob Parent, Jackie McIntosh, Paul Cyr, Joanne Keobke and Pat Armstrong in front of sternwheelers Klondike (before it was moved to its present location) and Casca. YA 2009/81 #625

44

We ran dances in various locations and had free buses circulate from hall to hall so that people could go to all of these events. And we had kiddies’ events. The Winter Carnival of 1950 was made especially memorable by a large group of unexpected guests, the American and Canadian soldiers of Operation Sweetbriar. With the Cold War at its peak, the Americans and Canadians mounted a joint military exercise that involved more than 5,000 troops, 1000 vehicles and 100 aircraft. The purpose of the training was to give the troops combat and living experience during winter conditions in the subarctic. Their mission was to prepare for the possibility of Russian invaders from the

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

northwest. According to the scenario, Russian troops had attacked Alaska and captured the airfield at Northway and were moving down the Alaska Highway toward Whitehorse. The 11-day war games culminated a mock battle at Snag in which Canadian troops mounted a successful final assault on their Russian opponents. Most of the troops in this exercise were later posted to Korea. Several men who had become friends with the Hougens died during that conflict. One might wonder how a military mock combat exercise fit into a winter carnival. Rolf explained their role: In 1950, the American Army was here for their Sweetbriar exercise, during which several thousand troops came to Whitehorse. They set up their headquarters at McCrae and carried on military winter exercises throughout the Yukon. The troops were still segregated, and I recall that one of the black units was told to chop trees and prepare a ski hill — it was later known as the Roundel Ski Hill, it was back in the hills — and they had this troop cutting trees and preparing the hill for skiing. Another group was assigned to help us in our communications. They had their signal people stringing lines from pole to pole throughout Whitehorse. All of us had emergency phones and we could talk to each other throughout the carnival, thanks to the American military. The last Whitehorse Winter Carnival was held in 1950. In 1961, Rolf lobbied his fellow Board of Trade members and other community-minded people to reinstate the event. The first Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous took place in February 1962. Here’s how Rolf remembers that transition: We had a contest to call it something other than the Whitehorse Winter Carnival. I think it was Bob Campbell’s wife, Jean, who came up with Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous and that’s the name we adopted from then on.

Left: Operation Sweetbriar troops marching down Main Street. YA 82/346 #57

45

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

We coordinated with the Fur Rendezvous of Anchorage and the Fairbanks Winter Carnival. Since we travelled to each others’ events, we arranged it so they wouldn’t happen on the same weekend. But generally speaking, we agreed the last weekend of February would be the time. I was chairman of the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous. I didn’t have the time to head it up the first year so an RCAF sergeant [Harry Kane] became our first Rendezvous chairman. I think I was chairman the following year.

Right, above: Rolf, treasurer of the 1950 Whitehorse Winter Carnival, auctions off a garter as part of a fund-raiser. Right, below: Dogsled racing on the Yukon River during the Whitehorse Winter Carnival of 1946. YA 2009/81 #875 46

Long before Whitehorse began hosting music festivals, local theatre productions, regular touring concerts and a host of other entertainments that residents now take for granted, the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous was the great social event of the winter. While the main action took place the last weekend of February, celebrations were crammed into the entire preceding week. Downtown businesses decorated their premises and display windows and employees dressed up in gold-rush-era costumes. Amateur thespians took to the stage to act in the farcical “mellerdrama,” encouraging audience members to boo and hiss the dastardly villain. Normally sober and respectable citizens enthusiastically took part in events such as the beard growing contest, the ladies-only hairy leg contest and the backward snowshoe race. The town’s many bars and lounges imported special entertainment.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

For a week, the Whitehorse Star took on a different banner, becoming the Sourdough Star, and every day the paper devoted several pages of coverage to the various carnival events and contests, culminating in the crowning of the Rendezvous Queen. On the final weekend, the announcers of CBC Yukon took to the streets to provide live coverage of the flour packing, snowshoe, tea boiling and dog howling contests and, especially, the dog team races. The weather was almost always very cold. Nevertheless, hundreds of people pulled out their heaviest parkas, fur hats and felt-lined boots and went out to cheer the flour packers on Main Street and the start and finish of the dog team races on the Yukon River in front of the railway depot. In between, they crowded into one of the bars or coffee shops to thaw freezing fingers and noses. Many of the carnival-goers bought their parkas from Hougen’s Department Store. Rolf recalled that the store purchased fur parkas from Aklavik while the cloth ones were made in either Tuktoyuktuk or Inuvik. Rolf and Hougen’s Ltd. continued to be major supporters over the years. The whole staff dressed up for the festivities. Hougen’s helped support the dog races, sponsoring mushers such as Philip Smith of Teslin, son of outfitter, trapper and musher Andy Smith.

Above: Ad in the 1947 Whitehorse Winter Carnival booklet. Left, above: Bingo at the Winter Carnival, ca. 1945–50. Note the military presence. Left, below: The Queen competition, 1948. L-R: Miss Armed Forces, Miss Kiwanis (Frances Straughan), Miss Canadian Legion and Miss Skagway (Cecelia Selmer). 47

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Right, above: Tallying up the proceeds from the 1950 Winter Carnival. The objective was to raise money to build a civic Centre (model in background). Lloyd Camyre and Bill Drury facing the camera. Right, below: Winter Carnival program, 1948. 48

Although the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous is still a thriving winter celebration, for many people the carnival has lost some of its excitement. In 1984, completion of the fourth turbine at the power dam meant that more water flowed through the dam, which prevented the Yukon River in Whitehorse from freezing to a safe thickness. The dog races were moved out of town and for a number of years were discontinued altogether. Events such as the Frostbite Music Festival have usurped some attendees, volunteers and out-of-town guests. Nonetheless, the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous is still one of the territory’s great winter attractions and a key part of the cultural identity of Whitehorse. In 1998, Rolf spearheaded a drive to bring the dog team races back and together with White Pass provided a $10,000 purse for the event. As Rolf commented at the time, “It’s fitting that two of the oldest operating companies in Yukon have partnered to bring this tradition back to the festival.” To this day, the Hougen Group of Companies remains a major sponsor of the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

“Upper” Whitehorse The armed forces had their own recreational facilities up the hill in Takhini and Hillcrest. Hillcrest had one heck of a toboggan run that is still used today. The large recreation centre near the airport (now the Yukon Transportation Museum) hosted sports events, dances and theatrical productions. The army had its own recreation centre in Takhini that included a bowling alley. Army and Air Force members gathered at their respective officers’ messes, sergeants’ messes and the general enlistment recreation centre. Rolf was invited to become an associate member of both officers’ messes at the age of 20 (one year less than legal drinking age). He was one of a small group of Whitehorse citizens to receive such an invitation, the purpose being to promote good relations between the townspeople and the forces. Rolf described the protocol for social events: The messes were very, very formal. Once you became a member, they would tolerate you attending maybe once in a business suit, and then you had to get a black tie. But they preferred that you wore white tie and tails for these formal events, and when I say “formal,” they were extremely formal. The commander at the time was a brigadier in the army and a wing commander in the air force. Protocol was very important. When you made social calls, you left your business card on the stand and so on.

This sign was located near the top of Two Mile Hill. YA 2009/81 #919

49

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

A Yukon Courtship

Right, above: Marg dressed up to attend the Queen’s Coronation Ball in June 1953. Rolf met Marg for the first time a few hours after this photo was taken. Right, below: Marg (right) with her sister Rosalyn Nielson pose in their party finery just before attending the Queen’s Coronation Ball in June 1953. 50

Marg’s youngest sister Ro had married Walt Nielson, a squadron leader with the RCAF. The couple were living in Whitehorse, where he worked as an education officer. When Rosalyn was expecting her first child, Marg travelled north to support her sister. At that time the flight north from Edmonton was an eight-hour trip on a Canadian Pacific “prop” or propeller-driven plane with frequent stops: Grand Prairie, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Watson Lake. After her arrival, Marg took an office job with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME, known informally as Reemee). At first Ro and Walt had lived in “a little shack” downtown, lacking running water and with an outhouse in the backyard. The new Air Force subdivision of Hillcrest still was under construction, however, and soon the family moved up the hill to a modern home with all the amenities. Warren Robert Nielson was born at the U.S. Army Hospital, located at Fifth Avenue and Lambert Street, on March 17, 1953. As well as helping to mind the baby, Marg found time to enjoy the social life of Whitehorse. Sometimes she was escorted by her brother-in-law to various events. On June 2, 1953, the RCAF Officers’ Mess hosted a Coronation Ball, a gala affair celebrating the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. On this special occasion, Marg was escorted by RCAF doctor, Bill Buchan. Rolf attended the same event with a date. After seeing a lovely blonde woman across the room, he checked her identity with Tom, one of the bartenders. Upon learning her name and that she was single, Rolf asked Marg for a dance and then everything changed. Rolf took his own date home, returned to the celebration and then danced with Marg the rest of the evening.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

The next day Rolf sought out Marg and the pair became better acquainted. Then suddenly the budding courtship came to an end. Marg’s sister and brother-in-law were moving to another posting and Marg moved away as well — without telling Rolf. Marg’s explanation for this abrupt behaviour: “Well, I had to play hard to get.” From Marg’s friend Mary, Rolf obtained an address, a post office box in Edmonton. He wrote and the pair re-established contact. By then, Marg was missing her life and friends back in the Yukon. In 1954, Rolf travelled to Edmonton to help Marg move back north. Marg’s parents were quite impressed by the personable and very respectable young businessman and raised no objections to their daughter driving over 1,400 miles (2,253 km) north with a man they had just met. Rolf had also flown down to take possession of a Ford truck for the business, thereby avoiding the $400 delivery fee. The pair drove up the Alaska Highway, the first of countless journeys that they would eventually take together. Alaska Highway travel was in its early stages. The gravel road was dusty, rough and winding; this was definitely not a luxury trip. Marg had no intention of permanently staying in the “shack town” of Whitehorse. This experience was going to be “a little lark,” a short-term adventure before moving on elsewhere. Upon arrival, Marg stayed with Erik Nielsen and his wife P.J. and began working for Nick Gritzik at Territorial Supply in the office associated with United Keno Hill Mines. As she later admitted, she was not the best employee. Her evenings were fully occupied dating Rolf, the many late nights meant little sleep, and she was distracted by the realization that she had fallen madly in love. The job did not last very long once the relationship moved on to a new stage.

Left, above: Rolf and Marg leaving Edmonton en route to Whitehorse. Left, below: A typical Alaska Highway scene of the 1940s through the 1980s, unless it was raining; then, the dust was replaced by mud. 51

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

The wedding On June 10, 1954, Marg and Rolf drove out to Marsh Lake Lodge, then owned by Rolf’s brother Odin, for dinner with friends. There he proposed — on the Alaska Highway — and Marg accepted. Marg remembers this as a romantic and intensely happy occasion; the couple’s joyfulness and love radiate from photos taken at the time. On May 3, 1955, Marg and Rolf celebrated their wedding in Edmonton. This was a joyous, if brief, event. The ceremony was at 9:00 a.m., followed immediately by a wedding breakfast and reception. Two hours later Mr. and Mrs. Hougen flew off on their four-month honeymoon.

Near right, top: The newly engaged couple at Marsh Lake. Near right, centre: The wedding party. L-R: Gil Biollo, bridesmaid Rosalyn Nielson, Rolf and Marg, best man Erik Nielsen, bridesmaid Doris (Smith) Tougas and Adrian Van Dyke; Margaret Anne Biollo was the flower girl. Near right, bottom: Erik Nielsen reading congratulatory telegrams at the wedding breakfast. Far right: Immediately after their morning wedding, Marg and Rolf set off for Toronto en route to their four-month European honeymoon. 52

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

European honeymoon Rolf made all the arrangements and he had thought of everything. The pair flew to Toronto, where they overnighted at the ritzy King Edward Hotel. The following day, they flew to New York and for the next week sampled everything the town had to offer. Marg was astounded by the skyscrapers. They boated around Manhattan, took in two Broadway shows, ascended the Empire State Building and even briefly socialized with the famous singer, Sophie Tucker, in a night club. After a week in New York, they sailed to Europe on the Queen Mary, travelling in less-thanluxurious third-class quarters. After the ship docked at Southampton, the couple spent a week in London. Then it was over to the Continent, where they purchased a Volkswagen in Hamburg and motored all over, staying in pensions. In 1955, Europe was still recovering from the ravages of World War II. Many cities that had suffered extensive bombing had not yet been rebuilt. To some, it seemed the postwar doldrums affected more than the landscape. A British businessman criticized a number of his colleagues “who had lost any drive to build, to achieve, following the war.” The European automobile industry was still rebuilding. Rolf talked about the eerie experience of driving on one of Germany’s main highways: “We drove

Left, above: An overview of the cities and countries Marg and Rolf visited on their honeymoon. Red dots indicate places visited. Left, below: The covered wooden bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland. 53

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Far right, above: Near Arendal, they visited Rolf’s mother’s family, the Blakstads. Marg is front left, Berent at far right. Far right, centre: The 400-room New Town Hall in Munich, Germany was built between 1867 and 1908 in a Gothic Revival style. The ornate tower contains a 100-year-old carillon with moving figures, the “Glockenspiel.” Near right: The Colosseum. The Hougens spent several days in Rome and Vatican City, and listened to an address by Pope Pius XII in St. Peter’s Square. 54

the Autobahn, which Hitler had built. We could look in our rear view mirror and not see a car. We could look ahead and not see a vehicle. It was deserted because there were very, very few cars.” Their Volkswagen earned them some hostility, particularly in Paris, and in Holland Marg’s aunt was hesitant about being a passenger in a German car. They made family visits. In Norway, Rolf’s father met the couple on the docks of Kristiansand. They spent time with Rolf’s grandfather and with both the Haugen and Blakstad relatives. In Holland, they visited both sides of Marg’s family, the Kiebooms and Van Dykes. It was an idyllic time of visiting castles, the Swiss Alps, the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich, vineyards, listening to Mozart in Salzburg and a symphony orchestra in Vienna, attending a bullfight in Madrid, the opera Rigoletto in Paris and a boat ride on the canals of Amsterdam. There were more sobering experiences. In Spain, they experienced the grim police state headed by the Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco. While tourists were welcomed, locals were unable to transport even a basket of eggs without being searched for bombs. In Germany, a G.I. acquaintance from the Queen Mary took them on a tour of Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp. There were a few link-ups with Yukon connections as well. In London, the Hougens dined with Frank Illingworth and his wife. Frank was a writer and BBC broadcaster. They had originally met him in Whitehorse when he was writing about the Cold War in the North; he had spent time on Little Diomede, an Alaskan island in the Bering Strait.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

The Hougens also visited a business connection, the owner of Merit Toys, Mr. Randall. The Randall home was a lavish mansion formerly owned by the silent film star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. The Hougens were taken on a tour of the house, including a trip to the furnace room to marvel at the most exciting feature: the newly installed central heating — a rarity in Britain at that time. As Rolf noted, this was a great contrast to most English buildings: We went to one of his sales manager’s homes, a traditional home in a brick row house, and there your heat was in front of the fireplace. So, you’re hot in the front and freezing in the back. No wonder they had a lot of wool sweaters in England. In Hamburg, Rolf visited the Canadian consul and was able to help speed the immigration application of Irma Trumpeter, a friend of Eric and Edith Wienecke in Whitehorse. She was on her way to Canada in ten days and later worked for many years in Hougen’s photo processing plant. On their way home, they stayed a few days with Yukon friends Peg and Doctor Aubrey Tanner in London, where Aubrey was doing postgraduate studies. In today’s global village, it is hard to imagine just how remote and far away a person was on a trip of this kind back in the 1950s. There was no e-mail, no faxes and a trans-Atlantic telephone call was an unthinkable expense, to be undertaken only in dire emergency. Communications with home were by letters, postcards or telegrams sent by Morse code. Money did not come from ATMs or traveller’s cheques; instead Rolf had arranged “money drops” —he had transferred money to specific banks along the way and was able collect the funds in local currency. This type of extended travel was unusual at that time. The Hougens thrived on the experience, however, and it gave them a lifelong appetite for globetrotting. They passed on this love of travel to their children, who learned the importance of travel for education, enjoyment and broadening their perspective on the world.

Left, above: Rolf with Frank Illingworth and his wife in London. Left, below: The famous Moulin Rouge at Place Pigalle in Paris.

55

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Early family years

Far right: Christmas card, 1958. Near right, above: The house at 210 Rogers Street in 1966. Near right, below: In 1986 the house at 210 Rogers Street was extensively remodelled. 56

While Rolf and Marg were travelling, a new home was being constructed back in Whitehorse at 209 Rogers Street, five blocks south of the store. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation had recently begun to finance new housing. With the help of an $8,000 mortgage, the little 950-square-foot (88-square-metre) house was built “from the ground up” at a cost of $12,000. Rather than a small dwelling with random additions, this was a planned house. Many people admired the two large picture windows in front. Later, they moved to a larger house at 304 Elliott Street. Rolf’s mother Margrethe had kept the store going while the honeymooners were travelling. Rolf returned to a large workload of building the business and investigating other enterprises while Margaret took charge of their budding family. Craig Stephen was born on March 18, 1956. Over the next nine years, he acquired five siblings: Kelly Rolf, Karen Margaret, Erik Myles, Greta Glee and Maureen Anne. The growing family needed a larger home so they arranged to build another house at 210 Rogers Street, right across the street from their first home. It had a few extra features, such as a wine cellar, a billiard table for the large basement and a large custom bathroom. The house was completed in 1966 and the Hougen family moved in. In retrospect, Marg’s children marvel at her ability to manage her household, raise a large family — often on her own when Rolf was away on extended business trips — and ensure that there was always time for she and Rolf to be a couple.

Chapter 3: The dynasty begins

Erik: So many families in this day and age are so focussed on their kids, they forget how to be friends and married partners with each other. So, when the kids are gone, there is nothing in common between them... Even though we did a lot together, my parents also went off on trips by themselves and we stayed with our family friends: the Tanners, the Helms, the Buchans, the Choates and the Morins.

Craig: I don’t know how she did it! I’ve asked her, and she said, “Well, you know, it actually gets easier as the kids get older.” We have two kids and we are busy. I can’t imagine having six. But what she says is, the older ones grow older and they help. It’s not like you have six two-year-olds. She took care of the home life. There were a lot of people to look after and kids in school doing different things. Kelly and I were on the volleyball team. We had to be at practice at six o’clock in the morning, it was 40 below, and it was always mom driving us.

Karen: My mother had a good handle on us early in life. She can probably tell you a story of her sisters coming up to visit her in Whitehorse and they could never believe our behaviour, because we were so quiet. We were asked to be quiet and we were quiet. Dad would come home from work, and they would go into the living room and chat. We were not allowed in there, because that was their time every day. And it’s true that they did take trips, at least once a year. They loved travelling. Marg’s children and husband refer to her as “the centre,” “the rock” and “the glue” of the family, someone able to find a good balance as a wife, mother, household manager and friend. She has been an invaluable sounding board and advisor to her husband in his various business and volunteer ventures. She ran a disciplined but loving household and provided all her children with a model of ideal family life. She ensured there was always time when she and Rolf were able to be alone as a couple, as well as part of a large close family. As for her own feelings about her life as the Hougen matriarch, the following quotation says it all: I would like to say that my biggest claim to fame and my greatest enjoyment in life has been dear Rolf and my six wonderful children! I am so proud of them all, and now we have 18 wonderful grandkids. I must say that Rolf has always made me feel so loved and our kids have too. So, they have been wonderful years.

Above: Still lovely at age 77, Marg at the Hougen cabin at Lake Laberge, August 2007. Left: Rolf and Marg’s Christmas photo, 2001. 57

whitehorse winter carnival Rolf contemplates entering the beard-growing contest, 1948.

Two prominent citizens wear their regalia to the carnival. Chief Jim Boss and Inspector Cronkhite of the RCMP, 1948. YA 2009/81 #929

YA 2009/81 #627

The military — part of the Northwest Highway System — were major participants in the carnival. Parade, ca. late 1940s.

Carnival headquarters, 1946.

58

Winter Carnival parade, at corner of 2nd Ave. and Wood St., with the Gordon Lee residence visible over the top rear of car, ca. 1946.

First Nations dancers, ca. 1948. Chief Jim Boss at far left, Chief John Fraser at right with back to camera.

YA 2009/81 #401

YA 2009/81 #324

Yukon sourdough rendezvous

Lloyd Ryder (right) operates a wheel of fortune, 1969. Notable local character, Wigwam Harry, is wearing the striped cap.

Team B.C. won first place with their “Snow Queen” creation during the 2009 Air Canada Snow Sculpture challenge.

YA 2010/91 #143

Photographer covering the start of the dog sled races, ca. 2004.

Rolf and Marg, 1998. From 1998 on, the dog sled races were cosponsored by Hougen’s Limited and the White Pass & Yukon Route.

Erik Nielsen meets Bonhomme, mascot of the Quebec City Winter Carnival, in 1971. YA 2010/91 #181

Mrs. Warrington and Marg Hougen in their Rendezvous garb, n.d.

Kelly Hougen, far right, ready for a snowshoe race, 1969. YA 2010/91 #121 59

Chapter 4

More than a store

F

rom “Day One,” Rolf Hougen knew that he eventually wanted to own the largest store in the Yukon. Over the next several years, he pursued this vision by purchasing other businesses, acquiring strategically located properties and stocking new lines. The store sold everything from ladies wear to sporting goods to camera equipment. He was fortunate in employing many competent and dedicated employees and managers, who helped develop creative advertising campaigns and promotional events. Within 17 years, Hougen’s Ltd. became a major department store. As well as providing quality merchandise, the business was a major employer and a key part of the social life of Whitehorse. By the late 1980s, it had outlasted its former rivals: the Northern Commercial Company, Taylor & Drury and the Hudson’s Bay Company. In the meantime, Rolf’s interests had expanded to encompass many other ventures.

61

Chapter 4: More than a store

A brand-new town As the Hougen operation grew, the town of Whitehorse underwent several political and economic transitions of its own. By the end of World War II, it was apparent that most of the territory’s population and economy had shifted to the southern Yukon. In recognition of this, plans were made to move the capital from Dawson City to Whitehorse. The announcement was made in 1951 and Whitehorse officially became the Yukon’s capital on April 1, 1953. By the early 1950s, Whitehorse was no longer the sprawling boomtown of the war years. The military continued to be an important presence, however. At a formal ceremony in 1946, the U.S. Armed Forces handed over the administration and maintenance of the Alaska Highway and airports to the Canadian Armed Forces. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) built a large complex west of the airport and air force families moved into the new subdivision of Hillcrest. This was a self-contained community with two churches, recreation centre, bowling alley, store and several barrack buildings. Canadian army personnel lived in Camp Takhini, which had its own school, community centre and store. In 2008, Rolf described the responsibilities of the armed forces: Both the army and air force had large contingents in the Yukon. The army personnel were the engineers and the operators of the Alaska Highway. The air force had two functions. They ran search-and-rescue operations that were based in Whitehorse; they also

Previous page: This neon sign helped light up Main Street from 1952 to 1967. YA 2009/81 #1015

Right, above: A crowd in front of Whitehorse High School during a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh, August 1954. YA 2009/81 #29

Right: The federal building and Main Street, Whitehorse, 1954. Rolf Hougen, photographer 62

Chapter 4: More than a store

maintained a string of airports all the way from Edmonton to the border, going on to Alaska. They subsequently built a listening station in Whitehorse. The air force personnel who manned it were trained in Russian and it was really a listening station for Soviet communications. It was top secret. Even today, those who worked at that station don’t seem to want to talk about it. They were sworn to secrecy, but that’s exactly what it was. Note: This “listening station” was located in what is now the apartment building in Lobird Trailer Park. In the 1950s, a huge construction boom changed the face of Whitehorse and provided it with many of its prominent landmarks. Major new structures included the hospital, a new federal building on Main Street — occupying the former ball park across the street from Hougen’s — Whitehorse High School (now Whitehorse Elementary School) and Christ the King Elementary School. Many of these buildings were put up by Marwell Construction, a large firm from Vancouver. Its Whitehorse office was located at the site of the wartime Standard Oil refinery and the area eventually became known as the Marwell industrial area. Just upstream from Whitehorse, the Northern Canada Power Commission built a hydro dam across the Yukon River, thereby taming Miles Canyon, drowning the historic Whitehorse Rapids and creating Schwatka Lake. The new Robert Campbell Bridge, completed in 1956, linked downtown Whitehorse to the brand-new subdivision of Riverdale, home to government housing for many civil servants. As Whitehorse became more prosperous, many residents were concerned about the squatter communities sprawling along the downtown waterfront, from Whiskey Flats in the south to Moccasin Flats and Sleepy Hollow in the north.

Left, above: The new Robert Campbell Bridge, airport, and downtown Whitehorse, ca. 1958. YA 2009/81 #771

Left: Official opening of the Robert Campbell Bridge between downtown and Riverdale, April 5, 1956. l–r: Yukon Member of Parliament Aubrey Simmons, Whitehorse Mayor Gordon Armstrong (speaking), manager of contracting firm that built bridge, Canadian Governor General Vincent Massey and Yukon Commissioner Fred H. Collins. At far left is RCMP Inspector J.R. Steinhauer. 63

Chapter 4: More than a store

Transportation During the wartime and postwar period, supply lines to Whitehorse and the Yukon underwent radical changes. In the early 1940s, the small …  was rebuilt and upgraded to a modern facility with enlarged runways, large hangars and a new airport building. For many years, the RCAF maintained the airport as part of a system of airports and airfields extending from the Lower 48 to mainland Alaska. One of the most significant changes was the ending of the sternwheeler era. For over 50 years, steamboats had hauled most of the year’s freight from Whitehorse north to Dawson, Mayo and points in between. On the trip south, the vessels transported ore concentrate from Mayo. Yukoners and summer visitors both enjoyed the experience of river travel on these majestic vessels. Once the Alaska Highway was constructed, there was pressure to build all-weather roads to Mayo and Dawson. The highway to Mayo was completed in 1950, with the leg to Dawson in 1955. These made it much more economical to truck ore to Whitehorse for trans-shipment on the railway to Skagway. The British Yukon Navigation Company soon set up a trucking and bus service on the new road system. The sternwheeler Klondike was converted for tourism cruises to Dawson City. Unfortunately, this enterprise was unsuccessful. The last sternwheeler was beached in 1955, ending more than seven decades of steamer travel on the Yukon River and its tributaries.

Right: Airport terminal building, 1960. This building, later removed, was on the east side of the runways. YA 2009/81 #972 Far right, above: Guests relaxing on the observation deck of the refurbished Klondike, ca. 1950s. YA 2009/81 #842

Far right, below: Loading sternwheelers at the Whitehorse docks. At left is a large warehouse; the large object in the foreground is a “spud” used to anchor barges. YA 2002/118 #105 64

Chapter 4: More than a store

Whitehorse turned its back on the river that had sustained it for more than 50 years. From then on, the community looked west to the Alaska Highway, the enlarged airport and, eventually, the new subdivisions spreading over the hillsides above the town. The railway between Whitehorse and the port of Skagway continued to be an important link between Yukon and the Outside. It was the primary shipper of ore concentrate to distant smelters and, for many more years, continued to be the main method of transporting goods into the Yukon.

White Pass and containerization During the war years, the railway had been leased to the American government and operated by the U.S. Army. When the war ended in 1945 White Pass resumed management of the railway. The company found that after nearly three years of 24-hour-a-day operation, the rolling stock was run down and associated facilities were in poor condition. Over the next decade, the company gradually updated its stock and took a hard look at its freight system. At the time all freight was shipped in a hodgepodge of boxes and bags. There were ongoing problems with loss, breakage and pilferage. During navigation season, thousands of tons of silver-lead ore were shipped using burlap sacks, each of which was handled many times: from the mill in Elsa to cat trains, from the cat trains to the Mayo riverfront, from there to sternwheelers and barges, from sternwheelers to the trans-shipment point at Stewart Island, from Stewart Island to larger boats such as the Klondike, on to trains at Whitehorse then finally loaded aboard ships at Skagway on the final leg to smelters. As for goods

Left, above: Once the rivers froze, travel between Whitehorse and Dawson was via a winter road traversed by horse-drawn sleds and in later years by “cat trains� hauled by tractors. Cat train hauling a load of lumber on the Yukon River ice. YA 2002/118 #381

Left, centre: Horse-drawn wagon overflowing with ten passengers. YA 2002/118 #374

Left: BYN Freight Lines truck in front of Hougen’s Variety Store, December 4, 1949. YA 82/346 #114 65

Chapter 4: More than a store

The Clifford J. Rogers, nicknamed the “Jolly Roger,” docked in Skagway in 1958. Note the ore containers at right and the metal containers in left foreground. YA 2010/91 #4 66

entering the territory, White Pass spent an inordinate amount of time and expense handling claims for lost and damaged orders. This inefficiency was passed down the line. Everyone suffered for it, including Hougen’s and many other businesses, that ordered goods to be shipped by rail. WP&YR devised a creative solution to this problem that revolutionized freight handling around the globe. The company had been on the verge of insolvency until its assets were purchased by English financier Norman D’Arcy, with backing from Hambros Bank. In 1951, D’Arcy set up a new Canadian corporation, the White Pass and Yukon Corporation Limited, with the goal of updating and mechanizing operations “to the fullest practicable extent.” Under the leadership of the new president, Frank H. Brown, the railway was modernized with heavier tracks and new rolling stock; obsolete buildings and equipment were disposed of. The prewar steam engines were replaced with new diesel locomotives capable of hauling larger trains. In 1954, the company set up a revolutionary system for moving freight. They created an ingenious system of containers that could handle everything from furniture to frozen food to ore concentrate. Once loaded into the containers, goods remained safely and securely stored until they reached their destination. This reduced handling and the resulting damage and loss. Another benefit was that customs paperwork was greatly reduced, since goods now passed through American territory in sealed containers. Trucks, rail cars and a new ocean-going ship, the 4,000-ton Clifford J. Rogers, were all specially designed to handle containers. The containers, each 450 cubic feet (12 cubic metres), were colour coded according to contents — general merchandise, refrigerated items, bulk loads and explosives — and measured seven by eight by eight feet (2.1 by 2.4 by 2.4 metres). The muscle power of longshoremen and deckhands was replaced by hydraulic straddle carriers and forklifts. The result was a reliable and cheaper integrated transport system that quickly spread all over the world.

Chapter 4: More than a store

A booming economy The Yukon’s economy has always been tied to the vagaries of world metal prices. Although gold — and later silver — had been the mainstay of the territory’s wealth, base metal prices fluctuate dramatically and so too does the state of the mining industry. Following the excitement and influx of people during World War II, the Yukon economy slipped into a quieter time through the 1950s. The 1960s brought a resurgence in the mining industry and the territorial economy thrived with the opening of several new mines. In the early part of the decade, New Imperial Mines Ltd. acquired many claims in the Whitehorse Copper Belt; after a major drilling and investment program, the company opened a large underground mine in 1967. Cassiar Asbestos Corporation opened two large mines and built communities in Cassiar, British Columbia and Clinton Creek, northwest of Dawson City. United Keno Hill Mines in the Mayo area continued its operations as a major producer of silver and lead. The largest operation of all was in the town of Faro, established in the late 1960s. For a time, Faro boasted the largest open pit lead-zinc mine in the world. The economic benefits of the mining boom created a ripple effect, leading to the start-up and growth of many other businesses, including heavy equipment maintenance, specialty stores and high-end restaurants. Long-timers have fond memories of festive meals at the 202 Club, the Golden Garter and, by the late 1970s, the Monte Carlo, which had fresh vegetables flown up from Vancouver regularly. This was an ideal climate for a department store capable of supplying everything from shoes to furniture to appliances and musical instruments. With money and jobs, people were ready to buy again.

Left, above: While he was president of the Whitehorse Board of Trade, Rolf led a group on a tour of Dawson, the gold fields and United Keno Hill Mines, ca. 1958. L–R, bottom row: Rolf Hougen, Pat Callison, Alex Arthur, ? , ? , Howard Firth, Tom Retallack; 2nd row: Barnie Barnwell, Gordon Armstrong, ? , ? , ? , Don McWilliam, ? , Harry Boyle, ? , Al Clark and the pilot. YA 2009/81 #357

Left: New Imperial Mines fine-ore bin and mill under construction, ca. 1966. This copper mine site was located near Mount Sima. YA 2009/81 #58 67

Chapter 4: More than a store

A political coming of age Although Whitehorse was founded in 1900, the little community never had a proper municipal government or levied its own taxes. Local citizens had to lobby the Yukon Territorial Council for firefighting equipment, roadwork and other improvements. The council had a limited budget and even more limited responsibilities. The Commissioner or Controller was appointed by the federal government. The territory had one Member of Parliament and no Senator. In the early days, Whitehorse had a Board of Trade. This group of leading citizens, mostly local business owners and invariably male, acted as a combined Chamber of Commerce and de facto City Council. They lobbied to improve town services, established relations with other northern communities and worked to create a better business climate. This group had long lapsed by the 1940s, but Rolf helped re-establish the organization in 1947. This is his description of that period: Whitehorse at that time had a government agent whose name was Geoff Bidlake. It had a liquor store. It had a foreman for street services, Jack Cherry. There were no regulations of electrical or plumbing or building. I’m not sure if we required a driver’s licence, but we required licence plates for our cars. The government offices were in Dawson City. So, Whitehorse really had a staff of fewer than ten government employees.

Right: In 1952, Board of Trade members erected a large “Welcome to Whitehorse” sign at the top of Two Mile Hill. At left is James Smith, manager of Tourist Services and later Commissioner of the Yukon. Standing second from the right is Alan McGregor, manager of Territorial Supply, who served as Board of Trade president for one term. Above is a photo of the completed sign. YA 2009/81 #357 68

There was no voice from the business community. There was an organization that preceded this called the “Men’s Council.” They held meetings, and they were the only voice of the community to make representations to the government in Dawson. So, the Board of Trade was a natural evolution, a formal-type organization that allowed us to have a voice from the business community. Eventually the Board of Trade became the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and in 1958, at the age of 30, Rolf became its president.

Chapter 4: More than a store

In 1950, Whitehorse had been incorporated and elected its first City Council, a year before the announcement that it would become the territorial capital. The town now had the ability to raise its own taxes and took on responsibility for services such as garbage collection, snow removal and fire fighting. The council’s first major challenge was to install a new sewer and water system to replace outhouses and water delivery. Seven years later, the Yukon’s incumbent Member of Parliament, Aubrey Simmons, was defeated by an ambitious young local lawyer, Erik Nielsen, who squeaked in during a by-election and went on to hold the seat for 30 years. Erik and Rolf became close friends and political associates. Erik was best man at Margaret and Rolf’s wedding and the two families even named children after one another (Erik “Rick” Rolf Nielsen and Erik Myles Hougen). In 1962, former Whitehorse mayor and businessman, Gordon Robertson Cameron, was appointed Commissioner of the Yukon, the first Yukoner to hold the job. In 1966, James Smith, who ran Tourist Services, a multifaceted operation that included a hotel, grocery store and restaurant, became the second Yukoner to be appointed Commissioner, a post he held for over ten years. At that time, the Commissioner

Left, above: The swearing in of the first Whitehorse City Council, 1950. L–R: Bill Hamilton (a White Pass employee); George Ryder (owner of a wood, water and sanitation company); Gordon Armstrong (Mayor, and manager of Burns Meat Market); John Edward Gibben (Judge and former Commissioner); Sam McLimon (owner of the movie theatre); and Hank Neufeld (RCMP officer). YA 2009/81 #541

Left, below: City Council clean-up, 1950. L–R, back: Arthur Petley-Jones (Bank of Montreal), Bill MacBride, Jim Hanna (optometrist), Bill Hamilton, Alan McGregor, ?, Percy Hewitt (city clerk), Gordon Armstrong, Jim Gentleman, Sam McClimon, Jim Norrington (Pan American Airways); unidentified child at right; kneeling: ?, Ted Myles (Yellow Cab). YA 82/346 #162 69

Chapter 4: More than a store

functioned as the Chief Executive Officer of the territory, while the elected Territorial Council functioned as an advisory body. The purse strings and administration of the Yukon were controlled by Ottawa bureaucrats. Contributing to this colonial situation was the plight of the Yukon’s first inhabitants. In the 1950s, First Nations people were unable to vote, own a business or enter a bar without surrendering their Indian status and identity. Living conditions in many native communities were well below standard. The federal Indian Affairs branch (renamed the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1966) funded inadequate housing that lacked sewer and running water. Many children were sent to residential schools, spending years isolated from their families and culture and in some cases subjected to abuse. The repercussions of this infamous era would resonate through the next generations. Changes were slow but inevitable. By the early 1960s, aboriginal people were able to vote in federal and territorial elections, a move initiated by Erik Nielsen. In 1973, the federal government commenced land claim negotiations with the Yukon’s First Nations, a lengthy process that finally culminated, nearly a quarter century later, in final agreements and self-government agreements with most of the territory’s fourteen First Nations. Finally, the territory’s aboriginal inhabitants — one quarter of the Yukon’s population — were recognized as valued members of its society and contributors to the growth and progress of the territory.

Right: Mayor Howard Firth at the grand opening of the City Hall building, July 1, 1967. R–L: Zoe and Bob Cousins, Nancy Firth, Jim and Dorothy Smith. YA 2009/81 #30

Far right: Erik Nielsen and Bill Waterrous in the Sportslodge department of Hougen’s Store in Whitehorse, 1952. YA 2009/81 #651 70

Chapter 4: More than a store

Expansion and consolidation After graduating from high school in 1947, Rolf took over management of the family business at the ripe old age of 18. The transformation from a small variety store to a fully-stocked department store was not a quick or easy process. With the vision of expanding his store into a major enterprise, Rolf watched for every opportunity to advance the business. Even in the face of major setbacks, he was able to turn things to his advantage. In 1949, Hougen’s Variety Store moved to its current location on Main Street between Third and Fourth avenues, occupying a structure built from surplus wartime prefabricated panels. This was a big step: the family actually purchased their own building rather than renting. An opportunity came up to buy a building, Conwest Exploration. The owners of the United Keno Hill Mines had an exploration office in Whitehorse and they decided they needed a bigger one. We needed more space. Everyone told us we were out of our minds to move way up Main Street — still an area of pine trees — but we thought it would be a good idea. That same year, the business was renamed Hougen’s Limited. Incorporation meant that rather than “just operating as a family,” the enterprise was put on a more businesslike footing and family members now became stockholders. In 1952, the business experienced both a setback and an expansion. Fire broke out in the back end of the Hougen’s store and destroyed part of the building. Fortunately, the family had recently purchased the bowling alley immediately next door from Harry Johannes, a mining promoter.

Left, above: Whitehorse Star, December 2, 1949. Left: Odin Hougen outside of Hougen’s Variety Store, 1949. 71

Chapter 4: More than a store

Johannes had wanted to invest in a new venture and required payment “today” to make his mining acquisition. Rolf turned to his friend John MacIsaac, a road-building contractor. Here is his description of what happened next: Well, they made us an offer, but it was on a Friday and we just didn’t have the funds. The banks were closed. I called upon John MacIsaac for some assistance. And by God, John actually emptied his piggybank in order to give us enough money to make the down payment to hold the property for the weekend. The deal was done and concluded on Monday, when we could enter into a proper purchase agreement. The new property was 40 by 100 feet long (approximately 12 by 30 metres), providing much more room for new lines. Rolf described the changes around this time: George Meikle, who ran a radio/electric shop, wanted to retire. We bought his business and moved it into our new building. He sold appliances and hi-fi. I don’t think they even called it “stereo” in those days. He had the Fleetwood and the Electrohome lines. He still had a lot of 78-rpm records but the newly arrived LPs and 45s were part of it as well. We also added things like yard goods, fabrics and sewing supplies. We had major appliances as a result of the Meikle purchase, including fridges and stoves. It wasn’t long before we moved into hardware. A fellow named Dick Dickson, who worked for us, helped us develop a complete hardware store.

Right, above: Fighting the fire in the back of Hougen’s store, 1952. The building at left is the Dennison home. 72

By 1959, Hougen’s was a full line department store with sporting goods, electrical items, music, hardware, men’s clothing, ladies wear, children’s wear, footwear, photography supplies and photo finishing and a photo studio. There was still more to come, however.

Chapter 4: More than a store

Hougen’s became an auto dealership, selling and servicing Renault cars from France. A new music department carried Yamaha instruments. On March 17, 1961, the Hougens and their staff of 40 celebrated the grand opening of a brand-new twostorey building made of steel and concrete. The store now had 14,000 square feet (1300 square metres) of retail space. Hougen’s then put a false front over the building housing the former bowling alley. Seven years later, the store expanded yet again, taking over the the Dennison and Metcalfe houses to the east and almost tripling the amount of selling space. By 1968, Rolf had moved the business from a one-room novelty store occupying rented quarters to the town’s pre-eminent department store, boasting 44,000 square feet (4088 square metres) and a wide range of merchandise and services.

When we built the new store, we developed a concept which was to create an image of a specialty store within a store. So, we departmentalized everything, gave them distinctive names and called them “specialty stores” within the larger store. - Rolf Hougen, 2000

The competition Three other major department stores operated in Whitehorse during the 20th century. Compared to the venerable histories of its main competitors, Hougen’s was a fledgling enterprise, making it all the more remarkable that the store outgrew and outlasted these businesses. Taylor & Drury The partnership of Isaac Taylor and William Drury dated to the time of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898.

Left, above: Renault display, 1960. Left: Hardware department, Hougen’s Store, 1962. YA 2009/81 #266 73

Chapter 4: More than a store

The two Englishmen detoured to the gold strike in Atlin, B.C. and founded their mercantile business by buying and reselling the outfits of disillusioned would-be miners. They moved to Whitehorse in 1900 and made it their base for a chain of fur-trade posts throughout the territory. At its peak, the company employed 85 people and its annual gross sales totalled $3,000,000. The store closed in 1974. Its building is now occupied by Horwood’s Mall. Northern Commercial Company

Above: Charge cards for T&D and Northern Commercial Co. Right, above: New Chevrolets on display in front of Taylor & Drury Ltd., ca. late 1920s. View includes other businesses on First Avenue. YA 2002/118 #267

Right: View northwest from behind the train station; part of Northern Commercial Co. Ltd. building is visible. The warehouse left of the tracks was for local freight; the warehouse at right housed cargo to be loaded on boats headed for Mayo and Dawson. YA 82/346 #138 74

The NCCo. had its beginnings in Alaska and was originally called the Alaska Commercial Company. It began operations in 1868, shortly after the United States purchased the territory of Alaska from Russia. The company’s fleet of sternwheelers serviced a chain of posts in Alaskan villages. This early northern enterprise thrived by catering to prospectors as well as the fur trade and by following miners to the latest strike. The company moved across the border to Stewart River in 1886, to Forty Mile in 1887 and to Dawson City soon after the fabulous Klondike gold discoveries of 1896. Eventually the company set up a department store in Whitehorse, a two-storey structure on First Avenue immediately downriver from Taylor & Drury. The building burned in 1941 but was soon rebuilt. In 1969, the store closed for good and Hougen’s purchased its stock from the Seattle owners. Hudson’s Bay Company From 1840 on, the Hudson’s Bay Company was largely responsible for early European exploration and fur trade in what would become the Yukon Territory. Trader/ explorers such as John Bell, Alexander Murray and Robert Campbell entered the country from the northeast and

Chapter 4: More than a store

established posts at Fort McPherson, Fort Yukon and Fort Selkirk. The company had a post in Whitehorse from 1938 to 1940. The fur trade heritage eventually gave way to more conventional retail operations while still retaining some traditions such as the Hudson’s Bay blankets. The HBCo. returned to Whitehorse in 1962, with a store at Fourth Avenue and Baxter Street on the old Tourist Services property (just north of today’s Yukon Inn). About 1980, the Bay moved into a large purpose-built department store at the corner of Ogilvie Street and Fourth Avenue. When the store closed in 1991, the manager admitted to Rolf that they had found it impossible to compete with Hougen’s. Rolf found this statement surprising, as the Hougens had considered the HBCo. to be their main competition.

