PHOTO: Erik Pinkerton
A TASTE OF THE EAST COAST
The Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous is bringing back its soon-to-be-annual East Coast Kitchen Party this spring, with food by Kit’s Kitchen, beers from Winterlong Brewing and a night of dancing.
The event, now in its second year, takes place May 3 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (KDCC) and will raise funds for the Yukon Food Bank’s new kitchen.
“The focus of the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous is to give back to the community,” says Rotary Club President-elect Susan Graves. “Last year was the first big event our Rotary Club has done since Covid, and we wanted to try something new.
One of the local Rotary Clubs used to do a lobster fest, which was a big event, so we thought, why not try a similar theme with a twist, and along came the East Coast Kitchen Party.”
Upon learning that the Yukon Food Bank had plans for a new kitchen and could use some funds to put towards it, Graves and the Rotary Club found it fitting to have a kitchen party benefit a community kitchen.
“We also know kitchens are not cheap, and our club wanted to host this event again, so here we are, hosting the East Coast Kitchen Party 2.0,” she says. “It made sense to host it for the Yukon Food Bank’s kitchen, as their need for a new kitchen is still there.”
The party starts at 6 p.m., and continues until midnight. In addition to food, drinks and dancing, the Fiddleheads will be providing live music as folks are welcomed in, and a silent auction will take place throughout the evening. At-
Leesiders playing for the crowd
tendees will also have the chance to to ‘kiss the cod’, Yukon style.
“For those who attended last year, it will be very similar,” says Graves. “Kit’s Kitchen will be catering another amazing dinner with her own East Coast twist, the Leesiders will be playing amazing East Coast music, and the Fiddleheads will be welcoming everyone in.
There will be some amazing items at the silent auction table to bid on, which have sponsors from Air North, Kilrich, Whitehorse Motors, and Midnight Sun
Coffee Roasters, to name a few. There will be a bar for those who want to indulge and there will be more variety at the bar this year, including non-alcoholic drinks. Graves notes that the Rotary Club could not have put this event on without the support of sponsors Atco Electric, Winterlong Brewing, and Northland Beverages, as well as Kilrich Industries, Inspired Interiors, and Whitehorse Motors. In addition to the sponsors, Graves says she has a small
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PHOTOS: Ramesh Ferris
Manus Hopkins is a journalist and musician hailing from Whitehorse. with Manus Hopkins
Ben Charland is a local writer and the Communications Advisor for Raven ReCentre. Judy Dabbs, co-founder of Raven, is retired in Tagish where she is enjoying the return of the swans. Janne Hicklin, also co-founder, is an avid walker, cyclist, skier, gardener, beekeeper and roadside can collector.
FROM PENNIES TO PURPOSE: 35 YEARS OF RAVEN
How a few dedicated volunteers transformed recycling in the Yukon
On a chilly Saturday morning in June 1989, a small group of friends arrived at the old Jim Light Arena in Whitehorse. They had booked a kiosk for the farmers’ market that summer with a simple idea: collect aluminum cans and pay a penny each.
Janne Hicklin and Anne Taylor stood behind that first collection table. They wondered, if recycling was happening elsewhere in the country, could it not happen in the Yukon too? After connecting with national environmental groups, the two women realized the answer was yes — but only if people like them made it happen.
This is the story of how a few people with a good idea and the will to put it into action changed the Yukon for the better. What seemed both modest and wildly ambitious at the time became the seed of something great: a community-led environmental ef-
fort in an era when recycling was merely gaining traction in the South and virtually non-existent in the North.
At first the group, which soon included Judy Dabbs, covered the penny-per-can refund from their own pockets. They then turned to metal recycler Joe McInroy who agreed to buy the cans for the same price. Eventually, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce pitched in an extra cent.
Word spread, and soon people were bringing enormous bags of pop cans to the three-hour weekend collections. The penny incentive sent people to collect beer and pop cans from road ditches in the spring and summer.
But what drove these pioneers wasn’t just concern for landfills. It was a vision of community transformation and responsibility. The group wanted their initiative, which would become the Raven
Recycling Society, to showcase social responsibility where employees could earn a decent living and community members could overcome barriers to employment or stability.
Val Loewen was also involved during the first summer, and today she remains active on Raven’s board of directors. For her, these fundamental principles remain unchanged. “I’m proud of its role in the community and the social enterprise that it’s become,” she says, “and that it’s always trying to walk the good path in terms of waste management.”
After forming a committee through the Yukon Conservation Society, the group expanded beyond cans to glass containers, thanks to a partnership with the Yukon Liquor Corporation. The founders soon discovered the unique challenges of running such an operation in the Yukon. Volunteers had to painstakingly remove metal bands from the necks of many glass bottles. There were also enormous transportation costs, limited and unstable markets, harsh winters, and scarce funding that demanded countless volunteer hours to write proposals.
That’s why they chose the
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Janne Hicklin is a co-founder and co-author of this piece
Judy Dabbs is a co-founder and co-author of this piece
PHOTOS: Erik Pinkerton
but dedicated team who helped get this event off the ground.
“The night of the event, there will be volunteers from Rotary and the Yukon Food Bank to ensure that everyone’s night is as memorable as last year and that fun is had by all,” she says.
The first edition raised around $20,000 for the Yukon Food Bank, and Dave Blottner, executive director of the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, says he is thrilled to be back for another year.
our downtown location will be a game-changer,” says Blottner.
“It will allow us to rescue more food and break down bulk donations into manageable portions
incredibly excited to see that dream coming closer to reality!”
Since the event sold out within two weeks last year, Graves encourages wishful attendees to get their tickets right away. Each ticket costs $100 and they can be purchased online through Eventbrite.
“Last year’s Kitchen Party was such a fantastic event — bringing the community together for a great cause and a great time,” he says. “This year promises to be just as memorable. The Leesiders are back to get the party going, and we’re excited to have the Fiddleheads kicking things off and setting the tone.”
The Rotary Club raises funds and provides ‘hands on’ support for a variety of local projects and organizations. The Food Bank Society of the Yukon is a community-based organization providing emergency food to people in need, and is currently serving over 1900 people a month.
“People were talking about this event months later, after last year’s kitchen party and asked if we would be doing it again,” says Graves. “Not only will you be attending an evening of fun, live music, great food, and great memories, but you will also be supporting a great cause and giving back to the community.”
To learn more about the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, visit whitehorsefoodbank.ca. To keep up with the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous and find tickets for the East Coast Kitchen Party and other upcoming events, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/2496
“A commercial kitchen at
for our clients — something our board, staff, and volunteers have dreamed about for years. We’re
“Kit’s Kitchen is cooking up an incredible east coast-themed feast, and you can count on plenty of screech and song to go around,” says Blottner. “It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable night — you definitely won’t want to miss it!” n
PHOTOS: Ramesh Ferris
WRITING AND DRAWING WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
The 42nd annual Yukon Young Authors’ Conference will take place May 1 and 2 at F.H. Collins Secondary School
Teresa Wong is a ChineseCanadian cartoonist and the author of two graphic memoirs. She is a second-generation Canadian who published her debut graphic memoir, Dear Scarlet: The Story of My Postpartum Depression, in 2019. In 2024, she published her second book, All Our Ordinary Stories: A Multigenerational Family Odyssey, What inspired you to be a writer?
I grew up an avid reader and always had literary leanings, but I never really allowed myself to even dream of becoming a writer, because I was a child of immigrants, and I had a responsibility to find a stable career.