Operating a business in the 1950s and 1960s Rolf set out to do things differently at Hougen’s Department Store. New approaches to pricing, promotions and servicing gave a fresh face to retail in the Yukon. Nevertheless, Hougen’s still faced the same challenges of all northern retailers, mainly to do with remoteness from suppliers and the high costs of doing business in the north. This is Rolf’s description of one of his more successful promotions: What did we do different? Well, I recall we advertised “no freight added.” If you had a Sunbeam or a G.E. appliance, the manufacturer set the retail price and you were not permitted to discount these items. Historically, all of the stores in the north would then add the freight. If there was an item for $100 in Vancouver, it would be $110 here, with $10 added for freight. We introduced “no freight added” and absorbed the cost. That was almost revolutionary at the time. It brought us a lot of attention and a lot of business as a result.

Left, above: MLA Norm Chamberlist (with glasses) with others at the festivities marking the opening of the first Hudson’s Bay Co. store in Whitehorse. YA, Whitehorse Star Ltd. fonds, 82/563, CS 384 H119 #9

Left: On the second floor behind the scenes were the Hougen’s business offices, 1962. YA 2009/81 #267 75

Chapter 4: More than a store

Another Hougen’s first several years ago was the installation of piped music, storewide intercom system, and Telecord dictaphone, the instrument which every department manager has at his desk and may dictate a letter directly to a central typing desk — a “Private secretary for every department.” Whitehorse Star, Special Edition, March 28, 1968

In those days every transaction in the store was performed by hand. Office staff used typewriters, not word processors; adding machines instead of calculators; and letters and flyers were copied using carbon paper, ditto machines and Gestetners, all of which were cumbersome and messy. Over the decades, the store did its best to keep up with the many changes in office equipment and procedures. Hougen’s was also one of the first businesses to use computers, installing a state-of-the-art system for inventory control and accounting in 1969. Rolf later spoke about this experiment: At one stage we put in a whole computer system in an air-conditioned room, about 12 by 15 feet [3.7 by 4.6 m] in size. It was connected to special cash registers that were produced by the National Cash Register Company based in Dayton, Ohio. In fact, Klaus Hoenisch went down to visit them and take a course on keeping this thing operational. We were one of the first in the country to go to that type of computerization. On reflection I would say, “Hey, why did we do it?” because the cost was high and the information we got out of it wasn’t that great. I don’t know whether it was wise or not, but we did it. We have many firsts over the years, not only in the Yukon but some firsts in all of Canada.

Right, above: Detail from ad for Olympia typewriters. Whitehorse Star Special Edition, 17 March 1961. Right: Signing the agreement for the new computer system in 1969. l–r: Klaus Hoenisch, Office Manager; Jim Cockrall, NCR representative; Rolf Hougen, President; Bert Norrie, Merchandise Manager. 76

Hougen’s always had a credit department, which allowed their customers to make payments over time for large purchases. These purchases were processed through the company’s own finance company, Arctic Investment Corp. Ltd. For many years, Ted Smythe managed the credit department; it had to assess hundreds of Yukoners to determine whether they were credit-worthy. Some local residents still recall the leniency of Hougen’s — allowing them to defer payments until there was an upturn in their finances. The arrival of credit cards in the late 1960s gave customers more personal flexibility in managing credit purchases. The Hougen’s credit department closed in the late 1970s. Despite writing off a lot of money over the years, Rolf did value the personal relationship with all the credit customers.

Chapter 4: More than a store

Communications and buying trips In the early days, every single store we started, every department we developed, I managed directly. I went on ladies’ wear buying trips and you name it, I was there. I would work both Toronto and Montreal. There would be a toy show in one, a sporting goods show in another, a hardware show, and I would be going back and forth for as long as three weeks at a time. And of course, Marg was home with all six young children, and it would sometimes be 40 below. She always “kept the home fires burning.” In today’s digital age of instantaneous e-mails, it is difficult to imagine the slow and cumbersome nature of communications back in the 1940s and 1950s. The post office and mail service were not just an option, but an essential service linking the country. Even so, few people used the expensive airmail for either placing orders or sending parcels. Long distance telephone was costly and rarely used. Rolf recalls that when he did make a call, he first made notes of what he intended to say so that no time was wasted. Also over the wires, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals sent signals by Morse Code and eventually by teletype. Although shipping over the relatively new Alaska Highway speeded things up, it was more expensive. Ordering supplies was not simply a matter of clicking items in an online catalogue. Buying trips could take several weeks. Until he began travelling by air, Rolf’s trips to coastal suppliers involved two lengthy stages: an eight-hour trip to Skagway by train, then by ship down the coast to Vancouver. On Rolf’s first buying trip to eastern Canada in 1949, he took another route, the Alaska Highway. He drove to Edmonton with a sales representative who had travelled north from Calgary. From there he went on to Toronto and Montreal. Then 19 years old, Rolf had a clear agenda for his trip: expanding the store’s line of photography and sporting goods. In 2000, he recalled some highlights from this trip: I couldn’t get the Kodak dealership; they then had restricted outlets. So I visited Kodak and convinced them that they should open an account for us. Kodak was then being sold by Taylor & Drury and by H.G. McPherson drugstore. But they opened one for us, and we started a pretty aggressive photography expansion from that day forward.

Left: A typical office scene of the late 1940s. The man at right is using a typewriter; the man at left is using a teletype (Telex machines hadn’t yet been invented). Although this is the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals office, Hougen’s would have been using both these kinds of machines. YA 2009/81 #442 77

Chapter 4: More than a store

During this trip, Rolf met many other suppliers who became trusted business associates and friends: At that time I met Jack Cooper, who was just starting out. He had a firm called General Leather Goods. In addition to making purses and wallets, he was getting into sporting goods. Subsequently, it became the largest sporting goods company in Canada, Cooper Canada Ltd. Jack and I kept in touch until his death. Unique Athletic Products, Bauer skates, Daoust skates, Harvey E. Dodd skis; not only were they suppliers but all of these people became good friends. I got to know them all very well. Other associates included William E. Coutts of Coutts and Hallmark Cards and Tom and Sonya Bata of Bata Shoes. In later years, the Hougens even managed to visit a Bata shoe plant in Lusaka, Zambia. Rolf reminisced about other valued business friends, the Cohen brothers of Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver: The Cohens were just starting out and one of their big first imports was a razor blade to compete with Gillette. Then they brought in Paper Mate pens. Subsequently, they became the importer of the first transistor radios developed by Sony, and the company grew from there. They were good friends. Joe Cohen — one of the brothers, who was based in Vancouver — was a good friend. He was a great guy. These experiences were useful to Rolf in a number of ways. He learned about new products and retail trends — information he could pass on to his customers — and he made many valuable contacts across the country. This was “networking” long before the term came into use. Rolf later encountered many of these businesspeople at the national meetings and events he attended. His personal relationships with these prominent mercantile figures served him well.

After the 1952 fire, the store moved into the former bowling alley at right, recently purchased from Harry Johannes. 78

Chapter 4: More than a store

We service what we sell This was more than a catchy slogan. Across the alley from the store, Hougen’s set up its own service department. There, a busy team of twelve specialists worked on servicing and repairing office equipment, appliances, electronics, Mercury boat motors, Honda motorcycles, Ski Doos and other items sold by the store. In the early 1960s, mechanics were even trained to service the Renault cars imported from France. This was a valuable service, particularly in the north, remote from large service depots and repair facilities.

It is not gleaming glass, spacious atmosphere or bright lights, but people — the staff who serve you day in and day out — who made Hougen’s what it is today. Rolf Hougen, 1968

The Hougen’s team The success of any business depends largely on the competence and helpfulness of its workforce. The Hougens were fortunate in employing many dedicated hard-working people over the years. The very first employee was Mary Gordie, later Mary Barry. She was hired in 1950 after the store moved to its current location. Rolf recalls that in those pre-inflation days her salary would have been about $100 per month (but a chocolate bar cost only five cents at the time). Store managers and senior staff earned between $150 and $175 a month. Longtime employees such as Klaus Hoenisch, Bert Norrie, Jo Clarke and Jean Walker were almost like family members. Another early employee was Betty (Murray) Buffet, who stayed with Hougen’s her entire working life, working for the store for 30 or 35 years before retiring to Vancouver. When Rolf bought out other businesses, sometimes the former owner and staff came along to join the Hougen’s team. Margaret Burnett or “Burnie” of Burnie’s Apparel came to Hougen’s to manage their ladies’ wear department; it expanded even more with the acquisition of Murdoch’s Ladies Wear. Al Check and manager Don Edgecombe moved up the street when Porky’s Menswear was incorporated into Hougen’s and was renamed

1958 Christmas greeting card from Hougen’s Limited. YA 2009/81 #234

79

Chapter 4: More than a store

New members of Hougen’s staff receive personal instruction in the department in which they will be working. They are familiarized with merchandise, equipment, procedure and store policy… Promotion from within is Hougen’s policy and department managers are encouraged to take courses in merchandising and buying. Correspondence courses pertaining to their particular interest are available to all staff members. Whitehorse Star, March 28, 1968

Hougen’s Menswear. Dick Dickson managed the store’s large hardware section. Rusty Erlam worked in the advertising department for many years before she and her husband Bob went on to become publishers of the Whitehorse Star. Hougen’s was a launching pad for many people who went on to retail and management careers or succeeded in other fields. Rolf recalled his experience with one student employee, Ken Kane: He was a student who started to work for us in our receiving room. He was a handsome young guy and also very outgoing, very popular. And I told him, “Look, as long as you want to work for Hougen’s, you can work for Hougen’s; but if you drop out of school, your job is finished.” You forget about these things, but Ken told this story to the CRTC in 1980–81, when I was applying for the Cancom licence. He told the CRTC — and he was supportive of us getting the licence — he said, “If it wasn’t for Rolf Hougen, I wouldn’t be here today, because he gave me a job and he told me if I dropped out of school, I wouldn’t have a job. That deeply influenced me.” Years later, Ken Kane was honoured by his people of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Marg and I were invited to the banquet, at which I spoke. Ken Kane gave me credit for his success, and he’s been very successful as an individual, as a leader in his community and in the broadcasting field. So, that’s pretty nice to hear.

Right, above: Staff take a break during stocktaking in 1949; Odin Hougen is at far right. YA 2009/81 #229

Right: Einar “Blondie” Hougen, manager of the Hougen’s photo department, in 1955. Rolf Hougen photo

80

Expansion Initially, Rolf wanted to have a store in every community in the Yukon. He surveyed many potential markets, including Inuvik. Although this early ambition met with limited success, two communities did end up hosting a Hougen’s store.

Chapter 4: More than a store

Rolf described a family business in Atlin, operated by Clarence Sands and subsequently his son Les Sands. When the mining industry in Atlin collapsed, Les Sands moved to Watson Lake, where he opened the Sands Store. In 1974, when Les wished to retire, Rolf bought the store and carried on as Hougen’s Ltd. Eventually the Watson Lake store was sold to a nephew, Odin Hougen, who still owns and operates the business under the Hougen name. In 1969, the owners of the Cyprus Anvil Mining Corporation approached Hougen’s about setting up a fullservice store, including groceries, in the brand-new mining community of Faro. When the mine closed in 1982, many people and businesses, including the Hougen’s Store, stayed on, hoping that the mine would soon reopen. The town rapidly declined, however; customers moved away and finally — after three years of losing money — the Hougen’s store shut down. Once again, a northern business fell prey to the vagaries of the mining industry. Rolf had an opportunity to re-activate the store but was not tempted: Subsequently, the mine did reopen. The owners came to us and almost begged us to reopen the store, but I thought we’d gone through it once and that was enough.

We had promotions. We brought in musical groups to play and entertain, usually in cooperation with Canadian Pacific Airlines. We brought in a Jamaican group to entertain; we brought in Hawaiian dancers, twice sponsored the Irish Rovers and, of course, Al Oster sang his great Yukon songs. Rolf Hougen, 2007

Shopping at Hougen’s: an experience, not a chore The Hougen’s staff proved adept at creating events and promotions that not only helped to attract customers and showcase new lines but also enlivened the community’s social life. In 1968, the new enlarged store opened with a gala celebration. The staff went well beyond the customary opening sales to mount a Mexican-themed Grand Fiesta. A mariachi band serenaded the customers, who were barraged with a shower of balloons (many containing money or gift certificates). There were also giveaways to the first 500 customers, prizes and even a chance to win a trip for two to Mexico.

Left, above: The Hougen’s Store in Faro. Left, centre: Interior of the Hougen’s store in Watson Lake, 1974. Left: Detail of ad from “Grand Fiesta” opening, 1968.

81

Chapter 4: More than a store

Rolf recalled that the store sponsored several fashion shows over the years: We had fashion shows that included ladies’ wear, children’s wear, men’s wear and some sporting goods. We had those every year. They benefitted certain organizations, because we charged a small fee in order to raise money for various community events. Usually, we had prizes to give everyone who attended. I recall one time we put under the seat a pair of nylons or something of this nature, and everyone was told to look under their chair, and there were the nylons. Lots of gimmicks, but we literally packed the F.H. Collins gym. Niki Buchan ran the fashion show at one time, as did Rusty Erlam. In the Whitehorse Inn ballroom, we also had special children’s wear shows. I would have to go through the newspapers to recall just how many, but we had many, many fashion shows over the years.

Right, above: Bridal wear. YA 82/346 #46

Right: Winter wear with flare. YA 82/346, #293 82

In 1960, Hougen’s decided to highlight their selection of boats and boating gear in an unusual way. On June 5, 1960, nearly 1,300 people went to Schwatka Lake to check out the Hougen’s Water Show. The Santa’s Little Helper credit card was a very successful Christmas program. Customers could apply for a certain amount of credit, make purchases in any of the store’s departments and defer making payments until the following spring. Christmas shopping has been made more pleasant by the annual Yukoners Appreciation Night, when the store stayed open late, offered special deals and employees offered wine and cheese to busy shoppers. The most popular event of all, however, was the annual visit from Santa Claus.

Chapter 4: More than a store

The Santa train For more than four decades, Santa Claus’s first stop in Whitehorse was a visit with the local children at Toyland in Hougen’s Department Store. The real story, however, concerns the elaborate arrangements to get him there. Starting in the early 1950s, Rolf worked with Roy Minter of the White Pass and Yukon Railway to arrange for a special Santa Train. Several railcars bearing up to 1,000 children headed out to McCrae to pick up jolly St. Nick, then chugged back to Whitehorse while Santa walked the length of the train handing out treats to his fans. After arriving at the downtown railway depot, everyone paraded up Main Street to the store, accompanied by majorettes, the Midnight Sun Pipe Band, air cadets, clowns, elves and, of course, excited children. Eventually, insurance and liability issues put a stop to the Santa Train. Over the years, however, Santa continued to visit Hougen’s using many modes of transport, including helicopter, snowmobile, three-wheeler, convertible and, for a few memorable years, a sleigh pulled by real reindeer, courtesy of a reindeer farm on the Mayo Road.

For years, I thought the North Pole was McCrae. McCrae used to have these long black warehouses and I believed they were Santa’s workshops. Every year all the Whitehorse kids boarded that train, chugged out to McCrae and picked up Santa. It was always cold, there was never much heat on the trains and we froze to death… Yes, it was a big event, a community event. Karen Hougen, 2006

Left, top: Pan American Airways delivering Santa. YA 82/346 #33

Left, above: Santa’s convertible, 1969. YA 2009/81 #205

Far left: Santa’s helicopter lands on Main Street and Second Avenue, 1960. YA 2009/81 #177

Left: No matter the weather, nothing stopped the Santa train, 1961. YA 2009/81 #179 83

Chapter 4: More than a store

The next generation in retail The store played an important part in the upbringing of all the Hougen children. They recall doing everything from banging drums in the music department while their father was putting in late hours at the office, to earning pocket money by tagging merchandise and stocking shelves. While attending Christ the King Elementary School, Erik recalls working in the Hougen’s Candy Department restocking the candy bars every day after school, earning a chocolate bar for his hour or two of work (at that time worth 10 cents). He always wanted to be involved in store operations and knew that one day he wanted to be a businessman like his father. In February 1983, Hougen’s Ltd. began the shift from a wholly-owned Department Store to specialty stores with partners. This was when Erik Hougen became Hougen’s first 50% partner with the creation of Erik’s Home Entertainment Centre. This is how he tells the story: In 1982, economic times in the Yukon were very slow. Every mine had closed. In November, I noticed advertising in the local papers saying that the only two specialty electronics stores in Whitehorse — Kelly’s Stereo Mart and Big Bird Sound — were closing down. Christmas of ’82 would be their final season. I came home for Christmas break from the University of Alberta, fully expecting to return for the second semester in January. I told my father that it was time for Hougen’s Sound Department to do a better job. Instead of having someone from the shoe department fill in for the stereo department staff at lunch, I suggested creating a separate image for the Sound Department to better serve the customer. My father’s response: “Why don’t you do it? Come up with half the money and we’ll go into partnership.”

Above: Hougen’s matchbook cover. Right: The proud owner of Erik’s (centre) poses with (l–r:) Paul Henstridge, Greta, Maureen and Troy Ford, December 1984. 84

Knowing that “now was the time” and that this chance wouldn’t wait until I finished university, I decided to seize the opportunity. Prior to going to university I had worked in the Sound Department and loved it, so it was a perfect fit. During the Christmas break I approached the CIBC and pledged my worldly possessions, including my coin and stamp collections. I raised the $50,000 needed to become a 50% partner with Hougen’s. That’s how it all began. I returned to university just long enough to withdraw from my courses and pack up my residence room. This partnership arrangement turned out to be a recipe for success, as Hougen’s now had a managing partner with “skin in the game.” Erik fulfilled his dream of owning his own business by the age of 20. With the help of all three sisters who covered the store while he was away, he was able to return to university one semester at a time and in 1986

Chapter 4: More than a store

completed his Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics. In the fall of 1983, Erik’s store expanded when he partnered with his sister Karen to create Erik’s Video Rentals. Following the success of this template, brothers Craig and Kelly partnered with Hougen’s and bought into Sportslodge in February of 1984. Greta and Maureen gained retail and management experience while working at Erik’s and in 1986 they partnered with Hougen’s to buy the Ladies Wear Department and create Seasons Fashions. According to Maureen and Greta, working in retail was in their blood. They didn’t need to take courses to learn how to run a store or be effective salespeople. All family members, particularly in the early years, took on every possible job to make their enterprises succeed, including recording their own radio and newspaper ads, bookkeeping and even scrubbing the floors after hours. As Erik later stated, this business model proved to be beneficial to all the siblings: What I started in 1983 really snowballed. It was very successful, with huge increases in sales because we now had dedicated people. Our parents provided the opportunity and with our vested interest in the business it was up to us as individuals to make it a success. The program worked absolutely wonderfully for All six children credit their parents and their father’s work ethic for a number of important life and career lessons: • Whatever business or field you choose to enter, do so with hard work and dedication. • Don’t rest on your laurels. You need to stay close to your business because there’s always a potential threat from your competitors. • Don’t be intimidated by new technologies; find out how they can work for you. • Understand your customers and their needs. • Treat everyone you meet with respect. • Try to ensure that no one leaves the store dissatisfied. • Develop good long-term relationships with your clientele. • Give back. As well as being a good businessperson, be a good citizen of your community and your country. • Most importantly, work demands should never come before family. No matter how busy you are, always make time for and value your family.

As management realized that the “big box” stores were coming, they closed certain departments, transferred or sold others to family members, and rented the space to local and national companies. Today Hougen’s Limited is virtually a real estate company. However, family members still are very much engaged in several successful retail and other business ventures. Rolf Hougen, 2011

In 2005, the Hougen Centre was given a facelift. The style of this colourful facade dates to the early 1900s. Photo by Karen Hougen-Bell 85

Chapter 4: More than a store

all of us. It was still very much a family business. Even before I married Kim, she spent many hours working with me at the store – which I saw as cheap labour! We married in 1986 and she has been an important part of the business ever since.

From department store to the Hougen Centre

Above: Example of a Hougen’s credit card. Right, above: Selwyn riding Champion, December 2011. Champion, the best deal in town at 10 cents a ride, has delighted three generations of children. Right, below: Over the years, Hougen’s used various taglines to promote their business. Some of these were “built on service,” “we service what we sell,” “Santa’s Little Helper” and “where your dollar has more cents.” 86

There were a few good reasons to change the management and operations of Hougen’s Limited. Part of it was simply looking to the future. In 2008, Rolf explained how this came about: We have gone through an evolution as part of planning the day that we won’t be around. We started to change the way we operated. The first stage was to have partners — manager partners — from both within and outside the family. We would own 50 percent and the partner would own the other half. There was another reason which had to do with the changing nature of retail, the advent of “big box” stores, so named because they usually occupy large freestanding single-floor structures with extensive floor space. These large retail operations are usually part of a chain, such as Walmart, which can purchase cheaply in bulk and sell for much less than a local familyowned operation. Rolf explained his response to this: The retail business, we foresaw a problem. One of my colleagues in the Canadian Chamber was Miller Ayre; they had a 100-year-old company that served all of Newfoundland. He said to me, “Yes, the big boxes are coming in, but we’ve been around so long and everyone knows us. We have a lot of loyal customers and we’re not worried.” They fought the big boxes that moved into Newfoundland and went bankrupt. I thought, “Well, I’m not going to go through that.” So, going from the biggest retail operation here, about 15 years ago, we started to divest ourselves of some of these businesses. Some were partnered with others. Some were closed down and some were sold, but many were transferred to family members. Following Erik’s lead, the department store gradually gave way to a collection of specialty stores occupying the Hougen’s building. All the

Chapter 4: More than a store

children and former department managers were offered the opportunity to partner with Hougen’s to operate separate retail operations within the flagship store. This concept proved successful and this group of stores were promoted as businesses within the Hougen Centre. During the 1980s and 1990s, various stores were launched, most of which flourished. Don Sweet took the lead in Goldpanner Gift Shop and Mensworld. He then sold his part of the partnership in the clothing store to Richard Jamieson, who also operated Focus Footwear. Don Inverarity managed Radio Shack. Many others were involved in other specialty stores such as Kids R Great (Alice and Mike Babcock), Tivoli (Hanna Ayre), The Kitchen Nook (Leona Watson), Bed & Bath Boutique (Mary Lumbers and later Greta and Maureen), Tinkerbell’s (Candice McCallister), Northern Notes (Steve Hare), House of Furniture (Chuck Hovey and later Roland and Mary-Ellen McCaffrey) and many others. Hougen’s continued to operate the solely-owned Pro Hardware and an in-store coffee shop operating under various names such as Hougen’s Coffee Shop and the Back Street Bistro, operated by Arthur Giovinazzo. At various times, the lower floor was used for shipping and receiving, the advertising department and even a Bargain Basement. At one time, Hougen’s briefly partnered with IKEA, bringing in their Scandinavian type furniture prior to their huge retail expansion in Canada. The Hougens also leased space to other businesses. A few of the companies renting from Hougen’s over the years included Sam the Record Man, Bootlegger, CD Plus, Titan Sports and Hair Sensations. Today all but two of the children are still involved in business, although the nature of the businesses have changed. The Hougen’s Centre still continues to anchor Main Street and houses family, Yukon and national tenants as well providing office space on the upper floor. The exterior was remodelled, giving it a turn of the century appearance. Over one million dollars was invested in upgrading various properties. From the Coast Mountain outlet to the east in the Taku Building to Seasons Galleria in the Sword Building, the block between Fourth and Third avenues offers patrons high-quality merchandise and an enjoyable shopping experience.

Above: This Hougen’s tailor tag was sewn onto custom clothing made for Hougen’s Menswear department. Left, above: Rolf’s nephew, Brent Hougen, with his grandmother Margrethe in 1978. Brent partnered with Hougen’s to manage Hougen’s Photo and a one-hour photo processing lab. Left, below: A regular storewide promotion for many years were the Gold Nugget Days. 87

Al Oster singing at Hougen’s Store Grand Opening, 1961. YA 2009/81 #260

Karen and Craig modelling in a Hougen children’s fashion show, April 1964. Marg Hougen helps celebrate the store’s 30th anniversary in 1974; Erik and Maureen looking on.

From the 1950s on, Hougen’s provided a free ticket sales service for all major arts and sporting events.

88

The Ladies Wear department, ca. 1960s.

During the 1968 grand opening, Hougen’s flew in a mariachi band and gave away two tickets to Mexico as a grand prize.

Hougen’s limited

Hougen’s Menswear featured clothing for both men and boys. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Hougen’s store, 1961. L-R: Rolf, Magnus, Berent, Craig peeking out, Margrethe and Kelly at far right. YA 2009/81 #259

Hougen’s storefront with new red signage, ca. 1970. YA 2009/81 #278

This sign was on the staff coffee room from the 1960s on.

Hougen’s Hi-Fi Stereophonic Show, 1954. YA 2009/81 #226

On June 5, 1960, nearly 1,300 people went to Schwatka Lake to check out boats and boating gear at the Hougen’s Water Show.

89

Chapter 5

Creating opportunities

B

uilding up a large, multi-faceted, retail business from humble beginnings is more than enough to fully occupy any entrepreneur. Consequently, it is surprising to learn the extent of the ventures Rolf took on during his business career. How did he manage this? Perhaps it was a combination of factors: a sense of adventure and willingness to try new things; vision — looking to the long-term and responding to changes in the market; an ability to delegate and inspire others; and good choices in business associates. Inevitably, as he gained more experience and credibility as a businessman, it became easier to obtain financing and willing partners. As his daughter Karen later stated, Rolf was always open to learning about and trying new technologies. He also kept looking at the “larger picture” — how to benefit both his hometown and the entire Yukon. Despite his many business commitments, Rolf continued to be active in community service activities as well as taking an interest in local and national politics.

91

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Dad kept track of all his businesses by using index cards, different colours for different businesses. He would pull them out when he thought, “Oh I have to follow up on that,” or “I’d better do this.” He didn’t mull over it and hope to remember. Out came the cards and the idea was added to the list for CKRW or WHTV or whatever. Karen Hougen, 2006

A man of business As Whitehorse grew and Rolf Hougen matured, so did the scope and scale of his business enterprises. In the early 1950s, Whitehorse was still — to some degree —a frontier community. Yet the great influx of soldiers and civilian workers during the war had also introduced new technologies; moreover, Yukon residents were beginning to demand modern goods and services. Rolf recognized this need in the market and had the ability to provide the services that people wanted. In that regard, he was very much at the forefront of ushering in a new era in Whitehorse and the Yukon; one that brought the territory in a few years from trading posts to department stores, and from telegraph to television and radio.

Car dealerships and other businesses The motivation for opening any of these businesses was that…the opportunity looked good. I felt that we had the capacity, both financially and management-wise, to run a diverse group of companies. When someone came to us to sell their businesses or to propose a venture, I very often did so. Rolf Hougen, December 2007

Renault dealership

Previous page: Rolf at his desk, 1957. YA 2009/81 #672

Right, above: Rolf in the new WHTV studio control room, ca. early 1960s. Right, centre: Promotion sign for the Renault dealership, ca. early 1960s. YA 2010/91 #85

Right, below: A new service centre was built behind the store to service Renault cars as well as appliances, office equipment, boats and motors, television sets and radios. YA 2010/91 #87 92

Hougen’s Store housed a Renault dealership for a time (see also Chapter 4). Here is Rolf’s description of this short-lived venture: When we built the new store around 1960, I was very impressed with the Renault car. I thought, why can’t we sell cars through the department store? Across the alleyway, we built a concrete block building and put in a two-bay service garage. We sold 40 or 50 cars. Unfortunately, Renault came on strong but there was a defect in the transmission and we started to have problems. In error, as far as I’m concerned, Renault said, “Well gee, that’s strange, you’re having a problem but no one else is.” In the end, they withdrew from the market. It was so bad that it killed their market in Canada at the time. That was the early ’60s.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Whitehorse Motors In 1927, Ford awarded its first dealership in Whitehorse to William A. Puckett. Puckett, an American, exemplified the versatile nature of the town’s pioneer entrepreneurs. He had stampeded north during the Klondike Gold Rush but was diverted by a staking boom in the Whitehorse Copper Belt. He settled in the southern Yukon, where his interests included copper mining, operating roadhouses and, from 1907 on, a hardware store on Front Street in Whitehorse. There he sold Ford trucks and cars and had a gas pump right on the sidewalk. The Northern Commercial Company (N.C.Co.) purchased Puckett’s store and the Ford dealership in 1936 and Puckett retired to California. According to Rolf, the N.C.Co. first sold cars from “the back door of their department store.” From 1948 on, the dealership was run out of premises on the northeast corner of Main Street and Third Avenue. When the company shut down in 1969, they needed to dispose of substantial assets, including the Ford dealership. Hougen’s purchased the N.C.Co. fixtures and stock but not the store. A Ford representative came to town seeking a new dealer, without success. Here’s Rolf’s account of what happened next: The dealer development manager of Ford out of Vancouver came to Whitehorse and called, as they usually do, on service stations and other dealers to try and find a successor for the Ford dealership. On the way back to Vancouver, sitting next to him on the plane, was an individual who said, “Well, did you talk to Rolf Hougen when you were there?” And he said, “No.” He didn’t even know who I was. But then I got a letter saying, “We understand that maybe you would be interested in the Ford franchise.” To which I responded, “No, not really, but I’m willing to talk about it.”

View of Main Street, ca. 1949. At left is the N.C.Co. garage, with a gas pump right on the sidewalk. YA 82/346 #153 93

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Well, one thing led to the next and we ended up becoming the dealer. At the same time, BYN trucking division, part of White Pass Corporation, owned a block and a half of land across from the elementary school at Wheeler Street and Fourth Avenue. They were going to relocate and we bought that property from White Pass. So we bought the Ford dealership from Northern Commercial in the spring, then we acquired the land and we remodelled. There was a new showroom that was all brick on the front and an Esso service station. It was a very, very nice-looking dealership. We had it ready by November of ’69, and that’s when we had our grand opening of Whitehorse Motors in its new location.

Right, above: Sonny and the Sunglows entertaining the crowd at the grand opening of Whitehorse Motors. Right, below: When Whitehorse Motors opened in 1969, gas cost 53 cents a gallon (approximately 12 cents per litre)! 94

The official announcement of the change of ownership was made on May 1, 1969. The business had 16 shareholders; the three principals being Rolf Hougen as majority shareholder and overall manager, Moe Grant (who continued on working as general manager) and parts manager, Bob Parent. At the grand opening in November, the new dealership featured the latest 1970 models from the Ford and Mercury lines including the LTD Brougham, Torino, Mercury Meteor, Maverick, Montego, Cyclone and Cortina. As well as selling cars and gasoline, the new dealership also rented vehicles and featured a state-of-the-art car wash. Rolf explained the challenges of this operation: It had brushes going side and over and around and everything you can imagine. The problem with a brush car wash is that antennas are here, there or all over, cars are small, cars are big and pickups are a different breed entirely. We had constant complaints about things being broken off vehicles. We also had mechanical problems. We ended up just throwing it away. We then used a high-pressure hose. That worked for a period but in the end, we closed it down. It wasn’t making money. Over time the minority shareholders were bought out. Rick Nielsen, Maureen’s husband, began working for the Ford dealership in 1986. In the late 1990s, Rick acquired additional shares and continued as majority shareholder and principal dealer until 2009, when he sold his interest in the business. Today, Whitehorse Motors is still a going concern in the same downtown location and employs about three dozen people.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Yukon Honda, Sea Land Sports As Rolf acquired and developed new enterprises, he eventually found himself involved in competing businesses. His strategy for handling this was straightforward. They were encouraged to operate independently, with no favouritism from the principal owner. Rolf later explained: “We could always separate things. If companies were in competitive businesses, we let them compete as though they were totally independent, one from the other.” Eight years after taking over Whitehorse Motors, Rolf also took on Yukon Honda. His original partners were Al Castagner and Lloyd Atkinson, who initially ran the dealership. The business operated out of a former service station at Fourth Avenue and Alexander Street. The official opening was September 8, 1978 and the dealership moved to its current new building in 2001. The managing partner is Satnam Rai. As well as selling Ford vehicles, Whitehorse Motors also handled some recreational products such as Yamaha snowmobiles. When Hougen and his partners took over, they created a recreation division in the same building. Rolf’s brother Magnus took charge of this operation. At the time, Hougen’s also handled recreational equipment: Mercury motors, a line of boats and canoes, Honda motorbikes and Ski-Doo snow machines. These items were subsequently transferred from Hougen’s Sportslodge to Yukon Honda. Whitehorse Motors built a new building on Second Avenue, just east of Quartz Road, to house Sea Land Sports, a division of Whitehorse Motors. This business featured the recreational products from Whitehorse Motors. In 2010, Rolf recalled a few unsuccessful ventures: We had a company called Whitehorse Plumbing and Heating Ltd. It was managed by an experienced plumber. He bid on a rather large project in Lower Post and Watson Lake. We won the bid only to find out that the manager had overlooked one line in the contract, “including the existing building.” This was a $25,000 error. Shortly thereafter we got out of that business. Another company, Yukon Service Supply, was a janitor supply business that never made money for us and we sold our interests to our partner.

Above: A Hougen’s delivery van, ca. 1970. Left: The Honda dealership at Fourth Avenue and Alexander Street in 1978. 95

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Finance: Arctic Investment Corporation In the 1950s, before the widespread use of credit cards, it was difficult for an ordinary citizen to obtain financing to purchase big ticket items such as appliances, television sets and vehicles. The banks had not yet started issuing personal credit cards and it would be a few decades before they set up personal lines of credit. A reputable financial institution was needed that could provide financing to customers and deal with the banks on their behalf. This was a challenging state of affairs for businesses selling high-cost items. For Rolf, this became an opportunity. Here is his description of the founding of Arctic Investment Corporation (AIC) in 1954 and its dealings: Going back about 50 years or so, the banks did not finance purchases by individuals. If you bought a refrigerator or an automobile, you couldn’t get bank financing. So, what happened is that others across Canada and, we here in the Yukon, started finance companies. In order to sell our appliances, our TVs and other products, we started the finance company — Arctic Investment Corporation — with quite a number of investors. What we would do is write a contract with a customer, and then take that finance contract to the bank and lodge it with the bank. Then the bank advanced the money to Arctic Investment. We kept turning over: the payments were made by the customer to us, and we in turn paid the bank loans down or kept borrowing more as we lodged more paper. One company we financed was the local Chrysler dealer.

Right, above and below: Examples of AIC stationery.

96

In the early 1950s, Industrial Development Bank (now called the Business Development Bank) — which helped finance manufacturing and warehouses — did not operate in the Yukon. Hougen’s Ltd. needed financing to build their brand-new store and turned to AIC. Debentures supported by Arctic Investment shareholders helped finance ventures such as CKRW radio and WHTV cable company. Every five years, we issued a debenture that was based on a rate about three percent higher than bank interest. The reason we paid more is that we couldn’t offer the same security as the banks. The banks have government guarantees and the money is very secure. Although we always had a lot of assets to back it up, I always considered investment in Arctic to be a higher risk.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Every year we issued a new debenture. Interest rates would go up and down; as low as six percent, and one year it was as high as either 14 or 16 percent when the money ran sky high. We’re talking several million dollars of debentures. Every year we would say, “My gosh, we’ve got a big one coming due, and next year, after the five-year period, I wonder if people will reinvest?” It would always be a concern, and we always prepared a contingency plan. Some people would not reinvest. They were going to build a house or they were leaving the Yukon or whatever. But always, our renewed debenture not only was renewed for the amount, but others would hear of our debenture and come forward, and existing shareholders would increase their amount. So, every renewal turned out to be more money available than the one that we were just paying out. Arctic Investment is still active, mainly as a real estate owner and a shareholder in several of the Hougen Group of Companies. The current president is Marg Hougen.

Communications In today’s world of e-mail, Skype and iPhones, we have come to expect almost instantaneous communication with each other, the world and the vast trove of information available on the internet. The term “thousand-channel universe” has become code for an infinite choice of television viewing. An equally extensive number of music options are available through satellite radio stations and internet sources. From this perspective, it is difficult to understand just how isolated the Yukon was for half of the twentieth century. There was very little radio reception and no television. Until the late 1950s, it was easier for Yukoners to tune in stations from the USSR. than it was to hear Canada’s national radio station, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Above: Ticket for CFWH Radio Jamboree. Left: Jack Hogg, one of the CFWH volunteers, when the station was being operated by the Canadian Army. Note the long-playing album, one of the prerecorded U.S. Army transcription disks. YA 82/346 #96

97

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Following closely on recent developments such as sewer and water, federal building, schools and the new housing area, we are now to have television... The Yukon soon will have everything. Whitehorse Star, December 22, 1955

WHTV linemen stringing cable. Ken McKinnon was either “up a pole” or in the studio running live programs. From 1958 until the station’s sale in 2007, there were many upgrades to the cable system. It began as one black and white channel and now has more than 100 channels in full colour. 98

Local radio programming began during World War II. On February 24, 1944, the American army set up a radio station to entertain their troops. It had the call letters CFWH (short for Canadian Forces Whitehorse) and was operated by volunteer announcers. Popular music and programs of the day were shipped north on long-playing 16-inch “transcription disks.” When the U.S. military pulled out, they left their equipment for the Canadian forces and local volunteers took over. According to Tim Kinvig, a former CBC staffer who has conducted extensive research on radio history in the Yukon, the U.S. Army continued to send the disks for many years after pulling out of the Yukon. The CBC took over the volunteer community radio station in Whitehorse on November 1, 1958 using programs relayed from Edmonton and tapes flown in from Montreal. They did not begin local newscasts until 1960 and, for the next six years, these were prepared by Whitehorse Star staff. Eventually, the station was linked into the primary CBC network feed. Television came to Whitehorse in the late 1950s with the founding of WHTV. Rolf Hougen played a critical role in developing and updating the Yukon’s communications network. Canadian television programming began in 1952 when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation opened stations in Montreal and Toronto. As early as 1946, however, Canadians living near the U.S. border were buying television sets to pull in American signals. The new medium became wildly popular and by 1954, Canadians had purchased a million TV sets. Television signals were broadcast and signals picked up by rooftop aerials. At one point, most southern Canadian towns were topped by a metallic forest of rooftop aerials. Creating a local television station seemed much too expensive a project for the remote north and its small population. Nevertheless, Rolf became interested in offering this new technology to Yukoners and selling them TV sets from his store. Rolf spoke about the beginnings of northern television broadcasting: In the fall of 1955, I heard about an individual in Ketchikan, Alaska who had strung a wire from pole to pole into homes and was delivering television — one-channel, black and white. I thought, “Wow, that is fascinating.”

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

George Van Roggen and I flew to Ketchikan, saw their system and thought, “Hey, this is a good idea for Whitehorse.” George came back to Whitehorse, but I went on to Seattle and contacted the makers of the Jerold amplifiers that were used in Ketchikan. I made a deal to purchase amplifiers so that we could string cable from pole to pole into homes and introduce television to Whitehorse. I got a contract with Yukon Electrical Company for the poles. We did a survey and determined — at the prices we thought people would pay — that the economics were not there at that time. A couple of individuals in Vancouver, Doug Kasper and Roy Marshall, learned what we were doing. They were both service repairmen, technical people, and thought they could make it work. I said, “Okay, we’ll turn over our research, our files and our contract with Yukon Electric. You go ahead.” Then we, in the retail business, sold a lot of television sets over a short period of time. At that time, it was mainly Electrohome and Fleetwood TVs. We were deeply committed to the success of the cable company, but it was failing. Neil Colville, a retired former NHL hockey player, had invested money with Kasper and Marshall. To save his investment, Neil came up. I worked very, very closely at all times with them because if the system failed, we had about 300 TVs out there on credit and we were going to be in trouble. I was intimately involved from the beginning, but it wasn’t until about the mid-sixties that I became the principal owner of the business, from a minority to a principal owner, along with some friends, who also became investors at that time. WHTV went on the air in 1958. The hook-up fee started at $150, but quickly dropped to 120; by Christmas 1958, it was $75. The monthly fee was approximately $15. This was for one black and white channel broadcasting for four hours a night from old 16-mm films run on a projector.

Raymond Cyr operating an early studio camera. From the very beginning, WHTV operated as a community channel with live performances. 99

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Right, above: One of WHTV’s investors and operators, Bert Wybrew, in 1972. Right, below: Marg and Rolf with Neil Colville. The Hougens hosted a party following the December 1978 board meeting.

100

The Yukon’s first television studio was located in the Whitehorse Inn at the corner of Second Avenue and Main Street, a site now occupied by the CIBC bank building. This one-person operation first occupied a small room, soundproofed with egg cartons, on the hotel’s second floor, then later moved to a larger area in the hotel basement. There were two miles of cable strung in the downtown area. The fledgling operation owed its early survival to the hard work and ingenuity of two men: Neil Colville and Bert Wybrew. Neil Colville, born in Edmonton in 1918, had played centre and defence for the New York Rangers from 1936 to 1949. During the war years he enlisted in the army and was stationed in Ottawa, where he played on the army team, the Ottawa Commandos, and helped win the Allen Cup in 1942. In 1967 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His retirement investment in Northern Television Systems turned into a full-time job when he moved north to protect his outlay. Bert Wybrew, the first manager of WHTV, was a former car salesman and for a time managed the bowling alleys in the basement of the Whitehorse Inn. In 1969, Wybrew also became Mayor of Whitehorse, holding this post until 1973. Apparently it was not unusual to see him hanging on a pole to string cable during the day, then donning a suit to preside over Council meetings in the evening. The two-man operation meant that one person worked solo in the studio while the other was wiring up new homes, repairing lines or selling ads. The pair worked 16-hour days and for a time, Colville slept on a cot in the studio. Early programming was a testament to the ingenuity — and occasional desperation — of one person with a microphone and a camera. One of the most entertaining accounts of these early days is found in an article by Stan Thomas in the anthology Cable: Vision of the Pioneers.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Here are his descriptions of a “live sportscast” and some innovative technology: Bert Wybrew’s favourite was always announcing, “In just a moment we will bring you bowling from the Inn Alleys right here in Whitehorse.” Then he would unplug everything, grab the one and only camera, the voltage regulator and a microphone and dash down the stairs into the bowling alley, often trailing yards of cord. He would hook everything up again as quick as he could and start live broadcasting. He gave a ballby-ball account of every bowler, most of whom were so nervous in front of the camera they couldn’t throw a strike if their lives depended on it! At news time, with a shortage of manpower, Wybrew recalls that often, one man was alone reading in front of the camera... Bert came up with a small piece of wood, rigged to hang on a nail over the lens of the camera. A piece of string was attached to the wood which ran down to the drawer in the news desk. Then, when they were ready to present the news, all the announcer had to do was set the camera on a predetermined spot, switch on the sound, quietly tiptoe over to the desk, sit down and slide the desk drawer open, which, in turn swung the little piece of wood away from the lens. A real Mickey Mouse set-up, but it certainly worked! News broadcasts came indirectly from the American Broadcasting Armed Forces Radio Service out of San Francisco. The broadcaster/operator turned on the shortwave, noted the news highlights of the news, then read them on air. Several times, Neil Colville failed to turn on the sound before he read the news. He had also taken the telephone off the hook, and didn’t catch his mistake until the end of the silent newscast, when he went to turn off the sound. Viewers were treated to some desk pounding and silent profanity before the sound clicked on and the sheepish Colville reread the news.

Neil Colville reading the news. 101

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Whitehorse Star, March 31, 1960 102

Musician and songwriter Al Oster hosted the Al Oster Show, a half-hour weekly program that ran for two years. At the time, Oster worked as a clerk at the local RCAF base; for five evenings a week, he also moonlighted as an announcer/operator. People watched films, as well as specials and major sports events that were often weeks, or even months, old. The staff began rebroadcasting “kinescopes” of CBC programs. When they ran out of other options, or simply energy, they created the mainstay program “Rippling Rhythms” which is listed in several TV schedules in the late 1950s. This program was simplicity itself; the camera was focussed on a goldfish bowl while easy-listening music played in the background. During other idle periods, the camera was pointed out the window at the Main Street liquor store so that — as Rolf put it — “everyone would know whose party to crash that night.” Nonetheless, WHTV was a true community station. It presented local interviews, news, weather and religious programs. It covered local festivities such as the winter carnival and current affairs such as campaign debates. It televised City Council meetings, which are still broadcast every Monday evening, and later even put a camera in the Yukon Legislature during Question Period, long before this practice was adopted by the House of Commons. Of course Hougen’s was one of the advertisers and Rolf spent many hours producing and compiling hundreds of 35-mm slides — created from cards or letters arranged on a board — that were projected as stills on the television screen. According to Rolf, the studio even occasionally hosted livestock: Every Easter, Hougen’s brought in rabbits or ducks or chicks and we took boxes of these chicks down to the TV studio to show the public. They would be running all over the studio and we’d try and fence them in. Craig and Kelly would be there chasing the animals around the studio. We did live promotion and advertising when WHTV was at the bottom of the Whitehorse Inn.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

By 1964, 400 customers had signed up for the service and the station finally broke even. Costs were reasonable. WHTV now charged $25 for a cable hook-up and the monthly fee was still $15. WHTV managers devised a new method to bring more up-to-date programming to its customers. After Rolf acquired majority ownership in 1965, he immediately organized the purchase of the newly marketed Sony twoinch video recorders and playback. Starting in 1966, they hired staff in Vancouver to record programs and ship the recordings to Whitehorse by truck. The delay between the original broadcast and the WHTV airing was now only a week as opposed to months. Ray Peters of BCTV publicly objected to this practice. He sent Rolf an indignant letter demanding a personal meeting. Here is Rolf’s description of what happened next. I got a letter from Ray Peters, who was President of BCTV. It was an absolutely no-nonsense letter, and he said, “You quit recording our programs,” and he went on and on, “or we’ll sue you” — a very threatening letter. So I said, “Well, I don’t want to fly to Vancouver; I’ll get Neil Colville” (who still kept ten percent of the TV operation). I asked Neil if he would go in and talk to Ray Peters. I got another communication from Ray Peters, “I want to see you. Don’t send your flunky to see me.” He wasn’t impressed. Colville was a Hall of Fame hockey player. I went down and Ray Peters verbally laid down the law that I had to discontinue. When I came out of that meeting, there was a fellow, Ernie Rose, who was the chief engineer for BCTV. He pulled me aside and said, “Just ignore him. Ray is delighted that these programs are being shown in Whitehorse but he has to do this because of the copyright issue. If he doesn’t do it, the owners of the rights to film could well cease selling to BCTV. He has to show that he has laid the law down.” He said, “Continue, don’t worry about it.”

WHTV announcer Tony MacDonald loading a video reel on the new Sony two-inch video recorders. 103

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

And we did continue. Subsequently, Ray not only became a partner with me in Cancom, but also, he and his wife, Heidi, became great friends. We still see them a couple of times a year in Vancouver and we have many laughs about that period.

Near right, above: Children watching television in Kishwoot Hall. YA 2009/81 #322

Far right, above: Rolf and Bert Wybrew of WHTV present a television to Chief Elijah Smith, ca. 1968. This ceremony happened in Kishwoot Hall, in the former First Nations village in the Marwell area. YA 2009/81 #320

Right, below: Rolf, President of Northern Television Systems and the Hougen Group of Companies, and Paul Flaherty, the President and CEO of Northwestel, at the formal announcement of the sale. 104

In 1969, the station moved to new quarters in the Brunlees building right next to the CKRW studios. Staff members installed a duplicate set of wires and managed to make the move without ever having to go off air. By this time WHTV was broadcasting five stations. The initial outlay of $8,000 for equipment had become an impressive inventory worth more than $100,000. According to Stan Thomas, this included six video machines, two video Rovers, three studio cameras, eight monitors and a 16-mm projector. The technology was upgraded with new amplifiers and colour television and the two-inch Sony machines were replaced with reel-to-reel tapes, then later with smaller tape cassettes. This was the status of WHTV Systems when the Broadcasting Act of 1968 established the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) and new regulatory requirements came into force. Rolf and his cohorts devised an ingenious scheme to provide even more channels, including U.S. programming, to a larger pan-Northern audience. At this point, the tale of WHTV becomes the story of Cancom (see Chapter 6). The Hougen family involvement with WHTV ended September 1, 2007, when the Hougen Group of Companies and Northwestel finalized an agreement to sell Northern Television Systems to Northwestel. During the formal announcement, Rolf stated: “This is an exciting announcement for all existing and future cable customers in Whitehorse. Northwestel will make significant enhancements to the local cable infrastructure and provide next generation television services to residents of Whitehorse.�

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

CKRW After his successful experience with cable television, Rolf decided that Whitehorse was ready for a commercial radio station. In 1967, he worked with a Vancouver consultant to develop a concept to present to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC). A group led by lawyer Vic Wylie had a competing proposal. A key moment in the hearings came when Wylie asserted that since Hougen already owned the television station and the Whitehorse Star, too much local media would be concentrated in one person. Of course Rolf indignantly denied his ownership of the newspaper and was perplexed that his old friend would make such a statement. The answer came after the hearing over a glass of wine. “I always thought you did own the Whitehorse Star,” Wylie said. Rolf and his partners — Ken McKinnon, Bert Wybrew, Aubrey Tanner and Bob Choate — were granted the licence in December 1968 and the Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited was ready for business. Now it was a matter of finding quarters and getting set up. Rolf had bought the Taylor House, a handsome log home at Fifth Avenue and Main Street, seemingly a perfect home for a northern broadcasting station. The consulting engineer disagreed: He went there and he said, “You can’t put the radio station in this place. You walk around and every floor creaks. It just wouldn’t work.” The Taylor House was eventually taken over by the Chamber of Mines and the fledging station set up quarters in a brandnew building on Fourth Avenue and Elliot Street, rented from Howie and Evelyn Brunlees. Simpsons-Sears occupied the ground floor and the radio station moved upstairs beside a new studio for WHTV. CKRW went on air November 17, 1969. Listeners could tune in to 610 AM on their radio dial to listen to the first commercial radio station to broadcast north of the sixtieth parallel. The station included “the most up-to-date and sophisticated equipment in Canada,” particularly the International Good Music (IGM) machine.

“It is a commercial station so you have to do things that will make money. Having said that, one of our focuses is to try and not only entertain, but to provide some historic perspective and educate Yukoners about our history.” Rolf Hougen, 2009

Chief engineer Jack Wreggett at the IGM, a state-of-the-art automated broadcasting system.

105

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Nicknamed “George,” the IGM complemented live programming by providing good “middle of the road” music, time checks, temperature, etc. Rolf later described how this worked: We bought a system called IGM out of a community just north of Bellingham. They had developed an automated radio station, you might say, certainly nothing like the electronic systems of today. It had huge, huge tapes which they also supplied. They programmed these tapes and shipped them up by air. There were two machines, one on each side of the control centre, which played prerecorded music; but to program it, you had to stick in little metal pegs. I don’t know how to describe it. There was a great big control panel and you had to put little metal devices into various holes in this board in order to program the times. It was quite complicated. Sometimes those pegs would break off. We kept it for quite a number of years, but really, there were a lot of glitches.

Rolf and Al Jensen on November 17, 1969, the day CKRW hit the airwaves. 106

At that time, under the regulations, you really had to man the radio. If you were on 24 hours, you were expected to have people on staff 24 hours. However, that was very costly. So in the evening we programmed the IGM to broadcast on its own. We arranged with one of the taxi companies to keep their radios on at night. If there was a breakdown, somebody was on call and could rush down to deal with the problem. Al Jensen, with more than 20 years experience in Vancouver, Kelowna and Seattle, was hired as the first station manager. He hired about 12 staff, including Ron McFadyen as the first production manager. He later worked for CBC Radio in Whitehorse. After many years at CBC, Ron ended up back at CKRW and finally retired from the station in 2009, after more than 50 years in the radio business. Some other well-known CKRW personalities included Glen Darling, John Dumas, Dennis Senger, Peter Carr and Sandy Brown. Many went on to successful broadcasting careers elsewhere. Randy Hahn, who started his career doing “paw-by-paw” coverage of the Sourdough Rendezvous dog sled races for CKRW, now works as play-by-play announcer for the San Jose Sharks.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

CKRW soon became an important part of the community. Radio announcers broadcast live from various businesses around town to help promote special events and sales. One of the first such events was the grand opening of Whitehorse Motors in its new building at Fourth Avenue and Black Street. This gala event featured free films, gifts, refreshments and live entertainment. Sonny Johnson and the Sunglows — direct from Nassau — played at the event. Most amazingly, Sonny’s wife performed a fire-eating demonstration, using Chevron gas as her fuel! The station began a number of popular local features: daily “birthday greetings”; “Trader Time,” a call-in buy-and-sell show; and “Talk Back,” a phone-in program — hosted by John Dumas — featuring a special guest who responded to listener questions. Rolf recalls some very lively political discussions that resulted in having to send in tapes to be reviewed by the CRTC for improprieties. Station staff interviewed visiting dignitaries and even invited them to sit in on for a session of “Talk Back.” The station sponsored special events such as fishing derbies and the annual Easter egg hunt. More recently, veteran broadcaster and writer Les McLaughlin wrote and narrated “CKRW Yukon Nuggets,” hundreds of short stories exploring both famous and little known aspects of Yukon history and culture. Rolf described the evolution of this project: It started by my asking him to do a few on subjects I sent to him. He then asked if I wanted a few more. Finally I said, “Keep doing these until I call STOP!” I never did and even on his death [January 8, 2011], we had a list of others to do. Nevertheless, we have about 400 nuggets. As you know we paid him to do this, but I consider the fee for each item very modest; he did it out of interest and love for the Yukon.

Left, above: Roving reporter Ron McFadyen interviews Jean Chrétien, then Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, ca. 1969. Left, below: Ron McFadyen with colourful Vancouver broadcaster Jack Webster during the 1971 Sourdough Rendezvous. Webster grew a beard for the occasion and hosted two live radio programs from the lobby of the Capital Hotel.

107

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Right, above: Four Yukon entertainment icons in 2009. L–R: Les McLaughlin, Rolf Hougen, Al Oster and Hank Karr. Right, below: Rolf and Marg outside the station, September 14, 2004. 108

These features can be found both in date order and alphabetized on the Hougen website. They range from “African Americans Building the Alaska Highway” to the “Zust,” a 1906 Italian automobile meant to be part of a Great Race from New York to Paris in 1908 which actually ended up in Dawson City. In between, there are topics to intrigue all interests: mining and miners, mammoths and mastodons, historical buildings, Yukon River boats, place names, dog mushing, teenage language and of course scores of stories relating to the Klondike Gold Rush. The nuggets have been equally popular in written form and can be found in both the Hougen family website (The Hougen Group of Companies – A Yukon Tradition) and the e-newsletter, Moccasin Telegraph. CKRW assisted the First Nations station CHON-FM, owned by Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon (NNBY). Rolf worked on the start-up with Ken Kane and George Henry. When NNBY was formed and launched the CHONFM radio station in 1984, CKRW staff gave their trainees three months of hands-on experience. Broadcaster Tim Weekes, who worked with the CHON trainees at CKRW, is now a reporter with CBC-TV in Vancouver. Although there were occasional allegations to the contrary, the managers of Hougen companies were charged exactly the same rates as other advertisers, a policy that served the station well. On September 14, 2004 — after many submissions to CRTC — CKRW began simulcasting on both AM and FM. For years, the commission had stated that they would allow an FM station but only if the AM broadcast was dropped. Finally the policy changed and the station signal is now broadcast over both bands and reaches most Yukon communities. When Rolf and his partners initiated the Cancom enterprise in 1980, CKRW was part of the radio component of the satellite service and is still broadcast across Canada by satellite today. That same year, CKRW was branded as “The Rush,” offering “hot adult contemporary radio programming.” This format designation is often referred to as a “balanced variety of music from the 1980s to today’s hits.” CKRW has never been for sale, although there have been several offers over the years. It is still operated by the Hougen family, who believe it is important to keep the station local, reflecting the needs and culture of the Whitehorse and Yukon listening audience.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

A banner year

Community service

Since his high school years, Rolf was a community builder. He founded the Young People’s Association and helped organize its The year 1969 was an especially many activities. This early experience served him well as he became busy one for Rolf Hougen. He increasingly involved with other municipal organizations and later, hosted no less than three grand territorial, national and international organizations. openings within a week: the Many municipal issues of the 1950s and ’60s will seem familiar Hougen’s Store in Faro, radio to today’s residents, as do the positions put forward by the station CKRW and Whitehorse Whitehorse Board of Trade and its president, Rolf Hougen. Tourism Motors. In addition, WHTV was seen as a developing industry and young people were being moved into new quarters with urged to treat every tourist as a VIP. The Jaycees sponsored a citynew equipment. When the wide spring clean-up campaign, and the city was being urged to Northern Commercial Company enforce clean-up of city lots by reluctant property owners. There closed, after more than 40 were controversies years of operation in the north, about properties close Hougen’s bought out their stock to the escarpment and and hired a number of their dangers from slides. staff. Last but not least, the Some other issues flagship store on Main Street were more unusual. celebrated its 25th anniversary. Reflecting the strong By December, the Hougens were armed services likely more than ready to relax presence at the time, during their Hawaiian vacation. the Board of Trade requested that newlyposted service personnel be granted resident status for obtaining hunting licences. A number of Outside companies were operating without being properly registered and the territorial government was urged to enforce its own ordinance. Although dog control was a familiar problem, there were a few twists. In 1960 City Council denied a request to send its dog catcher to remove roving dogs from the airport runway. The reasoning was that these were likely “air base” rather than “town” dogs and, apart from a narrow strip along the escarpment, the airport was outside of city limits.

When we have men working together on a voluntary basis, not for selfish motives but for the good of the community as a whole, our city and our territory will prosper. Rolf Hougen, addressing the Whitehorse Board of Trade, May 5, 1960

Invitation to the Annual General Meeting for CKRW, Whitehorse Motors and WHTV, February 24, 2000.

109

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Is Whitehorse as beautiful as we would like it to be? Is there a need for parks, more playgrounds or better garbage disposal? … Is there an organization in our town to provide information to potential citizens and businesses? Are the merchants of our community serving the public well or are there improvements which need to be brought about? Rolf Hougen, April 28, 1960

Then there were the challenges of a growing community moving into the modern era. The city had a very small staff; the 1958 phone book listed only the City Clerk and three departments: Fire, Works and Water Works. Many tasks, such as community beautification, were undertaken by local service organizations such as the Board of Trade. In an article in the Whitehorse Star, April 28, 1960, Rolf publicly noted that membership in this organization was not limited to businesses but open to “all people interested in the welfare of the community.” Indeed, the city’s first park, Rotary Park (later renamed Rotary Peace Park), was built by local Rotarians on land donated by the White Pass and Yukon Corporation Limited. Karen Hougen recalls her father’s personal efforts to beautify his town: He had this desire to get rid of the dust and improve the look of Whitehorse. I can remember climbing into the station wagon with poppy seeds and spreading them around in an effort to try and make things look nicer around the city. At the time we didn’t have a lot of landscaping or city gardens. So, we planted poppy seeds everywhere. He was so excited when we got new curbs and sidewalks that we would all pile into the station wagon and go look at the new curbs and sidewalks around Whitehorse.

Right, above: The Hougen’s staff were up bright and early to take part in Whitehorse Clean-up Week, ca. 1960s.

110

Since his youth, Dad has been involved in the community and had a strong interest in the health of Whitehorse, which I think is unique. Business people today tend to be focused on what is good for them and that drives me nuts sometimes. Some people don’t look at the larger picture. Dad always did. He is always thinking in terms of what is good for Yukon.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

The Whitehorse and the Casca By the early 1970s, only two vessels remained in the once bustling shipyards of the British Yukon Navigation Company: the Whitehorse and the Casca. In 1966, the Klondike had been relocated to the south end of town to be refurbished as a national historic site. Six years earlier than that, the Keno made her last voyage to Dawson City and her eventual docking as another Parks Canada attraction. Other boats such as the Aksala were dismantled; only its paddlewheel remains near an Alaska Highway business. Although White Pass had donated the Klondike to the federal government, the Whitehorse and the Casca were deemed less historically significant and left to deteriorate. In 1973, Rolf met with various White Pass, city and government officials to ensure the preservation of the boats. He formed a “save the riverboats” committee and their application for a 40,000-dollar Federal Labour Intensive Program (FLIP) grant was successful. Workers cleared debris, made minor repairs, installed new decking and painted the two vessels. A fence was erected around the site to deter vandals. The spruced-up boats stood as a proud reminder of the city’s heritage. Rolf was less successful in his efforts to convince City Council to buy the boats from White Pass for one dollar. This would involve carrying millions of dollars in liability insurance at a cost of $250 per year and maintaining the site. Council unanimously turned down the resolution. Rolf later lamented the lack of vision shown by Council members. The city had recently commissioned a study which recommended that it acquire and preserve historical structures, but Council then rejected these suggestions. Rolf had strong words for this short-sightedness: It is essential that the city does have an interest in order to build a foundation of a growing tourist industry, let alone to preserve history for the value of future generations…. We need bold and imaginative people at this time of Whitehorse’s development. The story has a tragic ending. Trespassers managed to dig under the fence, climb aboard and set a fire. On the morning of June 21, 1974, observers spotted smoke billowing from one of the boats. By the time the fire department rushed to the scene, the fire was raging, fuelled by an abundance of tinder-dry wood. Thousands of gallons of water could not control the blaze and within hours little remained but crumpled steel and ashes. Hundreds of people gathered to mourn the destruction. Perhaps the most fitting sentiment came from historian Alan Innes-Taylor: “The Yukon lost a little bit of its soul.”

Above: Detail of poem and drawing that Yukon artist Ted Harrison sent Rolf after the tragedy. Left: Panorama of downtown Whitehorse showing the Whitehorse and Casca, fenced and freshly painted. YA Yukon Public Affairs Coll. f.26 #15 111

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

“We must dig our heels in. The White Pass railroad must run again.” With this preamble, Whitehorse businessman Rolf Hougen announced Friday in a speech to the joint Alaska-Yukon Chambers of Commerce, that he had put together a high-powered board of directors who would commit themselves to getting the White Pass and Yukon Railway back on the rails as a tourist operation — if certain conditions were met. Yukon News, April 15, 1987

Rolf rode this Casey Car to survey and photograph all the railway’s assets. Marg is in the foreground. 112

White Pass and Yukon Railway The year 1982 was a particularly grim one for the Yukon economy. With the backdrop of a worldwide recession and low mineral prices, every major mine shut down. Within months, hundreds of workers were laid off as operations ended at Whitehorse Copper, United Keno Hill Mines at Elsa and Faro’s Cyprus Anvil mine. Mining communities became virtual ghost towns as people left the Yukon to seek work elsewhere. Numerous small businesses could not afford to keep going once spending decreased. The year 1982 set a bankruptcy record in the territory. The loss of revenue also affected major customers such as Yukon Electric and the White Pass and Yukon Corporation Ltd., which ran the railway between Skagway and Whitehorse. Although the railway was no longer the territory’s primary link to the Outside, it kept on running, relying on summer tourist traffic, container shipping and year-round transport of ore concentrate to freighters at the port of Skagway. The railway had already sustained a blow when a new highway was completed between Carcross and Skagway in 1979. Within a few years, the road was being upgraded to handle heavy truck traffic year round. The loss of the mining business was fatal. That fall, the railway announced that it was shutting down. This was supposedly just for the winter, but the company has never resumed service to Whitehorse. Within a few years, it became apparent that the railway was not going to reopen and indeed might be on the verge of selling its assets and tearing up the tracks to sell for scrap. Rolf led a movement of Yukoners and Alaskans to reopen the railway as a summer tourism operation. In October 1986, Rolf spearheaded a resolution by the Yukon Chamber of Commerce to set up a committee to determine how the White Pass railway could be revived as a shorthaul summer operation for tourists. When addressing the chamber, Hougen stated that the biggest hurdle to reopening was White Pass’s existing agreement with the United Transportation Union, the international union representing train workers. According to a Whitehorse Star article, Hougen stated:

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

“The railway … can’t continue to operate as a 5,000- or 10,000-mile railway with normal railway work rules. We have to approach it as a community project with a nucleus of experienced railway workers and with summer students being conductors and ticket sellers and waitresses at Lake Bennett.” Over the next few months, Hougen championed the reopening of the railway at various gatherings. He and his committee met with a variety of interested parties, including Yukon and Alaskan politicians and businessmen, Skagway residents, union representatives, and managers of cruise lines that docked at Skagway. The Yukon government sponsored a report that examined the feasibility of reopening the line; it was released in December but Rolf felt that it was too narrow and of limited use. In the meantime, New York promoter Don Primi was attempting to raise 25 million dollars to purchase and reactivate the line, but was meeting with limited success. Rolf took the next step. After learning that Primi would likely fail to meet his funding deadline, Rolf got on the phone and within 48 hours pulled together an interim board of directors with “the credibility, the determination and the knowledge to buy and operate the railway.” They included Bill Sheffield, former Alaska governor; Robert Wyman, former chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; John Bruk, chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation and former Chair of the Cyprus Anvil Corporation; David Joe, chair of the Yukon Development Corporation; Roy Minter, author and former White Pass public relations official; Frank Turpin, president and general manager of Alaska Railroad Corporation; and Kirk Landerman, president of Westours Inc. of Seattle. The members were prepared to commit $25–50,000 of their own funds to hire a Vancouver investment firm to do a feasibility study. At the time, Rolf admitted he had a “full load” and really didn’t need any more business ventures. Then he went on to describe his distress at watching the city and the territory gradually lose remnants of the past. He cited the razing of historic buildings and the burning of the Casca and the Whitehorse. This was one historic resource he was determined to save.

Left, above: The interior of this passenger car, photographed in 1987, shows how much the railway stock had deteriorated in five years. Left, below: In 1987, Rolf assembled a high-powered board to re-activate the railway. L-R: Roy Minter; Ray Pederson, Pres. Princess Tours: Joe Becker, Atlas Tours; John Bruk, Trilon Bancorp; Bill Feero, Mayor of Skagway; Rolf Hougen; Kirk Landerman, Pres. Holland America/ Westours; Bill Sheffield, former Governor of Alaska. Missing: Robert Wyman, Chairman, Pemberton Securities; David Joe, Chair of Yukon Dev. Corp; Frank Turpin, Pres. Alaska Railroad. 113

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

As well as organizing the rescue project, Rolf took a more hands-on role. Together with an Alaska Railroad engineer and an employee of Transport Canada, he rode the entire line on a Casey Car and took hundreds of photos of the rolling stock and facilities. Yukoners and Alaskans followed the extended negotiations throughout the fall of 1987. The many newspaper articles about this issue reveal the importance northerners placed on the preservation of the railway. The outcome? Based in large part on Hougen’s study and advocacy for keeping the railway going, the White Pass and Yukon Corporation determined this was indeed a good business venture and in late 1987, formally announced that the railway would reopen on May 12, 1988 as a limited, summer-only tourist operation. Rolf’s reaction to the news: “I’m absolutely delighted, of course, that this has happened … White Pass was the only one who could do it. I could see no other option.” The business venture may have failed but the railway was saved.

Politics

Right, above: After 16 months work to “save the White Pass,” the train runs again. A beaming Rolf poses by Engine 73 in May 1988. Right, below: The Honourable George Black, P.C. and Martha Louise Black on her 85th birthday in their home on Front Street near the Regina Hotel, 1951. YA 2009/81 #510 114

When Rolf became interested in territorial and federal governance in the early 1950s, the political climate was very different from today. To a large degree, the Yukon’s affairs were controlled by Ottawa. The Territorial Council had a limited mandate; ultimate authority came from the federallyappointed Commissioner. Since 1902, the Yukon has elected a single representative — usually from the Conservative Party — to represent the territory in Canada’s Parliament. Between 1921 and 1934, the seat was held by George Black, former territorial commissioner and Speaker of the House of Commons in the Conservative government of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett from 1930 to 1934. When Black was unable to run in 1935 due to illness, his wife Martha Black ran as an independent Conservative and held the seat from 1935 to 1940, when her husband was able to resume his duties.

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

In 1949, the federal Yukon riding was abolished and replaced by the riding of Yukon-Mackenzie River. The Member of Parliament was now responsible for the portion of the Northwest Territories west of the 109th meridian as well as the Yukon Territory. Strangely, the remainder of the territories to the east of this line of longitude had no representation until 1962. The Yukon-Mackenzie riding existed for only four years before electoral boundaries were changed once again and Yukon reverted to its own riding. Rolf ascribed his initial involvement in national politics to two good friends, George Van Roggen and Erik Nielsen. Although the two were partners in a local law firm, they were on opposite sides of the political fence. At the urging of Van Roggen, Rolf supported the Liberal campaign of Aubrey Simmons. There was even talk that when he “grew up,” Rolf might be the logical choice as a Liberal candidate when Simmons retired. Recently, Rolf wrote about his political conversion and subsequent role in the Conservative party, both in the Yukon and nationally: George was always a great friend but Erik wanted me to support him as he likewise was a friend and his wife P.J. was a great friend of Marg’s. I would go to the work parties where envelopes would be stuffed for a mailing but I would not even lick a stamp as I was still supporting George and his team. Eventually I switched and worked on every Erik campaign for 30 years. I was the backup for everything Erik undertook to do. If he had a campaign manager and things wouldn’t be on track I was the “fixer” — this happened several times. I was active in the advertising and public relations. I served on the national Conservative committee and attended every convention as a vice president. I was on the finance committee. As for Erik, he was a good communicator. I was a sounding board for him and he phoned on many issues to seek an opinion. And he sought advice as to appointments, etc. Erik Nielsen was the Yukon’s representative in Parliament from 1957 to 1987. During the brief period that Joe Clark led the government from 1979 to 1980, Nielsen served as Minister of Public Works, the first Yukoner named to a federal cabinet post. In 1983, after Joe Clark resigned and before Brian Mulroney took

Aubrey Simmons (left) greeting supporter John MacIsaac at Liberal Party headquarters, 1949. YA 2009/81 #473 115

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

over the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, Nielsen was Leader of the Opposition. Most prominently, he was Brian Mulroney’s Deputy Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986. Nationally, it was a lively time of scandals, disputes and leadership struggles within Canada’s two major parties. In his memoirs, Erik Nielsen referred to the “raucous caucus” of both the Diefenbaker and Clark governments. The national stage was occupied by larger-than-life figures such as John Diefenbaker, Lester Pearson, Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney. This was also when a national Canadian flag was adopted, replacing the Red Ensign; Canada celebrated its centennial, most memorably at Expo 67 in Montreal; and Pierre Trudeau spearheaded the repatriation of Canada’s constitution from Great Britain and instituted a national bill of rights. Rolf recalled his own encounter with one of these national notables: At one time during the issue of “ousting” Diefenbaker, I was asked to be a one-man delegate to go to Dief’s home and try to persuade him to step down gracefully. Olive, his wife, poured the tea. When I outlined why he should step down he became very animated. “This young man says he knows what the average Canadian thinks. Does he know what the farmer thinks, does he know what the fisherman thinks ...” and so on. All the while waving his finger in front of me.

Right, above: Chief Charlie Abel-Chitzi, Erik Nielsen and Joe Netro, store owner, in Old Crow, ca. 1960s. Right, below: John Diefenbaker making a speech in the Civic Centre in Whitehorse, 1958. Seated, L-R: partly hidden Olive Diefenbaker, Commissioner Fred Collins, Erik Nielsen, Sybil Collins, P.J. Nielsen, George Black and Sadie Black. YA 2009/81 #527

116

When I left it was evident he wasn’t going to listen. On departure, his wife Olive said “thanks” and “he needs to hear this.” I came away having caught his cold. In the north, Erik Nielsen championed extending the vote to all First Nations people as well as the entire population in the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories. Today, it is hard to believe that

Chapter 5: Creating opportunities

Canada’s aboriginal peoples and thousands of people in Canada’s north were denied the right to vote until the early 1960s. During his tenure, Nielsen worked with both Liberal and Conservative governments to improve Yukon infrastructure. Bridges were built over the Yukon, Pelly and Stewart rivers between Whitehorse and Dawson City; the Robert Campbell Bridge in Whitehorse made possible the new suburb of Riverdale. The telephone system was modernized by the establishment of a microwave system along the Alaska Highway. The Dempster Highway was built under Diefenbaker’s Roads to Resources program, as was an all-weather road to Skagway. It was during the Conservative government of Joe Clark that the Yukon took a giant step toward political autonomy. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Arthur Jacob “Jake” Epp, wrote the now famous “Epp letter” in 1979. He instructed the federally-appointed Commissioner of the Yukon, Ione Christensen, to relinquish some of her responsibilities and refrain from executive decision-making. This historic document essentially handed the powers of responsible government to the Yukon legislature, removing much of the colonial nature of Yukon governance. After Nielsen’s death in September 2008, his old friend Rolf Hougen was one of those who championed the renaming of the Whitehorse air terminal that Erik had helped facilitate. On December 15, 2008, the Yukon government officially christened the capital’s airport, Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport. During times of change, and particularly during times of economic uncertainty, it was crucial to the Yukon’s future well-being to have people of vision in a position to help guide the territory’s development. In some key aspects of Whitehorse’s economic and social life, Rolf Hougen was a visionary and leader. While not all his enterprises were successful, they were part of the process of change and growth that helped modernize the Yukon. In addition to helping build the Yukon’s economy, Rolf championed the heritage and culture of his hometown. Often it is the civic-minded working closely with the economic powers of a place that ensure healthy development. Rolf Hougen had both a strong commitment to his community and the wherewithal to effect change.

Left, above: Robert Stanfield, leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party, relaxing at Quiet Lake in 1971. Left, below: Dempster Highway opening ceremonies at Flat Creek, 1979. L-R: Youth wearing a RNWMP costume, Government Leader Chris Pearson, Commissioner Ione Christensen, The Hon. Erik Nielsen, Dr. J.R.H. Dempster, Mrs. W.E. (Sheila) Calvert, unidentified RCMP, the Hon. Jake Epp, Inspector Ron Pettit, RCMP Chief Superintendent Harry Nixon, unidentified aide-de-camp. Celebrations were subdued due to the recent death of John Diefenbaker, the architect of this project. 117

Ernie and Doris Lortie pose before their business, Yukon Tire Shop, on Front St. north of the Regina Hotel, ca. late 1940s. John Sewell’s store at right.

Looking south down Front Street at midnight June 23, 1906; Regina Hotel in foreground. YA 2002/118 #263

YA 82/346 #90

Christ Church Cathedral, (now the Old Log Church Museum), ca. 1900s. YA 2002/118 #265

Government telegraph buildings. Building at right later became the Whitehorse RCMP detachment. Rolf entering the Whitehorse Star building on Main Street, November 1950.

YA 2002/118 #290

YA 2009/81 #344

Whitehorse residence, n.d. YA 2002/118 #164

118

early whitehorse Merchants Whitney and Pedlar built this building ca. 1905. The firm later merged with Taylor & Drury and this became the T&D store. Today this structure houses the Horwood’s Mall. YA 2002/118 #273

Main Street, 1947, showing original Canadian Bank of Commerce building and scaffolding in front of the Whitehorse Inn. YA 82/346 #158

The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop ablaze, 1948. YA 82/346 #16

Cabs lined up before the Whitehorse Inn, June 21, 1953. In background is the original Bank of Commerce, where Robert Service worked. YA 2009/81 #98

Pony ride during YPA Sports Day, ca. 1948. The T.C. Richards building is in the background. YA 82/346 #237

Until the early 1950s, this building on Front Street was the Whitehorse Post Office, customs office and courthouse. Photographed at midnight, June 22, 1911. YA 2002/118 #1059

119

Chapter 6

The national and international stage

W

ith middle age comes knowledge, a broadening of experience and a deepening understanding of human nature and how the world works. It can also bring the ability and wherewithal to launch new ventures and share one’s experience with others. While some people are content to coast, enjoying the fruits of their past accomplishments, others are still capable of dreaming large dreams and putting them into practice. From his forties to his seventies, Rolf chose to expand his business interests, work more on national and international boards, and play a major role as guide and advisor to various businesses and associations. As well, he and Marg continued to honour a host of volunteer commitments and charitable interests.

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. Henry David Thoreau

121

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Cancom *As a northerner, I have experienced first hand the isolation felt by so many of our citizens scattered throughout the vast reaches of this country. For those of us living in such areas, satellite technology is our communications lifeline to other Canadians. The wonderful ability of this technology, not only to link Canadians…but also to eliminate inequalities in communications service … is the reason I personally became involved in the satellite business. Rolf Hougen, June 1982, from “The Cancom Story: A Yukon Beginning” by Geoff Johnston

Previous page: Rolf on the roof of the WHTV broadcast centre next to Cancom satellite dish. Right: Telesat launched two new satellites from Cape Canaveral in 1982: Anik D1 on August 26 and Anik C3 on November 11. 122

The saga of Canadian Satellite Communications (Cancom) — leading to the launch of the first commercial satellite in the world to deliver encrypted or “scrambled” programming — has been described in many articles, anthologies and other writings. With all its struggles and twists and turns, this far-reaching story deserves a book of its own. Rolf couldn’t understand why his remote home town was unable to obtain the television services available to the majority of Canadians living near the American border. He envisioned a method whereby a Canadian satellite could be used to deliver those channels to remote parts of the country. This ambitious endeavour required influential partners, fending off competing interests, navigating the complicated regulatory process, meeting a tight schedule, investing millions of dollars and risking losing it all. More than any other initiative, the creation of Cancom raised Rolf’s profile outside the Yukon and led to national and international recognition. This story follows on Rolf’s interests in two media enterprises: the Yukon’s first commercial radio station (CKRW) and first local television station (WHTV). In the late 1970s, WHTV was still recording television programs in Vancouver, flying them to Whitehorse, then rebroadcasting them over its local cable service. Northern television programming was limited compared to the services available to the majority of Canadians. Many people invested in satellite dishes to download signals from American satellites. While the practice was illegal, the need was plain.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

WHTV’s engineer, Rod Wheeler, had experimented with the new technology in the mid-1970s. He set large aluminium sheets in the bed of a truck and jumped up and down on them until they were the proper curvature. He then screwed them to a wooden frame and affixed the necessary electronic components. While the employee from the Department of Communications was off fishing one weekend, Wheeler tested his homemade apparatus, which worked just fine. For two days — before the government worker returned to shut down the illegal operation — Yukon residents enjoyed live cable television service from an American satellite. Wheeler and Rolf complied with the shutdown, satisfied that their test run had been successful. Determined to deliver Canadian programming from a Canadian satellite, Rolf and Rod Wheeler prepared a report entitled “Down to Earth” that outlined an innovative distribution system and the likely customer base for this service. Rolf contracted a Vancouver consulting company, Gemini North, to do a feasibility study. The firm was headed by Pat Carney, a journalist turned consultant who later became a federal Conservative cabinet minister and senator. The study confirmed that there was a large potential market, about 25 percent of all Canadians. Rolf described the process for the feasibility study: By the time her company was involved we had done considerable research. She was asked to confirm my own analysis with a more scientific approach. She wanted to do a computer forecast of potential customers but I insisted she call every mayor or principal person in every community and ask them a series of questions. She did so. I used her report when negotiating with my broadcast partners and when we appeared before the CRTC committee, chaired by Réal Therrien, the first one held in Whitehorse. Once the basic plan was envisioned, Rolf looked for partners to help implement it. Initially, his fellow cable operators at the Canadian Cable Television Association were sceptical. According to Rolf, he was “ridiculed by the Chairman as presenting an idea that WOULD NOT WORK.” When they were finally convinced it was indeed feasible, the operators wanted to take over Rolf’s concept and do it themselves. Instead, Rolf approached leaders in the broadcast industry:

Left, above: Once Cancom was licensed, Rod moved the homemade dish to his place on the Carcross Road. Left, below: In 1980, Pat Carney — later a Member of Parliament and Senator — attended the Telesat launch of Anik C3, November 11, 1982. She is standing next to David Golden, the chair of Telesat Canada. 123

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

We met in many locations across Canada, including Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver and even Oka, Quebec, where we established our satellite uplink. Rolf Hougen

Cancom’s founding members and first President at an Edmonton restaurant in 1981. L-R: Charles Allard, Stuart MacKay, Rolf Hougen (first chairman), Bob Short (first President), Ray Peters and Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien. 124

In the meantime, I had talked to Ray Peters of BCTV. I had talked to Dr. Charles Allard of Allarco Broadcasting. I had talked to Stuart MacKay of Selkirk Communications. At that point, Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien hadn’t joined with us. I negotiated with all three to get their approval to use their signals to uplink. Stuart MacKay said, “If you want a partner in this, let us know.” In Toronto, I met with Ted Rogers and his associates to see if a cable industry deal could be made. Following this meeting, I flew to Edmonton and met with Dr. Allard and said, “Okay, let’s do this together.” We got on the phone to Stuart MacKay and to Ray Peters. That meeting resolved that we would set up a company to jointly apply for a licence to establish Cancom. And it proved that they were all very good partners. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters opposed us at every hearing but since my partners were prominent broadcasters themselves, the opposition was not effective. The founding partners were Ray Peters, president of British Columbia Broadcasting (BCTV) from Vancouver; Dr. Charles Allard, chairman of Allarco Broadcasting in Edmonton (CITV); and Stuart Mackay, president of Selkirk Broadcasting Ltd., owner of CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario. Eventually, they were also joined by Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien of Montreal’s Télémédia Communications Ltée., which owned the AM radio station CKAC in Montreal. These influential industry veterans founded Canadian Satellite Communications and set about putting it into place. As an indication of their seriousness and optimism for the project, the partners invested a quarter million dollars to hire lawyers, accountants, public relations firms, etc. to assist with the research and application process. The partners proposed to sell a package of four television stations and two (eventually increased to eight) radio stations to local cable operators and other distributors such as municipalities and direct-to-home providers. Cancom proposed to charge each distributor a modest monthly fee of one dollar per channel per subscriber. The potential audience for this service was estimated at more than 334,000 subscribers in more than 1,400 communities. Given the high set-up costs, the Cancom board members were prepared to operate for nearly a decade before realizing a profit. The initial — and very large — hurdle was convincing the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) that the plan was feasible and that they were capable of carrying it out.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

The CRTC is the federal regulatory agency responsible for broadcast and telecommunications. It enforces Canadian laws and policies regarding such matters as the amount of Canadian content in broadcasting, the selection of channels that broadcast distributors can offer, and the prohibition of foreign ownership of broadcasters. Over the years, its mandate has been modified to accommodate new communication technologies and consequent changes to regulations. At a special public meeting in Whitehorse on March 1, 1980, Rolf spoke to the CRTC about the situation in the north. This is part of what he said: It is no secret that there are nearly one hundred unauthorized and unlicensed earth terminals [specialized ground stations receiving telecommunications from communications satellites] scattered throughout our vast country. Nevertheless, these systems are filling a void for the residents who are inadequately served with either radio or television. Over the next year or two we would estimate that there will be over 300 unauthorized installations unless some action is taken to provide a Canadian alternative to the U.S. satellite receptions. Rolf went on to introduce his new venture, his partners, their proposed services and their impending formal proposal on March 25 in Ottawa. His group committed to providing four “fully balanced Canadian Television Program Services” spanning the country and two radio stations from eastern and western Canada, as well as Indian and Inuit programming in the future. Once it became apparent that this was indeed a feasible and potentially profitable idea, competitors jumped on the bandwagon with their own — very similar — proposals. By the CRTC deadline of December 1, 1980, there were no fewer than eight applicants to provide the new service. Rolf remained confident of the superior merits of the Cancom plan, however, believing that their regional representation and detailed research set their application apart. In April 1981, the CRTC granted Cancom an exclusive licence for a new radio and television network. CRTC chair John Meisel told a news conference that the decision “virtually completes the mixed broadcasting system that exists in Canada” and that Cancom would contribute to the process of nation building by linking different parts of the country.