The first in my family to go to university, I told myself I had to be practical, so in addition to being an Eng lish major, I also got a teach ing degree. I figured teaching books would be the closest I’d ever get to a literary life. But after graduating, giving up teaching, and establishing myself as a marketing copywriter, I still had a creative impulse.
When did you know for sure you were a writer?
Much later than you’d think!
I had already published my first graphic memoir, Dear Scarlet, which was very well received and even praised in The New York Times. But it wasn’t until I was chosen as the University of Calgary’s Canadian Writer-in-Residence for 2021-2022 that I called myself a writer.
It took someone else literally paying me full-time (for 10 months) to be a writer before I was comfortable saying it out loud. Before that, it was always, “I wrote a book” or “I published a piece.” Never, “I am a writer.”
How would you describe your work?
My books are graphic memoirs, which means I tell personal stories in comics form. I also publish shorter comics in publications like The Believer, McSweeney’s, and The New Yorker. Mostly, I like to write and draw from personal experiences, and I’d say my work ranges from serious to silly.
What are your primary concerns as a writer?
I’m not sure there is a theme that really ties together my work as a writer, besides, “This is how it feels to be me.” On the technical side, I am interested in the intersection of word and image, and the special alchemy that occurs when you mix the two.
How do you write?
I work full-time as a copy lead and have a busy family life, so my writing generally takes place either in the morning before work or after the kids have gone to bed. I don’t write every day, but I do try to keep projects moving along by making small advancements in progress whenever I can. I’m a big believer in doing little bits, because it all accumulates over time. I also do a lot of drafting in my head while cooking, driving, folding laundry… the inbetween times.
What do you anticipate experiencing during your trip to the Yukon?
I have this romantic idea of the North that’s largely based on Glenn Gould’s CBC program, “The Idea of North”. I’m sure it’s all wrong, just as people’s ideas of the West (I’m based in Calgary) are wrong.
But I look forward to discovering what life is really like above the 60th parallel. I actually just read a graphic memoir by Allison McCreesh called Degrees of Separation: A Decade North of 60, and hope to experience some of the natural beauty she depicts in that book.
What sorts of experiences have you had conducting workshops for students?
I’ve taught junior high and high school students in the past as a schoolteacher, and I’ve taught writing and comics to adults, but I’ve never taught writing work-
shops for students before. I’m really looking forward to it!
What advice would you give to young people with an interest in writing?
I think my most important advice is to finish things. Even if it starts getting difficult, or you don’t think you’ll show anyone the finished piece, there is something about seeing a project through to its end that helps train your writing brain. It’s easy to start things, but finishing them is where you learn the most, both about the piece of writing and about yourself.
There may also be some comments you wish to make.
I’m just thankful to the Yukon Young Authors’ Conference for giving me this opportunity to visit Whitehorse and work with students. n
Dan Davidson retired after more than three decades teaching in Yukon Schools. He has continued to write for various publications, including two columns for What’s Up Yukon
Freelance with Dan Davidson
Cartoonist and author Teresa Wong
PHOTO: Courtesy of Teresa Wong’s website
COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of Teresa Wong
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF YUKON FRANCOPHONE WOMEN
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Les Essentielles. For this occasion, short biographies of Yukon francophone women will be presented throughout the year in the pages of our paper. Thank you to l’Association francoyukonnaise, l’émission Rencontres, and l’Aurore boréale for their collaboration in this project.
Christine Marchand
Christine Marchand was born in 1962 in Jonquière, Quebec.
Christine always liked being outdoors. Her family had a cabin in Saint-Gédéon, on the shore of Lake Saint-Jean. She liked to swim and was a swimming instructor and lifeguard. She completed a bachelor’s degree in education at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, with a last placement in Montréal. She worked in the field of childhood education for 10 years. Christine came to the Yukon in 1998 to visit a friend. She planned to stay for one year to learn English, experience the outdoors and learn how to use computers (she did not yet have an email address). When she arrived, she found work at the École Émilie-Tremblay (EET) as a physical education teacher and educator. In 2000, she had the opportunity to go to Old Crow to teach the Territorial Experimental Ski Training (TEST) program with Father Jean-Marie Mouchet. She then returned to EET as a substitute teacher and worked in the francization program.
Christine likes to go on 10-day ski trips and 21-day kayak expeditions. She is also an avid reader.
From 2012 to 2014, Christine was the secretary of the Board of Directors of Les Essentielles and, at the end of the 1990s, took part in the first meetings of the Education Community Partnership (PCÉ), as a representative of the teaching staff.
In the Yukon, Christine has had opportunities to try new experiences and take on challenges. This has allowed her to discover her strengths and fine-tune her skills.
Suzanne Labelle
Suzanne Labelle was born in Saint-Rémide-Tingwick, in Quebec, in 1948.
She went to elementary school in SaintRémi and high school in Victoriaville and Asbestos.
She is curious, likes geography and the idea of travelling across Canada.
At 16, she moved to Montréal to take the nursing assistant course.
In 1971, Suzanne, her husband Benoît, and their two children took a three-month trip during the summer to the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Alaska. The family fell in love with the Yukon and came back to live in the territory in May 1972.
Suzanne learned English when she arrived in the Yukon. When the children started school in 1975, she found a job as a school bus driver. She loved her job, as she was fond of children, and had the same Christmas, spring break and summer holidays as her children. The family went on camping, hunting and fishing trips.
At that time, there was no francophone school, so the children went to English elementary and high school, but everything at home was in French. It was important for the Labelle family to go back to Quebec during the summer and Christmas holidays when the children were young.
The family took part in the 1984 Arctic Winter Games in snowshoe racing and snowshoe biathlon.
Suzanne retired in 2001, after a 26-year career as a school bus driver.
Having lived in Yukon for the last 53 years, Suzanne cannot imagine herself anywhere else and finds the Yukon as beautiful as when she first arrived.
Juliette Belisle Greetham was born in Whitehorse, Yukon, in 2005, in a bilingual family (French-speaking mother, English-speaking father).
She grew up in Marsh Lake, attended schools in French and English and graduated from the Aurora Virtual School. She took part in events organized by the Association francoyukonnaise (AFY) and the Yukon Francophone Youth Committee (JeFY). In 2025, she became a councillor on the JeFY Committee.
Juliette also participated in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where she won silver and bronze ulus in archery.
She took part in programs offered by Girls* On Ice Canada and got involved with various organizations, such as Vote16 Yukon and To Swim and Speak with Salmon.
In October 2024, Juliette joined the Board of Directors of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, becoming its youngest member at 19 years of age.
This experience allows her to actively contribute to the promotion of local entrepreneurship and the inclusion of francophones in the Yukon economy. She hopes that more young people will actively get involved in the economic and political future of the territory.
Juliette loves spending time outdoors, exploring her creativity by creating pieces of art that she shares on her Facebook page Juliette Botanicals, and conducting environmental, cultural and political research. She often works as a substitute teacher in francophone, English and immersion schools. She likes working with children. In 2025, she would like to explore social media communication and their impact while producing videos.
Edith Babin
Edith Babin was born in Caplan, a small village in Gaspésie, Quebec, in 1960. She arrived in the Yukon in 1980. After seeing the name of the territory on a map of Canada at 12 years of age, she told herself that she would one day visit.
Upon her arrival, Edith witnessed the first steps of the francophone community. She took part in the debates surrounding a new francophone school and school board.
Edith worked as a contractor for Les Essentielles and sat on various boards of directors, including as the first president of Les Essentielles (1995-1996), the president of the Association of Yukon francophone parents, a member of the Yukon francophone business community and, more recently, as an administrator of the Yukon francophone Historical Society.