The Cancom team (left) at a CRTC hearing in Ottawa, February 10, 1981. 125

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Right, above: The champagne flowed at the WHTV celebration. Right, below: At the WHTV studio, tuning in the new Cancom channels. 126

Back at home, Rolf excitedly told his children that they would finally be able to watch live television. On April 22, Rolf Hougen was appointed the first Chair and CEO of Cancom and Robert C. Short was hired as president. The licence came with a few hurdles. One reason for its acceptance was that Cancom had pledged to start operations within 90 days of the licence being granted. Over the next three months, Cancom staff overcame numerous obstacles to construct satellite uplink stations in Vancouver, Edmonton and Whitehorse. Journalist Geoff Johnston described what happened next: At 3 p.m. on July 15, 1981, George Young reported by telephone from Edmonton: “We see all four signals.” That was followed by a message from Vancouver: “All four signals strong here.” At WHTV in Whitehorse, government representatives, bankers, reporters and the Hougen family watched as the signals appeared on the screens. Champagne corks popped. Against tremendous odds, Cancom had done it in 90 days. Eldon Thompson, head of Telesat Canada, which owned and operated the satellites, had plaques struck for Robert Short and his engineers to commemorate their achievement. Under a depiction of smiling faces, the plaque declared: “They’re beaming!” Start-up costs were huge: one satellite transponder carrying one signal cost $1.25 million. Installing a fourchannel receiver and broadcast system cost $46,000; each additional station or radio signal cost $2,500. It was a banner day in early 1982 when the company finally received its first income: a cheque for the grand sum of $187 from Havre St. Pierre in rural Quebec. Legally, individual cable operators were expected to obtain a CRTC licence before Cancom could beam signals to their receivers. By October 1981, Cancom had received 1,000 applications from cable operators. This was still no guarantee of success. The application process was lengthy and cumbersome. As Rolf put it: “If Dawson City in the Yukon applied for a licence, it went through the same hoops as Vancouver. They didn’t streamline the regulatory approval.”

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

It took two long years to get the first station actually licensed, a time of extremely high expenses and no income. One of the partners, Charles Allard, urged the rest of the board to bring down the signal immediately and discontinue paying Telesat until the regulatory process caught up. In retrospect, Rolf agreed with this strategy but opposed it at the time: I guess it was sheer pride or something, but I and my colleagues were opposed to it. So, we kept feeding the system money with no revenues. The partners did not have bottomless pockets and were unwilling to further increase their debt load, so they decided to take the company public. In the fall of 1982, they offered four million common shares on the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges at an initial price of five dollars per share. The offering sold out rapidly. Rolf described the seriousness of his personal financial situation: Our initial 25-million start-up became a 38-million start-up. Our banking arrangements for the first 25 million were in place, but when we started to go over that, the bank kept saying, “Okay, a few more dollars here, then more.” By the end of it, I had invested or guaranteed bank loans for six million dollars. If the thing failed at that point, where would I be? I would probably be sitting in a cabin at Quiet Lake right now, fishing for a living. I had to sell off some of my shares to BCTV. I had made the deal at the end of ’83. By the first part of ’84, the deal had been all put to bed. I was totally free of financial obligations. I still maintained a good number of shares, but I went from being the biggest shareholder of the five of us to the smallest shareholder. In the meantime I had done okay financially but this absolved me from all of the associated risks. It was pretty dramatic but it did work out. There were many other developments. After nearly two years of painful negotiations, CRTC finally agreed to streamline its licensing process. Cancom could now deliver signals to communities as small as 50 households and even to remote mining and construction camps. Although Cancom was undoubtedly filling a need, its customers were still demanding American channels. Rolf described the prolonged negotiation with CRTC: CRTC said, “We just can’t license you to bring American signals down. You know, we’re not going to further expand American content across the country.”

Cancom sponsored a large display at the Canadian Cable Television Association convention in Toronto, September 1982. 127

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

We argued and said, “Well, 90 percent of the population is along the U.S. border. They’re getting the American signals through TV stations and through cable companies fed by microwave. Why are you denying television to the 10 percent of Canadians who live not only in the north, but 40 to 50 miles beyond every city?”

Craig Hougen (far right) was one of a number of Cancom employees attending a CRTC hearing in Ottawa in the early 1980s. At left is president Bob Short and on Craig’s right is John Underhill, vice president of engineering. 128

Frances Fox [the Minister in charge of the federal Department of Communications] called me one day, and he said, “Okay, you can do it.” That was a major step forward. That saved us in Cancom, because we had difficulty marketing four Canadian-only channels. When we had a package of four Canadian and four American channels, we took off. While Rolf was negotiating high-level matters such as the financing and overall management for Cancom, his eldest son took more of a hands-on role in company operations. Not long after graduating from the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1982, Craig took a job helping to build the Quebec uplink station for TVTC in the small community of Oka, southwest of Montreal. He recalled labouring 16-hour days for months at a time. When the job was done, Craig moved to Toronto for two years to take charge of sales for Ontario. Craig explained what this entailed: The nature of the business was serving “remote and under-served areas of Canada” so for me, Ontario consisted of North Bay and beyond. It was, in fact, a very large territory for one person to cover effectively. I had the pleasure of travelling throughout Ontario to every single town and village north of North Bay. He recalled one particularly memorable assignment: I worked for the VP of Sales in the Toronto office. He called one day and said, “I just received a call from an Indian Band in Sandy Lake, and they’re having some problems with their TV reception.” He said, “Why don’t you go up there and see what you can do? They may need some of our television signals.” I didn’t know just how remote Sandy Lake was and I’m sure he didn’t either. I flew from Toronto to Thunder Bay, and from Thunder Bay to Geraldton, up in the northern part of Ontario. From there, I flew in a four-seater ski plane another two hours north into the bush and landed on Sandy Lake. The band met

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

me with Skidoos because there were no cars. Having grown up in the Yukon, I knew I shouldn’t be wearing a suit and tie, and so wore warm, casual clothing. That night I made my presentation. The residents knew this fellow from Toronto was coming and was here to explain how their television service was going to be restored. The whole community of several hundred showed up. A number of elders didn’t speak English, so I had to speak through a translator. Earlier that day, I had learned that an unscrupulous operator had sold the band the wrong equipment and at an astronomical price, many times what it was worth. It was set up so that the “head end” was in the Chief’s house. If the Chief’s sons were watching television and decided that they had enough of the hockey game, they would flip to another channel. All of a sudden the whole community would be watching, say, cartoons. That was not at all popular with the community. I got that sorted out, but it was an interesting and memorable experience. Craig undoubtedly spoke for many when he told of the stress and excitement of getting Cancom off the ground. The whole experience of working for Cancom and living in Toronto as a young man was great. As many others did, I often worked 12- to 15-hour days. This was during the start-up period and there were enormous barriers everywhere you turned. But everyone worked as a team to overcome these obstacles and that was very exciting indeed. By 1999, Cancom was distributing 35 Canadian and U.S. signals to more than 2,500 cable systems across the continent and direct to home services. Rolf’s involvement with Cancom came to an end in 2000 when the company was sold to a competitor, Shaw Communications Inc. Initially, Shaw operated Cancom as a subsidiary, but in 2007, Cancom was renamed Shaw Satellite Services. By 2010 Shaw Direct had more than 900,000 subscribers.

Left, above: Marg’s pass to view satellite launch from Cape Kennedy in 1982. Left, below: Cancom was the largest user of Telesat’s satellite services on Anik C. President Eldon Thompson and Chairman David Golden invited Marg and Rolf to attend the launch of Anik D1 on August 26, 1982. The Hougens returned on November 11 to watch the space shuttle Columbia launch the Anik C3 satellite. 129

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Cancom achieved many firsts in broadcast history. Canada was the first nation to put a commercial communications satellite into orbit. Cancom was the first satellite cable broadcast network of its kind in the world, creating and managing a national satellite service for remote and underserved communities. Its system for encryption, scrambling and descrambling signals was another global first, achieved three years before similar American operations. Most importantly, Cancom — by delivering Canadian broadcast services to formerly neglected areas — was widely seen as a force for cultural sovereignty and national unity. In 1999, journalist Cynthia Reynolds described Rolf as a communications pioneer, following in the footsteps of Alexander Graham Bell and Guglielmo Marconi. Here is part of what she wrote in a Maclean’s article: While the early 20th century saw most of the Western world connected electronically, the Canadian North remained out of the loop. Harsh terrain and great distances ruled out telephone lines, and commercial wireless technology had yet to span such vast distances. Part of the solution came in 1972 when Ottawabased Telesat Canada launched Anik A1 — the world’s first commercial domestic communications satellite in stationary orbit above the Earth from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Suddenly it was possible to make a telephone call from, say, Halifax, to Dawson City, Yukon. But when it came to radio, people in the North could still pick up Russian stations better than Canadian ones — until December 1981 and the advent of Canadian Satellite Communications, known as Cancom. Spearheaded by Yukon broadcasting mogul Rolf Hougen, and using the same Anik satellite, Cancom became the first scrambled television network in the world. Just as [Frederick] Gisborne brought Newfoundland into Canada’s telegraphic fold, Hougen welcomed the distant North to the era of broadcasting.

Canasat

Rolf promoted the Cancom enterprise during many interviews all over Canada. Here he is speaking with Jack Webster of BCTV. 130

Soon after Cancom was operational, Rolf became involved in another satellite broadcasting endeavour. This is his description of Canasat: With partners, we formed an organization called Canasat (Canadian Satellite Systems Ltd.) and jointly —WHTV was half-owner — we applied to the CRTC for a licence. This technology appeared to be pretty well foolproof. We applied for licences for 46 communities in B.C. to bring the signals from the satellite down to earth and rebroadcast them over the air. We were in places like Tahsis, Gold River, Pemberton. We set up broadcast systems in each community. I was a silent partner.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

But the technology didn’t work well when the snow came down, when it was raining, or when a tree got in the way. In other words, it didn’t work well and we had no end of problems. Marg and I drove past Whistler to Pemberton to look at the system there, because I wanted to see what this was all about. The people were paying and then screaming about the failure of the system from time-to-time. A long story short, we surrendered the licence and gave up. The company lost a million dollars on the deal, which meant WHTV lost about half a million dollars. Canasat is the company that failed. That was a very expensive business failure.

Consul Honoraire de France Most of us understand the duties of an ambassador. This senior diplomat is usually based in a country’s capital and serves as the official representative of a head of state. While there is only one ambassador there may also be several consuls living in major cities. They assist citizens travelling abroad and help promote the interests of the country they serve. In the late 1970s, the Vancouver office of the French Consul General decided to appoint two new honourary consuls: one in Victoria, the British Columbia capital; the other in Whitehorse, the Yukon capital. For these volunteer positions, they sought prominent local individuals with ties to France. On March 6, 1979, Jean Jacques Galabru, Consul General of France, invited Rolf to become the Honourary Consul for France in Whitehorse. As Rolf is the first to admit, his French language ability is limited, but he and Marg shared a great enthusiasm for French food, wine and culture acquired during their travels and a year spent living in France with the entire family. Recently, Rolf described his consular responsibilities: I was authorized to deal with all matters involving French citizens: marriage, divorce matters, estates, etc., but the final word was always in Vancouver. We arranged for visas and passports, but again the final issuance was in Vancouver. I was asked to identify the body of a French citizen drowned in the Yukon River, but at the last minute they decided the body had to be flown to Vancouver.

Consul General of France and Mme. Defay visited the Yukon in December 2002. In their honour, Erik and Kim Hougen hosted a gathering of French citizens, friends and officials. L-R: Betty Taylor, Larry Bagnell, MP, Erik, Mayor Ernie Bourassa, Jean-Yves Defay, MarieNoëlle Defay and Commissioner Jack Cable. 131

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

I dealt with many French citizens in the Yukon, including sending them voting papers to participate in France elections. Very few ever actually voted as some had been many decades in the Yukon, particularly the priests. Marg and I held frequent meetings in our home where citizens could have private talks with the visiting consul general. We had many social events in our home for visiting consul generals and also two or three times with French ambassadors. I recall one time I chartered a helicopter to fly the ambassador to the Annie Lake area, where the French-owned Mount Skukum Mine was operating. The company staff poured a gold brick while we were there. We held several “business after hours” to introduce Beaujolais Nouveau wine in our store. Either the consul general or the French trade commissioner would fly up to participate. We were invited to Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister of France at a very small gathering that included Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and other senior government officials. I was a member of the Vancouver consular corps and as such participated in many luncheons, dinners and the annual consular ball, one of Vancouver’s major social events. Rolf held this position for twenty “quite busy and very interesting” years. In 2000, Rolf and Marg hosted a reception attended by the French Consul General, Michel Dejaegher. They proudly looked on as this honorary appointment was passed on to their son, Erik.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Right, above: Beaujolais Nouveau event, November 30 1986. L-R: Ken McKinnon, Betty Taylor, Jim Whyard and Ted Harrison. Right, below: As a member of the Vancouver Consular Corps, Rolf, with Marg, was invited to the Johann Strauss Ball sponsored by the Austrian Consul General in Vancouver, April 26, 1980. 132

The chamber of commerce movement is longstanding and international in scope. It was one of the earliest forms of business networking. Entrepreneurs formed associations and met to support one another and further the interests of local businesses. They often tackle matters such as land development policies, community beautification and building the economy of their home regions. By banding together, chamber members receive more advantageous terms on programs such as group insurance plans. Local chambers are part of a national body and as such, exert a corresponding increase in influence on municipal, provincial or territorial and national policies. They also often link and work with other bodies such as tourism associations and international associations such as the India Canada Business Council.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

The first recorded chamber of commerce began in Marseilles, France in 1599 and the first Englishspeaking chamber was founded in New York City in 1768. There are now thousands of chambers all over the world; memberships range from a few dozen to several hundred thousand. Today, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is a network of 420 chambers of commerce and boards of trade that represent 192,000 businesses, large and small, from all across the country. The Whitehorse Board of Trade, founded in 1947, was the precursor of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce. As mentioned in Chapter 4, Rolf was a founding member at the age of 19 and later served as president. He described his initial involvement with the national body: In 1958 I was President of the Whitehorse Board of Trade and attended the annual meeting of the Canadian Chamber in Victoria, B.C. I lobbied to have a Yukon seat on the National Board of Directors. Subsequently they accepted the suggestion but it would be a “northern” seat that alternated between the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. I was asked to be the first director and since the Northwest Territories was inactive, I ended up serving for several years. Subsequently the Yukon and NWT each had a seat. The national executive recognized Rolf’s contribution as an active participant and, in 1986, invited him to step onto the “ladder” that would lead to his eventual appointment as Chairman of the Board. This meant serving subsequent terms as second Vice-President, first Vice-President and eventually Chair. Rolf had some reservations: Before agreeing, I phoned friends who had served and enquired as to the role. I really did not believe I qualified. I was told if I wanted to step down I could do so at any time, so I thought I’d give it a try. I worked on many committees of the chamber and learned to feel comfortable, so I stayed on. Traditionally, the chairman came from large corporations, banks, manufacturers, etc. Never before had it been a small businessman. The press told the story of bringing a new perspective to the chamber because I was a small player and from a remote region.

Left, above: As the chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in 1990, Rolf joined the chairman of Canada Post to present a stamp to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa as part of the July 1st celebration. Before pressing the “magic” button to reveal the enlarged stamp to the nation, the Queen said, “What do I do now?” This particular stamp celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Canadian flag. Left, below: The Board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce visited Whitehorse in February 1982. Here they are dancing during the Rendezvous festivities. 133

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

At the invitation of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Marg and Rolf spent six days in Washington in April 1980. This is the view from the Canadian Embassy. 134

At age 60, Rolf was formally elected Chair at the 60th annual meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Saint John, New Brunswick. For the first time, small businesses — 80 percent of the membership — were represented by one of their own. There was great media interest in this new chair from such a remote corner of the country. Rolf didn’t see it that way. In one interview, headlined “Man at the Top,” he stated that his Yukon home, far from the country’s heartland, gave him the perspective of being “on top of the world looking down.” Rolf went on to point out that since Toronto was so centralized and highly industrialized, “you can’t see the forest for the trees” (Donna Morrison, Impact magazine, October 1989). Several prominent Yukoners fully agreed. In the same article, Rolf’s good friend Flo Whyard — a journalist, editor and former municipal and territorial politician — put it like this: It’s about time someone from the North has been given this opportunity to show the rest of Canada where its future lies. A third of Canada is in the North and most Canadians have never been here. The future of the country will depend on the North … we are very competent people who can compete in any industry. We have some very sharp minds and some very successful resource people. And Rolf Hougen, he’s the tops. Rolf and Marg then embarked on what they later recalled as “a very special and incredible year.” Nationally, it was an interesting and rather fraught time. Canadians had just rejected the Meech Lake Accord, the proposed constitutional amendment that would have recognized Quebec as a “distinct society” and granted increased provincial powers. Although the chamber had recognized that the agreement was imperfect, it had supported the initiative as “strengthening the constitutional fabric of Canada” and decried the ensuing divisiveness when it was not ratified. There was talk about the environment and instituting environmental regulations without clarity about how this would be done. The chamber submitted a detailed policy paper in response to the draft federal Green Plan. It issued the Focus 2000 Task Force Report on the Environment, which promoted environmentally responsible

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

policies and practices. Other issues that engaged the chamber included reforms to unemployment insurance and financial institutions, interprovincial trade barriers, agricultural policy and, not least, the introduction of the federal goods and services tax (GST). Rolf described the atmosphere at the time: It was a busy time as chairman. Our paid president had retired, so my first job was interviewing applicants to fill this position. The guidance I might have had was not available due to this timing. My year was filled with activities due to the free trade initiative and more controversial was the introduction of the GST. We supported it in principle, as it would make Canada more competitive in the world. Rather than being a hidden manufacturers’ tax, it would let Canadians know they were paying the tax, which really did not add to the individual’s costs. We wanted a harmonized tax in cooperation with the provinces. We wanted a lower tax that would apply to all purchases and those who needed exemptions would apply for a rebate. Obviously we did not win. As chairman, I had the opportunity to appoint three directors. I reviewed the background on the elected directors and found some holes. I appointed a mining person and an Inuit. The post of chair required a tremendous time and financial commitment. Unlike directors, the chair was expected to cover all his or her own expenses during the year in office, including travel, an amount that eventually amounted to $80,000. Nonetheless, Rolf and Marg appreciated the opportunity to travel and learn more about the issues and cultures of other nations. As head of the chamber, I led delegations to other regions of the world, including India and Taiwan. The meetings were held by committees of the board. I was “window dressing,” participating on the opening meetings and closing banquets, etc. I also spoke on behalf of the chamber in Bangkok and in Hong Kong. I attended the U.S. chamber meetings in Washington and hosted their chairman at the Canadian chamber annual meeting in Edmonton.

Left, above: While visiting Thailand in 1989, Rolf spoke to the Thai/Canada Business Council in Bangkok. Here Marg visits the floating market. Left, below: Rolf characterized India as “vast, varied and diverse.” as well as “a definite area of opportunity for Canadian business.” Rolf and Marg pose before the Taj Mahal, looking serene despite a frightening four-hour taxi trip to the site.

135

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Marg and I accompanied Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on a visit to Moscow in 1989, during its transition from a communist state. Mikhail Gorbachev was the Chairman [of the Supreme Soviet or head of state] but we were hosted by the President Nikolai Ryskov for a dinner in the Kremlin. Mulroney was not “head of state,” so that’s why the PM entertained us. Mulroney had private meetings with Gorbachev. Rolf later summed up his year as follows: As representative of the chamber, I served on the board of the Business Council on National Issues, the organization representing the chief executive officers of large corporations. Again, I was an active participant and when my one-year term was up, I was invited to join on my own behalf as the CEO of Hougen’s. A great honour but I turned it down due to commitments required in my own businesses – in Yukon and Cancom.

Right, above: On a trip that was definitely a packing challenge, the Hougens travelled from the sweltering heat of Southeast Asia to the snow and cold of a Russian winter. Here they are visiting the monastery city of Zagorsk. Right, below: Rolf as Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce speaking to the Taiwan-Canada Business Council in Taipei, April 1980. Meetings in Hong Kong followed.

136

What did I accomplish? I don’t know. I did speak across the country on behalf of the chamber, and attended many annual regional meetings. The Yukon did get a lot of press. Many would consider Rolf’s self-assessment to be overly modest. During his term, he was a strong voice for the chamber, especially for the interests of small businesses. The chamber occasionally played a diplomatic role; since Canada did not officially recognize Taiwan, the chamber informally represented Canadian interests. Rolf visited many local and regional chambers and developed an appreciation for the pyramid of community and regional chambers that made up the movement in Canada. The chamber put it this way in its own magazine: As both a witness and a contributor to history in the making, Rolf Hougen’s record of achievement as Chairman has laid a solid foundation for the Chamber’s future. His year at the helm is certain to pay substantial dividends in the years to come.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

National and international boards No one could ever accuse Rolf of not being a joiner. From the time he was a teenager, he organized or served on scores of community, educational, recreational, cultural and industry associations and boards at a municipal, territorial, national and international level. The adventurous Hougens also embraced new opportunities to travel and learn about the cultures and conditions in other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Below are just a few samples of these commitments and contributions. Note: To view a full listing of Rolf’s many activities, see Appendix 3. Rolf Hougen, O.C.: Curriculum Vitae.

Yukon utilities YECL and Alberta Power Ltd. (1969–1999) In 1969 Rolf was invited to join the board of the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. (YECL). This family-owned operation dated from 1901. Its first facility was a downtown wood-fired boiler and generating plant. After the great 1905 fire in downtown Whitehorse, the equipment was moved upriver and installed in the rebuilt firehall (now known as the Old Firehall), next to the railway depot. In 1950, John Scott and John Phelps launched a hydro plant on Fish Creek, which they incorporated as the Yukon Hydro Company Ltd. Both of these operations were sold to Canadian Utilities, Alberta’s second largest utility company, in 1958, the same year as the completion of a large hydro dam across the Yukon River. YECL handled power distribution and billing for the City of Whitehorse and had diesel plants in several smaller communities. After serving a few years on the YECL board, Rolf was invited to also join the board of the utility’s parent company, Alberta Power Limited. This necessitated frequent trips to Edmonton. Rolf’s involvement with this board continued for 31 years through many changes in the corporate structure, most notably in 1980 when ATCO bought Canadian Utilities. The company official Rolf remembers best is Edge King, YECL’s president, who became a hunting companion and good friend. Edge King was moved from Whitehorse to become president of Alberta Power. Later, he became president of Canadian Utilities, the parent company of Alberta Power. Subsequent to all of this, Ron Southern of ATCO Industries acquired Canadian Utilities, Alberta Power and Yukon Electrical. I remained on the board after the acquisition by ATCO. I served until 1999.

Above: This citation was awarded to Rolf when he retired from the board of Alberta Power Limited. Left, below: In June 1979, Rolf hosted the Alberta Power board members at Quiet Lake. L-R: John Maybin, John Phelps, Edge King (back), Gordon Cameron, Bob Choate and Gordon Wagner (Yukon Electric Manager). 137

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Northwestel Inc. (1980–1999) In 1980, Rolf accepted a new set of responsibilities when he agreed to join the boards of Northwestel Inc., Finning Tractor & Equipment Company Limited, and Cominco Inc. In the case of Northwestel, he was joining a northern company with a long Yukon history in telecommunications. In 1947, just after World War II, the Canadian government invited Canadian National Telegraphs (CNT) to take over the telephone system installed by the U.S. Army during construction of the Alaska Highway. The company modernized and expanded its operations and eventually moved into neighbouring northern British Columbia and Northwest Territories. Its corporate structure also evolved during this time. CNT became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian National; Northwestel was incorporated as a separate company in 1979. Rolf became a director of Northwestel at this time. Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) purchased the company in 1988. Four years later, Bell moved into the Eastern Arctic making Northwestel the sole telecommunications supplier north of the 60th parallel. Rolf’s service on this board was interrupted when CN decided to sell Northwestel. In a 2007 interview, Rolf explained what happened next: I resigned to join with a group preparing a bid to buy Northwestel. It included Alberta Government Telephones, B.C. Tel, and a group from Inuvik of the Inuit community. I had many meetings in Edmonton and in B.C. over a period of months to put together the bid package.

Right: above: Northwestel Board of Directors in 1991. Right, below: In 1986, Northwestel board members visited Old Crow. These young residents seem happy with their new Northwestel hats.

138

In the meantime, BCE owned the telephone company in what is now Nunavut in the eastern Arctic. They, too, expressed an interest in buying Northwestel. We learned that their interest was so great, that they were — you might say — willing to pay any price. I don’t know the real price, but we had determined, through our financial advisors, that Northwestel was worth about 45 million. I don’t know how anyone found out, but we were told they paid 80 million. We didn’t actually formalize putting in a bid. As soon as this process was finished, I got a call from the new owners, BCE, and I was asked if I would rejoin the board, and I did.

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Throughout all this, Rolf missed only two Northwestel board meetings. His fellow board member, David Searle from the NWT, frequently joked that — due to those two missed meetings — Searle was now the senior director. Rolf wrote about some of his experiences: As a policy of the company, the board and senior management visited most of the communities served. It was considered important to understand the needs of the communities and to meet with the leaders. Cambridge Bay [also known as Ikaluktutiak], Paulatuk, Coppermine [now Kugluktuk], Gjoa Haven [originally Uqsuqtuuq], Pelly Bay [now Kugaaruk], Pond Inlet [Mittimatalik], Pangnirtung, Fort Smith and Iqaluit were a few of these. We flew to an exploration camp in northern B.C., as it was considered likely that an anthracite coal property would be developed. We flew up and down a valley searching for the landing strip. Finally, Bill Dunbar went forward to talk to the pilot who had been a Polish wartime flyer. He had misunderstood the coordinates, mistaking 15 for 50. Once this was corrected, we flew over a mountain ridge and found the mine. When possible, following meetings we would go fishing. One great experience was in Pond Inlet where an Inuit guide took us to a magnificent area where we could cast from shore. An arctic char on every cast. To get there and back we had to dodge icebergs. Our guide stopped at one point, went ashore, into the bush, and came back with fresh water. He lit up a Coleman stove under the forward windbreak and brewed us a cup of tea.

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (1984–1990) As a northerner and westerner, Rolf had long understood the benefits of nurturing commercial ties with countries on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim. As a Yamaha dealer, he and Marg had the opportunity to visit the Japanese plants where Yamaha instruments were assembled. In 1965, while attending the Banff School of Advanced Management, Rolf and another attendee, John Powell, President of P. Lawson Travel, organized an overseas charter flight to visit fellow students in Japan. Hong Kong and China were later added to the itinerary. Senator Donald Cameron, one of the founders of the Banff School of Advanced Management, enthusiastically endorsed the project and joined the group as tour leader.

Fishing for char in Pond Inlet, NWT, August 1995. 139

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Ours was the first group of Westerners to enter China through Hong Kong since the 1949 revolution. Senator Cameron had a colleague who had kept close ties with the communist leadership and he was able to get us entry permits — all 130. An American travelling with us was denied entry. It was a tense few days, always under observation. A large billboard showed President Johnson with a noose around his neck. A large sign on a hillside of flowers and lawn said “Down with the American imperialists.” We witnessed two operations in a hospital with the only anaesthetic being acupuncture. On a visit to a university where English was one of the courses, we put on the earphones and the message was “Down with the American imperialists.” On a visit to a collective farm we needed two interpreters to talk to the peasants because there are so many languages in China. Mandarin is now taught in all schools. We went back in 1972 a few weeks after President Nixon met with Mao. The whole atmosphere had changed. Now the signs read “Down with the Soviet revisionists.” They were unhappy because they believed the USSR had moderated their true Marxist philosophies. Whereas in 1966 we were not permitted to carry any magazines, etc., now even Time magazine was okay. As westerners we were viewed with great curiosity. In Shanghai, for example, when we stepped out on the deck of what is now the Peace Hotel, a crowd would gather on the streets — hundreds, just looking up. When we went out on the Bund to walk, large crowds would gather around us but as we moved forward they would part and then follow until we again stopped. On one occasion, Marg and I had a tape recorder. I talked into it and then played it back; great surprise and laughter. Then I held the mike in front of one person and he said in good English, “Long live Chairman Mao.” Marg and Rolf hosted a board meeting of the Asia Pacific Foundation and took the group to Skagway and Carcross and a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route train, September 1989. 140

There are many stories to tell including dancing in the hotel to a band of old gentlemen playing ’40s music. Of having dinner and believing the last course was served, only to find that the meal went

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

on with 14 courses. Of having dinner in Peking [later renamed Beijing] as guests of the Deputy Foreign Minister, in the Peking Duck restaurant where every course was duck, pickled duck feet, duck soup, the head of the duck sliced in half on our plate. Moutai, their national drink, was served. We ended with a tour of the kitchen to see how it was prepared. In 1986, Flo Whyard wrote the following in the Whitehorse Star: Twenty years ago, a young businessman from Whitehorse named Rolf Hougen organized and led a group tour of Canadians to what was then viewed as Red China. Their objective was trade for their various companies in western Canada and they were very warmly received, indeed! Feeling the need of something more than his high school education, R.H. had gone out to the Banff School of Advanced Management, realized the importance of the Pacific Rim trade concept and with his enthusiasm sparked the interest of others. He went again in 1972, and the China tour has become a regular part of the Banff School course, led by Senator Donald Cameron. Makes sense, after all. We are about 5,000 kilometres closer to the Orient than Ottawa [is]. In 1984, Rolf had another opportunity to promote these ties when the Yukon government became a charter member of the Asia Pacific Foundation and Rolf was appointed as the territory’s delegate. This body was created by an Act of Parliament at the instigation of Canada’s Department of External Affairs. The founding chair was John Bruk, the former president of Cyprus Anvil Mining Corporation. The foundation operates as an independent not-for-profit think tank focussing on Canada’s relations with Asia. Its mandate is to “undertake strategic research on Canada’s economic, political and social relations with Asia-Pacific. The goal is to provide guidance on Asia Pacific topics for business and governments, and to enhance the links among the policy, business and research communities in areas relating to Canada’s ties with Asia.”

Canada Post Stamp Advisory Committee (1991–1996) Not long after the presentation of a stamp to the Queen, Canada Post Chairman and CEO Donald Lander invited Rolf to become a member of the Stamp Advisory Committee. The committee met two or three times a year to consider and approve stamp designs. Rolf was particularly proud of his efforts in advocating for a stamp that marked the construction of the Alaska Highway, a key event in Yukon history. He described how he gave his fellow directors a lesson in Yukon history.

Asia Pacific board meeting in Whitehorse, June 1986.

141

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

I recall the first meeting I went to, I learned that they had rejected the idea of a commemorative stamp for the 50-year anniversary of the Alaska Highway, which was coming up in 1992. Keep in mind that the Stamp Committee works generally three years ahead of issuing the stamp and they had already said “no” to the stamp. They said, “Well now, why would we issue a stamp celebrating the Alaska Highway, whereas that’s in Alaska and we’re in Canada.” The second thing they said is, “Well, if we issue a stamp for the Alaska Highway, everybody in the country will want a stamp for their highway.” I explained the significance of the Alaska Highway: its contribution not only to the defence of North America, with a potential of a Japanese invasion through Alaska, but also that it served as a link to the Russian front for some 10,000 aircraft that were ferried to airports along the highway, culminating in Fairbanks, where Russian pilots picked up the aircraft and flew them to Russia. At that time, the German Army was on the doorstep of Moscow, and this Lend-Lease aircraft program was an essential element in the defeating of Hitler. When they heard this, they hastened to develop a stamp. I was extremely pleased and I helped present the stamp in Whitehorse as part of the Alaska Highway celebrations. Rolf also lobbied for a stamp to commemorate the White Pass and Yukon Railway, which in 1994 had been cited as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark on par with the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Panama Canal. The 60-cent stamp was a year late for the centennial of the railway but was released as part of the “Oh! Canada!” series of stamps celebrating a series of Canadian tourist attractions across the country.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Right, above: Rolf Hougen, André Malo of Canada Post and Pearl Keenan unveil the Alaska Highway stamp at Yukon College during an Alaska Highway symposium in 1992. Right, below: Whitehorse Star, July 31, 2001. 142

This program is directed at young people aged 14 to 25, encouraging them to excel by setting and achieving personal goals in the areas of community service, skills, physical recreation and adventurous journey. More than 37,000 young Canadians have been involved in this challenging program. His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh or one of his sons presents the awards to the gold medal recipients. Rolf described his association with this worthy program: Quite a few Yukoners have gone through the program. I’ve served on both the regional board, which is B.C./Yukon; and

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

I served for a period of time on the national board, as well. I’ve not been a good member. I don’t attend many meetings. They are held in Victoria or Vancouver, but I have enjoyed my association. I do make a contribution to the organization every year. We have had — from time to time — very active advocates here in the Yukon, who get involved, either through the cadets or through the schools, in promoting young people to get involved in this program.

Finning International Ltd. (1980–1999) The Finning Tractor & Equipment Company was incorporated in 1933. It was founded in Vancouver by Earl Finning, who started out as a salesman working for the Caterpillar Tractor Co. in California. Despite a rough start during the Great Depression, Earl steadily built up the business, bolstered by receiving the sole distribution rights for Caterpillar products in British Columbia and by guaranteeing replacement parts and repairs for all the equipment he sold. The company went public in 1969. In the 1970s, it opened distributorships in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It also began manufacturing its own line of heavy equipment, primarily for the forest industry. Like many businesses, Finning was affected by the recession of the early 1980s. Under the leadership of President Vin Sood and Maury Young, its chair and CEO, the company not only stayed in the black but expanded internationally. Young, the son-in-law of the late Earl Finning, was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had a master’s degree in business administration. Rolf first met Maury Young when he bought most of the assets of the Northern Commercial Company in 1969. Young wanted to buy the Caterpillar dealership while Rolf was negotiating to purchase the automobile portion of the business. Ten years later, Maury called Rolf to say, “I would like to fly up and talk to you.” During this visit, Maury invited Rolf to join the board of Finning. Rolf later travelled to Vancouver to meet the rest of board members and subsequently accepted the invitation. It was an interesting time for the firm as it was rapidly expanding from being based solely in British Columbia to establishing dealerships in the Yukon, Alberta, parts of the United Kingdom and Chile. After Rolf resigned from the board, this growth continued. Finning moved into three other South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. By 2003, the company had more than 12,000 employees who were responsible for a combined area of more than three million square miles (eight million sq. km).

Left, above: For a time, Rolf served on the national board for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Here he is speaking with Prince Philip, in Vancouver, October 7, 2002. Left, below: Attending a Caterpillar demo near Tucson in 1995. Rolf dug a hole and Marg ran a grader.

143

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

Cominco Ltd. (1980–2001) Cominco is a venerable Canadian mining firm dating from 1906. It began as The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, formed by the amalgamation of several units controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The company shortened its name to Cominco in 1966. Cominco’s core properties were the Sullivan Mine in Kimberley, British Columbia (producing lead, zinc and silver) and a large lead-zinc smelter in Trail, B.C. The Sullivan Mine opened in 1909 and operated for over 90 years. Cominco became involved with Teck Resources in 1986, when the latter acquired a large stake in Cominco from Canadian Pacific. Teck, an Ontario mining company, began as Teck-Hughes Gold Mines Limited in 1913, operating a gold mine at Kirkland Lake. The companies merged in 2001 and became known as Teck-Cominco. The new company acquired other assets and in 2009 was renamed Teck Resources Ltd. Rolf’s involvement with Cominco came about in a rather quirky manner. In 1980, a controversial local politician publicly attacked Rolf. This is how Rolf describes that time: I got a call out of the blue from the chairman of the executive committee of Cominco, who was responsible for filling a vacancy on the Cominco board. Now, Cominco did not have any interests in the Yukon. They did not have any operating mines in the Yukon. They did in the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife and they did up in the Arctic. Tanya, the wife of Cominco chairman, Norm Anderson, told Marg how this happened. One day Tanya and Norm were in bed, listening to CBC. It was at a period when I was under attack by — among others — [former Mayor and Senator] Paul Lucier and [Territorial Councillor] Norm Chamberlist as controlling the Yukon politically, economically and every other way. It was rather bizarre.

In August 1988, Cominco held its board meeting in Trail, B.C. In the background is a stack of zinc ingots ready for shipping. 144

CBC national picked up on this story, interviewed Lucier and some others about how “I controlled Erik Nielsen (who was our Member of Parliament)”; “I controlled the Mayor of Whitehorse, who worked for me.” It went on and on, with a whole bunch of ridiculous statements. And so, according to Tanya, Norm sat up in the bed and said, “Now, that’s a guy we want on our board!”

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

As a result, I got the phone call, inviting me to join their board. I served on that board for over 21 years, retiring on July 17, 2001. It was fascinating because it is a major corporation operating all over the world. In 2007 and 2011, Rolf described some of his travels and activities while serving with Cominco. We went to Spain to visit some mines. During lunch one day near Villafranca, we were entertained by kilted bagpipers. We couldn’t believe it. But some quick research revealed that the region of Galicia, northwest Spain, is of Celtic heritage like Brittany in France, southwest England, Ireland and Scotland. Marg and I, together with Norm and Tanya Anderson, flew to South Africa. Because of overflight restrictions imposed by some countries due to apartheid, we had a long trip over water — about 12 hours. From Cape Town, we chartered two aircraft to fly up the west coast of South Africa, stopping along the way to visit placer diamond mines, one of which was owned by Cominco. The workers here were Hottentots. The process was much like the recovery of gold in the Klondike. Our purpose in visiting South Africa was to determine if we should invest more or withdraw entirely due to the strong opposition to investment caused by apartheid. In the end we withdrew. Harry Oppenheimer, “the diamond king” chairman of DeBeers and the Anglo American Corp., visited Whitehorse in 1978. He was visiting their properties on the North Canol Road at the Yukon/NWT border. We had dinner with him. He said if we ever visited South Africa to give him a call. I sent him a letter asking if he would arrange for us to visit his officials to seek their advice. To this his response was immediate: “Please join us for dinner at our home.” His invited guests included the leading citizens of Johannesburg. At the long table there was a liveried servant for every two guests. At the end of the dinner, Mrs. Oppenheimer said, “Ladies, let us retire to the drawing room so the gentlemen can talk.” At one stop we went down a gold mine two miles deep. I could not figure out why we stripped completely and put on coveralls. We soon found out. It was hot down there and we came out soaked. No air conditioning but extreme air circulation.

Left, above: Rolf inspecting the diamond zone at a placer type mine located in the western part of South Africa. Left, below: After their South African trip, Marg and Rolf travelled to Lusaka, Zambia in August 1980 to visit former Yukoners, Terry and Katie Bacon, both of whom grew up in Mayo. At the time, Terry was Canadian High Commissioner for Zambia and Malawi.

145

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

We (since Marg joined me on most trips) visited mines in Australia and Tasmania. I visited the opening of a mine in Chile 14,400 feet (4389 m) above sea level. On the bus were two nurses with oxygen for those in need, some of whom did. It so happened that one week before, we had visited Kelly and Heather at their base outfitting camp on the Arctic Red River, and also had to climb to 14,500 feet, but this time in a Cessna 180 to fly over a serious forest fire smoke condition. The pilot, Rick Nielsen, checked Marg’s nails to see if they were turning blue. I was chairman of the Compensation Committee at one time. We had a special committee dealing with a failed attempt to build a new smelter in Trail. I served for about two or three years on the committee to resolve that issue. A new smelter was built. It was an interesting experience. A very exciting board. I learned about the mining industry all around the world because of the international properties held by Cominco. One of the great pleasures was the many people we met and the making of many new friends. At different periods, we had people on our board from Germany, Japan and Australia. When I first joined Cominco, it was owned by Canadian Pacific. Subsequently, they sold, and it became part of Teck and then Teck Cominco. There were quite a number of board members who were dropped during that transition. I was fortunate enough to be asked to serve under the new organization. I often tell the story that when we wanted to make a decision of investing money when Cominco was still partly owned by Canadian Pacific, it went from our board to Canadian Pacific Enterprises board and subsequently to the Canadian Pacific board. We couldn’t move quickly. When it became part of Teck, which was based in Vancouver, we could almost make a decision over a cup of coffee. It changed the whole atmosphere of that organization. It was fascinating to be part of all of that. Right, above: In 1994, Cominco board members rode in a bus to 14,400 feet (4,389 metres) to visit the Quebrada Blanca copper mine near Iquique, Chile. Lloyd Barber at left; Rolf at right. Right, below: Red Dog Mine, Alaska.

146

Serving on boards In 2011, Rolf described the work of some of the national and international boards with which he was involved. As with most organizations, board members handled the normal housekeeping tasks of reviewing

Chapter 6: The national and international stage

and approving financial statements and summaries of operations as well as voting on major new projects. Committees were formed to handle specific issues or policy areas. Rolf cited a few examples of additional tasks: On one board the controlling shareholder wanted the company to invest in a major project. After a review and discussion we turned him down; it involved multi-millions. He accepted the decision and none of us were in any way condemned for disagreeing. This is the way it should be. On another occasion we were asked to deal with a sensitive personnel issue that involved community perception of an individual. To a person, the board proceeded to hire the individual based on principle as it was the right thing to do even though it may have been construed as a questionable business decision. It worked out very well.

I always said that if I stayed home and looked after my own businesses perhaps I would have been more successful. On the other hand, learning from others was invaluable. Rolf Hougen, 2011

We travelled extensively within Canada and to several foreign countries, not only in order to be well informed on our activities in those countries but also to assess the political situation or decide on further investments. Those were very, very good experiences, both from a learning standpoint — becoming familiar with the various industries — and also from a personal standpoint. Whenever possible, particularly for international trips, Marg came with me. We’d go to Chile, for example, and take an extra week to tour. Or we’d go to Spain or England and take some extra time, maybe go over early to spend a few days before the meeting. It was absolutely fantastic!

In conclusion Rolf’s middle years were a mix of entrepreneurship and altruism. While improving and expanding his own business interests, he also developed services and business opportunities for the Yukon and the North. His vision and acumen brought him to the attention of large corporations and volunteer organizations, where he was able to contribute even more to his community and broaden his horizons to the international scene. The amazing thing is that he did it all from a small northern town. This meant that he was, at one time, one of the most travelled individuals on Canadian Pacific Airlines. Even so, he resisted the need to relocate to Vancouver, Toronto or another major centre. In this regard, he demonstrated that northerners “can do” and served as an inspiration for other northern businesses.

Canadian Pacific Airlines presented these three “top traveller” awards to Rolf in recognition of an extraordinary amount of air travel in 1981 (91,255 miles/146,857 km), 1982 (91,756 miles/147,663 km) and 1983 (133,248 km/82,799 miles).

147

Five former Yukon Commissioners at the Hougen home during a visit by F.H. Collins, 1980. L-R: F.H. Collins, Gordon Cameron, James Smith, Art Pearson and Ione Christensen.

The Whitehorse Merchants hockey team in the locker room, ca. late 1940s.

Wedding at the Old Log Church, ca. 1950. The groom is Mountie Tom Thompson. YA 82/346 #30

Brownies on a field trip with RCMP Constable Johnnie Johnson and Mrs. Jack Earle, late 1940s. YA 82/346 #329

YA 82/346 #40

Chief Jim Boss of Lake Laberge and Chief John Fraser of Champagne during Whitehorse Winter Carnival, 1948. YA 2009/81 #317

148

Taxi driver George B. Clarke, nicknamed “Brittle Bones,” in front of his cab on Main Street, ca. 1968. YA 2009/81 #1013

Yukoners

Board of Trade reception, 1948. In the left foreground are James Quong, a highway engineer and noted photographer, and his wife Diamond. YA 82/346 #169

Nursing staff of the Whitehorse Hospital, June 1, 1948. At this time the hospital was located downtown. YA 82/346 #77

In 1975, five former Whitehorse mayors helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the incorporation of Whitehorse. L-R: Paul Lucier, Bert Wybrew, Ed Jacobs, Gordon Armstrong and Howard Firth.

Distinguished members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, ca. 1949. YA 82/346 #101

RCMP Inspector Howard Cronkhite, “Deacon” Phelps and Hana Phelps, ca. 1940s. YA 82/346 #184

Nelly Johnny with her grandson Joe Smith after a shopping trip to Taylor & Drury’s store in Whitehorse, 1950. YA 2009/81 #327

149

Chapter 7

The family

B

etween 1956 and 1965, Marg and Rolf had six children: Craig, Kelly, Karen, Erik, Greta and Maureen. As the Hougen family grew, so did Whitehorse and the territory. When Craig was born in 1956, Whitehorse was a small town with about 2,500 people. Sternwheelers had stopped running only the previous year and Whitehorse was the new territorial capital. Nine years later, the population had increased, but was still only 4,800 in the 1966 census. During the same period, the population of the entire territory climbed from about 9,000 inhabitants to 14,400. Basically, Whitehorse was a small, intimate town where people worked and played together and rarely locked their doors. Kelly recalls telling his mother, “I think I know everyone in town!” It was a very easygoing lifestyle; we had lots of freedom. We were able to get up in the morning in the summertime, get on our bikes, meet up with some friends and be gone for the day. As long as we were back by suppertime, or called, then we were good to go. There were no worries with our parents. Greta Hougen, 2006

We were always labelled “Hougen.” People assumed that we were well-to-do and all that. Believe me, it wasn’t always the case. So you get used to it. I was proud of the family’s accomplishments. Kelly Hougen, 2006

151

Chapter 7: The family

Today the younger Hougens marvel at the differences as they raise their own children. There were none of the electronic distractions faced by today’s young people: no internet, X-Box, cable TV or electronic social networking. The grandchildren have many interests but activities tend to be more organized. As Erik has said, in many ways today’s life is “too programmed.” And, as Maureen and Greta have pointed out, it’s a different world and it is important to safeguard their children’s welfare in a different way. Wandering the town at will with no one knowing your whereabouts would be unthinkable today.

Previous page: Christmas, 1972. Near right: Karen discovers corn on the cob at Birch Bay, Washington, 1972. Far right, above: The family, December 1975. Far right, below: Greta and Maureen skiing, 1971. 152

Raising a family in Whitehorse Collectively, the Hougen children agree that theirs was an idyllic childhood. They lived a short distance from the town swimming pool, which was then an outdoor pool. Across the street was a baseball field that also served as a family playground. Karen recalled riding toboggans towed around by a skidoo on the field and one brother setting off rockets — powered by fuel ordered all the way from the United States — which soared high into the sky! The children rode their bikes across the bridge to visit friends in Riverdale, where they hiked the trails and built forts in the woods. On hot days, they became desperate enough to take a dip in the icy waters of the Yukon River. At home, they played with Rolf’s cameras and used recording equipment from the TV station. They recorded plays and mock interviews. Their home was only a short distance from the White Pass and Yukon Railway line. At least twice a day they heard the train whistle and the chuffing of the engine. The sternwheeler era had ended, but a few of the mighty vessels were still propped up on ways in the shipyards, down the street from the railway depot. The streets were unpaved and the sidewalks were wooden. Although there was some television available, families spent more time getting together for house parties, communal meals and other social events. The maturing of the Hougen kids coincided with the growth of Whitehorse and the advent of amenities such as paved streets, traffic lights and new schools, and the expansion of the town into outlying subdivisions.

Chapter 7: The family

In addition to their adventures around the town, the children travelled and camped around the Yukon with their parents. These outings were particularly significant to Kelly. In August 1971, the Hougens joined family friends the Tanners to boat the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson, arriving just in time for the Discovery Day celebrations. At age 14, Kelly was already deemed experienced enough to pilot one of the motorboats. He also recalled many early morning duck hunts with Rolf in the wetlands north of Marsh Lake. These experiences contributed to his love of hunting and the outdoors, setting him on the path to becoming a wilderness guide and outfitter. The children’s lives weren’t entirely carefree. They had chores at home and from an early age, they earned pocket money by working part time at the store after school and on Saturdays. They restocked candy shelves, priced merchandise, put toys on shelves and cleaned the sidewalk in front of the building. At about age 12, Kelly was put on the payroll and worked in Sportslodge, earning 25 cents an hour. A couple of years later, he was ecstatic when his salary rose to a full dollar an hour. The children attended Christ the King Elementary School when it was still located downtown on Wood Street. The Hougen store was located near the school and Greta and Maureen remember walking to school with their store-bound father, trying to keep up with his long-legged stride. At that time, Christ the King High School was actually a junior high school, encompassing grades six to ten. All the Hougen children completed high school at F.H. Collins, which for some years was the Yukon’s only senior high school. Craig moved to Vancouver to attend grade nine at St. George’s School. Although this was an excellent opportunity for a sports-minded boy, Craig was homesick and returned north the following year.

No matter how busy Dad was, when we kids came in, he would always put down his work and have all the time for us until we left. Craig Hougen, 2006

Left, above: Erik and Karen at Takhini Hot Springs. Left, centre, L-R: Erik, Kelly, Craig and Rolf fishing on the river at lower Kathleen Lake, June 1970. Left, below: The Tanner and Hougen families travelled to Dawson City by boat in August 1971. This stop was at a First Nations fish camp downriver from Carmacks. 153

Chapter 7: The family

Right, above: Marg with Greta and Maureen digging for clams on the beach in Homer, Alaska, in 1974. Right, centre: Alex Van Bibber during a dog sled race at the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous in 1969. YA 2010/91 #116

Right, below: Skidooing at the Haines Junction Experimental Farm in 1969. The Hougens were visiting the farm operators, Enid and Rod Tait. 154

All the children were encouraged in their various interests and hobbies. When Craig became interested in photography, Rolf helped him set up a darkroom and arranged for him to attend the Banff School to study photography. While working in Sportslodge as a youngster, Kelly became interested in firearms. Despite his parents’ understandable concern about a 13-year-old handling a weapon, they assured themselves that Kelly was very careful and competent, and set up a gun corner where he could reload rifle bullets. At one time, Kelly expressed interest in studying forestry. To help him along, Rolf wrote to schools all over the country. A month later, Rolf presented him a stack of literature from institutions with forestry programs. Karen, an avid reader, had access to Marg and Rolf’s collection of Yukon books. Erik received one of the first personal computers and a desk was set up for him in the family room. Maureen, the animal lover, joined the Yukon Kennel Club. As for Greta, according to her parents, she was “our social butterfly.” When Kelly focussed on outfitting as a career, Rolf told him, “If you ever want to pursue a career in the outdoors, you’ve got to meet Alex Van Bibber.” Alex Van Bibber — now in his mid-nineties — is a legendary trapper, dog musher, hunting guide and all round outdoorsman, based in Champagne. Eventually Kelly did meet Alex, who became not only a mentor and good friend, but also Kelly’s trapping partner and best man at his wedding. This combination of freedom and responsibilities, encouragement and discipline in the lives of the children prepared them well for independent lives in their various pursuits. Perhaps that is why, even after seeing the wider world, they chose to establish their lives in the community where they grew up.

Chapter 7: The family

Quiet Lake In 1887, four prospectors travelled more than 124 miles (200 km) up the Big Salmon River, from the Yukon River to its three headwater lakes. When they reached the largest and most northerly of these, a lovely 17-mile (28-km) body of water bounded by the Big Salmon Range and fed by several creeks, they named it Quiet Lake. They found traces of gold, but the most enduring legacy of the Big Salmon drainage has been as a prime hunting and fishing area for First Nations people and others. The lake became more accessible in the early 1940s. During World War II, the U.S. Army and civilian contractors built a road from Johnsons Crossing north to Ross River, then northwest to the Yukon/Northwest Territories border. The road supported the Canol pipeline, an endeavour — ultimately unsuccessful — to pipe crude oil 600 miles (960 km) from Norman Wells across the Mackenzie Mountains to a new refinery in Whitehorse. First Nations guides, including Alex Van Bibber, led the road builders by the western shore of Quiet Lake. The guides barely stayed ahead of the surveyors, who in turn were followed by heavy equipment operators roughing in the road. Army officers used the lake as a base for fishing and relaxing. Although the Canol project only operated a few years, the South Canol Road has endured as a seasonal road that provides summer access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Yukon. This idyllic location became a Hougen family sanctuary. In the late 1950s, Peter Thompson built a wilderness fishing and hunting lodge at the southwest end of the lake. He went into debt during construction, business did not materialize as expected and, in the end, he turned over the lodge to Rolf, his major debtor. Initially concerned with recovering his investment, Rolf advertised the sale of the lodge in Alaska Sportsman. In the meantime, the Hougen family began spending time at the lodge and came to love the peaceful environs of Quiet Lake. Rolf took the lodge off the market and Quiet Lake became a retreat for family members, friends and guests. Depending on Rolf’s work schedule, they would try to visit for about ten days every summer as well as the occasional long weekend.

Above: This full-page ad appeared in the July 1965 edition of Alaska Sportsman magazine. Left, above: A perfect summer day with Quiet Lake well deserving of its name. Left, below: Marg and Rolf at Quiet Lake, June 2010. 155

Chapter 7: The family

Reaching the lake was quite a saga. It wasn’t easy driving a station wagon full of kids while dragging a trailer-load of supplies. This was the original Alaska Highway, abounding in gravel, potholes, dust and many twisting blind turns. After the turn-off at Johnsons Crossing, the South Canol Road was narrower and equally taxing. As Maureen later recalled: “We always got sick driving out to Quiet Lake. The Canol Road, we’d walk half of it, I think, because we’d be all so sick!” Rolf shared his own memories of the epic trip to reach Quiet Lake in the early days: Before paving the Alaska Highway and considerable straightening and brushing of the Canol Road, we had to count on at least six hours travel and quite often more. We never thought we would see the day the highway would be paved to Johnsons Crossing. The Canol had not been brushed back so the trees were leaning over the road and the twisting road was very narrow and not maintained. Then, with considerable mining exploration in the area, the brushing started and the really bad curves were straightened. Generally we drove down the three-and-a-half-mile road to near the lodge, with the branches rubbing against the vehicle, to an opening where the wartime sawmill was located. The contractors of the road cut trees around the lake and hauled them to the site about half a mile away. The mill platforms were still intact but the hardware had been removed except for a circular saw.

Right, above: Building the gazebo at Quiet Lake. Right, centre: Interior of the lodge, with stone fireplace and chimney. Right, below: Quiet Lake in 1965. The Cessna 180 belonged to Erik Nielsen and is still flown today by his son, Rick.

156

From here we could drive no farther, so I used a Trapper Nelson pack board and carried supplies, usually the outboard motor, gas, etc. When we reached the water’s edge we boated over to the lodge. If we had not left a boat there, which was often, we would walk the rest of the way though the bush and muskeg — about half to three-quarters of a mile. One option we had was to drive eight miles further up the road and launch the boat from the trailer and bring the supplies across the water. Much easier. Our car in those days was a little Renault. In those pre-seatbelt days, the five children crammed into

Chapter 7: The family

the front and back seats, with Maureen — the youngest — lying under the back window. Later we had a station wagon which allowed the growing family some comfort. Car sickness resulted in frequent stops for the children to run up the highway for a while. Once the lodge was reached, the Hougen children enjoyed fishing, boating and running free. As with many Yukon cabin dwellers, the major recreational activity of the adults seemed to be constantly maintaining, improving and expanding the facilities. Over the years, the Hougens and their friends built a boat house and ramp, a rooftop gazebo, a Finnish sauna, water tower, workshop and a stone Argentinean-style barbeque pit. They also set up a wood-fired hot tub and made many improvements and repairs to the original lodge. Close family friend Erik Nielsen was a frequent visitor and enjoyed the experience so much that eventually the Nielsens built their own home farther up the lake. The Nielsens and the Hougens shared the peace and seclusion of Quiet Lake with some notable politicians, including Manitoba premier, Sterling Lyon and Joe Clark and Robert Stanfield, when each was leader of the official opposition. Now a third generation of Hougens travels to Quiet Lake for recreation and renewal. Today, the drive to Quiet Lake takes only about two and a half hours on much more reliable roads. The trip is even faster by float plane, piloted either by Kelly with his Cessna 206 or Rick Nielsen in his Cessna 180, making it possible to fly out for dinner in a mere 30 minutes.

The year in France The period 1976–77 was a landmark time for the Hougens. Rolf and Marg decided to move the entire family to France for a year to learn French and experience the cultures of Europe. For a time, they had considered taking the family to attend the summer Olympics in Montreal, but the year abroad won out. Today, all the family members refer to this as a life-changing experience, both challenging and enriching. Recently Rolf and Marg described their planning: It was always a concern for us, when thinking of our family’s future, that growing up in a small community in northern Canada would leave them very parochial in their outlook on life. We did some research into moving to Japan. We quickly decided, however, since Canada is a bilingual country we should give our children the opportunity to learn French.

I think it was very brave of my father and mother, who couldn’t speak a word of French, to take us all over there. Karen Hougen-Bell, 2006

Left, above: Joe Clark, then federal Leader of the Official Opposition, visited Quiet Lake in 1973. Left, below: The Hougens’ home for a year, the Blaise house in Grenoble. 157

Chapter 7: The family

I didn’t want to go. Ever the diplomats, my Mom and Dad talked me through it. So I reluctantly went over there and I would say the first three to four weeks, I hardly left the house. About all I could think of was, “I’m going to miss the fall hunting season in the Yukon.” Kelly Hougen, 2006

We hosted a representative of the Montreal Olympics and when I was driving him to the airport I told him of our thinking. His advice: “Do it!” I went home; Marg and I discussed it. We had a family dinner and announced our plan. It was a shock to the family, leaving friends, leaving Quiet Lake — not a lot of enthusiasm; Maureen left the table in tears. However, everyone became enthusiastic and participated in our planning. We wrote to André Renault, our longtime friend from Whitehorse from the YPA days in the 1940s. He had left the priesthood, married and was now with the United Nations, based in Geneva. His advice: “Do not go to Paris to stay; go to Grenoble.” We zeroed in, did research, ran an ad in the Grenoble real estate paper and had one response. We sent a small deposit for a large house overlooking the mountains, and near schools. We wrote Erik, our M.P., and told him of our intentions. He spoke to Jean Chrétien, then Foreign Affairs Minister, who said, “If Mr. and Mrs. Hougen want to go to France for their children to learn French, he is a great Canadian. I will look after it.” Within a few days, his nephew, Raymond Chrétien, then First Secretary in the Canadian Embassy in Paris, phoned to say he would arrange everything, and indeed he did. When we arrived in Paris he had us booked in the Intercontinental, Paris’s top hotel, at Embassy rates, three adjoining rooms. He visited us at the hotel, took us on tours, and hosted us for lunch, but regretted he could not help us in Grenoble as the embassy had no staff there. Marg and Rolf, September 2011

Right, above: The Grenoble-Bastille cable cars are locally referred to as the “bubbles.” The system was built in 1934 and extends from the town to the Bastille, the name given to a fortress and the mount upon which it perches. Right, below: View from the top of the mountain. 158

Rolf arranged his affairs so that he was able to leave his business interests for an entire year: I first met individually with all of my managers: Whitehorse Motors, CKRW, WHTV Cable and Hougen’s store, as well as the store in Faro. Then Marg and I invited them all for a dinner at one of the restaurants to outline our plans for the year. Each committed to stay with our companies for at least the year we were away. Finally, on the eve of departure, our entire family gathered with all of the staff in our coffee shop and shared our plans with everyone.

Chapter 7: The family

I did receive monthly reports but I felt it was not possible to manage remotely so I seldom communicated. I flew to London once to meet with Bert Norrie, our general manager. So it was a year off. Did it work out okay? Not entirely, but accepting any diminished returns was well worth it. They left Whitehorse in July, flying via Canadian Pacific Airlines through Amsterdam and landing in Paris. Greta recalled the eight of them lined up along the sidewalk outside the airport with all their suitcases and trunks, vainly trying to hail a taxi: “They’d take one look and just boot right on by. We were thinking, ‘What have we gotten ourselves into?’” They had rented a large home from a nuclear physicist who was spending a year in England. The family ultimately became friends and their children even visited the Yukon. From the windows of the house in Grenoble they could see ski hills similar to the slopes where Nancy Greene had won a medal in the giant slalom for Canada in the 1968 Winter Olympics. Rolf described their arrival in Grenoble: After a week in Paris, we picked up two cars from Ford France, drove to Grenoble, followed the signs and arrived at the home of our landlords, Alain and Jacqueline Blaise. They were just cleaning the house. We had arrived a day earlier than they expected, so they took us to a hotel nearby, then downtown for a snack. Our first Croque Monsieur sandwich. Next day we moved in, were invited to their historic mountain farmhouse property in La Martinière, went out for a Michelin rated dinner and got to know them. They tore up the household, china and cutlery inventory they were taking as we had became immediate friends. They even gave us the keys to their mountain home while they were away at Oxford. The whole family experienced challenges. The four younger children were plunged into local schools, speaking little or no French. Maureen, the youngest, attended a different school from her siblings and felt particularly isolated. Eventually she adapted, but the first few months were very difficult for her. Kelly and Craig signed up for French courses at the university until Christmas. Marg and Rolf also took French courses.

In Europe, we didn’t have distractions. The only way we could survive for a year there was to not only be family but also friends … I look at that as the absolute best thing my parents chose to do with us as a family. Erik Hougen, 2006

Left, above: The travails of not travelling light! Left, below: A pre-Christmas family gathering in Grenoble. 159

Chapter 7: The family

I knew quite a bit about Europe because I’d read National Geographic. I knew Europe was full of older people with kerchiefs on their heads and hunched over, walking with canes. As a 20-year-old, I didn’t think that was something that interested me. Craig Hougen, 2006

Right, above: Greta and Maureen in their riding outfits. Right, centre: In Crete, the Hougens and their friends, the Morrows, stayed in a Presidential Villa. Right, below: Greta helping to prepare a meal en plein air. 160

The school system was different than Canada’s. Children had to attend school on Saturday mornings, although Wednesday afternoons were free. The curriculum had little in the way of sports and other recreational activities; it heavily stressed academics. At age 16, Karen had been placed with the 14-year-olds in troisième année. These students were under a lot of pressure as their exam results would determine whether they would continue on in either an academic or a nonacademic stream. Rolf and Marg encouraged the children to enrol in activities that would help improve their French. Greta and Maureen took weekly horse riding lessons on Wednesday afternoons; Karen and Greta took piano lessons. Over Christmas break, the family signed up for ten days of downhill ski lessons at the Courchevel ski resort. Both activities were taught in French. According to Rolf: “This was a real turning point. After this holiday, they were comfortable in the language and at school.” As Greta later stated: “If you can handle being in a country where you don’t know the language and you are 11 or 13 years old, you just think, ‘Well, I can handle anything.’” After struggling all day with an unfamiliar language in a different culture, home and family became a refuge. All the siblings agree that this experience drew them together. Karen explained how the time in France created closer bonds among the family members: “In your own community, you tend to go your own way, spending time with your friends. In France, we had to rely on each other.” Karen also described her parents’ efforts to cope with simple transactions in an unfamiliar context: It was interesting to watch my Dad through that year. It would take him a day to mail a letter by the time he bought envelopes, stamps, drove to the post office and communicated his needs in a language he did not know. We would try to help him out. The breakthrough for Kelly and Craig happened when they took off on their own to attend Oktoberfest in Munich. They drove approximately 12 hours nonstop from France through Switzerland, Austria and into Bavaria following the route Rolf had highlighted on a Michelin map.

Chapter 7: The family

Despite staying in a crowded hostel full of cockroaches, they had a wonderful time. They learned German drinking songs, attended a Paul McCartney and Wings concert, made enduring friendships, and suddenly realized that there was a lot to see and experience in Europe. As Craig later stated, “From that point on, our parents could not keep us at home.” During the period before school, on weekends and after the university term ended, the pair drove all over Europe. They experienced the running of the bulls at Pamplona, travelled to Scandinavia and made repeated visits to their new friends in Germany. They even visited Dachau, the infamous former concentration camp outside Munich. As Craig put it, it was a sobering experience but an important place to see. Karen joined them in May for a month of travel, driving first to Italy, taking the ferry over to Greece, then boarding a cheap flight to Israel. Before doing this, they checked in with Rolf, who in turn contacted the Canadian Embassy in France. Apparently the political situation was stable and it was a fairly safe time to visit Israel. According to Kelly, this was “the most interesting two weeks of the entire year.” At the old city of Jerusalem, they rode camels up the Mount of Olives and visited the Gardens of Gethsemane. They travelled to Tel Aviv, Bethlehem and Jericho and even went to the Red Sea to experience some world-class scuba diving. Returning from Israel, they travelled through Yugoslavia to Austria and Germany, where they rendezvoused with the rest of the family at the Haufbrauhaus in Munich. After this reunion, they went their separate ways. Kelly and Craig took their pop-top van to Spain. Karen rejoined the rest of the family for further travels through France and Spain. Rolf and Marg took French classes for three months in the fall. They hosted friends from Canada, made several small excursions through the region and took longer trips when school ended. They also took full advantage of living close to the Burgundy, Beaujolais and Rhone regions to indulge in their favourite hobby of visiting wineries to taste and collect their favourite vintages.

The children all love travel and they all love the experiences of Europe. As a result of this trip, most of them became quite proficient in French. Rolf Hougen, 2008

Left, above: At Monaco, they attended a car rally, buying expensive tickets so they could sit on the ground on a mountainside. Left, centre: The family attended a bullfight in Barcelona. Together with the Choate family, they stayed at the coastal town of Sitges. Left, below: After a stay in Athens, the Hougens toured the Greek islands and stopped in Kusadasi, Turkey, where they visited the remains of the ancient city of Ephesus. 161

Chapter 7: The family

When the children were in school, Marg and I ventured off to the wine country. Every home had a wine-tasting area: the kitchen, the living room or the wine cellar. Even if we didn’t like the wine very much, we’d buy at least one bottle. But quite often, we’d buy three or six. By the time we came home, we had 130 cases! By the end of the year, there was only one major issue facing the head of the family: what was he going to do with 130 cases of wine? Being Rolf, he had already anticipated this situation and made plans. We were able to ship it and bring it in duty free with no mark-up by the Yukon government. We took our children to Amsterdam and put them on a plane on the 365th day, the last day before their tickets expired. Marg and I stayed one more day to make sure we had been out of the country one year. Then everything we brought home — which also included 18 big trunk loads — came in duty free to the country, including a car! It was pretty exciting. The year was successful from a family, personal development and cultural viewpoint. As Karen later stated, “it was a good family year in terms of building family relationships and bonds.” All the children achieved a degree of fluency in French. While Rolf readily admits that he and Marg did not study long enough to become fluent, they could certainly communicate comfortably in restaurants, wine cellars and various travel situations. All the family members developed a love of travel and the independence of spirit that came from finding their way in new and unfamiliar situations.

Spreading wings Right, above: Jean Mommessin giving a lesson in wine appreciation at the family wine estate in Mâcon. The Mommessin family became great friends. Right, below: All dressed up, before going out to dinner in Grenoble. 162

The young Hougens were encouraged to experience at least a few years of post-secondary education “Outside” to broaden their horizons. Two years after the trip to France, Craig returned to Grenoble with a friend to study more French. Or, as he put it: “This really meant that I had such a good time that I thought another year over there would be a good idea.”

Chapter 7: The family

He lodged with a French family, skied, made friends and of course found time for more travel. Craig interspersed university studies with work and travel and eventually obtained a degree in economics at the University of Alberta. Kelly and Craig had taken a semester at the University of Lethbridge in spring 1976, before the family moved to Europe. Kelly continued to guide during hunting season and worked in Sportslodge before obtaining a degree in geography at the University of Alberta in 1981. After high school, Karen spent a year at Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She lived with a local family and much of her learning took place in their home, speaking French over meals. From there, she went on to Dalhousie University in Halifax, graduating in Political Science. As she later stated, her experiences in Europe gave her the initiative to travel to the far end of Canada to learn more about her own country. She worked in the Ottawa office of Erik Nielsen for a year, was a partner in a video rental with her brother Erik, then took seven months to go backpacking in Southeast Asia and China with a close friend, Lesley Buchan. Erik attended the University of Alberta, but interrupted his studies to start his own business, Erik’s Home Entertainment Centre, in 1983. The next few years were very busy as Erik established his enterprise. He still wanted to earn a university degree and was able to realize this dream when his sisters took over the store in 1985 and he attended school. In April 1986, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in economics. Greta attended the University of Victoria for a couple of years. When Maureen graduated from high school, the pair returned to Grenoble for a year to take French courses at the university. As Maureen later put it, “We had an apartment, we had a car and we had Dad’s Visa card.” They entertained friends from Canada, met new friends, skied and travelled. At one point, Rolf discontinued the credit card. As Greta put it, he thought it must be stolen, because “it was travelling across Europe at such a fast rate.”

Left, above: Enjoying a beverage on the rocks at Arctic Red River, near the site of the outfitting camp that Kelly and Heather operated for more than 20 years. Left: centre: Erik with Doug Wilson, the president of Sony Canada, opening the new premises of Erik’s AudioTronic on Alexander Street and Second Avenue, November 2006. Left, below: Maureen takes a break from the harvest at the Nielsen family farm north of Whitehorse. 163

Chapter 7: The family

After these years of study and travel, the younger Hougens gradually settled into careers and started their own families. As mentioned in Chapter 4, all of the Hougens managed various family businesses at one time or another; a few moved on to other endeavours. Between 1986 and 1993, there were six family milestones. Beginning with Erik and ending with Craig, all the children married.

Clockwise from top left: Robert Gray and Greta Hougen, August 9, 1986. Kelly Hougen and Heather Chambers, April 25, 1987. Craig Hougen and Mary-Jane Warshawski, August 13, 1993. Erik Hougen and Kim Kozmeniuk, June 28, 1986. Maureen Hougen and Rick Nielsen, June 20, 1987. Karen Hougen and Jim Bell, May 13, 1989.

164

Chapter 7: The family

After Craig worked in Eastern Canada for Cancom and at the Sportslodge, he branched out. He purchased a local competitor, Northern Outdoors, then he acquired Coast Mountain Sports in Vancouver and built a chain of outdoor stores. He eventually sold these five stores to The Forzani Group Ltd. in 2000. He and his wife Mary-Jane (or MJ) moved to Whitehorse with their two young children, where they currently own and manage the Taku Building and the Whitehorse branch of Coast Mountain Sports as well as other endeavours. As the volunteer president of the Great Northern Ski Society, Craig has played a major role in reviving the debt-laden society and transforming the Mount Sima ski hill into an all-season outdoor recreational facility. Although Kelly enjoyed his work in Sportslodge, he pursued his dream of owning and operating his own outfitting business. Kelly has been guiding hunters since he was 16 and his wife Heather’s family, the Chambers, have worked as hunters and guides for generations. The pair bought an outfitting area in the Northwest Territories. Kelly and Heather built up Arctic Red River Outfitters into a successful hunting and guiding business, with trips booked up to three years in advance. They sold the business in 2009. More recently, the pair has taken on a new challenge; their new business Timberline Wilderness Adventures offers independent wilderness vacations. Clients are flown into remote lakes where Kelly and Heather have built fully equipped cabins with kitchens, hot and cold running water, shower, boat and motor and fishing gear. Erik ultimately expanded his investments to include House of Appliances, House of Furniture, Whitehorse Sight & Sound, a Sears Appliance and Catalogue Centre, Kelly’s Electronic World, Krazy Ken’s Sight & Sound, The Brick franchise and others. In 2002, Erik’s Home Entertainment evolved into Erik’s AudioTronic, and with this success moved to a larger location on Alexander Street. In 2006, with a staff of 11, it became the the largest and longest established electronics store in Whitehorse. Erik and his wife Kim have branched out into other endeavours, including real estate, property development and Expedia CruiseshipCenters travel agency. Karen’s husband, Jim, felt retail took too much of her time and encouraged her to apply for a job with the government so they could spend weekends

Kelly Hougen runs one of the best sheep-hunting operations in the world, and shows no favoritism to hunters, rich, famous, or otherwise. Don Peay, Trophy Hunter magazine, 2009

Left, above: The Coast Mountain Sports store in Vancouver moved to larger premises on Fourth Avenue in 1993. Left, centre: Kelly accepts the trophy for Outfitter of the Year awarded to Heather and Kelly Hougen from the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep, February 2006. Left: below: Karen signing the Kluane First Nation Final Agreement maps on behalf of the Government of Yukon at Burwash Landing, 2003. 165

Chapter 7: The family

together. She successfully applied to be a land claims negotiator with the Government of Yukon and has since held a number of positions, most recently as director of policy and planning for the Executive Council of the Government of Yukon. Greta and Maureen have been partners in Seasons Fashions since 1985. They credit their long-time manager Sheila Grant-Dionne with allowing them to stay involved with the business while raising their children. More recently, the partners have given the business a face lift, a new name — Seasons Galleria — and moved it downstairs to street level, where it has been very successful.

Family trips River trip in France, September–October, 1990

Above: Prime Minister Brian Mulroney presents Erik Hougen with the 1988 Inaugural FBDB (BDC) Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Montreal. Right, above: Maureen and Greta with Sheila Grant-Dionne in 2006. Right, centre: Motoring by barge through the Burgundy countryside. Note the bicycles up top. Right, below: The family relaxing after dinner at a countryside inn near Pouilly and Fuissé. 166

In 1990, Rolf completed his one-year term as Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. After he attended his final meeting in Edmonton in September, 14 members of the family — children and their spouses — travelled to France. Apart from the newest family member, three-week-old Patrick Bell, the grandchildren stayed home. Their launching point was St. Jean de Losne on the Saône River, east of Dijon. They rented two barges and spent the next ten days enjoying the great food and wine of Burgundy, completing the trip in Mâcon. During their leisurely float down the river, they made frequent stops to visit historic sites, cycle around the countryside and take side trips into the wine country and to the city of Beaune. They visited old friends, Michel and Martha Couvreur of Bouze les Beaune and the famous Mommessin family of Mâcon. When the boat trip ended, the family scattered and travelled to other places in France, including Chamonix and Alsace. Twelve years later, the family — now much expanded to include another daughter-in-law and eleven more grandchildren — embarked on the first of five major three-generation family trips of a lifetime. These excursions, which took them all over the globe to experience some of the world’s most interesting sites and cultures, fostered strong ties among the family clan. The following pages show some travel highlights and includes an account of an epic fishing trip to Southeast Alaska prepared by Kelly.

Chapter 7: The family

Mexican Riviera and Disneyland, California, February 2002 After visiting the home of Mickey and Donald (right), the Hougens took a cruise down the west coast of Mexico. This was the first “trip of a lifetime” for all 32 family members.

France: Paris and canal boat tour 2003 The family spent four days in Paris visiting some of the many attractions. Canadian Ambassador to France Raymond Chrétien and his wife Kay invited the Hougen clan for cocktails during their time in Paris (below). The adults enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres, while the youngsters were served Pringles, pretzels and orange juice. They all felt like royalty, with servants meeting every request. In 1976–77, Chrétien had helped the family get established in France. From Paris, they took a train to Castelnaudary, where they rented four barges to travel the Canal du Midi south to the Mediterranean Sea. They visited Carcassonne (below, left) en route.

China tour and cruise, April 2005 After ten days in China the family boarded the cruise ship Sapphire Princess to visit Korea, Vladivostock, Russia and Japan. They visited the Great Wall of China (below), saw the army of terracotta warriors in Xian (right, above) and cruised down the Yangtze River.

167

Chapter 7: The family

NCL Cruise Lines, Hawaii, Christmas 2006–07 During the Christmas holidays of 2006-07, the Hougens relaxed aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the Pride of America, during a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. The younger generation kept active by swimming, surfing, snorkeling (left), parasailing and cycling.

Hougen family heritage tour, Netherlands and Norway, June and July 2008 The Hougen family heritage tour was planned to introduce the younger Hougens to their ancestral roots, although not all the 32 family members were able to take part. The visit included Holland, the birthplace of Margaret’s parents, a Holland America Line cruise of the Baltic Sea and a family visit to Norway, where Rolf’s parents were born. The Hougen family visited the homestead of Ole Knutson Tveiten (right) one of the writers of the Norwegian constitution. This building is now a museum commemorating his life. This trip created a lasting family connection.

Right: The Blakstad family, related to Rolf’s mother, got together in Arendal to celebrate the visit of their Yukon relatives. Four members of this group came from Haugen. 168

Chapter 7: The family

Southeast Alaska Hougen Family Adventure, June 2004 We took the brand-new fast ferry, the Fairweather, to Juneau, a trip of about two hours. Al and Linnea Castagner, along with Linnea’s mother Swanie [Rolf’s sister], had gone down to Juneau a few days earlier in Krafty II, which was to be our mother ship for the week’s adventure. Al was the undisputed “Admiral of the Fleet” due to his extensive experience in Southeast Alaska and his experience in fishing these waters. The vessels for our trip were four Nordic tugboats and of course Al’s 28-foot (8.5-metre) GlasPly. We spent the next day in Juneau buying groceries and other supplies for the boats. Later in the day, we received our operational course and check-out for the Nordic tugs. We were up at 6 a.m. the next day and on our way to Al’s secret cove in Icy Strait. Some boats went out halibut fishing; other people just relaxed and took in the breathtaking scenery. We set out several crab pots that evening. The next morning, we had caught plenty of Dungeness crabs. All of the grandchildren participated in cleaning the crabs and halibut. After another great (and successful) day fishing, we had a wonderful seafood feast that lasted until well after midnight. The next day we were off to Hoonah, a picturesque Tlingit village situated about 40 miles west of Juneau on Chichagof Island. We spent a few hours there getting a few needed items and then set course to Glacier Bay National Park. It is mandatory to pre-register to be allowed entry into the park. We registered, stopped by the amazing Glacier Bay Lodge and then headed north and set anchor in a sheltered bay. We had the most amazingly hot weather, with mostly calm seas and no rain for the entire trip. That’s pretty good for Southeast Alaska. On day 4 we were up early and went to Marble Island, which is well known for its many sea lions and puffins. We saw hundreds of sea lions but few puffins. From there we were off for the three-hour trip to Elfin Cove, a small town of about 50 people. It’s a fish-buying and supply centre for fishermen. Residents participate in commercial fishing, sport fishing and charter services. We took the South Inian route to this town, which was quite rough with a lot of tidal action. The people there treated us like family and even opened up the gym that evening so the 18 grandkids (and a few adults) could let off a little steam after being on the boats for the better part of four days.

On June 17, 2004 our entire family of 32, including grandparents Rolf and Marg Hougen, six families, and 18 grandchildren drove to Skagway to begin our Southeast Alaska ocean adventure. Recollections by Kelly Hougen

Left, above: Rolf, Marg and Al Castagner proudly display Marg’s 200-pound (91kg) halibut. Left, below: Eighteen grandchildren, ages 5 to 16, all of whom landed a halibut. 169

Chapter 7: The family

It all stems from the way we were brought up. We were all very close. All of us kids respected Mom and Dad immensely. We have that same respect for them today. They still make all the time in the world for their family. I think family always came first to Dad and, second, business and the preservation of Yukon history and culture. Kelly Hougen, 2006

After a foggy morning, Day 5 saw us fishing our way back to Hoonah. We paused for an hour to watch the whales and then did some serious halibut fishing. All 18 grandchildren could claim that they had landed a halibut by the end of the day! Le Grand Fromage (Rolf) caught the biggest one of the day: 73 pounds (33 kilograms). We spent the night in the Hoonah harbour. After a relaxing morning we fished our way back to Al’s secret cove for our final night of the boat trip. We got some more halibut and a few salmon, and spent the evening cleaning, cutting and packaging fish. And of course, we had another great seafood dinner. On Day 7, we reluctantly headed back for Juneau. We had a great family trip in a very special part of the world. Southeast Alaska is so close to home, yet it’s such a different environment on the ocean — so dynamic and alive. It makes one wonder what the heck the British negotiators were thinking when they were establishing the borders of the Alaskan panhandle in the late 1800s. That’s another story…

The family today

Right, above: Three of the four Nordic tugs. Right, below: Kim and Erik at their office in the Black Street Centre in Whitehorse, 2011. 170

The family is extremely close-knit. Although they all took advantage of parental encouragement to experience the outside world, all six siblings committed to making the Yukon their home and the preferred place to raise their families. The bonds formed in 1976–77 during the year in France have been fostered in the next generation by frequent family gatherings and a series of wonderful multi-family trips all over the world. The 18 grandchildren have inherited the family ethic of hard work and trying to excel at whatever they undertake. In 2011, twelve are in college or university or have graduated. All the Hougen children are well aware of their family advantages. The fact that Erik Nielsen was a close family friend gave Karen the opportunity to live in Ottawa and work as a researcher in his office after earning a degree in political science. There she met Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and many other notable people.

Chapter 7: The family

When Erik and Kim married in 1986, Rolf and Marg arranged for the pair to have a VIP tour of Expo 86 in Vancouver at the start of their honeymoon. They had a car and driver and a guide that took them through the back doors of all the pavilions, bypassing the huge line-ups. After the start-up of Canadian Satellite Communications or Cancom, Craig lived and worked in eastern Canada for a few years. He began at a relatively low level and helped to build the uplink station in Oka, Quebec. He then moved to Toronto for two years, where he was in charge of sales for Ontario. The fact that it was his father’s company gave him a foothold, but it was his own abilities and hard work that moved him forward. In 2010, Craig became a director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce like his father before him. At one time or another, all the Hougen children managed various retail operations. While they were expected to invest their own resources, time and talent into the family businesses, having their father as an advisor and partner was a tremendous benefit. Progressively, each business moved from a family partnership to full ownership by the children. Today, Hougen’s Limited is a landlord; its tenants are family businesses or outside companies and government. As all the children acknowledge, however, the greatest gift from their parents has been their generosity with time and attention, and teaching a set of values that have served them well and are being passed on to yet another generation.

Our parents offered us experiences and opportunities. Whether we took them up was our choice. Karen Hougen-Bell, 2006

Left: Rolf and Marg, Christmas 1992, with 13 grandchildren (five more came later). L-R: Jared Hougen, Erik Gray, Connor Nielsen, Brooke Nielsen, Logan Gray, Tanner Hougen, PJ Bell, Fraser Gray, Cody Hougen, Kai Nielsen. Front, L-R: Patrick Bell, Myles Hougen, Melina Hougen. 171

The family sanctuary at Quiet Lake. In addition to the lodge, the property includes a gazebo, a water tower, several workshops and a woodfired hot tub. Around the point at right are the sauna and boathouse.

Doug Yates giving Craig a haircut, 1959. Dr. Yates had delivered Craig three years earlier.

L-R: Greta, Maureen, Marg, Linnea Castagner and Lesley Buchan by the car that would take Santa from the train station to Hougen’s store, 1969. YA 2009/81 #204

Craig and Kelly at a Hougen’s fashion show featuring children’s wear, 1962.

Maureen the waterskier at Quiet Lake, August 1975.

172

The demolition crew, 2007. Family members dismantled a cabin that had been damaged by the Marsh Lake flood.

the family Santa’s costumed helpers: Erik and Karen, 1969. YA 2009/81 #207

Erik the Cub Scout in 1973. Note all the merit badges.

Celebrating Craig’s fifth birthday at 209 Rogers Street, 1961.

The parka-clad family by the S.S. Klondike, 1986. L-R: Maureen, Greta, Erik, Karen, Kelly, Craig, Marg and Rolf. This was the last family photo before several marriages.

Rolf and Marg at their Lake Laberge cabin, 2005. The property has been in the family since the late 1940s.

Celebrating the launch of Cancom in 1981. The family attended, along with WHTV staff and government leader Chris Pearson.

173

Karen Hougen-Bell, Patrick Bell, Pamela-Jane Bell, Jim Bell.

Rick Nielsen, Brooke Nielsen, Connor Nielsen, Kai Nielsen, Maureen Nielsen.

Sarah Hougen, MaryJane Warshawski, Craig Hougen, Michael Hougen.

Rolf Hougen, Marg Hougen

174

the hougen clan Photographed by Vince Federoff, December 2010

Melina Hougen, Cody Hougen, Alexis Hougen, Jared Hougen, Heather Hougen, Kelly Hougen.

Mason Gray, Fraser Gray, Bob Gray, Logan Gray, Greta Gray, Erik Gray.

Erik Hougen, Myles Hougen, Jenna Hougen, Tanner Hougen, Kim Hougen.

175

Chapter 8

The Hougen legacy

R

olf and Marg Hougen have attained what we all aspire to: long lives well-lived, a loving family and the regard of their fellow citizens. In achieving personal prosperity, they provided jobs and opportunities for hundreds of Yukoners. Their many enterprises have contributed to the growth and diversity of the Yukon’s economy and culture. They have given back to their community in many ways to further history, culture and education. Marg and Rolf’s family — six children and 18 grandchildren — is thriving. All members have done well in their various endeavours, and they embody the life lessons and values they’ve learned from their parents and grandparents. Above all, the family is committed to their home — the Yukon — and in many ways have strived to make it a better place to live and work.

We believe that on a per-capita basis, the artistic community in the Yukon is second to none. Rolf Hougen, Whitehorse Star, August 10, 2001

177

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Heritage and culture We have been long-time supporters of the arts community and will continue to be … We have arranged displays of art works, sponsored artists to tour and paint the Yukon, commissioned building murals, created a series of bronze busts of famous Yukoners and have a large collection of arts and crafts by Yukon artists in our home and office.