Edith worked in various fields, including coordination, residential construction, plaster finishing and painting. For the last 23 years, she has worked as a teaching assistant at the École Émilie-Tremblay. She had the chance to work in her mother tongue during her career.
She acted in the play Des livres et Zoé, chou bidou woua! in 1995 and then collaborated on several plays at the École ÉmilieTremblay, helping with the sets.
In the Yukon, Edith found a thriving francophone community. She was able to raise her children in French and her granddaughter studies in French. Her family includes three generations who have settled in the Yukon. Edith built a life for herself in the Yukon, and she intends to continue living in the territory.
column with Angélique Bernard
Angélique Bernard is a translator, communications specialist, radio host, writer and community volunteer. She was the Commissioner of Yukon from 2018 to 2023.
PHOTO: Karine Bélanger
PHOTO: Angélique Bernard
PHOTO: Josée Belisle
Juliette Belisle Greetham
PHOTO: Karine Bélanger
THE LITTLE WIRED CABIN OUT IN THE BUSH
My younger self couldn’t even imagine what my current self is living
As I’m writing this, my lovely wife Pam is doing a physiotherapy appointment — via zoom! No need to drive to town, no need to leave the living room. She’s had a bit of a ‘go of it’ for the last little while, but the physio is a much needed step towards better mobility.
I remember when I was in junior high in the mid-’70s. There were no cell phones, no internet — nothing that we all take for granted today. Our phone was mounted on the wall in the kitchen and it was a party line. We shared it with three other families. Each of us had a specific ring pattern to let us know who the call was for.
Of course, sometimes you’d go to make a phone call and the line was in use by one of our neighbours. You could always tell when one of the neighbours decided to ‘listen in’ on our own conversations because there was that telltale ‘click’ when they picked up the phone to snoop in.
By the time I was in high school we had graduated to our own private line and didn’t need to limit our phone activity to leave the line free for other folks. At the same time, computers started to become something that were emerging into the scene. Not at home or anything like that, heck — we still only had three channels on our TV and rabbit ears. The TV went off the air usually between midnight and 2 a.m., depending on the station.
Computers would be the next major change in the world, though, so they told us! So much so that my high school electronics class actually ordered a few and ran a course on coding. It was a little redundant as none of us could imagine what to even do with a computer at the time. My Hewlett Packard scientific calculator, (which my parents must have taken out a second mortgage to afford), was far more powerful and useful. I did learn enough to write a little program to make the computer screen display:
Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you Screw you
Fast forward a few years and I was touring as a full time musician when my parents told me that they had bought a computer and
were connected to this new ‘internet thing’ Wow! I had to get out to visit them on Gabriola Island so I could check it out first-hand.
I have to admit it was a little disappointing. Sure, I was ‘on the net,’ but what was on the net? Practically nothing! There was no Google to search for things.
Basically, if you knew about a website, you could go and visit it. Mum and Dad had bookmarked a couple of places, but it was a big nothing-burger for me. Back on the road for me — of course with exciting yarns for the rest of the guys in the band about how cool it was to be ‘online’.
When I first moved to the Yukon, one of my first day jobs was working for Andrew and Chris at their website-based business YukonNow.com. I have to admit it was pretty cool. I was hired to do sales but Andrew insisted that I spend the first couple of weeks learning about the internet. He gave me a brand new iMac G3 to use, and showed me this brand new site – Google! I was hooked. Amazing!
As the years have progressed, so has technology and my understanding and love for it. My first home computer was an older Mac and was connected through a dialup YK Net account. I spent weeks downloading mp3’s from Limewire, started using email to save on
long distance costs and learned how to install new programs and erase my hard drive, re-install my OS and all of my programs from floppy disks.
Then I did an overdubs recording session in Jay’s basement studio, in Riverdale, in the early 2000s. I saw Pro Tools for the first time ever. My life changed forever that day. I currently have a monthly subscription to Pro Tools and quite a fair amount of Pro recording gear for my home studio.
I have access to more powerful and professional tools than we ever could haul in a 5-ton truck back in the road days, and a better recording platform than any of the studios that I ever recorded in back then.
I admit that for a while as I assembled everything, it was a bit of a money pit. But the day that I told Pam that ‘I’m finally done buying stuff,’ she was a very happy camper.
Today, of course, I work online. We get all of our TV online and we have two smartphones that make my old HP scientific calculator — the one my parents paid a small fortune for — absolutely redundant. It’s a free app on the phone! I have four dedicated computers: one for work, with two extra screens plus the work laptop for doing extra things while my other screens are busy. I have my old iMac dedicated to Pro Tools and the amazing speakers. (There’s something really cool about watching hockey and TV though $1,000 worth of studio reference monitors!). And there’s the little Mac mini that I use to stream the TV shows and sports that we watch. Pam of course, has her own laptop.
The best part is that if the internet goes down, we can use our cell phones as hotspots and if the cell service goes down, we can use the phones through VOIP to make calls through the internet!
We have a sign that our dear friend gave us years ago. It says “What happens at the cabin stays at the cabin.” Not anymore! Oh … sounds like Pam’s physio session is over, so I’ve got to go. But yeah, our little wired cabin, 50 miles from town, out in the bush is something out of Star Trek compared to my youth. Beam me up Scotty. I’ve got a paper to print! n
PHOTOS: Gary Atkins
Gary Atkins is the editor of What’s Up Yukon, and is proud to promote, feature and support All
Yukon.
My work station
ART SHOWS
Until Apr 26 Cardboard Tales by Aurore Favier Arts Underground Each piece in the exhibition is handcrafted entirely from cardboard, from sweeping Yukon vistas to a 30-square mosaic exploring textures & patterns.
Until Apr 26 Echo by Amberley Cooke & Esa Suominen Arts Underground An exhibition of tangible depth you can feel over the clay with sewn texture impressions, a hand carved clay skull stamp and glaze finishes.
Until Apr 30 Drawn Together. One Artist and Fourteen Hundred Swans by Martha Jane Ritchie YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery An exhibition of work inspired by two weeks of living and working at Swan Haven during the 2024 Spring migration and Celebration of Swans
Until May 21 My Big Bougie Beaded Earrings Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
A vibrant celebration of Indigenous artistry and self-expression, showcasing bold statement earrings as symbols of identity, creativity, and presence.
Until May 23 Nature’s Touch – Art by Isaac and Isabel YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Our art is about the beautiful Wilderness and our family’s Culture. We enjoy bringing the peacefulness of nature into our artwork, because it is good for the soul and it is where we connect with our ancestors and friends.
Until May 23 Field Notes from Kluane YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery showcases new works by Christine Koch, the 2023 Kluane National Park Artist in Residence.
Until May 23 Aleocharinae: An Entomologist and an Artist YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery A unique exhibition bridges art and science through stunning blown glass sculptures inspired by the intricate genitalia of obscure rove beetles (Aleocharinae).
Until Jun 28 The Andover-Harvard Yukon Expedition: 1948 Arts Underground A series of photographs from The Andover-Harvard Yukon Expedition: 1948, presented by MacBride Museum.
LIVE MUSIC
Fri May 2 Cosmic Grooves 8:00 PM 98 Hotel Dance the night away to Blair Breaks, Nate Vincent and VCHO.
Fri May 2 & Sat May 3 Spring Concert - Simple Gifts 7:30 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Simple Gifts showcases our four choirs, Whitehorse Community Choir, Neptunes, Chamber Choir and Persephone Singers as they sing choral songs that uplift and show the beauty of vocal harmonies. https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Sat May 3 East Coast Kitchen Party
2.0 6:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Get ready to dance, eat, and have a blast with friends, family, and other members of our community as we raise funds toward the much needed new kitchen for the food bank! https://whatsupyukon.events/56fe32
Sat May 3 Flute & Piano Recital
7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran Church Ben Johnston-Urey and Donna Reimchen will be presenting a flute and piano recital featuring programmatic works by Cesar Franck and a selection of Ukrainian composers.
Sat May 3 Flute & Piano Recital
7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran Church Ben Johnston-Urey and Donna Reimchen will be presenting a flute and piano recital featuring programmatic works by Cesar Franck and a selection of Ukrainian composers.
Sat May 3 The Damn Shames 8:00 PM 98 Hotel Rip it up Damn Shames style ... .What a Damn Shame this will be the last full gig for a wee hiatus.
Starts at 8, don’t be late.
Sun May 4 Flute & Piano Recital
7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran Church Ben Johnston-Urey and Donna Reimchen will be presenting a flute and piano recital featuring programmatic works by Cesar Franck and a selection of Ukrainian composers.
Monthly
Mondays
Gray Jay Café 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House.
Tuesdays
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Wednesdays
Intermediate Jam - Bluegrass & Old Time 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion bi-weekly Hosted by the Yukon
Bluegrass Society
Karaoke 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Whitewater Wednesday 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
Thursdays
Muster Point 6:30 PM Baked Cafe
Muster Point live and featuring a rotating lineup of local guest artists.
Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Fridays
Live Music 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Saturdays
Live Music at Whiskey Jacks 7:00 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill. whiskeyjacks.ca/
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Sundays
Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
GENERAL EVENTS
Mon Apr 28 Day of Mourning 12:00
PM Shipyards Park Reflect upon workers who have been injured on the job, and we honour those who died in work-related incidents or as a result of occupational disease.
Mon Apr 28 Hide Tool Making
Workshop 10:00 AM Nàkwät’à Kù Potlatch Tool making workshop will be led by Joshua Lesage, for more info call 332-7049
Mon Apr 28 Info Session - Economic
Mobility Pathways Pilot 9:00 AM NorthLight Innovation Explore a new Immigration Pathway for Yukon Businesses - Presented by the
Whitehorse Chamber and TIA Yukon, https://www.whitehorsechamber.ca/ events/information-session-economicmobility-pathways-pilot
Wed Apr 30 Yukon Writers’ Festival 2025 Opening Reception 6:30 PM Best Western Gold Rush Inn Yukon Writers’ festivals featuring authors Cole Pauls, Chelsea Vowel, Keven Sylvester, Patti Flather and Teresa Wong. https://yacyukon.weebly.com/ Wed Apr 30 Visible Mending Workshop 6:30 PM Raven ReCentre Join the movement to celebrate mending, embrace imperfection and resist fast fashion. Learn how to repair, add flair to and extend the life of clothes you love. Admission: by donation
Thu May 1 2025 Yukon/Stikine Regional Heritage Fair Open House 12:30 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Check out the student projects, learn about Canadian heritage, celebrate learning, and cast your vote for the Park’s Canada People’s Choice Awards. https:// yukonstikineheritagefair.ca/
Thu May 1 Homeschooling in Yukon Info Night 7:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Drop in event - Meet several Yukon homeschooling parents in a panel-styled evening for questions and discussion.
Fri May 2 Seniors and Elders’ Social 1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Whitehorse residents ages 60 and older are invited to the City’s annual Seniors’ and Elders’ Social. www. http://bit.ly/3XtnJMI
Fri May 2 Live Comedy - Todd Ness ft. Celeste Lampa 7:00 & 9:30 PM Boiler Room Lounge Two Killer Comics. One Hilarious Night. Laugh your face off with Todd Ness and Celeste Lampa — two of the funniest comedians working in Canada!
Sat May 3 Klondike Kettle Corn: Dragon’s Den Pitch Preview 12:30 PM Yukonstruct Katie will be presenting her pitch ahead of a potentially national appearance on CBC’s Dragon’s Den. Sat May 3 Ukrainian Pysanka Making Event 1:00 PM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon
Sat May 3 East Coast Kitchen Party
2.0 6:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Get ready to dance, eat, and have a blast with friends, family, and other members of our community as we raise funds toward the much needed new kitchen for the food bank!
Sat May 3 Yukon Writers’ Festival
Closing Reception 7:00 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Yukon Writers’ Festival featuring Cole Pauls, Chelsea Vowel, Kevin Sylvester, Patti Flather and Teresa Wong. Call 667-5239 for more info. https://yacyukon.weebly.com/
Sat May 3 Live Comedy - Todd Ness ft. Celeste Lampa 7:00 Boiler Room Lounge Two Killer Comics. One Hilarious Night. Laugh your face off with Todd Ness and Celeste Lampa — two of the funniest comedians working in Canada!
Sat May 3 Spring Concert - Simple Gifts 7:30 PM YAC Yukon Arts
Centre Simple Gifts showcases our four choirs, Whitehorse Community Choir, Neptunes, Chamber Choir and Persephone Singers as they sing choral songs that uplift and show the beauty of vocal harmonies.
Sun May 4 Recreation Expo 5:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon
A trade show-style event connecting the community with sport, recreation, education, and social service organizations. Sun May 4 Spring Public Safety
Education BBQ 11:30 AM Golden Horn Fire Department Meet & greet with firefighters and local response agencies and get answers and learn more about public safety! Bring the whole family for a fun, informative day!
Mon May 5 - 8 Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference 2025 Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Hear from influential keynote speakers, take part in thought-provoking panel discussions, and immerse themselves in interactive workshops. https:// whatsupyukon.events/0b5350
Sat May 10 2025 Indoor Community Garage Sale 10:00 AM Canada Games Centre Yukon Sign up for a booth, come as a buyer or join Zero Waste Yukon in a variety of free workshops throughout the day! Take part in reuse and repair with us!
Sat May 10 AY Crocus Run 10:30
AM Centennial Bridge An 8km guided run on mixed terrain but is mostly run on trials.
Monthly
2nd Monday Ukulele Group 6:00
PM Golden Age Society salvin@ northwestel.net
2nd Monday Whitehorse Slow Jam 7:00 PM Golden Age Society 2nd & 4th Wednesdays Whitehorse
Photography Club - Meetup 7:00
PM Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Held in Rm A2204. Discuss photography, share your work, learn new tips and tricks. http:// whitehorsephotoclub.ca/
First Thursdays QYS Craft Night 7:00
PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache This is a great place to gather and meet other queer crafters. And there will be tea of course. Regular drop-in is still available.
2nd Thursday QYS Movie Nights 5:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache
Last Thursdays Repair Cafe 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters, and other tools. This easy introduction to electronics and small home appliance repair is a useful evening of DIY learning that you can take home.
2nd Thursday Music Trivia 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come on out and test your music knowledge! Teams of no more than 6 people. Last Friday Pioneer Women of Yukon 12:00 PM Golden Age Society
3rd Sundays Messy Church 3:00
PM Christ Church Cathedral church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. Crafts, singing and food will be the focus.