Focus on the Yukon Our understanding of Whitehorse and the Yukon in earlier years owes much to the photographers who recorded the people, events and scenes all around them. We are also indebted to the custodians who understood the value of these early images and carefully preserved them. Rolf Hougen certainly falls into both these categories and, being Rolf, he took on both jobs in a spectacular way. As a hobbyist and a professional photographer for Hougen’s Ltd., Rolf took thousands of photographs from the 1940s on. In 2000, he briefly discussed the photography division of the business: I covered every event going: hundreds of weddings, hundreds of babies and community events. It was a major part of our business. The photo finishing expanded to huge automated equipment, which is pretty ancient by today’s standards, but it was a fairly large operation. We shipped photo finishing all over the Yukon. I have thousands of negatives in my files, which record pretty well everything that went on in Whitehorse from the ’40s forward. Above: Lawrence Seely’s Coke bottling plant in Whitehorse, 1950. YA, 82/346 #103

Right, above: In the late 1940s, many Whitehorse hockey games were held between the rival military and town teams. YA 82/346 #43

Right, below: Barbershop on Main Street, 1951. Owner Pete Petiot looks on as Jim Fox gets a cut from an unidentified barber. YA 82/346 #161 178

Most of these photos have since been donated to Yukon Archives, where they are available to the public. Visitors can now view the many activities of the Young People’s Association in the 1940s, the swanky new “cocktail lounges” of the 1950s and the new public buildings that went up after Whitehorse became the territorial capital. They can also see how Yukoners celebrated the annual arrival of Santa and the Sourdough Rendezvous. Rolf’s various cameras also captured visiting dignitaries, members of service clubs, students at the Baptist Indian Mission School, political events and ordinary people enjoying life in the Yukon. More recently, Rolf arranged to donate thousands of feet of 16 mm films of Yukon events over the years. To make this valuable historical record more useful, the Hougens are arranging for the films to be digitized.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

E.J. Hamacher, the Whitehorse photographer Ephraim J. Hamacher was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1857. He became a photographer, learning his craft in various photo studios in Washington state. Like many of his contemporaries, he travelled north in 1898 to document the exciting times of the Klondike Gold Rush. He worked with photographer Eric A. Hegg in the shortlived tent settlement of Bennett. When Hegg joined the stampeders bound for Dawson after spring break-up, Hamacher stayed behind. He later moved to the new settlement of Whitehorse, where he operated a photo studio from 1900 until 1935. As well as shooting formal portraits, Hamacher travelled the territory, covering everything from the sternwheelers, to a gold rush in the Kluane area in 1904, to early views of the Takhini Hot Springs. His cameras played an integral part in documenting Whitehorse history. In a 2000 interview, Rolf described his association with Hamacher’s work: I have over a thousand 8 by 10 glass plates that I acquired from Horace Moore (past editor of the Whitehorse Star). Mr. Hamacher was a photographer here from the turn of the century until 1935. He was a next-door neighbour to the Whitehorse Star, and they had a shack out in the back where all these glass plates had sat for decades. I think I gave Horace Moore $100 for all of them. They’re all properly sorted and in acid-free envelopes. I’ve had many of them printed. It’s a huge historic collection. In the late 1990s, Rolf assisted local photographer Robin Armour when he curated an important display of Hamacher’s photos. There were two simultaneous exhibits in 1999: one at the Yukon Arts Centre gallery and the other at the MacBride Museum, the latter featuring Hamacher’s studio portraits. Many people had the chance to see these works that not only recorded the early life of the Yukon, but did so with clarity and artfulness. While Hamacher’s photos are in collections all over the north and beyond, Margaret and Rolf undoubtedly had the most complete set. They donated the photo plates to the Yukon Archives in 2002. The following spring, Yukon Archives had a gala evening highlighting recent donations, particularly the priceless Hamacher collection. In appreciation for Margaret and Rolf’s contributions, the archives proclaimed them honorary members of the Friends of the Yukon Archives Society. The Hamacher images have since been digitized and are available to researchers and history buffs all over the world.

Above: E.J. Hamacher. YA 2002/118 #140

Left, above: Captain Paddy Martin’s store in Conrad, ca. 1906. YA 2002/118 #329

Left, below: Four Yukon leaders: Gold Commissioner George Mackenzie, Chief Jim Boss, Skookum Jim and Reverend Blackwell, ca. 1910s. YA 2002/118 #174 179

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

The bronze plaque program When Rolf and Marg first travelled to Europe during their honeymoon in 1955, they saw many statues and monuments honouring key figures in European history and culture. They came to believe that more needed to be done to recognize some of the Yukon’s iconic figures. To this end, they funded the sculpture and installation of several bronze busts at key locations in Whitehorse as well as a plaque in Dawson City. The talents of Chuck Buchanan and Harreson Tanner were employed to create distinctive memorials to the following four individuals.

Angela Sidney (1902–1991) The life of the late Angela Sidney encompassed a time of great change for the Yukon’s First Nations people. She was a leader in preserving the stories and traditions of the Tagish and Tlingit people of the southern Yukon through her work as a linguist, storyteller and author. Her bronze likeness, created by Chuck Buchanan, was installed in Rotary Peace Park in 1997. For many years, the park was the site of the Yukon International Storytelling Festival, an annual event co-founded by Mrs. Sidney.

Robert W. Service (1874–1958) Many people first learned about Canada’s Yukon Territory from Robert Service, the “Bard of the Yukon.” His infectious rhymes, outrageous tales and heartfelt depictions of the beauties and harshness of the northern wilderness have entranced generations of schoolchildren. His poetry has become part of the lore of the Yukon, attracting visitors from all over the world. Most are surprised to learn that the Scottish-born Service did not even reach Dawson City until well after the gold rush and that he first moved north to be a humble bank clerk in Whitehorse. Although he eventually moved to France and wrote about other topics — including working as a “Red Cross Man” in World War I — it was his Yukon poetry that made his reputation and guaranteed his enduring fame.

Samuel Benfield Steele (1849–1919) “It is no idle boast that at no time in its history did the police show to better advantage than during the trying years of 1898–99, when I commanded the fine officers and men on the Yukon.” 180

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

If any one person personifies the ideals of Canada’s mounted police, it is Superintendent Sam Steele. He served with distinction in the Canadian west, and was an excellent choice to direct the force during one of its most challenging periods, the Klondike Gold Rush. His decisive measures prevented poorly-provisioned gold seekers from starving, saved their lives at the tumultuous Whitehorse Rapids, and, in Dawson City, headed off the chaos of mob rule, ensuring that women and children could walk the streets of Dawson City in safety. Steele went on to serve with distinction in other commands, including the Boer War and World War I. He retired with the rank of Major General, was knighted and wrote a lively memoir about his eventful life.

Jack London (1876–1916) This American journalist, author and social activist experienced the trials of the Klondike Gold Rush firsthand and made them real to readers all over the world through his riveting magazine fiction, stories and novels. He ran the Whitehorse Rapids, wintered in a cabin on Henderson Creek and was nursed by famed missionary Father Judge in a log cabin hospital after suffering a devastating case of scurvy. Thousands of people the world over have credited the novels Call of the Wild and White Fang and stories such as “To Build a Fire” with impelling them to personally experience the Yukon and its wilderness. The Jack London Centre in Dawson City is a replica of his northern cabin, built with logs from the original structure.

George Mercer Dawson (1849–1901) A small man with a permanently bent spine due to a childhood case of tuberculosis, George Dawson proved to have a large ambition and a great spirit. He was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia and studied geology and palaeontology at McGill University. Dawson first travelled west in 1872 to work on the survey of the international boundary between the United States and Canada. After mapping the major mountains and mountain passes of the Canadian Rockies in 1883 and 1884, he undertook one of the most challenging trips of his career. In 1887, he led an expedition into what would become the Yukon Territory. He was interested in everything: local First Nations place names, regional plants and animals, and recent history — and he reported on everything he learned. A decade later, many Klondike stampeders appreciated the accuracy of his Yukon maps. George Dawson continues to be respected for his contributions to the geology, ethnology and archaeology of the Yukon. A plaque was unveiled in Dawson thanks to the efforts of the Klondyke Centennial Society and the sponsorship of the Hougen family.

Left, above: Marg Hougen and Whitehorse Mayor Bev Buckway at the unveiling of the Jack London bust, November 5, 2010. The plinth under the bust was sized so the total installation would equal Jack London’s actual height. Vince Federoff photo

Left, below: Marg at the unveiling of the George Dawson plaque on the Dawson City dike, June 14, 2003. 181

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Arts Underground and Hougen Heritage Gallery “Arts Underground is a wonderful example of how innovative partnerships made up of heritage, arts, youth and business support the creative connectivity of a community. Thank you to Rolf and Marg Hougen, who have invested significantly in the arts.” Elaine Taylor, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon, 2008

Right, above: Marg and Rolf with Ted Harrison during the opening of a display of more than 50 Harrison posters from the Hougen collection. The evening was also a benefit for the Ted Harrison Artist Retreat on Crag Lake. Right, below, L-R: Craig Hougen, MaryJane Warshawski, Rolf and Marg at the Business for the Arts Partnership award ceremony in Toronto, October 6, 2011. 182

Arts Underground occupies a 4,500-square-foot space (419 square metres) on the lower level of the Hougen Centre. This area had previously been occupied by retail space and offices. In 2004, Rolf and Marg donated the space to the Yukon arts community, donating the cost of utilities as well as $80,000 for renovations. The Yukon Arts Centre and Yukon Arts Society provided advice on the development of this space. It is operated by the Yukon Arts Society (YAS), an artist-driven non-profit group, and features artwork by the society’s 150 members. As well as holding individual and group art exhibits, YAS sells locally-made cards, prints and original Yukon artworks; it also operates The Cupboard, which retails art supplies to local artists. YAS sponsors a variety of workshops for both professional and would-be artists as well as demonstrations in the “Artists Down Under” program. Part of the space is dedicated to the Hougen Heritage Gallery. This area is co-managed by the Friends of the Yukon Archives Society and MacBride Museum. Notable displays have had themes such as Anglican Church history and a historic display on hockey in the Yukon, timed to coincide with the city’s Hockey Day in Canada event in 2011. The gallery has also featured the works of Yukon photographers such as E.J. Hamacher, James Quong and Rolf Hougen. In May 2008, Rolf and Marg extended their support of this worthy venue with a donation worth a million dollars. This donation will cover the cost of rent, utilities and other operating expenses for ten years. Two years later, they committed to installing a stair lift for people who have difficulty navigating the staircase. In May 2011, the Hougen Group of Companies received a Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Partnership Award in the category of Best Entrepreneurial Partnership. The Hougen consortium won for helping to create Arts Underground by donating the space and for its continued support of the Yukon Art Society.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Hougen family website If you Google a query about Whitehorse history, notable Yukoners or territorial milestones, chances are that one of the first links to appear will be a website hosted by the Hougen Group of Companies (www.hougengroup. com). This valuable resource, initially planned as a family record, has become much more than that. It is heavily used by researchers, historians and others interested in Yukon history from all over the world. It’s something I wanted to do. It started out as putting the site together to record the family and business history for the benefit of the grandchildren. Then I started to add to it. People looked at it and said they were very pleased with the little bit of history that was part of the family site. I then decided to make it into a full historic record of the Yukon and Whitehorse, in particular. Rolf Hougen, 2008

As well as documenting the various Hougen family business and personal activities, the website portrays a chronological history of the territory, showcases photographs from the Hamacher and Hougen collections and includes the mini articles known as Yukon Nuggets that were prepared by Les McLaughlin sponsored by Rolf. These vignettes, which were also aired on radio station CKRW and published in the online newsletter Moccasin Telegraph, feature an eclectic array of topics, from Buzzsaw Jimmy to morel mushrooms to the Yukon Coat of Arms.

Education Although neither Marg nor Rolf had the opportunity to attend university, both are strong supporters of the benefits of post-secondary education and believe that it should be available to all northerners. Their interest in the north and its history has resulted in a personal library of more than a thousand books about the Yukon and the north. Over the years, they have supported various measures to improve educational opportunities in the Yukon and to increase research about the territory and its resources.

183

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Yukon Research and Development Institute One of the institute’s first functions is to promote the economic development of the Yukon and to predict the likely economic and political developments ahead, enabling us to set goals. Rolf Hougen, quoted in the Edmonton Journal, 1965

… it was most helpful from the beginning to have the opportunity to meet and discuss facets of the Yukon economy with the several development-minded bodies in the Yukon. We refer particularly to meetings with the Council of the Yukon Territory, the Yukon Research and Development Institute, the Yukon Chamber of Mines and the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce. from D.W. Carr & Associates Ltd., The Yukon Economy: Its Potential for Growth and Continuity

One of the many volumes of the Carr Reports held by Energy, Mines and Resources Library in Whitehorse. Midnight Arts photo 184

Back in the early 1960s, there was no territorial agency for collecting and sharing useful economic information that would allow businesses and investors to plan ahead. Once again, Rolf saw a need and took the necessary steps to make things happen. On April 8, 1964, he addressed the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and outlined the need for a “Yukon Research, Planning and Development Commission.” The chamber supported the initiative and unanimously selected Rolf to chair the planning group. This was the beginning of the Yukon Research and Development Institute. This proposal was presented during a critical time for the territorial economy. A few days earlier, the responsibility for Alaska Highway maintenance had been transferred from the Canadian Army to the federal Department of Public Works. As a result, Whitehorse was about to lose hundreds of residents as military personnel and their families departed. This would have serious economic ramifications for a territorial population of less than 15,000. The post-war mining boom was subsiding. Likewise, construction had peaked after the completion of several major projects, such as the new federal building, new schools, a hospital and the major new subdivision of Riverdale. Rolf invited a cross section of Yukoners to serve on the board. Justice John Parker, a federally-appointed judge of the territorial court (now Supreme Court of Yukon), was elected the first chairman of the institute on June 22, 1964. The directors were Leo Proctor, Boris Styba, John Scott, Arnie Phillipson, Jim Smith, Pat Callison and Rolf Hougen.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Eventually Parker resigned, fearing a perception of conflict of interest, and Rolf took over the Chair position. In 1965, the institute announced the first comprehensive survey of Yukon government revenues and expenditures. Eventually, the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development provided assistance to the institute to help it carry out a thorough economic study. In 2007, Rolf shared his recollections of this time: We had no economic data in the Yukon. There were no people compiling information or statistics. We engaged an economic research firm out of Winnipeg, called D. W. Carr and Associates and they produced two volumes, two inches thick, of economic studies about the Yukon. That report predicted, I think, that by 1985 the Yukon would have a population of 50,000. We didn’t achieve it, but that report was a forerunner of getting some Yukon statistical data before the government itself established an economic department. We closed down once the government took over and became active in this field. Fittingly, when the institute was dismantled, its funds were transferred to the Yukon Foundation, another worthy organization that Rolf helped found.

University of Canada North Where university programming has been made available in the North, it has only resulted in good. The large turnover in teachers and nurses in most parts of the North was highly problematic until teacher and nursing programs began to be offered to northerners in the North. Now, in many communities, northerners are teaching and caring for themselves. Heather Exner-Pirot, “Does Canada Need a University of the North?� July 2011

Attaining higher education has always been a challenge for northerners, particularly the indigenous residents of small communities. Some rural students in the Yukon still have to move to Whitehorse to complete high school. In order to attend university, students had to leave the territory and go to a large city such as Edmonton or Vancouver, or to Alaska.

In 1991, Commissioner Ken McKinnon and his wife Judy hosted a dinner for all Yukon recipients of the Order of Canada. Clockwise from bottom L: ? , Charlie Taylor, G.I. Cameron, Nicky Harrison, James Smith, Marg, ? , Rolf Hougen, Dorothy Smith, Art Christensen and Betty Taylor. 185

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

In 1969, Richard Rohmer attempted to address this issue and advanced the concept of University of Canada North (UCN). Rohmer has had an extensive and varied career: retired major-general, lawyer, adviser to businesses and the Ontario government, and writer of numerous books of fiction and non-fiction. He proposed a grassroots organization, the University of Canada North, made up of prominent residents from the Yukon and Northwest Territories, whose mission was to found a university in the north for northerners. In 2007, Rolf described his role: Richard Rohmer asked if I would be the chairman of the Yukon part of the University of Canada North. And Dick Hill of Inuvik [director of the Inuvik research laboratory for 33 years and the town’s first mayor] was asked to be chairman of the Northwest Territories’ part. Our concept was to establish a full-fledged university somewhere in the north. Of course, Whitehorse was favoured by me, and Yellowknife and Hay River and Fort Smith wanted it to be there. I finally took the position that maybe Inuvik would be the best place. It’s sort of halfway between.

Right, above: In October 1970, NWT and Yukon delegates met in Inuvik for the inaugural meeting to form UCN. At the table, Dick Hill, NWT Chairman, Rolf Hougen, Yukon Chairman and Richard Rohmer, the driving force behind the idea. Right, below; seated, L-R: Dick Hill, Rolf Hougen, Addy Tobac, Renée Alford, Phoebe Nahanni. Standing L-R: George Erasmus, ? (behind Erasmus), unidentified priest, Mike Smith, John Hoyt, Ron Chambers, Dr. Noah Carpenter, Garth Graham, Aubrey Tanner, Ken McKinnon. 186

We met in Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Inuvik, Fort Smith and Hay River. We had many meetings in order to develop this whole concept. We had a lot of support and many of the First Nations people, both Inuit and Indian, participated in it. I got to know many people from the Northwest Territories as a result. There was support from the Yukon and the Northwest Territories governments, but, in the end, we couldn’t get federal support and the concept faded away. By the mid 1980s, the dream had died. The territories were focused on building their community colleges and links with other institutions. Rolf now feels that higher education will be best attained through the evolution of community colleges such as Yukon College.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

The Yukon Foundation “When you retire to Grey Mountain (Cemetery), you’re soon forgotten … If a fund is established in your name, then your memory will go on in perpetuity …. If people have lived well in the Yukon, they want to give something back.” Rolf Hougen in Yukon News, December 5, 2005

Until 1980, if Yukon residents had no immediate family and died without a will, their estate eventually reverted to the federal government. In the late 1970s, after a discussion with Whitehorse Mayor Howard Firth, Rolf learned that the territory did not have an organization that could accept the proceeds of an estate for the benefit of the Yukon. Rolf took the lead in establishing a new foundation, based on the model of the Vancouver Foundation. This new organization provided a means to invest in the territory’s future by supporting worthy projects and scholarships. Rolf invited 16 other longtime Yukoners to become founding members and to contribute $100 each to give the new foundation its start. They were: Ione Christensen, CM; Laurent Cyr; Belle Desrosiers; William L. Drury; Bob Erlam; Thomas P. Firth; Chuck Halliday; Lorraine Joe; Roy Minter, CM; Erik Nielsen, PC, QC; Willard Phelps; Gordon Ryder; James Smith, OC; Dr. Aubrey Tanner; Charlie Taylor, CM and Flo Whyard, CM. The Yukon Foundation has three main objectives: to promote educational advancement and scientific or medical research for the enhancement of human knowledge; to provide support intended to contribute to the mental, cultural and physical well-being of residents of Yukon; and to promote the cultural heritage of Yukon. The foundation’s managers are responsible for managing and investing its assets. The principal remains intact; only the interest earned on bequests is distributed. In 1995, the foundation had 35 funds and 600,000 dollars. As of December 2010, the foundation had six million dollars in holdings and administered 140 different funds. Over the years, the foundation has grown, thanks to donations from corporations, government, estates, individuals and the assets of defunct nonprofit organizations which, by law, can be passed on only to another non-profit group.

Left, above: Three founding members of Yukon Foundation and spouses, December 1980. L–R: Margaret Hougen, Chairman Rolf Hougen, Vice-Chair Ione Christensen, Treasurer Chuck Halliday, Aline Halliday. Missing: Secretary Jim Smith. Left, below: Roy Minter presents a cheque to Rolf to establish the Minter fund, 1986. 187

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

For more than 30 years, the Yukon Foundation has supported Yukoners with scholarships and funded a host of projects to assist in heritage, culture, beautification and scientific research. More than 1,500 Yukon university students, athletes and organizations had been awarded grants totalling more than one million dollars. Today, Rolf remains the honorary Chair of the foundation; his daughter Karen Hougen-Bell is one of the directors and vice-chair. Verna Hart, the daughter of Charlie and Betty Taylor, is currently serving as the foundation chair. Kim Tanner, the daughter of Rolf’s good friend and fellow founding member Dr. Aubrey Tanner, serves as elected treasurer and investment chair. The Hougen Family Fund supports a scholarship and/or project for “the scholarly study, preservation, and enhancement of historical and cultural activities related to the life and progress of the Yukon.”

Chancellorship of Yukon College

Right, above: In 1991, Rolf and Marg Hougen presented Yukon Foundation chair Jim Smith with a cheque for $10,000. Foundation director Gudrun Sparling and one of the founding members, Roy Minter, look on. Flo Whyard photo

Near right, below: The newly appointed chancellor wearing his chain of office. Archbould Photography

Far right, below: Yukon College President Dr. Terry Weninger, Chancellor Rolf Hougen and Vice-president Dr. Karen Barnes congratulate Mary Jane Allison, a graduate of the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program, 2010. Archbould Photography 188

After more than 60 years of serving on various volunteer boards and committees, Rolf could be forgiven for deciding to forego yet another responsibility when he was asked to take on the post of Chancellor of Yukon College. The chancellor acts as the public face of the college at various public and private events, hands out diplomas and certificates at graduation time and “provides community perspective to the Board.” After a little nudging from Marg, however, Rolf reconsidered and accepted the position in 2008, succeeding elder Sam Johnston. Mr. Johnston is a former chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council; when he was elected as a territorial Member of the Legislative Assembly, he became the first person of aboriginal descent in Canada to be appointed Speaker of the House. At Rolf’s induction ceremony in September 2008, Mr. Johnston presented Rolf with the ornate chain of office created by Yukon artist Fred Edzerza. Since then, Rolf has enjoyed participating in graduation ceremonies and sharing some words of wisdom with the graduates.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Awards and honours One could easily assume that a host of different people must have been responsible for collecting the many citations, honours and awards that Rolf has received over the years. Over the past quarter century, Rolf and the Hougen organization have been recognized for achievements in business, volunteerism, philanthropy and community service. (Most of these awards are listed in Appendix 3). Here is a sampling of these honours. At a special ceremony in Rideau Hall, Governor-General Mme. Jeanne Sauvé recognized Rolf Hougen’s achievements with the award of Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1992, the French government recognized Rolf’s many years of service as Honorary Consul for France in the Yukon by naming him as an Officier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit). The National Order of Merit was created by the French government in 1963 and ranks behind only the Légion d’Honneur, created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. The three levels of the Order are Chevalier, Officier and Commandeur.

Left, above: Rolf is a member of La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, an international wine organization based in Burgundy, France. Left, centre: Rolf was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1987. Near left, below, L-R: Officer of the Order of Canada, 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (this medal honours Canadians who have a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, to their community or to Canada), Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee medal, Officer of the Order of National Merit — France. Far left, below: In 1992 the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous awarded Rolf an honorary lifetime membership for 28 years of outstanding service. 189

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

Building community “The big thing with Mom and Dad has always been looking towards what is good for the Yukon. He’s made a very good living being a businessman in the Yukon but his goal wasn’t just to be in business in the Yukon, it was what he could contribute to make the Yukon a better place.” Maureen Nielsen, 2006

Right, above and centre: Part of the May Day parade organized by the Young People’s Association,May 24, 1948. YA 82/346 #87 and #84

Right, below: Santa with one of his biggest fans. YA 2009/81 #225

190

Since his teenage years, Rolf contributed to the Whitehorse social scene through his work with the Young People’s Association, then the Whitehorse Winter Carnival and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous. Rolf linked the Yukon to the rest of Canada and the world with the company he founded, Cancom Ltd. Using an innovative satellite broadcast technology, this enterprise delivered Canadian broadcast services to the north and remote communities across the country. His initiative to “Save the White Pass” forced the owners to reconsider scrapping the historic railway and prompted them to turn it into a popular and profitable summer tourism operation. The Hougens still regret the loss of two of the Yukon’s heritage treasures, the Whitehorse and the Casca. Rolf had enlisted broad community support to preserve these two riverboats and the Hougens were among the many people who grieved when the vessels burned in June 1974. Through his service with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and numerous local, national and international boards, Rolf always promoted the interests of the Yukon.

Chapter 8: The Hougen legacy

The Family Undoubtedly, Rolf and Marg would agree that their greatest legacy is a work in progress: their six children and 18 grandchildren. The love of Marg and Rolf for their family is evident in many ways — not just their financial generosity, sponsoring the wonderful multi-family world travels, but the many ways in which they share their time. Although for several years the whole family experienced the “trips of a lifetime,” the clan also manages frequent get-togethers throughout the year. Rolf, the doting grandfather, not only documents the past of Whitehorse and the Yukon but also its future. Every mention of a grandchild in a local newspaper — be it on a sports team or for an academic award — has been clipped by Marg, then underlined, copied and saved in binders organized by year. One has the sense that Rolf is every bit as proud of the child in the school choir or scoring on a basketball team as he ever was of his own numerous accomplishments. Throughout the history of the Yukon, many prominent individuals and families have been recognized for their contributions to the economic and social make-up of the territory. For some, the recognition was due to a singular event, such as striking it rich in the goldfields. For others, it was because of the prodigious size and longevity of their families. But rarely has there been such a combination of personal achievements and enduring influence on the economic and cultural fabric of the Yukon as has been attained by Rolf Hougen and his family. Rolf has managed not only to develop an enduring commercial legacy that has been maintained and broadened by his children, but to touch many aspects of daily life in the Yukon. His contribution to the territory’s daily well-being may be unmatched by any other individual in Yukon history. Whether people are shopping at a Hougen store, watching television, listening to radio, researching Whitehorse history, attending Yukon College or enjoying artwork, they are experiencing part of the legacy of a remarkable man, Rolf Hougen, supported and inspired by his life partner, Marg.

“The grandkids have the same amount of respect as we did as kids for Mom and Dad. The thought of disappointing them would be traumatic … In the big picture, family is the most important thing.” Greta Gray, 2006

Rolf and Marg with 17 grandchildren by the Yukon River near the S.S. Klondike in 1998. The eighteenth grandchild, Sarah Hougen, was born in 1999. 191

Patrick Bell in Morocco, 2009 during a school trip from Neuch창tel, Switzerland. Kai Nielsen, airborne in Oslo, 2008. Over the years, he has helped coach volleyball and basketball, volunteered with Big Brothers, and has travelled to Guatemala to do volunteer work. Patrick Bell and Kai Nielsen frolicking at Quiet Lake in 2009.

Connor and Brooke Nielsen fishing at Jo-Jo Lake, west of Whitehorse, in August 2009.

Mason Gray won an award at the Yukon Fish & Game Association annual wild game banquet in January 2009 for this lake trout.

The grandkids scramble all over Amsterdam in 2008. This photo was taken in front of the Rijksmuseum.

192

PJ Bell taking horseback riding lessons from the Sumaniks, 2008.

the next generation Patrick Bell surfing in Hawaii.

Cody Hougen posing with a dall ram in 2011 while hunting with Jared and Kelly in the southwest Yukon. Cody has a business degree from University of Alberta.

Michael Hougen and friends leaping from the deck of The Explorer, a 60-foot sailboat owned by Craig and Mary-Jane.

Melina Hougen on a hunt in the mountains near Long Lake. Melina is studying at Yukon College.

Logan Gray playing on the Yukon basketball team at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

Myles and Tanner Hougen wearing t-shirts from their new clothing company, Red Cup Apparel.

Brooke Nielsen spent two years at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, B.C., where she advanced her equestrian skills. 193

Alexis Hougen has been attending Shawnigan Lake School for Grades 11 and 12.

Erik Gray graduated from Dalhousie University and is teaching English in South Korea. L-R, front: Mason Gray, Tanner Hougen, Alexis Hougen, Jenna Hougen; back: Logan Gray, Connor Nielsen, Erik Gray and Melina Hougen at CKRW on September 14, 2004.

Michael Hougen rides at Craig and Mary-Jane’s farm on the Hot Springs road. After taking French Immersion, he is now at St. George’s School in Vancouver.

Jenna Hougen, a French Immersion student, loves to travel. Here she poses for a caricature on one of her trips.

The hot tub at Quiet Lake. Clockwise from front: Jared Hougen, Fraser Gray, Mason Gray, Erik Temple, Kai Nielsen, Logan Gray and Erik Gray.

PJ Bell and Brooke Nielsen parasailing in Hawaii, 2006.

194

Sarah Hougen with Poppy. Sarah spends much of her time feeding, training and riding her equine buddy.

Connor, Brooke and Kai Nielsen during a cruise in the Baltic Sea prior to visiting Norway, 2009.

Tanner Hougen is attending UBC-Okanagan in Kelowna in the Faculty of Management 2011.

Fraser Gray graduated with Honours from the University of Alberta. He is working in the medical research lab at the university.

A picture of Myles Hougen taken for Dalhousie Magazine, winter 2011, for a story about family business in his Innovation and Entrepreneurship studies in the Faculty of Management.

Jared Hougen poses with his father after bagging his first caribou, August 2011. Jared is studying at the University of British Columbia.

Paris, France 2003. After a formal reception at the Canadian Ambassador’s residence, the grandchildren delighted in sliding down the Champs-Élysées in the rain.

195

A Hougen family scrapbook After taking thousands of photographs and amassing just as many memories, Rolf found it difficult to set a limit on the number of photos that could be put in this book. In this section, Rolf and Marg share a selection of photos that celebrate their friends, travels and happy family times.

Wind vane at Quiet Lake.

The Yukon Progressive Conservative delegation met with Robert Stanfield in Ottawa, March 18, 1974. L–R: ? , Con Lattin, Debbie Kelly, Fred Metcalfe, Ms. Lindsay, Rolf Hougen, Helen Couch, Robert Stanfield, Marg Hougen, Bev Whitehouse, Erik Nielsen, Flo Whyard, Bob Campbell.

A venerable Model T from the Rendezvous parade, 1973. L–R: Erik at wheel, Greta, Marg, Karen and Rolf. YA 2010/91 #182

Executive of the Yukon Fish & Game Association, 1953. L–R: Lloyd Dunbar, Vice-president; Frank Mikusch, President; Rolf Hougen, Secretary; Charlie Rosenburg, Treasurer.

Marg and Rolf all dressed up for the 1953 New Year’s Ball. Marg Hougen and Betty Taylor at the Commissioner’s Ball in Dawson City, 1986. 197

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Friends

Diana and George Van Roggen, 1957. Following George Black and “Deacon” Phelps, George was the first lawyer to hang up his shingle in Whitehorse after World War II.

Jeanie and Hank Maddison dining at the Hougen home, November 18, 1975. The back wall is stocked with the Hougens’ collection of liqueurs from all over the world.

Doris and Dr. Gordon Harris, 1955. After living a few years in Whitehorse, Gordon Harris went on to become an ophthalmologist.

Above: The Morrow family in Vancouver, 1961. L–R: Patti, Dr. Des, Lisa, Ruth and Michael. Another daughter, Jane, was born later.

P.J. and Erik Nielsen just before the New Year’s Ball in the RCAF Officers Mess, 1956.

Above: The Choate family, 1965. L–R: Joyce, Nancy, Gordon and Bob.

Left: The Nielsen family, 1961. L–R: Erik, Roxanne, Pamela June (P.J.), Lee and Rick in front. 198

The Tanner family, Christmas 1971. L–R, back: Jill, Mark and Kim; Trix centre; front: Aubrey and Peg.

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Above: In October 1979, Rolf and Marg hosted Jean and Mme. Mommessin of Mâcon, France and their daughter Isabelle during a visit to Whitehorse. The family became great friends during the Hougens’ year in Europe, 1976–77.

The Marcoux family, 1972. L–R: Stewart, Shirley, Guy, Maureen, Michael and Renée.

Left: The Hudson family, 1971. L–R: Kim, Buzz, Jan, Patrick, Tammy and Laurie. The Buchan family, 1971. L- R: Brent, Niki, Bill, Lesley and Keith.

Roxanne Nielsen’s graduation from the RCMP academy in Regina, February 1980. L–R: Rolf, Erik, Roxanne, Marg, Lee and Rick.

Left: Two old friends. This was taken at the Nielsen home in Kelowna when Rolf and Marg were visiting Erik and Shelley in 2006.

Right: Bill and Jeri Weigand during a lunch in Steveston, 2010.

Above: L–R: Marg, Johnnie Helm and Dr. Rennie Helm, Christmas 1974.

199

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Quiet Lake Left: After the Hougens returned from France in 1977, the two daughters of their friends, Jacqueline and Alain Blaise, came for a visit. This photo was taken during a fishing trip at Quiet Lake in 1978.

Right: Toni Onley and his wife Yukiko spent some time with the Hougens at Quiet Lake in August 1990.

Marg and Roy Minter at Quiet Lake, 1975.

In 1985 and 1986, Erik Nielsen held the post of federal Minister of National Defence. Here, he is holidaying at Quiet Lake with his wife Shelley.

Ideal fishing conditions. David Crombie, former Toronto mayor and later federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, visited Quiet Lake in 1985. 200

Nicky and Ted Harrison at Quiet Lake, 1982. Harry and Hazel Nixon fishing at Quiet Lake. At left is Jeri Weigand with Marg and Rolf.

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Family

The Hougen and Tanner families spent Christmas 1973 at the north tip of Kauai, Hawaii.

The family boating on Marsh Lake, June 1968.

Grand opening of Hougen’s Ltd. store expansion, 1968. L–R: Maureen, Kelly, Karen, Erik (front), Craig and Greta.

Marg (right) with her sisters Rosalyn Nielson and Anne Biollo, attending the wedding of Ro’s daughter in Winnipeg, 1978. Kelly (left) and Craig (third from left) with the Christ the King High School volleyball team, 1969.

Kelly with Ray Chrétien skinning his first moose in the Hougen basement, 1971.

A fishing trip to Kusawa Lake with Craig and Kelly in 1970.

Marg and grandchildren at the 1998 Sourdough Rendezvous dog races.

201

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Travel Marg and Katy Bacon in Wenceslaus Square, Prague in 1986. The Hougens spent a week visiting Ambassador Terry Bacon and his wife during the time of the Communist regime. During a 1972 tour of China, the Hougens visited Shanghai, Nanking (shown here) and Beijing. On a trip to Martinique in 1972, Rolf and Marg arranged to go fishing with a local fisherman, who set his traps far from shore. Marg purchases some embroidery from an artisan in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, 1974.

Duck hunting in Viking, Alberta, 1975. L–R: Edge King, Rolf Hougen, Fred Kaye, Joe Vachon, Bob Choate, Gordon Cameron and Charles McLean.

Marg and Rolf rented bikes for a tour of the dikes and windmills in Amsterdam during a Ford-sponsored trip to Europe, July 1994.

During his term as a trustee of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Marg and Rolf hiked a trail on Brackman Island, B.C. in 1976. Sailing from St. Lucia to Grenada with Craig and MJ, 1995. 202

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

In 1997, as guests of Alain Gourd, Rolf and Marg dined at Bistro Champlain, Sainte-Marguerite at the world’s largest large-format wine cellar, owned by Dr. Champlain Charest. Bernard Lamarre and Charles Belanger were also guests.

After a week in Dubai in 2010, Rolf and Marg sailed on the Queen Victoria to London via Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Athens and Rome. This photo was taken in Petra, Jordan. In 1998, the Hougens took a boat down the Guilin River north of Beihai to watch the ancient practice of night-fishing with cormorants.

Getting a trim in Beihai, China in 1998. A one-and-a-half-hour haircut, including head, eye and shoulder massage cost seven dollars. Following a game of bocci at Umberto’s cooking school in Italy, Umberto Menghi poses with Marg and Rolf in 1995.

For two nights, the Hougens were guests of the Chair of Economic Development and the Vice-Chair of Beihai. L–R, standing: Madame Li Shuqin, Bill Weigand, Zeng Yibo, Bob Choate, Rolf, Des Morrow, Jim Bell; seated, L–R: interpreter Hu Xiao Yan, Joyce Choate, Marg, Karen Hougen-Bell, Jeri Weigand. In 2004, after a few days in Paris, the Hougen clan took a train to Castelnaudary, where they rented four barges for a trip down the Canal du Midi to Cap d’Agde on the Riviera. Moving a barge through a canal boat lock.

On this 2011 trip, Rolf and Marg, travelling with Erik and Kim, spent one week in St. Petersburg, one week on the canal-river-lake boat to Moscow, and one week in Moscow. 203

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Our Yukon Life

Hougen’s staff all decked out for Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, 1975. Every December, a series of board meetings were held with shareholders of the various Hougen companies. Clockwise from front L: Bob Choate, Karen Hougen-Bell, Craig Hougen, Stephen Phillips, Rolf, Erik Hougen, Wyatt Selyeh, Ken McKinnon and Bert Wybrew.

Hougen’s Ltd. sponsored the Irish Rovers to play in Whitehorse two or three times. Here, Will Millar teaches Erik to play guitar in 1970.

Al Oster received the Commissioner’s Award on July 1, 2006. Al and Hank Karr played in the Hougen home after the presentation, Yukon Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell looks on.

Les McLaughlin, CBC producer, storyteller and the producer of “Yukon Nuggets,” with Logan and Greta in 2005 during one of his frequent trips back to the Yukon. Gordie Tapp, former star of the Hee Haw television series, visited Whitehorse several times as a representative for Yamaha musical instruments. He and Helen Tapp became good friends with the Hougens.

Marg and Rolf with master carver Keith Wolfe Smarch, 2005. 204

Hougen’s staff picnic at Marsh Lake, summer 1975.

A Hougen Family Scrapbook

Former Consul General of France Jean-Yves Defay and his wife MarieNoëlle visited the Hougens at Quiet Lake in 2005.

Bert Lahr with Rolf in Hougen’s Sportslodge, 1962. Mr. Lahr was starring in a production of “Foxy” at the newly-renovated Palace Grand during the Dawson City Gold Rush Festival.

Magnus Hougen visited his Whitehorse family in 1944. After serving in the RCAF during World War II, he logged in the Burns Lake area. In the 1950s, he moved to the Yukon with his wife Marjorie and their son Brent.

The Castagner family in 1980. L–R: Richelle, Trevor, Linnea and Al. Linnea is Swanie’s daughter and a niece to Rolf and Marg.

Winter ice and storms make it difficult to keep a dock in place at Quiet Lake. The Hougen children helping to build a new one, 1970.

Christmas morning, 1992. Every Christmas Eve, the Hougens host friends; on Christmas morning, the family gathers to open presents and have brunch. Marg with Leslie Nielsen, 1992. Mr. Nielsen was visiting the Yukon as part of the Alaska Highway 50th Anniversary celebrations.

In September 1981, Marg and Rolf hosted a reception for three artists. L–R: Jeri Weigand, Bill Weigand, Lilias Farley, Nicky Harrison, Jeanie Maddison, Marg, Maurice Haycock, Ted Harrison, Hank Maddison, Flo Whyard and Jim Whyard. 205

Appendix 1. The Hougen Family in Yukon Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Rolf was born in Tatalrose (Burns Lake), British Columbia on 17 December 1928. He married Margaret Kieboom (Van Dyke) Hougen in Edmonton, Alberta on 3 May 1955. Marg was born 21 November 1929. Craig Stephen Hougen (b. 18 March 1956) Married Mary-Jane Warshawski, 13 August 1993 Mary-Jane was born 28 February 1963 Michael Christopher Hougen

(b. 10 October 1996) Sarah Margaret Hougen

(b. 8 April 1999) Kelly Rolf Hougen (b. 6 August 1957)

Married Heather (Chambers) Hougen 25 April 1987 Heather was born 25 April 1961 Jared Alexander Hougen

(b. 16 March 1988) Cody James Hougen

(b. 26 October 1989) Melina Mary Margaret Hougen

(b. 29 March 1991) Alexis Belle Hougen

(b. 23 June 1994) Karen Margaret (Hougen) Hougen-Bell (b. June 19 1960)

Married James “Jim” William Stanley Bell 13 May 1989 Jim was born 8 December 1955 Patrick Rolf Bell

(b. 10 June 1990) Pamela-Jane “PJ” Elizabeth Bell

(b. 5 April 1992)

206

1. Kai Nielsen 2. Alexis Hougen 3. Sarah Hougen 4. Mason Gray 5. Myles Hougen 6. Jenna Hougen 7. Pamela-June Bell 8. Jared Hougen 9. Cody Hougen 10. Fraser Gray 11. Connor Nielsen 12. Logan Gray 13. Melina Hougen 14. Erik Gray 15. Brooke Nielsen 16. Patrick Bell 17. Tanner Hougen 18. Michael Hougen

Appendix 1. The Hougen Family in Yukon

Erik Myles Hougen (b. 20 February 1962)

Married Kim Lee (Kozmeniuk) Hougen 28 June 1986 Kim was born 7 November 1962 Myles Rolf Hougen

(b. 20 December 1990) Tanner James Hougen

(b. 7 October 1992) Jenna Glee Hougen

(b. 21 May 1995) Greta Glee (Hougen) Gray (b. 3 May 1963)

Married Robert “Bob” Wilfrid Gray 9 August 1986 Bob was born 1 October 1957 Erik Robert Gray

(b. 21 April 1988) Fraser James Gray

(b. 28 August 1989) Logan Michael Gray

(b. 1 July 1992) Mason Douglas Gray

(b. 7 November 1994) Maureen Anne (Hougen) Nielsen (b. 4 July 1965) Married Erik Rolf “Rick” Nielsen 20 June 1987 Rick was born 20 February 1954 Connor Scott Nielsen

1. Rick Nielsen 2. Bob Gray 3. Jim Bell 4. Maureen Nielsen 5. Marg Hougen 6. Rolf Hougen 7. Erik Hougen 8. Heather Hougen 9. Kelly Hougen 10. Pamela-June Bell 11. Jenna Hougen 12. Karen Hougen 13. Kim Hougen 14. Sarah Hougen 15. Alexis Hougen 16. Greta Gray 17. Kai Nielsen 18. Logan Gray 19. Connor Nielsen 20. Mason Gray 21. Fraser Gray 22. Myles Hougen 23. Cody Hougen 24. M.J. Warshawski 25. Craig Hougen 26. Jared Hougen 27. Michael Hougen 28. Tanner Hougen 29. Patrick Bell 30. Brooke Nielsen 31. Erik Gray 32. Melina Hougen

(b. 9 December 1988) Kai Erik Nielsen

(b. 1 February 1990) Brooke Pamela June Nielsen

(b. 29 June 1992)

207

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Haugen, was born 6 Apr 1883 in Haugen,

christened 13 May 1883 in Evje and died 11 Feb 1977 in Canada age 93. • Travel to Canada, 1 May 1907.

First generation 1. Rolf Blakstad Hougen, son of Bernt Tarjeison Haugen and Margrethe Blakstad Haugen, was born

17 Dec 1928. Rolf married Marg Van Dyke Hougen 3 May 1955. Children from this marriage: i. Craig Stephen Hougen was born 18 Mar 1956. ii. Kelly Rolf Hougen was born 6 Aug 1957. iii. Karen Margaret Hougen Bell was born 19 Jun 1960. iv. Erik Myles Hougen was born 20 Feb 1962. v. Greta Glee Hougen Gray was born 3 May 1963. vi. Maureen Anne Hougen Nielsen was born 4 Jul 1965.

Second generation (parents) 2. Bernt Tarjeison Haugen [Berent Hougen], son of Tarjei Bjørgulvson Haugen and Siri Berntsdatter

Bernt married Margrethe Blakstad Haugen 17 Sep 1914. Children from this marriage: i. Thelmer Knute Hougen was born 3 Jan 1916 and died 1 August 2001 age 85. ii. Odin Blakstad Hougen was born 7 Aug 1917 and died 6 Dec 2007 age 90. iii. Magnus Bjoern Hougen was born 29 Apr 1919 and died 19 Nov 1974 age 55. iv. Swanhild Aurora Hougen Christopherson was born 1 Dec 1920. v. Borghild Margrethe Hougen Gee was born 25 Feb 1923 and died 7 May 2010 age 87. vi. Einar Blakstad Hougen was born 12 Jun 1924 and died 5 Mar 1959 age 34. vii. Rolf Blakstad Hougen (1). 3. Margrethe Blakstad Haugen, daughter of Ole Samuelsen Blakstad and Marthea Samuelsen Tingstveit, was born 10 Feb 1893 in N. Blakstad,

Froland, Aust-Agder, christened 5 Mar 1893 and died 3 Jul 1986 in Canada age 93. Margrethe married Bernt Tarjeison Haugen 17 Sep 1914.