2nd & 4th Sundays Grade 8 – 12
High School Youth Group 6:00
PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https://mountainview. church/connect/youth Monthly
Weekly
Mondays
Mtg: Competitive Commander 6:00
PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Women’s Bible Study 6:00 PM Women’s Bible Study. Refreshments are served followed by the study. For more info check out www. mountainview.church or email rachel@mountainview.church. Ukulele Group 6:00 PM Golden Age Society
Euchre - For Members and Signed in Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Euchre a tricktaking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member you
Beginner ASL Class & Social Hang 6:15 Queer Yukon Society - The Cache
Tuesdays
Bridge 12:00 PM Golden Age Society Café de l’amitié 2:00 PM Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) Le Café de l’amitié est un rendez-vous hebdomadaire et une occasion de rassemblement pour les francophones de 50 ans et plus.
QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache
Language Skills for Ukrainians 5:15 PM Yukon Learn A discussion group workshop provides a relaxed and friendly environment where learners can practise and learn English conversation skills.
Weekly Shuffleboard Tournament 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For members and signed in guests. A double knockout style competition and games are limited to 6 ends or 15 minutes
Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!
SuperSmash Bros, Mtg: Commander 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
10 Card Crib - Members & Signed In Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Whether you are a seasoned crib player or a beginner, come play! Learn tips and tricks and have some fun! https://bit.ly/3KP0B5s
Wednesdays
Multicultural Connection Group 11:00 AM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon – MCY Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn about parenting in different cultures. A free lunch program for immigrants and refugee families. Lunch and transportation provided. Call 332-1803 for more info.
Spanish Conversation 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church Call 3336081 for more info.
Anglican Holy Communion –Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month
Sew & Tell All – Elders Hangout
1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
Facilitated by Kwanlin Dün Elder-inResidence Shirley Smith, everyone welcome. Feel free to join and start a beading project or work on something that you’ve already started! For more info email culturalprograms@kdcc.ca
QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache
Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and guests. Bragging rights!
Mtg: Modern, Warhammer Age of Sigmar 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Writing Things DOWN(town) 6:30 PM A regular, free drop-in writing group at the Whitehorse Public Library. This is a space to start writing your memoir or finish that article. Writing prompts will be provided to generate ideas.
Thursdays
Public Speaking TrainingToastmasters 12:00 PM Decora
Guests are always welcome.
There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics
Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral
Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Find out what role playing games are all about! Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are always welcome.
Mtg: casual Commander, Warhammer 40k & Kill Team 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Mountainview Church Community Group 7:00 PM 16 years or older?
Mountainview Church Community Group! We’ll share some snacks and talk about what the bible has to say about discipleship.
Fridays
Coffee & Chat 11:00 AM Golden Age
Society Coffee and chat is a way to connect with your community, develop friendships, and have fun.
Mtg: Pioneer, YuGiOh Casual 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Saturdays
Yukon Amateur Radio Association
Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM
A&W Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.
Cribbage - Members and Signed in Guests 2:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Masks are mandatory. Members must have a valid 2021 membership and they may sign in 2 guests MAX.
Pokemon, Mtg: Youth Magic, Lorcana 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Sundays
Mountainview Church Sunday Service 9:30 AM Church In The Building 9:30 AM, 11AM or Church At Home 7 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM Mountainviewwhitehorse.ca/Watch
Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone
Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM A caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth
Secondhand Clothing Bizarre 2:00 PM Whitehorse Seventh-Day Adventist Church Clean clothes needed and donations accepted if in good condition. Please call before dropping clothes off and for more info 633-3463.
Sunday Gatherings 3:00 PM The Northern Collective Church
KIDS & FAMILIES
Sat May 3 Teddy Bear Clinic 10:00
AM Whitehorse General Hospital A fun and family-friendly event where kids can bring their favorite stuffed animals for a “check-up” with healthcare professionals! Enjoy activities like face painting, coloring, snacks, and more.
Monthly
1st & 3rd Saturdays Grades 5 - 7
Junior Youth Group 7:00 PM
Mountainview Church Passionate about giving kids opportunities to have fun & make new friends, while teaching them about Jesus & His great love for our world https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth
2nd and 4th Saturdays Grade 8 - 12
High School Youth Group 7:00
PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https://mountainview. church/connect/youth
Weekly
Tuesdays
Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Join us for stories, songs & rhymes! A free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 and caregivers at Whitehorse Public Library
Parent-Child Mother Goose 10:30
AM The Child Development Centre Celebrates the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Bonding time with your little one or to learn for later.
Wednesdays
Community Connections 1:30 PM Yukon Family Literacy Centre An intergenerational story time and craft program. Meet local elders, have a coffee, do some crafts, and make a friend!
Thursdays
Transformations Along The Chu Nikwän 1:30 PM Yukon Visitor Information Centre Join Amber for a free walking tour every Thursday along the Whitehorse waterfront to learn about the Yukon First Nations people and the history of the Yukon.
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Youth 11-17 are invited to join, no experience necessary.
Saturdays
Science Saturdays 11:00 AM Whitehorse Public Library Free DropIn Science and STEM Activities - no need to register - For children to complete with a parent or guardian!
MEETINGS
Mon Apr 28 Softball Yukon AGM 2025 6:00 PM Sport Yukon Held in Sport Yukon Boardroom 2. Please email sarah@softballyukon.com for more info.
Tue Apr 29 Alpine Club of Canada
- Yukon - AGM 7:00 PM Winterlong Brewing Co. Learn more about ACC and we are hosting a short adventure slideshow night. Email ACCYukon@ gmail.com for more.
Thu May 1 Homeschooling in Yukon Info Night 7:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Drop in event - Meet several Yukon homeschooling parents in a panel-styled evening for questions and discussion.
Tue May 6 YEU - PSAC Local Y043 AGM 5:30 PM Yukon University Dawson City Campus Elections, Financial Reports and President/VP/ Director Reports will all be discussed. Pizza and door prizes will be on hand. https://www.yeu.ca/y043_agm_ may_6_2025
Weekly
Tuesdays
Rendezvous Rotary 6:30 PM Tony’s Pasta and Seafood House Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at Tony’s Pasta and Seafood. Come and join us for fun, and fellowship.
Thursdays
Toastmasters Decora 12:00 PM Sundogs Toastmasters Club. Club is open to all interested parties and we provide constructive feedback to help develop public speaking skills.
Monthly
First Monday Klondike Snowmobile Association Board Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents/
First Monday Yukon Amateur Radio Association Monthly Meeting 7:00 PM EMO Building Discussion of club business. Prospective hams are welcome.
Third Thursday Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Monthly Meeting 5:00 PM ZOOM Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition for regular meeting. Everyone is welcome. Call Kathy 334-9317 or info@yapc.ca for a zoom link or join us in person. https://yapc.ca/actions/ detail/yapcs-monthly-meetings
Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon
ONLINE EVENTS
Fridays AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 334-7693
Saturdays AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 334-7693.
Tuesdays Restorative Online Healing Circles 7:30 PM Online Check-in, Q&A, connect and feel the results. No experience necessary. Register online, or call 335-0078 or email alison@alisonzeidler.com for more info.
TEDDY BEAR CLINIC TEDDY BEAR CLINIC
created local jobs with fair wages in an industry that often struggles for viability, and pioneered environmental education. Yet for all its accomplishments, the journey has had its share of challenges, and the work is far from over.
name “Raven”, a bird that is ubiquitous across the Yukon and known as nature’s own recycler, endlessly searching through discarded materials. Like the intelligent bird, the new organization would have to be creative, resourceful and adaptable to turn waste into value.
A significant early breakthrough came with the “PaperSave” program, which introduced paper re-
cycling to government offices. PaperSave was the first governmentled entry into institutional recycling in the territory, with various government offices participating to separate white, coloured and glossy paper.
A flurry of media coverage from 1989 to 1991 reflected the community’s growing environmental consciousness and hunger for solutions. Both the Yukon News and the Whitehorse Star tracked Raven’s growth from a grassroots effort to an established not-forprofit business. This attention
catalyzed public awareness and multi-level government action. Raven was clearly responding to a deeply-felt need.
In 1992 the Yukon Government’s Beverage Container Regulations allowed Raven to process a wider range of materials. When the seasonal farmers’ market closed, Raven moved into a warehouse provided by White Pass & Yukon Route, then to Industrial Road where Raven ReCentre continues to operate today.
Around this time, Raven developed educational programs and school presentations, which took a cheeky, impactful approach to engage students. “Auntie Litter” was a memorable character in a green robe with a black stripe for the highway, complete with the dotted yellow line and little velcroed objects representing litter in the ditches. Students literally plucked litter from the costume and — hopefully — went home to teach their parents.
From humble beginnings, Raven transformed community attitudes toward consumption and waste,
“When we started, we didn’t really want to be doing this for so long,” says Loewen. “We thought maybe ten years, you know, and then it would all be settled, and we could go on about our lives.”
This candid assessment points to larger systemic challenges beyond what any single organization can address. The rise of nonrecyclable packaging, complex materials, and economic barriers make sustainable systems difficult to maintain.
Thirty-five years later, Raven continues to evolve with nearly 35 well-paid employees who work in collection, processing, the expanding ReUseful Store, education, community outreach, and more.
Executive Director Shannon Powell says that “as Raven transitions from a traditional recycling depot to a comprehensive ecocentre recycling a wide variety of material, we’re reshaping our mission for the next generation.”
Through its five-year Getting to Zero Waste plan, Raven aims to become the Yukon’s leader in Zero Waste initiatives and filling recycling gaps in the territory. “We envision Raven as a knowledge hub,” says Powell, “leading innovation in the industry, empowering youth, and fostering national connections.”
When asked what advice they
would give to those hoping to create similar community-led initiatives, Raven’s founders emphasize the importance of finding likeminded people and connecting with community resources.
Loewen adds with a laugh, “You need people with vision to make it happen — to roll the ball at least part way up the hill. Then you need others to get in behind and keep pushing.”
Progress often happens not through grand policies or technological breakthroughs, but through the persistent efforts of community members who simply refuse to accept the status quo.
From a penny-a-can collection in Whitehorse’s old arena to a territory-wide force for environmental stewardship, Raven’s journey is about vision, determination, and community support, and how these can sustain even the most difficult endeavours.
As Raven approaches its 36th birthday, the path ahead may be as challenging as the road behind. But the spirit that animated those first Saturday collections remains unchanged. Passionate local action matters. Sustainability requires persistence. And the future of our environment depends on an engaged community willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work. Like the raven itself, Raven ReCentre continues to adapt, inspire and lead the way. n
A group of Raven’s founders and early volunteers
depot Raven operated on Industrial Road before moving
location
PHOTO: Janne Hicklin
PHOTO: Erik Pinkerton
PHOTO: Janne Hicklin
KATIE’S TALE
With special assistance from Eilleen Gour
For the past several decades, Watson Lake’s Signpost Forest has become a magnet for Alaska Highway travellers. Trouble-free parking all around the site has turned it into a temporary summer haven for ramblers from a congested world. Over the summer, you will find an assortment of individuals — from cyclists to motorhome folk — lounging around at the picnic tables in front of the recreation centre.
The setting made it handy for me to snoop around for unusual stories, but unfortunately, most people live in the plain whitebread world of suburbia — not usually a breeding ground for pageturning suspense.
The stories I heard over a couple of summers just didn’t have the oomph that I was looking for. After a while, they all sounded as similar as desert sand. Luckily, I finally hit pay dirt when I heard Katie’s tale.
Katie was different from the others. She noticed immediately that I must be a local when I pulled
up in my 30 year-old pickup. Her bubbly personality radiated a curiosity about her local surroundings and questions cruised to and fro between us. After a time, I casually mentioned that I’m always on the hunt for unique stories to write about.
“I got a story for ya,” she offered. “Give’r,” I replied, and she began.
“Have you ever had a premonition?” she asked. “Yeah, I think I have a couple of times, but if experts in the field were ever to investigate, they would probably come to the conclusion that I was full of shit,” I replied.
“Well, in the late ’60s, I had a premonition that probably saved my life, or at least saved me from getting really screwed up. I grew up in the middle-class suburbs that were then the outer edge of L.A. Like many of my friends, I was becoming restless with my surroundings and uptight parents.
“These were the days when so much was going down and we thought we could change the world — fighting ‘The Establishment,’ standing up against ‘The Man’. It was also the time of protesting the Vietnam War and being a part of the civil rights movement and I was really into the whole
peace, love and freedom thing.
“Going back to the land, living in nature together with likeminded people, loving each other and sharing everything in our own private communities far from the material world of our parents. That was my dream, my illusion.
“Doing my own thing sounded so inviting and when I read the stories in the underground press, it just made it all seem so idyllic and possible. I wanted to be part of it all, but I didn’t want
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to go alone.
Then I met Sarah. She was a little older than me, wore long paisley dresses and sandals, had hair down to her waist and drove a rusty old car that had flowers painted on the side. She had travelled around the areas of San Francisco and L.A. and was really into the whole, ‘turn on, tune in, and drop out’ spirit of those days.
“She told me she was going back in a couple of days to a commune that she had visited and fall-
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en in Iove with everything about it, and she suggested that I should come with her. She raved about Chuck — the commune’s leader — how beautiful and inspiring he was and how dedicated everyone was to each other under his leadership. Her enthusiastic description of the commune seemed like the perfect place for me, too.”
Katie paused and her eyes shone as she reminisced, recalling the way she felt. After collecting her thoughts she continued.
“I had a blast with Sarah for the next couple of days, hanging out in the clubs along the Sunset Strip. The whole strip was swarming with young dudes and chicks with long unkempt hair, dressed in the latest hippie trends of the day. It was so exhilarating, especially getting to hang out at Whiskey a Go Go, knowing the place had hosted groups such as The Doors and Buffalo Springfield.
“Those two days with Sarah flew by in a flash. As we walked arm in arm towards her car, she suddenly threw her arm around my waist and asked if I was going to come with her to the commune.
“Her question should have
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PHOTO: Pam Atkins
The rest area at the Signpost Forest in Watson Lake
with Carey Marshall
Carey Marshall is from Whitehorse and has lived on both sides of the mountain North of 60, for almost 50 years.
SWAN SONG FOR THE PIANO MAN
Time for a change after 29 years
The Whitehorse Community Choir (WCC) is losing a key player from the ensemble;
a key-board player, in fact. And with one voice, they say Barry Kitchen will be missed.
“He has been willing to give of himself, so that art can exist in the community,” says C.D. Saint, the WCC’s Artistic Director. “Having somebody different at the keyboard is definitely going to change the personality of the group.”
Kitchen has been a pillar of the community choir since he first agreed to “help out” in 1996. His wife got a job that brought the family to Whitehorse that year. Kitchen had previously led choirs in Ontario and taught music in Alberta schools. When he found himself with time on his hands, it was a natural fit to join the WCC. It proved to be a lasting relationship.
For twenty-nine years he has been an accompanist for the main choir, and some of the others, playing piano and organ. He says every year is different.