Kaia Gundersen, Berent’s sister

Third generation (grandparents) 4. Tarjei Bjørgulvson Haugen, son of Bjørgulf Eivindson Uppstad and Sigrid Olsdatter Tveiten,

was born 26 May 1839 in Brokke, christened 16 Jun 1839 in Valle and died 14 Apr 1923 in Ordale age 83. Tarjei married Siri Berntsdatter Haugen 7 Jul 1865 in Evje.

208

Children from this marriage: i. Siri (Sarah) Tarjeisdatter Haugen Senum was born 16 May 1866 in Haugen, christened 17 Jun 1866 and died 1957 in Ordale age 91. ii. Bjørgulf Tarjeison Haugen was born 25 Nov 1868 in Åneland and christened 25 Dec 1868 in Evje. iii. Kirsti Tarjeisdatter Haugen Senum was born 29 Feb 1872 in Åneland, christened 31 Mar 1872 in Evje and died 1941 in Ordale age 69. iv. Hans Tarjeison Haugen was born 17 Oct 1874 in Skjeggestad, christened 15 Nov 1874 in Evje and died 1961 in Haugen age 87. v. Ingeborg (Emma) Haugen Thompson was born 23 Jul 1877 in Haugen, christened 26 Aug 1877 in Evje and died 1951 in Canada age 74. vi. Kari (Kaia) Tarjeisdatter Haugen Gundersen was born 9 Jul 1880 in Haugen and christened 8 Aug 1880 in Evje. vii. Bernt Tarjeison Haugen (2). 5. Siri Berntsdatter Haugen], daughter of Bernt Osmundson Haugen and Kirsti Madsdatter Syrtveit Haugen, born 2 May 1841 in Haugen and died 23

Nov 1923 in Ordale age 82. Siri married Tarjei Bjørgulvson Haugen 7 Jul 1865 in Evje. 6. Ole Samuelsen Blakstad.

Ole married Marthea Samuelsen Tingstveit. The child from this marriage: i. Margrethe Blakstad Haugen (3) 7. Marthea Samuelsen Tingstveit.

Marthea married Ole Samuelsen Blakstad.

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Fourth generation (great-grandparents) 8. Bjørgulf Eivindson Uppstad, son of Eivind Tarjeison Kvosåk Nomeland and Ingebjørg Drengsdatter Røysland, born 1789, died 25 Feb

1866 age 77 and buried 15 Mar 1866. Bjørgulf married Sigrid Olsdatter Tveiten 13 Apr 1819 in Brokke. Children from this marriage: i. Ingebjørg Bjørgulvsdtr Gautestad was born 1819 and died 1903 age 84. ii. Gyro Bjørgulvsdtr Skomedal was born 1823 and died 1915 age 92. iii. Eivind Bjørgulvson Landsverk was born 1825 and died 1910 age 85. iv. Olav Bjørgulvson was born 1828 and died 1846 age 18. v. Knut Bjørgulvson Uppstad was born 15 Jul 1831 in Brokke i Valle, christened 28 Aug 1831 and died 1895 age 64. vi. Svein Bjørgulvson Myhola was born 13 Nov 1836 in Valle, christened 20 Nov 1836 in Valle and died 1903 age 67. vii. Tarjei Bjørgulvson Haugen (4). 9. Sigrid Olsdatter Tveiten, daughter of Olav Knutson Tveiten and Gyro Gunnulfsdatter Kvestad,

was born 1799, christened 17 Apr 1799 and died 1 Feb 1862 age 63.

Steinsland, was born 1751, christened 13 Feb 1751 and died 14 Jun 1795 age 44.

Sigrid married Bjørgulf Eivindson Uppstad 13 Apr 1819 in Brokke.

General notes: Lived in Nomeland until 1788, at which time he traded with Telleiv Torjusson Uppstad and obtained Uppstad. He paid 400 daler. They moved to Uppstad on 11 April 1788.

10. Bernt Osmundson Haugen, son of Osmund Hansen Haugen Aasland and Siri Berntsdatter Galteland, born 2 Mar 1806 in Kristiansand, died 21 Mar 1895 age 89 and buried 6 Apr 1895.

Eivind married Ingebjørg Drengsdatter Røysland 3 May 1774.

General notes: 1821: Confirmation, Berent Osmundsen Haugen

The child from this marriage: i. Bjørgulf Eivindson Uppstad (8).

Bernt married Kirsti Madsdatter Syrtveit Haugen.

17. Ingebjørg Drengsdatter Røysland, daughter of Dreng Bjørgulvson Røysland and Gunvor Torleivsdtr Dale Røysland, was born 1754, christened 10 Mar

Children from this marriage: i. Osmund Berntsen Haugen was born 1832, died 20 Apr 1833 age 1 and buried 29 Apr 1833. ii. Osmund Berntsen Haugen was born Mar 1834, died 16 Jun 1834 and buried 19 Jun 1834. iii. Osmund Berntsen Haugen was born 1836 in Flåt, died 9 Aug 1917 in Haugen age 81 and buried 13 Aug 1917 in Evje. iv. Siri Berntsdatter Haugen (5). v. Anne Berntsdatter Haugen was born 18 Apr 1847 and died 1922 age 75. vi. Siri Berntsdatter Klemmetsen was born 8 Apr 1849 and died 1938 age 89. 11. Kirsti Madsdatter Syrtveit Haugen, daughter of Mads Knudssen and Siri Nottosdatter, was born 26

Marthea Tingstveit Blakstad (1870–99), Margrethe Hougen’s mother.

Dec 1805, died 24 May 1894 age 88 and buried 1 Jun 1894. Kirsti married Bernt Osmundson Haugen.

Fifth generation (great great-grandparents)

1754 and died 22 Apr 1814 age 60. Ingebjørg married Eivind Tarjeison Kvosåk Nomeland 3 May 1774. 18. Olav Knutson Tveiten, son of Knut Olavson Tveiten and Sigrid Bjørnsdtr Haugen Tveiten, was

christened 24 Aug 1758 and died 5 Oct 1837 age 79. General Notes: Policeman, Eidsvoll man (1814 Constitution Assembly of “politicians”)

Samuel Blakstad (born 1830), Margrethe Hougen’s paternal grandfather.

16. Eivind Tarjeison Kvosåk Nomeland, son of Tarjei Torsson Nomeland and Gro Lidvarsdatter 209

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Olav married Gyro Gunnulfsdatter Kvestad 1 May 1783 in Valle.

Siri married Osmund Hansen Haugen Aasland 9 Apr 1799 in Evje.

The child from this marriage: i. Sigrid Olsdatter Tveiten (9).

22. Mads Knudssen, son of Knud and Kirsti Jonsdatter, was born 1777, died 13 Mar 1845 age

19. Gyro Gunnulfsdatter Kvestad, daughter of Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad and Jorun Bjørnsdatter Viki, was born 1764, christened 1 May 1764 and

68 and buried 31 Mar 1845.

Gro married Tarjei Torsson Nomeland in 1750. 34. Dreng Bjørgulvson Røysland, son of Bjørgulv Åsmundson Røysland and Jorånd Danielsdtr Nistog Åmli Røysland, was born 1718. Dreng married Gunvor Torleivsdtr Dale Røysland.

Mads married Siri Nottosdatter.

The child from this marriage: i. Ingebjørg Drengsdatter Røysland (17).

died 1822 age 58.

The child from this marriage: i. Kirsti Madsdatter Syrtveit Haugen (11).

Gyro married Olav Knutson Tveiten 1 May 1783 in Valle.

23. Siri Nottosdatter, daughter of Notto and

[unknown], was born 1779.

35. Gunvor Torleivsdtr Dale Røysland, daughter of Torleiv Tallakson Dale and Gunhild Salvesdtr Trydal Dale.

20. Osmund Hansen Haugen Aasland, son of Hans Olsen Viktsøl Haugen and Anne Olsdatter Haugen,

Siri married Mads Knudssen.

General Notes: From “at home” at Dale

was born 1771. Osmund married Siri Berntsdatter Galteland 9 Apr 1799 in Evje. Children from this marriage: i. Anne Osmundsdatter Haugen was born Dec 1799 and christened 25 Dec 1799. ii. Ole Osmundson Haugen was born 1802 and christened in 1803. iii. Bernt Osmundson Haugen (10). iv. Kari Osmundsdatter was born Mar 1809 and christened 28 Mar 1809. v. Anne Osmundsdatter was born Apr 1812 and christened in Apr 1812. vi. Hans Osmundsen was born 1814. Osmund next married Anne Tellefsdatter Leesland Haugen 21 Apr 1795 in Evje. Children from this marriage: i. Siri Osmundsdtr Haugen Aasland was born 1795 and died 1800 age 5. ii. Ole Osmundsen Haugen Aasland was born 1797, christened 22 Oct 1797 and died 18 Sep 1798 age 1. 21. Siri Berntsdatter Galteland was born 1775. 210

Sixth generation (3rd great-grandparents) 32. Tarjei Torsson Nomeland, son of Tor Tarjeison Nomeland and Gro Knutsdatter Harstad, was born

1693 and died 1771 age 78.

Gunvor married Dreng Bjørgulvson Røysland. 36. Knut Olavson Tveiten, son of Olav Gunnufsen Tveiten and Gyro Niklasdatter Berg, was born 1720,

christened 17 Feb 1720 and died 1793 age 73.

Tarjei married Gro Lidvarsdatter Steinsland in 1750.

Knut married Sigrid Bjørnsdtr Haugen Tveiten 22 Jun 1747.

The child from this marriage: i. Eivind Tarjeison Kvosåk Nomeland (16).

The child from this marriage: i. Olav Knutson Tveiten (18).

33. Gro Lidvarsdatter Steinsland was born 1707 and died 1785 age 78.

37. Sigrid Bjørnsdtr Haugen Tveiten was born 1726

and died 1805 age 79. Sigrid married Knut Olavson Tveiten 22 Jun 1747.

Kirsten, wife of Samuel Blakstad and Margrethe’s grandmother.

38. Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad, son of Knut Gunnulfson Kvestad and Birgit Gunnardotter Kvestad, was born 1737 and died 1804 age 67.

Gunnulf married Jorun Bjørnsdatter Viki 29 Oct 1762. The child from this marriage: i. Gyro Gunnulfsdatter Kvestad (19). 39. Jorun Bjørnsdatter Viki was born 1741 and

died 1800 age 59.

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Jorun married Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad 29 Oct 1762. 40. Hans Olsen Viktsøl Haugen, son of Ole Olsen Viktsøl and Ingeborg Aresdatter Mykland Viktsøl,

was born 1733 in Vikstøl and died 1791 age 58. Hans married Anne Olsdatter Haugen. Children from this marriage: i. Ingeborg Hansdatter Aasland was born 1758. ii. Tarjer Hansdatter was born Sep 1761 and christened 6 Oct 1761. iii. Ole Hansen d.e. Haugen was born 1764, died Nov 1796 age 32 and buried 29 Nov 1796. iv. Ole Hansen d.y. Haugen was born 1768, died 3 Mar 1849 in Haugen age 81 and buried 21 Mar 1849 in Evje. v. Osmund Hansen Haugen Aasland (20). Hans next married Pernille Olsdatter Galteland 3 Jul 1777. Children from this marriage: i. Anne Hansdatter Haugen was born 28 Oct 1777. ii. Tellef Hansen Haugen christened 25 May 1779. Knut Uppstad, Berent Hougen’s uncle and Rolf’s great uncle.

iii. Telleff Hansen was born 1782. iv. Siri Hansdtr Haugen christened 11 Dec 1784. 41. Anne Olsdatter Haugen, daughter of Ole Olsen Haugen and Siri Torsdatter Haugen, was born 1733

and died 1775 age 42. Anne married Hans Olsen Viktsøl Haugen. 44. Knud.

Knud married Kirsti Jonsdatter. Children from this marriage: i. Mads Knudssen (22). ii. Knud Knudssen was born 1788. 45. Kirsti Jonsdatter was born 1746.

Kirsti married Knud. Kirsti next married Aanon. Children from this marriage: i. Jon Aanonssen was born 1795. ii. Gunhild Aanonsdatter was born 1797.

65. Gro Knutsdatter Harstad.

Gro married Tor Tarjeison Nomeland. 68. Bjørgulv Åsmundson Røysland.

Bjørgulv married Jorånd Danielsdtr Nistog Åmli Røysland.

The child from this marriage: i. Dreng Bjørgulvson Røysland (34). 69. Jorånd Danielsdtr Nistog Åmli Røysland.

Jorånd married Bjørgulv Åsmundson Røysland. 70. Torleiv Tallakson Dale, son of Tallak Torleivson Dale and Guro Ånundsdtr, was born 1688 and died

1769 age 81. Torleiv married Gunhild Salvesdtr Trydal Dale in 1715. The child from this marriage: i. Gunvor Torleivsdtr Dale Røysland (35). Torleiv next married Tore Danielsdtr.

46. Notto.

71. Gunhild Salvesdtr Trydal Dale, daughter of Salve Ånundson Trydal and Joran Torleivsdtr, died

Notto married [unknown].

1729.

His child was:

Gunhild married Torleiv Tallakson Dale in 1715.

i. Siri Nottosdatter (23).

Seventh generation (4th great-grandparents) 64. Tor Tarjeison Nomeland, son of Tarjei Eivindson Nomeland and Gro Torgrimsdatter Sagneskar, was

born 1661 and died 1704 age 43.

Berent’s sisters (l–r) Siri (Sarah) Haugen Senum and Ingeborg (Emma) Haugen Thompson

Tor married Gro Knutsdatter Harstad. The child from this marriage: i. Tarjei Torsson Nomeland (32).

211

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

72. Olav Gunnufsen Tveiten, son of Gunnulf Rolfsen Tveiten and Ingebjørg Åndesdtr (Arnesdtr)

Tveiten, was born 1688 and died 1743 age 55. Olav married Gyro Niklasdatter Berg 10 Jun 1716. The child from this marriage: i. Knut Olavson Tveiten (36). 73. Gyro Niklasdatter Berg, daughter of Niklas Knutson Dale and Gunhild Augundsdtr Svalestuen Homme, died 1772.

Gyro married Olav Gunnufsen Tveiten 10 Jun 1716. 76. Knut Gunnulfson Kvestad, son of Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad and Vilborg Olsdaller Hillestad,

was born 1713 and died 1780 age 67. Knut married Birgit Gunnardotter Kvestad. The child from this marriage: i. Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad (38). 77. Birgit Gunnardotter Kvestad was born 1711 and

died 1780 age 69. Birgit married Knut Gunnulfson Kvestad. 80. Ole Olsen Viktsøl was born 1695 and died 1782

age 87. Ole married Ingeborg Aresdatter Mykland Viktsøl in 1721. Children from this marriage: i. Tarjer Olsdatter was born 1722 in Vikstøl. ii. Siri Olsdatter was born 1724 in Vikstøl. iii. Are Olsen was born 1726. iv. Ole Olsen was born 1728. v. Hans Olsen Viktsøl Haugen (40). vi. Aanon Olsen Landsverk was born 1735 in Vikstøl. vii. Osmund Olsen was born 1738 in Vikstøl. viii. John Olsen was born 1742 in Vikstøl. 212

81. Ingeborg Aresdatter Mykland Viktsøl was born

1696 and died 1777 age 81. Ingeborg married Ole Olsen Viktsøl in 1721. Ingeborg next married Guttorm Knudsen Moseid. 82. Ole Olsen Haugen, son of Ole Ommundsen Haugen and Anne Bertosdatter Aasland Haugen, was born 1716 and died 1745 age 29. Ole married Siri Torsdatter Haugen. Children from this marriage: i. Anne Olsdatter Haugen (41). ii. Gunil Olsdatter Haugen Aaneland was born 1736 and died 1789 age 53. 83. Siri Torsdatter Haugen, daughter of Tor Ommundson Uleberg and Gunhild Torgeirsdatter Uleberg, was born 1712 and died circa 1791 age

129. Gro Torgrimsdatter Sagneskar.

Gro married Tarjei Eivindson Nomeland. 140. Tallak Torleivson Dale, son of Torleiv Tarjeison Dale and Gundvor Tallaksdtr Berg Dale.

Tallak married Guro Ånundsdtr. The child from this marriage: i. Torleiv Tallakson Dale (70). 141. Guro Ånundsdtr.

Guro married Tallak Torleivson Dale. 142. Salve Ånundson Trydal.

Salve married Joran Torleivsdtr. The child from this marriage: i. Gunhild Salvesdtr Trydal Dale (71).

79.

143. Joran Torleivsdtr.

Siri married Ole Olsen Haugen.

Joran married Salve Ånundson Trydal.

Siri next married Hans Osmundsen Haugen, son of Osmund Thorgrimsen Haugen and Ingeborg Osmundsd Haugen.

144. Gunnulf Rolfsen Tveiten, son of Rolf Hallvardson Tveiten and [unknown], was born circa

1657 and died 1728 age 71.

Children from this marriage: i. Ingeborg Hansdtr Haugen Lund was born 1747. ii. Maren Hansdtr Haugen was borån 1752.

Eighth generation (5th great-grandparents) 128. Tarjei Eivindson Nomeland, son of Eivind Tarjeison Nomeland and [unknown], was born 1608

and died 1670 age 62. Tarjei married Gro Torgrimsdatter Sagneskar. The child from this marriage: i. Tor Tarjeison Nomeland (64). Margrethe Hougen and Thelmer in Ordale, Saskatchewan, 1916.

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Gunnulf married Ingebjørg Åndesdtr (Arnesdtr) Tveiten.

The child from this marriage: i. Olav Gunnufsen Tveiten (72).

The child from this marriage: i. Knut Gunnulfson Kvestad (76).

His child was: i. Tarjei Eivindson Nomeland (128).

153. Vilborg Olsdaller Hillestad.

280. Torleiv Tarjeison Dale, son of Tarjei Pålson Dale and Birgit Ånundsdtr, died 1695.

Vilborg married Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad.

145. Ingebjørg Åndesdtr (Arnesdtr) Tveiten died

circa 1708.

164. Ole Ommundsen Haugen, son of Ommund Olsen Haugen and Guri Torsdatter Uleberg Haugen,

Ingebjørg married Gunnulf Rolfsen Tveiten.

was born 1680 and died 1734 age 54.

146. Niklas Knutson Dale died circa 1687.

Ole married Anne Bertosdatter Aasland Haugen in 1713.

Niklas married Gunhild Augundsdtr Svalestuen

Children from this marriage: i. Ole Olsen Haugen (82). ii. Aasmund Ommundsen was born 1720.

Homme.

The child from this marriage: i. Gyro Niklasdatter Berg (73). 147. Gunhild Augundsdtr Svalestuen Homme, daughter of Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme and Guro Kjetilsdtr Rike Homme.

165. Anne Bertosdatter Aasland Haugen, daughter of Bertor Olsen Aasland and Gunhild Salvesdtr, died

1724. Anne married Ole Ommundsen Haugen in 1713.

Gunhild married Niklas Knutson Dale.

166. Tor Ommundson Uleberg died 1738.

Gunhild next married Kjetil Berg. 152. Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad, son of Knut Tarjeison Kvestad and Gunhild Rolleivsdatter, was

born 1661 and died 1731 age 70. Gunnulf married Vilborg Olsdaller Hillestad.

Tor married Gunhild Torgeirsdatter Uleberg. Children from this marriage: i. Siri Torsdatter Haugen (83). ii. Aasmund Torsen Uleberg. iii. Børu Torsen Uleberg.

Torleiv married Gundvor Tallaksdtr Berg Dale. The child from this marriage: i. Tallak Torleivson Dale (140). 281. Gundvor Tallaksdtr Berg Dale.

Gundvor married Torleiv Tarjeison Dale. 288. Rolf Hallvardson Tveiten, son of Hallvard Knutsen Tveiten and Kristine Gakkestad, was born

circa 1605. General Notes: Was, among other things, county court member at Bø in Valle on 10 August 1652 Rolf married [unknown]. His child was: i. Gunnulf Rolfsen Tveiten (144). 294. Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme, son of Jon Augundsen Svalestuen Homme and [unknown], was

born circa 1626 and died circa 1699 age 73. Augund married Guro Kjetilsdtr Rike Homme.

167. Gunhild Torgeirsdatter Uleberg. In 2008, the Hougen family visited the homestead of Ole Knutson Tveiten. This building is now a museum commemorating his life.

Gunhild married Tor Ommundson Uleberg.

Ninth generation (6th great-grandparents) 256. Eivind Tarjeison Nomeland was born 1612 and

died 1661 age 49.

Ole Blakstad, father of Margrethe.

Eivind married [unknown].

213

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

The child from this marriage: i. Gunhild Augundsdtr Svalestuen Homme (147). 295. Guro Kjetilsdtr Rike Homme.

Guro married Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme. 304. Knut Tarjeison Kvestad was born 1630 and

died 1695 age 65. Knut married Gunhild Rolleivsdatter. The child from this marriage: i. Gunnulf Knutson Kvestad (152). 305. Gunhild Rolleivsdatter.

329. Guri Torsdatter Uleberg Haugen, daughter of Tor Stianson Uleberg and Gro Olsdtr Uleberg.

Guri married Ommund Olsen Haugen. 330. Bertor Olsen Aasland died 1722.

Bertor married Gunhild Salvesdtr. Children from this marriage: i. Anne Bertosdatter Aasland Haugen (165). ii. Ole Bertosen Aasland was born 1700 and died 1796 age 96. 331. Gunhild Salvesdtr died 1705.

Gunhild married Bertor Olsen Aasland.

Gunhild married Knut Tarjeison Kvestad. 328. Ommund Olsen Haugen, son of Ole Osmundson Haugen and Aslaug Ommundsdtr Galteland Haugen, was born circa 1650 and died

1742 age 92. Ommund married Guri Torsdatter Uleberg Haugen. The child from this marriage: i. Ole Ommundsen Haugen (164).

Tenth generation (7th great-grandparents) 560. Tarjei Pålson Dale, son of Pål Aasmundson Dale and Gunborg Asbjørnsdtr Rike, died 1640.

Tarjei married Birgit Ånundsdtr.

588. Jon Augundsen Svalestuen Homme, son of Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme and Torbjørg Aasmundsdtr Nordigard Rygnestad Homme.

Jon married [unknown]. His child was: i. Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme (294). 656. Ole Osmundson Haugen, son of Osmund Haugen and [unknown], was born circa 1625 and

died 1708 age 83. Ole married Aslaug Ommundsdtr Galteland Haugen. Children from this marriage: i. Ommund Olsen Haugen (328). ii. Lars Olsen Hannås was born 1658 and died circa 1726 age 68. iii. Tellef Olsen Haugen died 1707. iv. Bertor Olsen Galteland died 1705. v. Siri Olsdtr Hovland. vi. Guri Olsdtr Haugen Aas.

The child from this marriage: i. Torleiv Tarjeison Dale (280).

657. Aslaug Ommundsdtr Galteland Haugen died

561. Birgit Ånundsdtr died 1668.

General Notes: Letter acknowledging the rights after Ole Haugen’s wife, Osløv Ommundsdatter – Dated October 19, 1683 – Østre Raabyggelaget Protocol # 2, folio 149b

Birgit married Tarjei Pålson Dale. 576. Hallvard Knutsen Tveiten, son of Knut Bjørnsen Tveiten and [unknown], was born circa

1683.

1575. Hallvard married Kristine Gakkestad. The child from this marriage: i. Rolf Hallvardson Tveiten (288). 577. Kristine Gakkestad.

Kristine married Hallvard Knutsen Tveiten. Berent’s parents: Tarjei Bjorgulvson Haugen and Sigrid (Siri) Berntsdatter Haugen. 214

Ole Samuelsen Blakstad (1865–1955), Margrethe’s father.

Appendix 2. Ancestors of Rolf Blakstad Hougen

Noted events in her life were: General Notes: Letter acknowledging the rights after Ole Haugen’s wife, Osløv Ommundsdatter – Dated October 19, 1683 – Østre Raabyggelaget Protocol # 2, folio 149b

The child from this marriage: i. Tarjei Pålson Dale (560).

12th generation (9th great-grandparents)

1121. Gunborg Asbjørnsdtr Rike, daughter of Asbjørn Hallvardson Kyrvestad Rike and [unknown].

2242. Asbjørn Hallvardson Kyrvestad Rike, son of Hallvard Ulvson Harstad Kyrvestad Rike and Gro Gunsteinsdtr Kjelleberg Rike.

Gunborg married Pål Aasmundson Dale.

Asbjørn married [unknown].

658. Tor Stianson Uleberg was born 1610.

1152. Knut Bjørnsen Tveiten, son of Bjørn Arnesen Nomeland Tveiten and [unknown], was born circa

His child was: i. Gunborg Asbjørnsdtr Rike (1121).

Tor married Gro Olsdtr Uleberg.

1550.

Children from this marriage: i. Ola Torson Uleberg. ii. John Torson Uleberg was born 1650. iii. Guri Torsdatter Uleberg Haugen (329). iv. Siri Torsdatter Uleberg. v. Ingeborg Torsdatter Uleberg died 1729.

Knut married [unknown].

2304. Bjørn Arnesen Nomeland Tveiten, son of Arne Bjørnsen Nomeland and [unknown], was born

His child was: i. Hallvard Knutsen Tveiten (576).

Bjørn married [unknown].

Aslaug married Ole Osmundson Haugen.

659. Gro Olsdtr Uleberg died 1669.

1176. Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme.

Augund married Torbjørg Aasmundsdtr Nordigard Rygnestad Homme.

Gro married Tor Stianson Uleberg.

The child from this marriage: i. Jon Augundsen Svalestuen Homme (588).

11th generation (8th great-grandparents)

1177. Torbjørg Aasmundsdtr Nordigard Rygnestad Homme, daughter of Aasmund Torleivsen Nordigard Rygnestad and Jorund Eivindsdtr Nomeland Rygnestad.

1120. Pål Aasmundson Dale.

Pål married Gunborg Asbjørnsdtr Rike.

Torbjørg married Augund Jonsen Svalestuen Homme.

In 1914, Berent visited a monument dedicated to his ancestor, Olav Knutson Tveiten (1758–1837), one of the writers of the Norwegian constitution.

circa 1525.

His child was: i. Knut Bjørnsen Tveiten (1152). 2354. Aasmund Torleivsen Nordigard Rygnestad

was born circa 1535 and died circa 1593 age 58. General Notes: Also called Vonde-Åsmund Rygnestad Aasmund married Jorund Eivindsdtr Nomeland Rygnestad.

The child from this marriage: i. Torbjørg Aasmundsdtr Nordigard Rygnestad Homme (1177).

1312. Osmund Haugen was born circa 1600.

Aasmund next married [unknown].

Osmund married [unknown].

2355. Jorund Eivindsdtr Nomeland Rygnestad, daughter of Eivind Arnesen Nomeland and

His children were: i. Thorgrim Osmundsen Haugen was born circa 1620 and died 1703 age 83. ii. Guri Torgrimsd Haugen was born circa 1623. iii. Ole Osmundson Haugen (656).

[unknown], was born circa 1550. Jorund married Aasmund Torleivsen Nordigard Rygnestad.

This genealogy was prepared by Olav Arne Haugen of Haugen, Norway. Mr. Haugen is a grandson of Berent’s brother, Hans Haugen, and first cousin of Rolf Hougen once removed downward. 215

Appendix 3. Curriculum Vitae: Rolf B. Hougen, O.C.

Appendix 3. Curriculum Vitae: Rolf B. Hougen, O.C. Married: Margaret Van Dyke in 1955 (six children, 18 grandchildren)

Business interests President The Hougen Group of Companies Whitehorse, Yukon Hougen’s Ltd. was founded in 1944. Through expansion and acquisition, it grew to become the largest retail organization in the Yukon. With over 75,000 square feet of retail space in Whitehorse, the company had approximately 150 full and parttime employees. Hougen’s Ltd. was associated with Coast Mountain Sports Ltd., in Vancouver, BC and Whitehorse. As management realized that the “big box” stores were coming, they started to either close certain departments, transferred or sold others to family members, and rented the space to local and national companies. Today, Hougen’s Limited is virtually a real estate company. However, family members still are very much engaged in several successful retail and other business ventures. President Klondike Broadcasting Whitehorse, Yukon Commenced broadcasting in November 1969, CKRW was the first commercial radio station “North of 60.” Founder, President and controlling shareholder since its inception. CKRW broadcasts 24 hours daily in Whitehorse and to other towns and cities throughout the Yukon and via satellite across Canada. The company has 14 employees. In 2004, it began to broadcast in FM in addition to AM. 216

President Northern Television Systems Whitehorse, Yukon WHTV commenced operation in 1958 with one black and white channel operation four hours a day, showing pre-recorded programming that was six months old. Now a multi-channel service receiving all Cancom channels plus Pay TV and others. WHTV is the largest cable company in the North, employing 12. ln 2007, the company was sold to Northwestel, a Bell Canada company Chairman Whitehorse Motors Ltd. Whitehorse, Yukon

Chairman and Director Regional Vision Inc. A company based in Montreal with 127 licences to serve communities of 10,000 households or less with wireless LMCS (cellular vision) technology. The company sold its licences. CANASAT WHTV joined with others to serve 46 British Columbia communities with over-the-air technology. The CRTC licensed the company and installations were made, but the technology failed.

Acquired the existing Ford-Mercury dealership in 1969. Relocated and expanded the facilities to the point where the dealership is now the largest automotive outlet in the Yukon, employing 50 people. In 2009, the company was sold. Founder and Director Canadian Satellite Communications Ltd. (CANCOM) Toronto, Ontario Started in 1978 as a basis for delivering multichannel television services to under-served regions of Canada through a satellite delivery network, Cancom obtained its licence from the CRTC in 1980. Today Cancom services all communities in Canada providing multi-channel television and dozens of radio signals. It also provides data communication services and satellite mobile tracking. Shaw Communications acquired control and now operates as a division of Shaw. In January 2000, Rolf retired from the board.

Rolf Hougen, 2009. Archbould photography

Appendix 3. Curriculum Vitae: Rolf B. Hougen, O.C.

Directorships Director, Finning Ltd. (1980-1999) B.C., Yukon, Alberta, NWT, U.K. and Chile Since Rolf left the board in l999, the company has expanded to Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay

Member, National Council for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Canada

2000: Canadian Satellite Users Association, Outstanding Service Award

Member, Canadian Cable Television Pioneers Club

2003: Friends of the Yukon Archives Society, honorary membership (Rolf and Marg)

Trustee, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Director, Alberta Power Ltd. and Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. (1969-1999) Edmonton, Alberta and Yukon

Member – Confrerie des Chevaliers Du Tastevin

2004: Up Here magazine 20th anniversary issues cites Rolf Hougen as one of “20 Great Northerners”

Community affairs

Director, Cominco Ltd. (1980-2002) Vancouver, B.C. A worldwide mining and smelting company now known as Teck Resources Limited.

Member, Yukon Order of Pioneers

2010: Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFE), 2010 Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award

Director, Northwestel (a BCE company) (19791999) Whitehorse, Yukon, a telephone company serving the NorthwestTerritories, Nunavut, Yukon and northern B.C

Member, Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce

Director, Northwestel Cable Inc. (1979-1999) Yellowknife, NWT Same as above

1986: Yukon Businessman of the Year

Past activities

1987: Tourism’s Yukoner Award (Government of the Yukon and Yukon Chamber of Commerce)

President and Founder Young People Association (1945-1952)

Appointments

1990: Honours List - Canadian Cable Television Association

Vice President, Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

1991: Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Certificate of Recognition

President and Founding Member, Whitehorse Board of Trade

1992: Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, Lifetime Achievement Award

Founder and Chairman, Yukon Research and Development Institute

1992: Canada 125th Anniversary Medal

Chairman and Founding Member, Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous

Officer of the Order of Canada (1987) Officer, Ordre National du Merite (France 1992) Honorary Consul for France (since 1980); succeeded by Erik Hougen in 1999 Chancellor, Yukon College (a four-year term starting in September 2009)

Member, Yukon Historical & Museum Society Member, Yukon Parents for French

Past Chairman of the Board, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (1989-90)

2011: The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award, “Best Entrepreneurial Partnership” – presentation in Toronto, October 6, 2011

Awards and honours

1994: Commissioner’s (Yukon) Award

National affairs

2010: Yukon Historical & Museums Association, Lifetime Achievement Heritage Award

1996: Vancouver Yukoners’ Association, Lifetime memberships awarded to Rolf and Marg

Member, Vancouver Consular Corps

1998: Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow

Member, Canadian Cable Television Association and many trade organizations

1998: City of Whitehorse, appointment of Rolf and Marg as Honorary Admiral for the HMCS Whitehorse.

Director, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (1960–61, 1978–82, 1985–91) Founder and Chairman of the Yukon Foundation, now administering more than five million dollars Banff School of Advanced Management (1965) Director, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (1984–90) 217

Appendix 3. Curriculum Vitae: Rolf B. Hougen, O.C.

Member, Canada Post Stamp Advisory Committee, Ottawa (1991-96)

1989: Accompanied Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to Moscow; dined in the Kremlin

2002: Family of 32: Disneyland, Mexican Riviera cruise

Yukon Medical Services Foundation

1990: River cruise with family through Burgundy region, France

2002: Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, Prague – land tour by bus

1994–96: Attended board meetings in Chile for Finning and Cominco

2003: Family of 32: Paris, barge tour on canal, Riviera

1995: Sailed from St. Lucia to Grenada with Craig and MJ

2004: Family of 32: Alaska fishing (leased four boats)

Member, Yukon Science Institute

1997: Southeast Asia: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur cruise

Travel

1998: Jersey, Guernsey, London prior to Finning board meetings

2005: Family of 32: China, Korea Japan, Vladivostok including cruise; Budapest to Amsterdam: 12-day river cruise

Secretary, Yukon Fish and Game Association Treasurer, Whitehorse Merchants Hockey Club Emergency Measures Organization - Yukon Treasurer, Yukon Ski Runner

1955: Four-month honeymoon in Europe 1962: Rome, Isle of Capri 1989: Thailand, spoke in Bangkok on behalf of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 1976-77: Lived one year in Grenoble, France with family Other: Visits to People’s Republic of China (1966, 1972 and 1987) and five times more. Several visits to Japan and Hong Kong. Visits to various Caribbean Islands and Mexico; visited most countries of Europe including Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia while they were still under Communist control; travelled to South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, visiting mines, etc.; travelled to Australia and Papua, New Guinea; toured mines in Australia. 1989-90: Bombay, New Delhi, Rome, Taipei, Hong Kong, Washington during term as Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

218

1999: Black Sea and Mediterranean cruise 2000: Sweden and Paris with Greta and Bob Gray 2001: New Zealand: three-week drive, touring both islands with Kelly and Heather

2006: Panama Canal cruise; Family of 32: Hawaii for Christmas, island cruise 2007: France, Brittany to visit Consul General and Marie-Noelle Defay with Karen Hougen-Bell and Jim Bell 2008: Sailing British Virgin Islands with Craig and Mary-Jane; Family Heritage tour to Holland and Norway 2009: Southern Spain, Morocco with Kelly and Heather 2010: Dubai, cruise to London via Suez Canal, ten days in Ireland 2011: Tahiti island cruise, Hawaii; St. Petersburg, river cruise to Moscow, one week in London Note: With most boards requiring directors to retire at age 70, Rolf is no longer a director of corporations other than those that are family owned. The Hougen family celebrate a gala evening aboard the Sapphire Princess, during a cruise following 10 days in China, 2005.

Index

Index Index to pages 1–205. Note: all place names outside the Yukon are listed with location (e.g. Lower Post, B.C., Cripple Creek, Alaska); Yukon place names are listed on their own.

Alsace, France 166

Ayre, Hanna 87

American Broadcasting Armed Forces Radio Service 101

Ayre, Miller 86

Amsterdam 53, 54, 159, 162, 192, 202 Anchorage, Alaska 44, 46 Anderson 145 Anderson, Norm 3, 144, 145

Symbols

Anderson, Tanya 3, 144, 145

98 Hotel 42, 44

Anglo American Corp. 145

202 Club 67

Anik satellites 122, 123, 129, 130 Annie Lake 132

A Abel-Chitzi, Charlie 116 Aklavik 47 Aksala, S.S. 111 Alaska 3, 4, 8, 9, 18, 25, 26, 30, 44, 45, 54, 63, 64, 74, 98, 113, 142, 154, 166, 169, 170 Alaska Commercial Company 74 Alaska Highway 26, 27, 28, 41, 42, 45, 51, 52, 62, 64, 65, 77, 108, 111, 117, 138, 141, 142, 156, 184, 205 Alaska Highway symposium 142 Alaska Railroad 113, 114 Alaska Sportsman magazine 155 Alaska Chamber of Commerce 112 Alberta 40, 202 Alberta Government Telephones 138 Alberta Power 137 Aleutian Islands, Alaska 3, 25 Alford, Renée 186 Allarco Broadcasting 124 Allard, Dr. Charles 124, 127 Allison, Mary Jane 188 Almstrom, Marjorie 32

Archbould, Cathie 188 Arctic Investment Corp. Ltd. 76, 96, 97 Arctic Red River (Tsiigehtchic) 146, 163 Arctic Red River Outfitters 165 Arendal, Norway 2, 10, 54, 168 Argentina 143 Armour, Robin 179 Armstrong, Gordon 63, 67, 69, 149 Armstrong, Pat 44 Arthur, Alex 67 Arts Underground 182 Asia Pacific Foundation 113, 139, 140, 141 ATCO Industries 137 Athens 161, 203 Atkinson, Lloyd 95 Atlas Tours 113 Atlin, B.C. 74, 81 Atlin Claim 7 Atlin Lake 21 Australia 3, 146 Austria 160, 161 Austrian Consul General 132

B Babcock, Alice 87 Babcock, Mike 87 Back Street Bistro 87 Bacon, Katie 145, 202 Bacon, Terry 145, 202 Bagnell, Larry 131, 204 Baltic Sea 168, 195 Banff School of Advanced Management 139, 140, 141 Bangkok, Thailand 135 Bank of Montreal 69 Baptist Indian Mission School 178 Barber, Lloyd 146 Barcelona, Spain 53, 161 Barnes, Dr. Karen 188 Barnwell, Barnie 67 Barry, Mary (Gordie) 79 Bata Shoes 78 Bata, Sonya 78 Bata, Tom 78 Bauer skates 78 Bavaria 160 Baxter, Barbara 31 B.C. 26, 130, 133, 139, 144, 193, 202. See also British Columbia BCTV 103, 124, 127, 130 Beaujolais region, France 161 Beaujolais Nouveau 132 Beaune, France 166

219

Index

Becker, Joe 113

Blakstad family 54, 168

Buffet, Betty (Murray) 79

Bed & Bath Boutique 87

Blakstad, Norway 2, 10

Burgundy 161, 166, 189

Beihai, China 203

Boer War 181

Burnett, Margaret “Burnie” 79

Beijing, China 141, 202

Bolivia 143

Burnie’s Apparel 79

Belanger, Charles 203

Bonanza Creek 43

Burns Lake, B.C. 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 205

Bell, Alexander Graham 130

Bootlegger 87

Burns Meat Market 69

Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) 138

Boss, Chief Jim (Kashxóot) 58, 148, 179

Burwash Landing 165

Bell, Jim 164, 165, 174, 203

Bourassa, Ernie 131

Business Council on National Issues 136

Bell, John 74

Boyle, Harry 67

Bell, Pamela-Jane “PJ” 171, 174, 192, 194

Brackman Island 202

Business Development Bank 96. See also Industrial Development Bank

Bell, Patrick 166, 171, 174, 192, 193

Breda, the Netherlands 37

Buzzsaw Jimmy (Richards) 183

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 149

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 54

BYN Freight Lines 65, 94

Ben-My-Chree, B.C. 41

British Columbia 11, 12, 25, 28, 67, 124, 130, 131, 138, 139, 143, 144. See also B.C.

Bennett, B.C. 6, 179 Bennett, R.B. 114 Bering Strait 54 Bethlehem 161 Bidlake, Geoff 68 Big Bird Sound 84 Big Brothers 192 Big Salmon Range 155 Big Salmon River 155 Biollo, Gilbert “Gil“ 52 Biollo, Johanna “Anne” (Van Dyke) 38, 39, 201 Biollo, Margaret Anne 52 Birch Bay, Washington 152 Black, George 44, 114, 116, 198 Black, Martha Louise 114 Black, Sadie 116 Blackwell, Reverend Wm. George 179 Blaise, Alain 159, 200 Blaise family 157, 159, 200 Blaise, Jacqueline 159, 200 220

British Yukon Navigation Company Co. (BYN) 6, 24, 34, 64, 111 Brittany, France 145 Brown, Frank H. 66 Brown, Sandy 106 Bruk, John 113, 141 Brunlees building 104 Brunlees, Evelyn 105 Brunlees, Howie 105 Brussels, Belgium 53 Bryant, Gordon 19 Buchanan, Chuck 180 Buchan, Brent 199 Buchan, Dr. Bill 50, 199 Buchan family 57, 199 Buchan, Keith 199 Buchan, Lesley 163, 172, 199 Buchan, Niki 82, 199 Buckway, Bev 181

C Cable, Jack 131 Cable: Vision of the Pioneers 100 Calgary 44, 77 California 93, 143, 167 Callison, Pat 67, 184 Call of the Wild 181 Calvert, Sheila 117 Cambridge Bay (Ikaluktutiak), NWT 139 Cameron, G.I. 185 Cameron, Gordon 69, 137, 148, 202 Cameron, Senator Donald 139, 140, 141 Cameron, Sgt. Bruce 30, 42 Campbell, Bob 45, 197 Campbell, Jean 45 Campbell, Robert 74 Camp Takhini 49, 62. See also Takhini subdivision Camyre, Lloyd 48 Canada, Department of Communications 123, 128

Index

Canada Post 133, 141, 142

Capital Hotel 42, 107

China 139, 140, 141, 163, 167, 202, 203

Canada Post Stamp Advisory Committee 141, 142

Carcassonne, France 167

Choate, Bob 105, 137, 198, 202, 203, 204

Canada Summer Games 193

Carcross 20, 35, 112, 140

Choate family 57, 161, 198

Canadian Army 28, 41, 44, 45, 49, 62, 97, 98, 184

Carmacks 153

Choate, Gordon 198

Canadian Association of Broadcasters 124

Carney, Pat 123

Choate, Joyce 198, 203

Canadian Bank of Commerce 119

Carpenter, Dr. Noah 186

Choate, Nancy 198

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) 47, 97, 98, 102, 106, 108, 144

Carr, Peter 106

CHON-FM 108

Casca, S.S. 34, 44, 111, 113, 190

Chrétien, Jean 107, 132, 158

Canadian Cable Television Association 123, 127

Cassiar Asbestos Corporation 67

Chrétien, Kay 167

Canadian Chamber of Commerce 86, 113, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 166, 171, 190

Cassiar, B.C. 67

Chrétien, Ray 201

Castagner, Al 95, 169, 205

Chrétien, Raymond 158, 167

Castagner, Linnea (Christopherson) 169, 172, 205

Christ Church Cathedral 118. See also Old Log Church

Castagner, Richelle 205

Christensen, Art 185

Castagner, Trevor 205

Christensen, Ione 117, 148, 187

Castelnaudary, France 167, 203 Caterpillar Tractor Company 143

Christopherson, Swanhild “Swanie” (Hougen) 13, 14, 17, 19, 169, 205

CD Plus 87

Christ the King Elementary School 63, 84, 153

CFWH 97, 98

Christ the King High School 153, 201

Chalmers, Larry 31

CITV 124

Chamberlist, Norm 75, 144

CKAC 124

Canadian, S.S. 6

Chambers, Ron 186

Canadian Utilities 137

Chamonix, France 166

Canal du Midi 167, 203

Champagne 148, 154

CKRW 92, 96, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 122, 158, 183, 194. See also Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited

Canasat (Canadian Satellite Systems Ltd.) 130, 131

Champagne and Aishihik First Nations 80

Cancom 80, 104, 108, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 136, 165, 171, 173, 190. See also Canadian Satellite Communications

Champion 86

Cannes, France

Charles Camsell Hospital 38

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) 84, 100 Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) 56 Canadian National Railways (CNR) 12, 18, 40 Canadian National Telegraphs (CNT) 138 Canadian Pacific Airlines 50, 81, 147, 159 Canadian Pacific Railway 11, 144, 146 Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) 104, 124. See also CRTC Canadian Satellite Communications 122, 124, 130, 171. See also Cancom

53

Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey) 38 Charest, Dr. Champlain 203

Canol Project 26, 30, 155, 156

CHCH-TV 124

Canyon City 6

Check, Al 79

Cap d’Agde, France 203

Cherry, Jack 68

Cape Canaveral, Florida 122, 130

Chichagof Island, Alaska 169

Cape Town, South Africa 145

Chile 143, 146, 147

Clark, Al 67 Clarke, George B. 148 Clarke, Jo 79 Clark, Joe 115, 116, 117, 157 Clifford J. Rogers 66 Clinton Creek 67 Closeleigh 6 Coal Valley Mining Company 40 Coast Mountain Sports 87, 165 Cockrall, Jim 76

221

Index

Cohen brothers 78

Cripple Creek, Alaska 9

Dennison house 72, 73

Cohen, Joe 78

Crombie, David 200

Cold War 44, 54

Cronkhite, RCMP Inspector Howard 58, 149

Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development 70, 107, 117, 185, 200

Collins, Frederick H. 43, 63, 116, 148

Crossing, Johnsons 156

Department of Public Works 184

Collins, Sybil 43, 116

CRTC 80, 104, 105, 107, 108, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130. See also Canadian Radio and Television Commission

Desrosiers, Belle 187

Cyprus Anvil 81, 112, 113, 141

Diefenbaker, Olive 116

Cyr family 24

Dijon, France 166

Cyr, Laurent 187

Disneyland 167

Cyr, Paul 44

Dodd, Harvey E. 78

Cyr, Raymond 99

Dominion Lands Act 11

Columbia (space shuttle) 129 Columbian, S.S. 6 Colville, Neil 99, 100, 101, 103 Cominco 3, 138, 144, 145, 146 Commissioner of the Yukon 43, 63, 68, 69, 114, 116, 117, 131, 148, 179, 185, 197, 204 Conrad 179

Consul Honoraire de France 131, 132 Conwest Exploration 71 Cooper Canada Ltd. 78 Cooper, Jack 78 Coppermine (Kugluktuk), NWT 139 Couch, Helen 197 Courchevel ski resort 160 Cousins, Bob 70 Cousins, Zoe 70 Coutts Hallmark 78 Coutts, William E. 78 Couvreur, Martha 166 Couvreur, Michel 166 Cowan, Lynn 31 Cowan, Peggy 31 Cox, Henry 9 Crag Lake 182 Crete 160

222

Diefenbaker, John 116, 117

Dominion Telegraph Office 24, 118

Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada 144 Consul General of France 131, 132, 205

Dickson, Dick 72, 80

D Dachau, Germany 54, 161 Dalhousie Magazine 195 Dalhousie University 163, 194 Daoust Skates 78 D’Arcy, Norman 66 Darling, Glen 106 Dawson City 4, 6, 8, 9, 20, 23, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 74, 108, 111, 117, 126, 130, 153, 179, 180, 181, 197, 205 Dawson Creek, B.C. 26 Dawson, George Mercer 181 Dawson, S.S. 6 Dayton, Ohio 76 DeBeers 145 Defay, Jean-Yves 131, 205 Defay, Marie-Noëlle 131, 205

Dowell Construction Company 31 dredge 8 Drury, William Sr. 73, 74 Drury, William L. “Bill” 48, 187 Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia 202 Duke of Edinburgh Awards 142, 143 Duke of Edinburgh, HRH 34, 43, 62, 142, 143. See also Prince Philip Dumas, John 106, 107 Dunbar, Bill 139 Dunbar, Lloyd 197 Duncan, B.C. 193 Dutch Harbour, Alaska 3 Dutzi, Howard 31 D.W. Carr & Associates 184, 185 Dyea, Alaska 4

de Gaspé Beaubien, Philippe 124 Dejaegher, Michel 132

E

Dempster, Dr. J.R.H. 117

Earle, Mrs. Jack 148

Dempster Highway 117

Eclipse 3

Index

Edgecombe, Don 79

Fairweather 169

Foxy 205

Edmonton 11, 37, 38, 40, 50, 51, 52, 63, 77, 98, 100, 124, 126, 128, 135, 137, 138, 166, 185

Farley, Lilias 205 Faro 67, 81, 109, 112, 158

France 73, 79, 131, 132, 133, 145, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 166, 167, 170, 180, 189, 195, 199, 200, 205

Edmonton Journal 184

fashion show 82, 88, 172

Franco, General Francisco 54

Edzerza, Fred 188

federal building, Whitehorse 41, 62, 63, 98, 184

François Lake, B.C. 12, 13, 17

Egypt 203

Federoff, Vince 175, 181

Fraser, Chief John 58, 148

Eiffel Tower 142

Feero, Bill 113

Friends of the Yukon Archives Society 179, 182

Elfin Cove, Alaska 169

F.H. Collins High School 82, 153

Frischling, Selwyn 86

Elsa 65, 112

Finning (company) 138, 143

Frostbite Music Festival 48

Energy, Mines and Resources Library 184

Finning, Earl 143

England 55, 145, 147, 159 Ephesus, Turkey 161

First Nations people 8, 9, 24, 58, 70, 104, 116, 117, 153, 155, 180, 185, 186

Epp, Jake 117

First Nations trails 5

Erasmus, George 186

Firth, Howard 67, 70, 149, 187

Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport 117

Firth, Nancy 70

Erik’s Audiotronic 24, 163, 165

Firth, Thomas P. 187

Erik’s Home Entertainment Centre 84, 85, 163, 165

Fish Creek 137

Erik’s Video Rentals 85

Flaherty, Paul 104

Erlam, Bob 187

Flat Creek 117

Erlam, Rusty 80, 82

Florence, Italy

Esso 94

Focus Footwear 87

Europe 10, 25, 53, 137, 157, 159, 160, 161, 163, 180, 199, 202

Ford dealership 93, 94, 95

Evje, Norway 1, 2

Fort McPherson, NWT 75

Exner-Pirot, Heather 185

Fort Nelson, B.C. 50

Expedia CruiseshipCenters 165

Fort Selkirk 75

Explorer 193

Fort Smith, NWT 139, 186

Expo 67 116

Fort St. John, B.C. 50

Expo 86 171

Forty Mile 74

Fairbanks, Alaska 26, 44, 46, 49, 142

53

Fairbanks, Douglas Sr. 55

Forzani Group Ltd. 165 Fox, Jim 178

Gemini North 123 General Leather Goods 78 Geneva, Switzerland 158 Gentleman, Jim 69 Germany 14, 18, 53, 54, 146, 161

Ford, Troy 84

Fox, Frances 128

Galabru, Jean Jacques 131

Geraldton, Ontario 128

Fort Yukon, Alaska 75

F

G

Gibben, John Edward 69 Giovinazzo, Arthur 87 Gisborne, Frederick 130 Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuq), NWT 139 Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska 169 Gleaner, S.S. 35 Globe and Mail 182 Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Partnership Award 182 Golden, David 123, 129 Golden Garter 67 Gold Nugget Days 87 Goldpanner Gift Shop 87 Gold River, B.C. 130 goods and services tax (GST) 135 223

Index

Gorbachev, Mikhail 136, 170

Hamacher, E.J. 179, 182, 183

Henstridge, Paul 84

Gourd, Alain 203

Hambros Bank 66

Hewitt, Percy 69

Graham, Garth 186

Hamburg, Germany 53, 55

Hillcrest subdivision 49, 50, 62

Grand Prairie, Alberta 50

Hamilton, Ontario 124

Hill, Dick 186

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway 12

Hamilton, Bill 69

Hoenisch, Klaus 76, 79

Grant-Dionne, Sheila 166

Hamries family 17

Hoggan, Frank 31

Grant, Moe 94

Hän 8

Hogg, Jack 97

Gray, Erik 171, 175, 194

Hanna, Jim 69

Holland 38, 54, 168. See also Netherlands, the

Gray, Fraser 171, 175, 194, 195

Hare, Steve 87

Holland America 113, 168

Gray, Greta Glee (Hougen) 35, 56, 84, 85, 87, 151, 152, 153, 154, 159, 160, 163, 164, 166, 172, 173, 175, 191, 197, 201, 204

Harris, Doris 198

Homer, Alaska 154

Harris, Dr. Gordon 198

Hong Kong 135, 136, 139, 140

Harrison, Nicky 185, 200, 205

Hoonah, Alaska 169, 170

Harrison, Ted 111, 132, 182, 200, 205

Hootalinqua Sam 43

Hart, Verna 188

Horwood’s Mall 74, 119

Haufbrauhaus 161

Hottentots 145

Haugen, Norway 1, 2

Hougen, Alexis 175, 194

Haugen, Bernt Tarjeison 1, 3. See also Hougen, Berent

Hougen-Bell, Karen Margaret 35, 56, 57, 83, 85, 88, 91, 92, 110, 151, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 170, 171, 173, 174, 188, 197, 201, 203, 204

Gray, Logan 171, 175, 193, 194 Gray, Mason 175, 192, 194 Gray, Robert 164, 175 Great Britain 18, 116 Great Depression 25, 38, 143 Great Northern Ski Society 165 Greece 161

Haugen family 54 Haugen, Hans 3

Greene, Nancy 159

Haugen, Norway 1, 2, 168

Grenada 202 Grenoble, France 157, 158, 159, 162, 163 Grey Mountain Cemetery 187 Gritzik, Nick 51

Haugen, Sigrid (Siri) Berntsdatter 1, 3, 11 Haugen, Tarjei Bjørgulvson 1, 3, 11 Havre St. Pierre, Quebec 126 Hawaii 109, 168, 193, 194, 201

Guatemala 192

Haycock, Maurice 205

Hougen, Berent 1–22, 23, 29, 30, 54, 89. See also Haugen, Bernt Tarjeison Hougen, Borghild “Birdie” 13, 14, 17 Hougen, Brent 87, 205 Hougen Centre 85, 86, 87, 182 Hougen, Cody 171, 175, 193

Hegg, Eric A. 179

Hougen, Craig Stephen 35, 56, 57, 85, 88, 89, 102, 128, 129, 151, 153, 154, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 171, 172, 173, 174, 182, 193, 194, 201, 202, 204

Hahn, Randy 106

Helm, Dr. Rennie 199

Hougen, Einar “Blondie” 14, 17, 30, 80

Haines Junction Experimental Farm 154

Helm family 57

Hair Sensations 87

Helm, Johnnie 199

Halifax, Nova Scotia 12, 130, 163

Henderson Creek 181

Hougen, Erik Myles 2, 35, 56, 57, 84, 85, 86, 88, 131, 132, 151, 152, 153, 154, 159, 163, 164, 165, 166, 170, 171, 173, 175, 197, 201, 203, 204

Halliday, Aline 187

Henderson, Patsy 43

Halliday, Chuck 187

Henry, George 108

Hay River, NWT 186

H

224

Hougen Family Fund 188 Hougen family website 108, 183

Index

Hougen, Florence (Van Tyne) 18, 19

Hougen’s Menswear 80, 87, 89

International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark 142

Hougen Group of Companies 48, 97, 104, 108, 182, 183

Hougen’s Photo 80, 87

Inuit 125, 135, 138, 139, 186

Hougen, Heather (Chambers) 146, 163, 164, 165, 175

Hougen’s Variety Store 28, 29, 30, 47, 65, 71

Inuvik, NWT 47, 80, 138, 186

Hougen Heritage Gallery 182

Hougen’s Water Show 82, 89

Inverarity, Don 87

Hougen, Jared 171, 175, 193, 194, 195

Hougen, Tanner 171, 175, 193, 194, 195

Iqaluit, Nunavut 139

Hougen, Jenna 175, 194

Hougen, Thelmer 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 28

Iquique, Chile 146

Hougen, Kelly Rolf 35, 56, 59, 85, 89, 102, 146, 151, 153, 154, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 169, 170, 172, 173, 175, 193, 195, 201

House of Appliances 165

Ireland 145

House of Furniture 87, 165

Irish Rovers 81, 204

Hovey, Chuck 87

Israel 161

Hoyt, John 186

Italy 161, 203

Hougen, Kim (Kozmeniuk) 86, 131, 164, 165, 170, 171, 175, 203 Hougen, Magnus 14, 27, 28, 89, 95, 205 Hougen, Margaret “Marg” (Van Dyke) 3, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 50–57, 59, 80, 88, 96, 97, 100, 108, 112, 115, 121, 123, 126, 129, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, 139, 140, 143–147, 151, 154, 155, 157–163, 169–174, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 185, 187–191, 197, 199–205 Hougen, Margrethe (Blakstad) 11–15, 17, 19, 25, 29, 30, 56, 87, 89 Hougen, Marjorie (Woods) 10, 27, 205 Hougen, Melina 171, 175, 193, 194

Hudson, Jan 199 Hudson, Kim 199

J

Hudson, Laurie 199

Jacobs, Ed 149

Hudson, Patrick 199

Jamieson, Richard 87

Hudson, Ralph “Buzz” 199 Hudson’s Bay Company 61, 74, 75 Hudson, Tammy 199

Japan 139, 146, 157, 167 Jeffries, Bill 32 Jensen, Al 106

Huskins, Bill 31

Jericho 161

Hu Xiao Yan 203

Jerusalem 161

Hougen, Michael 174, 193, 194

Joe, David 113

I

Hougen, Myles 171, 175, 193, 195

Joe, Lorraine 187

Hougen, Odin 11, 14, 28, 29, 52, 71, 80

Icy Strait 169

Johannesburg, South Africa 145

Hougen, Odin Jr. 81

IKEA 87

Johannes, Harry 71, 78

Hougen, Rolf Blakstad 2, 3, 10, 11, 13–20, 25, 27–34, 37, 41–59, 61, 62, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75–87, 89, 91–118, 121–147, 151–163, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 173, 174, 177–191, 197, 199–205

Illingworth, Frank 54, 55

Johnny, Nelly 149

Illingworth, Mrs. 54, 55

Johnson, Constable Johnnie 148

Impact magazine 134

Johnsons Crossing 155, 156

India 135

Johnson, U.S. President Lyndon 140

India Canada Business Council 132

Johnston, Geoff 122, 126

Industrial Development Bank 96. See also Business Development Bank

Johnston, Sam 188

Innes-Taylor, Alan 111

Jordan 203

International Good Music (IGM) 105, 106

Judge, Father William 181

Hougen, Sarah 174, 191, 195 Hougen’s Centre 85, 87, 182 Hougen’s Coffee Shop 87 Hougen’s Department Store 47, 67, 70, 72, 73, 75, 80, 83, 153, 172. See also Hougen’s Limited Hougen’s Limited 59, 71, 79, 85, 86, 136, 171, 178, 204. See also Hougen’s Department Store

Jo-Jo Lake 192

225

Index

Juneau, Alaska 44, 169, 170

K

Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited 105. See also CKRW

Leiden, the Netherlands 37

Klondike Gold Rush 4, 5, 23, 35, 73, 93, 108, 179, 180, 181

Lewes River 24

Kane, Ken 80, 108

Klondike River 8, 9

Kane, RCAF Sgt. Harry 46

Klondike, S.S. 34, 35, 44, 64, 65, 111, 173, 191

Karr, Hank 108, 204

Klondyke Centennial Society 181

Kasper, Doug 99

Kluane First Nation Final Agreement 165

Kathleen Lake 153

Kodak 33, 77

Kaye, Fred 202

Korea 45, 167, 194

Keefes Landing 12

Krafty II 169

Keenan, Pearl 142

Krautschneider, George 31

Keith, Pat 31

Krazy Ken’s Sight & Sound 165

Kelly, Debbie 197

Kristiansand, Norway 2, 54

Kelly’s Electronic World 165

Kusadasi, Turkey 161

Kelly’s Stereo Mart 84

Kusawa Lake 201

Keopke, Bucky 32 Ketchikan, Alaska 98, 99 Kids R Great 87 Kieboom family 38, 54 Kimberley, B.C. 144 King, Edge 137, 202 King Edward Hotel, Toronto 53 Kinvig, Tim 98 Kirkland Lake, Ontario 144 Kishwoot Hall 104 Kitchen Nook 87 Kitchener, Ontario 179 Kiwanis Club 32, 47

226

Lindsay, Ms. 197 Li Shuqin 203 Little Diomede, Alaska 54 Lobird Trailer Park 63 London, Jack 181 Long Lake 193 Lortie, Doris 118 Lortie, Ernie 118 Lousetown 8 Lower Post, B.C. 95 Lucerne, Switzerland 53 Lucier, Paul 144, 149

Keno, S.S. 35, 111 Keobke, Niel 31

Liberal Party of Canada 115

London, England 53, 54, 55, 159, 203

Kelowna, B.C. 106, 195, 199 Keobke, Joanne 44

Lend-Lease program 26, 142

L

Lugano, Italy 53

La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin 189

Lumbers, Mary 87

Ladies Wear 79, 85, 88

Lusaka, Zambia 78, 145

Lahr, Bert 205

Lyon, Sterling 157

Lake Bennett 113 Lake Laberge 8, 34, 57, 148, 173 Lake Superior 11 Lamarre, Bernard 203 La Martinière 159 land claims 70 Lander, Donald 141 Landerman, Kirk 113 Lattin, Con 197 LeCapelain, C.K. 31 Lee, Doreen 31 Lee, Gordon residence 58

M Macaulay, Norman 5, 6 MacBride, Betty 31, 32 MacBride, Bill 43, 69 MacBride Museum 43, 179, 182 MacDonald, Tony 103 MacIsaac, John 30, 72, 115 MacKay, Stuart 124 Mackenzie, George 179 Mackenzie Mountains 26, 155

Index

Maclean’s magazine 130

McCann, James 31

Miles Canyon 5, 63

Mâcon, France 162, 166, 199

McCartney, Paul 161

Millar, Will 204

Maddison, Hank 198, 205

McClimon, Sam 69

Miller, Cal 42

Maddison, Jeanie 198, 205

McCrae 43, 45, 83

Miller, Donna 31

Madrid, Spain 53, 54

McDonald’s Landing, B.C. 17

Minnesota 11

Malawi 145

McEwen, Tom 43, 44

Minter, Roy 83, 113, 187, 188, 200

Mallory, Pat 31

McFadyen, Ron 106, 107

Moccasin Flats 63

Malo, André 142

McGee, Sam (cabin) 41

Moccasin Telegraph 108, 183

Manitoba 157

McGill University 181

Mommessin family 166

Marble Island, Alaska 169

McGregor, Alan 68, 69

Mommessin, Isabelle 199

Marconi, Guglielmo 130

McIntosh, Jack 31, 44

Mommessin, Jean 162, 199

Marcoux, Guy 199

McKinnon, Judy 185

Mommessin, Mme. 199

Marcoux, Maureen 199

McKinnon, Ken 98, 105, 132, 185, 186, 204

Monaco 161

Marcoux, Michael 199

McLaughlin, Jean 32

Montana 26

Marcoux, Renée 199

McLaughlin, Les 4, 107, 108, 183, 204

Monte Carlo 67

Marcoux, Shirley 199

McLaughlin, Margaret 44

Marcoux, Stewart 199

McLaughlin, Tom 31, 44

Montreal, Quebec 77, 98, 116, 124, 127, 128, 157, 158, 166

Maritimes 28

McLean, Charles 202

Moore, Horace 179

Marseilles, France 133

McLimon, Sam 69

Moosehide 9

Marshall, Roy 99

McPherson, H.G. 77

Morin family 57

Marsh Lake 153, 172, 201, 204

McWilliam, Don 67

Morocco 192

Marsh Lake Lodge 52

Mediterranean Sea 167

Morrison, Donna 134

Martin, Captain Patrick “Paddy” 179

Meech Lake Accord 134

Morrow, Dr. Des 198, 203

Martinique 202

Meikle, George 72

Morrow family 160, 198

Marwell Construction 63

Meisel, John 125

Morrow, Jane 198

Marwell industrial area 27, 63, 104

Menghi, Umberto 203

Morrow, Lisa 198

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 143

Merit Toys 55

Morrow, Michael 198

Massey, Vincent 43, 63

Metcalfe, Fred 197

Morrow, Patti 198

Maybin, John 137

Metcalfe house 73

Morrow, Ruth 198

Mayo 23, 64, 65, 67, 74, 145

Mexican Riviera 167

Morse Code 24, 77

McCaffrey, Mary-Ellen 87

Mexico 81, 88

Moscow, Russia 136, 142, 203

McCaffrey, Roland 87

Midnight Sun Pipe Band 83

Mount Sima 67, 165

McCallister, Candice 87

Mikusch, Frank 197

Mount Skukum Mine 132 227

Index

Mulroney, Brian 115, 116, 136, 166 Munich, Germany 53, 54, 160, 161 Munro, Scottie 32

Nielsen, Maureen Anne (Hougen) 35, 56, 84, 85, 87, 88, 94, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 163, 164, 166, 172, 173, 174, 190, 201 Nielsen, Pamela June “P.J.” 51, 115, 116, 198

Munson, Curtis 40

Nielsen, Roxanne 198, 199

Murdoch’s Ladies Wear 79

Nielsen, Shelley (Coxford) 199, 200

Murray, Alexander 74

Nielson, Rosalyn “Ro” (Van Dyke) 38, 39, 50, 52, 201

Mushett, Vern 31

Nielson, Walter “Walt” 50

Myles, Ted 69

Nielson, Warren Robert 50 Nixon, Harry 117, 200

N

Nixon, Hazel 200

O Officier de l’Ordre national du Mérite 189 Oka, Quebec 124, 128, 171 Oktoberfest 160 Old Crow 116, 138 Old Log Church 43, 118, 148. See also Christ Church Cathedral Oman 203 Onley, Toni 200 Onley, Yukiko 200 Ontario 11, 28, 124, 128, 144, 171, 179, 186

Nahanni, Phoebe 186

Nixon, U.S. President Richard 140

Nanking, China 202

Norman Wells, NWT 26, 155

National Cash Register Company 76

Norrie, Bert 76, 79, 159

National Geographic magazine 160

Norrington, Jim 69

Nature Conservancy of Canada 202

North Bay, Ontario 128

Netherlands, the 39, 168. See also Holland

North Canol Road 145

Netro, Joe 116

Northern Canada Power Commission (NCPC) 63

Neuchâtel, Switzerland 163, 192 Neufeld, Hank 69

Northern Commercial Company (NCCo.) 30, 61, 74, 93, 109, 143

Newfoundland 3, 86, 130

Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon (NNBY) 108

New Imperial Mines 67

Northern Notes 87

New York City 53, 108, 113, 133

Northern Outdoors 165

Nielsen, Brooke 171, 174, 192, 193, 194, 195

Northern Television Systems 100, 104. See WHTV

Nielsen, Connor 171, 174, 192, 194, 195

North Saskatchewan River 40

Pacific Rim 139, 141

Nielsen, Erik 51, 52, 59, 69, 70, 115, 116, 117, 144, 156, 157, 158, 163, 170, 187, 197, 198, 199, 200

Northway, Alaska 45

Palma, Spain 53

Northwestel 104, 138, 139

Pamplona, Spain 161

Nielsen, Erik “Rick” Rolf 69, 94, 146, 156, 157, 164, 174, 198, 199

Northwest Highway System 58

Panama Canal 142

Northwest Service Command 26

Pan American Airways 69, 83

Nielsen, Henry 31

Northwest Territories 115, 116, 133, 138, 143, 144, 155, 165, 186

Pangnirtung, NWT 139

Nielsen, Kai 171, 174, 192, 194, 195 Nielsen, Lee 198, 199

Norway 1, 2, 9, 10, 14, 54, 168, 195

Parent, Bob 44, 94

Nielsen, Leslie 205

Norwegian Cruise Line 168

Paris, France 53, 54, 55, 108, 158, 159, 167, 195, 203

Nunavut 138 228

Operation Sweetbriar 44, 45 Ophir, Alaska 9 Oppenheimer, Harry 145 Ordale, Saskatchewan 11 Order of Canada 185, 189 Oslo, Norway 10, 53, 192 Oster, Al 81, 88, 108, 204 Ottawa, Ontario 70, 100, 114, 124, 125, 128, 130, 132, 133, 141, 163, 170, 197 Oxford 159

P

Paper Mate 78

Index

Parker, Justice John 184, 185

Prague, Czech Republic 202

Parks Canada 35, 111

Pride of America 168

Raamsdonkdveer, the Netherlands 37

Paulatuk, NWT 139

Primi, Don 113

Radio Shack 87

Pearson, Art 148

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 11

Rai, Satnam 95

Pearson, Chris 117, 173

Prince Andrew 43

Randall, Mr. 55

Pearson, Lester 116

Prince Edward Island 193

Rawleigh dealership 28, 29, 30, 43, 47

Peay, Don 165

Prince George, B.C. 18, 19

Pederson, Ray 113

RCAF 26, 27, 40, 43, 46, 50, 62, 64, 102, 198, 205. See also Royal Canadian Air Force

Pelly Bay (Kugaaruk), NWT 139

Prince Philip 34, 43, 62, 142, 143. See also Duke of Edinburgh, HRH

Pelly River 24, 117

Prince Rupert, B.C. 12, 15, 18, 19, 27, 29, 32

Red Dog Mine 146

Pemberton, B.C. 130, 131

Princess Tours 113

Red Sea 161

Pemberton Securities 113

Proctor, Leo 184

Regina Hotel 42, 114, 118

Perchy, Madeline 32

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada 115, 116, 117, 197

Regina, Saskatchewan 199

Peters, Heidi 104 Peters, Ray 103, 104, 124 Petiot, Pete 178 Petley-Jones, Arthur 69 Pettit, Ron 117

Pro Hardware 87 Public Roads Administration 26 Puckett, William A. 93

R

Red Cross 40, 180

Renault, André 158 Renault cars 73, 79, 92, 156 Retallack, Tom 67 Reynolds, Cynthia 130

Pueblo copper mine 6

Rhone region, France 161 Rijksmuseum 192

Phelps, Hana (Livingstone) 149

Q

Phelps, John 137

Riverdale 63, 117, 152, 184

Phelps, Willard 30, 187

Quebec 124

Roads to Resources program 117

Phelps, W.L. (Deacon) 30, 149, 198

Quebrada Blanca copper mine 146

Robert Campbell Bridge 63, 117

Phillips, Stephen 204

Queen Elizabeth II 43, 50, 133, 141, 189

Rogers, Phyllis 86

Phillipson, Arnie 184

Queen Margaret’s School 193

Rogers, Ted 124

Pictou, Nova Scotia 181

Queen Mary 53, 54

Rohmer, Richard 186

Pisa, Italy 53

Queen’s Coronation Ball 50

Rome, Italy 53, 54, 203

P. Lawson Travel 139

Queen Victoria 203

Rosenburg, Charlie 197

Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), NWT 139

Quiet Lake 117, 127, 137, 155, 156, 157, 158, 172, 192, 194, 197, 200, 205

Ross River 155

Pope Pius XII 54 Porky’s Menswear 79

Quong, Diamond 149

Roundel Ski Hill 45

Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario 11

Quong, James 149, 182

Porter, Teresa 31, 32

Qwanlin Mall 31

Royal Canadian Air Force 28, 41, 49, 50, 62, 63. See also RCAF

Powell, John 139

Rotary Peace Park 110, 180

Royal Canadian Corps of Signals 30, 42, 77 229

Index

Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) 50, 119

Sauvé, Jeanne 189 Scandinavia 161

Skagway, Alaska 4, 5, 8, 20, 25, 31, 44, 47, 64, 65, 66, 77, 112, 113, 117, 140, 169

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) 117, 118, 181

Schellinger, A.K. 8

Skookum Jim 179

Royal Canadian Navy 18, 28, 29

Schwatka Lake 5, 63, 82, 89

Sleepy Hollow 63

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets 19, 27

Scotland 145

Smarch, Keith Wolfe 204

Royal Roads Military College 28

Scott, John 137, 184

Smith, Andy 47

Russell, Bernice 31

Sea Land Sports 95

Smith, Dorothy 70, 185

Russia 3, 26, 44, 45, 63, 74, 130, 142, 167

Searle, David 139

Smith, Elijah 104

Ryder family 24

Sears Appliance and Catalogue Centre 165

Smith, James “Jim” 68, 69, 70, 148, 184, 185, 187, 188

Ryder, George 69

Seasons Fashions 85, 166

Smith, Joe 149

Ryder, Gordon 187

Seasons Galleria 87, 166

Smith, Mike 186

Ryder, Howard 32

Seattle, Washington 8, 30, 74, 99, 106, 113

Smith, Philip 47

Ryder, Lloyd 59

Seely, Lawrence 178

Sonny and the Sunglows 94, 107

Ryskov, Nikolai 136

Selkirk Broadcasting Ltd. 124

Sony 78, 103, 104, 163

Selkirk, S.S. 6

Sood, Vin 143

Selmer, Cecelia 47

South Africa 3, 145

Selyeh, Wyatt 204

Southampton, England 53

Senger, Dennis 106

South Canol Road 155, 156

Senum, Sara “Siri” (Haugen) 11

Southern, Ron 137

Service, Robert 1, 119, 180

Spain 54, 145, 147, 161

Sewell, John 118

Spanish influenza 11

Shanghai, China 140, 202

Sparling, Gudrun 188

Shaw Communications 129

Sportslodge 70, 85, 95, 153, 154, 163, 165, 205

Shaw Direct 129

Standard Oil refinery 26, 27, 29, 63, 155

Shawnigan Lake School 194

Stanfield, Robert 117, 157, 197

Shaw Satellite Services 129

Statue of Liberty 142

Sheffield, Bill 113

Steele, Samuel Benfield 180, 181

Short, Robert C. “Bob” 124, 126, 128

Steinhauer, RCMP Insp. J.R. 63

Sidney, Angela 180

Sterling Collieries 40

Simmons, Aubrey 63, 69, 115

sternwheelers 6, 8, 23, 34, 35, 64, 152

Simpsons-Sears 105

Steveston, B.C. 199

Sitges, Spain 161

Stewart Island 65

S Sainte-Marguerite, Quebec 203 Salzburg, Austria 53, 54 Sam the Record Man 87 San Sebastian, Spain 53 Sands, Clarence 81 Sands, Les 81 Sands Store 81 Sandy Lake, Ontario 128 San Francisco, California 3, 101 San Jose Sharks 106 Santa Claus 39, 82, 83, 86, 172, 173, 178, 190 Santa’s Little Helper 82, 86 Saône River 166 Sapphire Princess 167 Saskatchewan 11, 38, 40 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 38

230

Stewart River 74, 117

Index

St. George’s School 153, 194

Tanner, Jill 198

Therrien, Réal 123

St. Jean de Losne, France 166

Tanner, Kim 188, 198

Thomas, Stan 100, 104

St. Lucia 202

Tanner, Mark 198

Thompson, Eldon 126, 129

St. Petersburg, Russia 203

Tanner, Peg 55, 198

Thompson, Emma (Haugen) 11

Straughan, Frances 47

Tanner, Trix 198

Thompson, Jim 31

Stringer, Isaac and Sadie 9

Tapp, Gordie 204

Thompson, Peter 155

Styba, Boris 184

Tapp, Helen 204

Thompson, Tom 148

Sullivan Mine 144

Tatalrose, B.C. 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 29

Thoreau, Henry David 121

Sumaniks 192

Taylor, Betty 131, 132, 185, 188, 197

Thunder Bay, Ontario 128

Sweet, Don 87

Taylor, Charlie 185, 187, 188

Timberline Wilderness Adventures 165

Switzerland 53, 160, 163, 192

Taylor & Drury 29, 30, 61, 73, 74, 77, 119, 149

Time magazine 140

Sword Building 87

Taylor & Drury Motors 29

Tinkerbell’s 87

Sybil 6

Taylor, Elaine 182

Titan Sports 87

Taylor House 105

Tivoli 87

Taylor, Isaac 73, 74

Tlingit 169, 180

T.C. Richards building 33, 119

Tobac, Addy 186

Teck-Cominco 144, 146 Teck-Hughes Gold Mines 144

Toronto, Ontario 52, 53, 77, 78, 98, 124, 127, 128, 129, 134, 147, 171, 182, 200

Teck Resources 144

Tougas, Doris (Smith) 52

Ted Harrison Artist Retreat 182

Tourist Services 68, 69, 75

Tel Aviv, Israel 161

Tourist Services Cocktail Lounge 42

Télémédia Communications Ltée 124

Trail, B.C. 144

Telesat Canada 122, 123, 126, 127, 129, 130

Trans-Canada Airlines 52

Temple, Erik 194

Transport Canada 114

Terrace, B.C. 18

Trilon Bancorp 113

Territorial Council 68, 70, 114. See also Yukon Legislature

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in 8, 9

Territorial Supply 51, 68

Trudeau, Pierre Elliot 116, 170

Teslin 47

Trumpeter, Irma 55

Teslin Tlingit Council 188

Tucker, Sophie 53

Thai/Canada Business Council 135

Tuktoyuktuk, NWT 47

Thailand 135

Turkey 161

The Brick 165

Turpin, Frank 113

T T.A. Firth building 32 Tagish Lake 21 Tagish people 43, 180 Tahsis, B.C. 130 Taipei, Taiwan 136 Tait, Enid 154 Tait, Rod 154 Taiwan 135, 136 Taiwan-Canada Business Council 136 Taj Mahal 135 Takhini Hot Springs 153, 179 Takhini subdivision 27, 49, 62. See also Camp Takhini Taku Building 87, 165 Taku Tram 21 Tanner, Dr. Aubrey 55, 105, 186, 187, 188, 198 Tanner family 57, 153, 198, 201 Tanner, Harreson 180

Trophy Hunter magazine 165

231

Index

Turtle 41

Vancouver consular corps 132

Weigand, Jeri 199, 200, 203, 205

Tutshi, S.S. 20

Vancouver Foundation 187

Weninger, Terry 188

Tveiten, Ole Knutson 168

Van Dyke, Adrian 38, 39, 52

Weyburn, Saskatchewan 38

TVTC 128

Van Dyke family 39, 54

Wheeler, Rod 123

Two Mile Hill 49, 68

Van Dyke, Gerard 37, 38, 39, 51

Whiskey Flats 63

Van Dyke, Martha (Van Den Kieboom) 37, 38, 39, 51

Whistler, B.C. 131

Van Roggen, Diana 198

White Fang 181

Van Roggen, George 99, 115, 198

Whitehorse airport 26, 117

Vatican City 54 Venice, Italy 53

Whitehorse Board of Trade 45, 67, 68, 109, 110, 133, 149

Verona, Italy 53

Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce 68, 133, 184

Victoria, B.C. 131, 133, 143

Whitehorse, City of 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 23–30, 32, 33, 34, 40–46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 83, 84, 92, 93, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 110, 111, 112, 116, 117, 118, 122, 123, 125, 126, 131, 133, 137, 141, 142, 144, 145, 149, 151, 152, 153, 155, 158, 159, 163, 165, 170, 178, 179, 180, 181, 183, 204

U UBC-Okanagan 195 Underhill, John 128 Unique Athletic Products 78 United Keno Hill Mines 51, 67, 71, 112 United Kingdom 143

Vienna, Austria 53, 54

United Nations 158

Viking, Alberta 202

United States Air Force 29 United States Army 18, 26, 27, 29, 45, 50, 62, 65, 97, 98, 118, 155

Villafranca, Spain 145 Vladivostock, Russia 167

United States Coast Guard 3 United Transportation Union 112

W

Whitehorse City Council 68, 69, 100, 102, 109, 111 Whitehorse City Hall 30, 70

University of Alberta 84, 128, 163, 193, 195

Wagner, Gordon 137

University of British Columbia 195

Whitehorse Copper Belt 6, 7, 67, 93

Walker, Jean 79

University of Canada North 185, 186

Whitehorse Copper Mines 112

Walmart 86

University of Lethbridge 163

Whitehorse Elementary School 63

Warrington, Mrs. 59

University of Victoria 163

Whitehorse firehall 137

Warshawski, Mary-Jane 164, 165, 174, 182, 193, 194

Uruguay 143

Whitehorse High School 31, 62, 63

Warwick, M. 31

U.S. Chamber of Commerce 134, 135

Whitehorse Hospital 149

Washington, D.C. 134, 135

USSR 97, 140

Whitehorse Inn 33, 42, 82, 100, 102, 119

Washington state 152, 179

Whitehorse Jaycees 109

Waterrous, Bill 70

White Horse landing 6

Watson Lake 50, 81, 95

Whitehorse Men’s Council 68

Watson, Leona 87

Whitehorse Merchants hockey team 110, 148

Webster, Jack 107, 130

Whitehorse Motors 93, 94, 95, 107, 109, 158

Weekes, Tim 108

Whitehorse Plumbing and Heating Ltd. 95

Weigand, Bill 199, 203, 205

Whitehorse Post Office 119

V Vachon, Joe 202 Van Bibber, Alex 154, 155 Vancouver, B.C. 7, 8, 19, 27, 63, 67, 75, 77, 78, 79, 93, 99, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 113, 122, 123, 124, 126, 131, 132, 143, 146, 147, 153, 165, 171, 185, 194, 198 232

Index

Whitehorse railway depot 6, 7, 20, 47, 83, 137, 152

World War I 11, 38, 180, 181

Yukon College Chancellor 188

Whitehorse Rapids 5, 6, 21, 63, 181

Yukon Development Corporation 113

Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club 41

World War II 18, 23, 39, 41, 53, 62, 67, 98, 138, 155, 198, 205

Whitehorse shipyards 6, 24, 34, 35, 111, 152

Wreggett, Jack 105

Yukon Electrical Company 99, 112, 137

Whitehorse Sight & Sound 165

Wybrew, Bert 100, 101, 104, 105, 149, 204

Yukoner, S.S. 6, 35

Whitehorse, S.S. 6, 34, 111, 113, 190

Wylie, Vic 105

Yukon Fish & Game Association 192

Whitehorse Star 42, 47, 71, 75, 76, 80, 98, 102, 105, 110, 112, 118, 141, 142, 177, 179

Wyman, Robert 113

Yukon Foundation 185, 187, 188

Whitehorse Winter Carnival 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 148, 190 Whitehouse, Bev 197

Yukon Honda 95

X Xian, China 167

Yukon Hydro Company 137 Yukon Inn 24, 42, 75 Yukon International Storytelling Festival 180

White Pass 5, 31 White Pass and Yukon Corporation Limited 66, 94, 110, 111, 112, 114

Yukon Dog Mushers Association 110

Y

Yukon Labour Party 43 Yukon Legislature 102. See also Territorial Council

Yamaha 73, 95, 139, 204

Yukon Native Teacher Education Program 188

Yangtze River 167

Yukon Nuggets 107, 108, 183

Yates, Dr. Doug 172

Yukon Research and Development Institute 184

Yellow Cab 69 Yellowknife, NWT 40, 144, 186

Yukon River 4–9, 23, 24, 34, 46, 47, 48, 63, 64, 65, 108, 117, 131, 137, 152, 153, 155, 191

Whitney and Pedlar 119

Yeulet, Vimy 32

Yukon Service Supply 95

WHTV 92, 96, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109, 122, 123, 126, 130, 131, 158, 173. See also Northern Television Systems

Young, George 126

Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous 45, 46, 47, 48, 59, 106, 107, 133, 154, 178, 189, 190, 197, 201, 204

White Pass and Yukon Railway 4, 20, 21, 25, 29, 43, 65, 83, 112, 113, 142, 152, 190 White Pass Hotel 29, 30 White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&YR) 6, 24, 42, 48, 59, 65, 66, 69, 140

Whyard, Flo 134, 141, 187, 197, 205

Young, Maury 143 Young People’s Association 32, 33, 109, 178, 190. See also YPA

Whytecliff Park, B.C. 19, 27

YPA 32, 33, 119, 158. See also Young People’s Association

Wienecke, Edith 55

Yugoslavia 161, 202

Wienecke, Eric 55

Yukon Archives 24, 178, 179

Wigwam Harry (Fieck) 59

Yukon Arts Centre 179, 182

Williams, Owen 31

Yukon Arts Society 182

Williams, Pierce 31

Yukon Chamber of Commerce 112

Wilson, Doug 163

Yukon Chamber of Mines 105, 184

Winnipeg, Manitoba 12, 78, 124, 185, 201

Yukon Coat of Arms 183

Wirsch, Ed 31

Yukon College 142, 186, 188, 191, 193

Whyard, Jim 132, 205

Yukon Tire Shop 118 Yukon Transportation Museum 49

Z Zagorsk, Russia 136 Zambia 78, 145 Zedong (Tse-tung), Chairman Mao 140 Zeng Yibo 203 Zurich, Switzerland 53

233

In 1906, a seafaring adventurer named Berent Hougen hiked the train tracks into Whitehorse, seeking new opportunities. He never anticipated that he would return 38 years later with a family or that his youngest child Rolf would become a major figure in the Yukon’s economy and culture. From building up the Hougen’s store into the territory’s largest retail establishment, to ventures in radio, television, automotive businesses and national communications, Rolf Hougen has done much to modernize the Yukon and create links to the outside world. Rolf and his wife Marg support the Yukon’s lively art scene in many ways and also document and share the history of the Yukon. He is an avid photographer, recording Yukon life with thousands of images from the 1940s on. This pictorial history celebrates an extraordinary individual and his family as well as the town and territory that made it all possible.