“In 1998, it was the 100th anniversary of the gold rush, and more than 100 people joined the choir. We did a lot of travelling that year and that was when it was at its biggest.
“I’ve been through the different conductors. Every one of them has their own approach and personality. To go with the flow, it helps to be able to read their mind, anticipate where they want to go. That comes with time.”
C.D. Saint says it’s that kind of experience that brings out the best in everyone during a performance.
“The man knows what he’s do-
ing and he’s extremely talented. He’s navigating where you as a director are trying to go; and if the director and pianist are connecting, it creates something that can be very special.”
For Kitchen, the music becomes magic when the singers, musicians and director come together into what feels like a shared state of consciousness.
“There’s a feeling of oneness, of wholeness. The music’s kind of flowing through you; like a river flowing, and you’re in the river with them, the choir.”
His colleagues describe him as a highly skilled musician, but
“He has been totally adaptable to the many types of music that have been presented over the years; never missing a beat.” Kitchen’s final appearances with the choir will be during the “Simple Gifts” concerts on May 2nd and 3rd in Whitehorse and on the 10th in Atlin. The programme includes a piano solo, an original composition Kitchen wrote himself.
“It’s called “Reflections” and it is sort of reflecting on the years gone by. It is meant to be spiritually uplifting, and that fits as the choir is doing a lot of spirituality themed pieces right now.”
So what lies ahead when a musician retires?
“There’s a saying: musicians never retire,” Kitchen replied. “I have to keep playing, I have to
PHOTOS: Courtesy of WCC
Mike Linder is a writer whose heart remains in the Yukon, while his feet continually carry him to places unknown.
Freelance with Mike Linder
Barry playing to the choir
With WCC Artistic Director C.D. Saint, 2024
IT’S MAGIC!
Left to right: drive end, #1 check valve, #2 check valve, compression chamber, delivery end
Kinda. It’s just a matter of getting water to flow uphill
Without using any artificial power. Just flowing water. It’s a hydraulic ram.
There’s a 50’ ridge between our garden and the creek that must be 100 yards away. We do have a gasoline powered pressure pump that doubles as a fire pump if there’s an emergency. It’ll get more than
enough water over the ridge in an emergency, but at much too large a volume and much too high a pressure for gardening.
So we’ve put a 200 gallon vertical tank at the high point of the ridge. From there it gravity-feeds enough pressure to run a sprinkler and/or drip lines down at the garden. It’ll also gravity-feed drip lines to my exotic pines, raspberries, sea buckthorns, birches and larches and all the rest of the stuff that I’ve forgotten the names of.
In other words, it’ll run water by gravity practically anywhere on the property. But it still seems kind of a waste if we know we can pump water for free.
The gas pump dictates that I have to run down to the creek to start it, run back up the hill to watch the tank fill, then run back down to stop the pump. But I now have four hydraulic rams; three that I made myself, and a smaller one I bought locally, believe it or not. It was from John Obstfeld of John’s Services, the tank and pump guy at Shallow Bay. His business has since been absorbed by other tank and pump guys.
Before the flood (not the biblical one) to get a head of water, I
had at least 100 hundred yards of 4” sewer pipe feeding water from a beaver dam to an eight-foot vertical pipe. This six- to eight-foot head of water supplied pressure to three drive pipes connected to three rams.
That all stopped when the Mud Lake beaver dam broke and caused the flood that carried my gas pump 30’ downstream and filled it with sand. Fortunately I had not yet set up my hydraulic rams.
And with our pretty little creek now scrubbed down to bedrock, it’ll be an interesting problem setting them up again.
Let’s try it:
OK. No more beaver dams to boost the head of water. That means more 4” sewer pipe over a much longer run right in the creek. And before the environmental outrage starts, 99.9 per
cent of the water that enters the pipe returns directly to the creek.
The remaining 0.1 per cent eventually goes over the ridge to stuff we’ve planted.
The rams themselves each consist of a 1½” drive pipe, two check valves, a compression chamber, and a ½” diameter delivery pipe.
The sequence starts with drive water running right through the first check valve, into the open air and back into the creek because it’s stopped by the closed second check valve. That’s the 99.9 per cent.
In a few seconds the speed and volume of the water overwhelms the first check valve spring and the valve slams shut.
The sudden pressure overwhelms the spring on the second check valve, opening it. At full speed and pressure it can’t go anywhere else but into the com-
pression chamber. Oh and a tiny bit into the delivery pipe.
Meanwhile, the momentary relief allows the first valve to open again, which allows the second valve to close. And the sequence starts again. The remaining pressure in the chamber drives a tiny amount of water into the delivery pipe. It has nowhere else to go.
That’s the 0.1 per cent on its way to the garden.
At least I think that’s what happens. Maybe it really is just magic.
Eventually little orgasms of water squirt into the tank fifty feet up the hill. If I connect all the rams to a ¾” manifold it becomes a small stream of free creek water accompanied by the syncopated clack clack clack of the first check valves closing.
It’s not just magic, it’s music. n
Old guy best remembered for taking a school bus through the McDonald’s Drive Thru, in about 1987, and ordering 52 chocolate shakes. p The 99.9 per cent The 8-foot head. Not the naval version, you wicked person q
It’s all uphill from here Phew! We made it. 200 gallons of free water
PHOTOS: Carl Maguire
been greeted by me with an enthusiastic, ‘Let’s go!’ but all I could muster was a wimpy excuse about having to go home for some reason. I guess the comforts of suburbia still had a slight grip on me, not to mention that I had always been scared of my own shadow.
“Somehow, Sarah seemed to sense that and wasn’t deterred. She carried on enthusiastically, describing how we might be able to worm our way into the commune’s inner circle and snag Chuck’s attention. She also mentioned that she’d heard a rumour that something big was comin’ down and maybe, with some luck, we could be a part of it.
“Her persistence finally broke
down my protective barrier and I agreed to drive to the commune the following weekend.
“I remember clearly how excited I was as I settled in for the short drive to the commune the following Sunday morning. As the miles ticked by, Sarah’s vivid description of the commune that was located on a ranch in the foothills kept circling through my mind.
“What a beautiful sunny morning it was, rolling along with the tunes playing on the radio. Looking back at it today, I know there is no doubt that at that very moment, my childhood ended and I was transformed into adulthood in a flash.
“As I got closer to the com-
mune, a wave of uneasiness started to flood through me. I felt confused, almost like I was slipping into a trance. I have no idea how I kept the car on the road.
“It became more bizarre when I thought I heard a dim voice repeating something that I couldn’t make out. Without hesitation, I shut off the radio and waited for another response. I was stunned to the core when it finally came at full volume….DON’T GO!..DON’T GO!
“I started sobbing hysterically as I whipped the car onto the shoulder and slammed on the brakes. I’m not sure how long I sat there before I finally turned around and headed for home in a complete haze. On the way home I tried, but failed, to make sense of what had just happened.
“Even today, I still haven’t got a handle on that chilling event, but luckily one positive outcome that happened was an instant attitude adjustment. From that moment on, I started to look at suburbia and my square parents as my rock and not the cause of all the world’s problems.
“Being young and resilient, I was soon back to my normal self and carried on with life as usual. I kept myself busy with my studies and a part time job while summer turned to fall. As busy as I was, I still thought of Sarah often, won-
dering in general how she was doing and hoping she was fitting in well at the commune. I kept hoping that we would meet again and knew deep down in my heart that with more time we would become true, true friends. Unfortunately, that day would never come.
“Even though my life was completely back on track and I was always excited for the next day to begin, there was a boogeyman in the closet. I along with most of the city were on edge because of a spate of unsolved vicious murders. Little did I know that those incidents were about to tear me to shreds emotionally.
“Just like it was yesterday, I remember being glued to the TV when the news broke that the police had arrested multiple people involved in the murder of actress Sharon Tate. In the usual sensational fashion, the local news anchor spit out the details at auctioneer speed. Everything became a blur and I found myself slipping into a state of confusion and uneasiness similar to my drive to the commune.
“One moment, I’m watching a handsome news anchor … the next … I see the devil himself. The police were leading a creepy, longhaired dude in handcuffs down a hallway. My visit to hell wasn’t finished. The video flashed to the next scene and I remember asking myself, why my parents never told me that the devil had disciples, as police led three laughing, hippie chicks away in handcuffs.
“In my mind, those handcuffs
must have been a symbol that the devil had been captured because I started to come out of my stupor and face reality as the anchor’s words started to sink in.
“Commune. Spahn Ranch. Charles Manson. I screamed … SARAH!”
“My poor confused mother had a fit and found a sobbing, trembling mess lying on the couch. Over the next few weeks, I spent every minute of my spare time searching for every tidbit of information I could find about the commune. Paranoia made me hesitant to turn the next page in the newspaper, fearing I would see my friend in handcuffs. Thankfully, that never happened.
“Most people don’t realize that experiencing a premonition is a double-edged sword. Sharing your experience helps you heal, but you also risk sounding like a looney tune. I finally decided I was going to let it all hang out and not worry anymore if someone out there thinks I’m an old, superstitious, wind bag. I truly believe that I was blessed with an extra sense that goes berserk when I get too close to pure, unadulterated evil.
“Finally, that whole experience has left me with a couple of fond memories to be thankful for. First, in my mind, Sarah will always be forever young. Second, time has helped me to understand that sometimes failure is a true blessing. I’m so thankful that my wonderful, wonderful friend failed in her attempt to worm her way into the devil’s inner circle.” n
PHOTO: Pam Atkins
A closer look at some of the signs
Check out ALL EVENTS at whatsupyukon.com
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Mon Apr 28 Softball Yukon AGM 2025 6:00 PM Sport Yukon Held in Sport Yukon Boardroom 2. Please email sarah@ softballyukon.com for more info.
Tue Apr 29 Alpine Club of Canada - Yukon - AGM 7:00 PM Winterlong Brewing Co. Learn more about ACC and we are hosting a short adventure slideshow night. Email ACCYukon@gmail.com for more.
Thu May 1 Fit to Run 7:30 PM Whitehorse Physiotherapy & Kristy Lerch and Associates The right combination of strength, flexibility and coordination is key to running injury prevention, whether you are running 5K or a marathon. https:// whitehorsephysio.janeapp.com/#/ workshops Fri May 2-4 Yukon Championships Invitational Swim Meet. The Whitehorse Glacier Bears are hosting their Yukon Invitational Championships. Canada Games Centre whitehorseglacierbears.ca
Sat May 3 Baked 1 Miler 10:30
AM FH Collins High School
This race is short and sweet! All ages welcome! FH Collins Track and Field facility. https:// athleticsyukon.ca/events/event/ baked-1-miler-3/
Sat May 3 Early Season Rugby Jamboree 12:00 PM Porter Creek Secondary School Get ready for the season with Yukon Rugby registration. Casual games and skill sharpening await players aged 14 and up. https://www. yukonrugby.com/
Fri May 9 Yukon Open 5:00 AM Better Bodies
Sat May 10 Ball Hockey
Tournament 8:00 AM Takhini
Broomball Arena Rally your friends, and prepare to showcase your hockey prowess. Spectators are invited to indulge in drinks and cheer on the players, while enjoying the lively atmosphere complete with a beer garden and music.
Sun May 11 Run for Mom 12:00
PM S.S. Klondike National Historic Site Yukoners run, walk and bike for Mom - to ensure we have the best breast health care right here at home. All proceeds stay in the Yukon to support breast health.
Mondays
Judo For Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 7:30
AM Northern Strength Academy
Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30 AM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Tai Chi Kung Form (Seniors) 10:00 AM Golden Age Society
Babynastics with Coach Libby 10:30 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40
AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg
Noon Strength & Conditioning
12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy
Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00 PM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Indoor Cycling 12:05 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days Martial Arts 12:05 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts KIDS MUAY THAI a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. Open to ages 8 - 12.
Strength & Conditioning 5:30
PM Northern Strength Academy
Ladies Kickboxing 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Qigong / Meditation 7:00 PM Jack Hulland Elementary School
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tuesdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00
Strength & Conditioning 1:00PM Northern Strength Academy
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Indoor Cycling 5:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 2A 6:30 PM Jack Hulland Elementary School
Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a non-profit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www. whitehorsearchery.com/schedule
Stretch & Stabilize - Functional Conditioning 7:00 PM Grace Space Purposeful movement with our Functional Conditioning non-yoga movement class. http:// amitieyoga.ca
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Wednesdays
Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00 AM
Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon
Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30 AM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Tai Chi Essential Form continued 10:00 AM Heart of Riverdale
Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40
AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg
Noon Strength & Conditioning 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Introduction to Tai Chi 6:00 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 1 refinements 7:00 PM Grey Mountain Primary School
Indoor Range Night 7:00 PM Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 3 continued 7:15 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School. Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Thursdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
Winter Power Hour Series 6:00
AM BrittyFit 95 Lewes Blvd Ignite your fitness regime in 50 minutes with Brittyfit
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Tai Chi for Seniors 10:00 AM Golden Age Society Come early, bring water, and wear comfortable, smooth soled indoor shoes.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Strength for Endurance 12:00
PM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05
PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 1:00
PM Northern Strength Academy
Babynastics with Coach Naomi 3:30 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
AM Northern Strength Academy Specifically designed for the retired population, but open to anyone.
Yoga with Barbara 10:00 AM
Whitehorse United Church Drop-in, no registration required, everyone is welcome. Call 3351996 for more info.
PM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!
Ladies Kickboxing 12:05 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Babynastics with Coach Libby 11:15 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Strength for Endurance 12:00
PM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Move & Meditate - Slow Vinyasa Yoga 12:10 PM Grace Space Movement and mindfulness with our Moving Meditation - Slow Vinyasa Yoga. http://amitieyoga.
ca
Elderactive Intermediate Hiking
1:00 PM ElderActive Recreation
Association Leisure Walking is similar to Nordic walking but is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more relaxed pace
Strength & Conditioning 5:30
PM Northern Strength Academy Functional strength class teaches compound multi-joint lifts that improve athleticism, strength, coordination, power and more.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a non-profit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www. whitehorsearchery.com/schedule
Tai Chi Essential Form
continued 6:30 PM Hidden Valley School
No-GiJiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Yang Hand Forms refinements 7:45 PM Hidden Valley School
cont’d on page 17 ...
Fridays
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM
Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM
Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Strength & Conditioning 12:00
PM Northern Strength Academy
Muay Thai Kickboxing 12:05 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 5:30
PM Northern Strength Academy
Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Saturdays
Flow & Fly – Vinyasa Yoga 8:30
AM Grace Space A dynamic and invigorating practice to awaken your inner strength. http:// amitieyoga.ca
Ladies Lift 9:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Strength & Conditioning 10:00
AM Northern Strength Academy
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 11:00
AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Open Mat 12:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Sundays
Free drop-in Tai Chi practice
10:00 AM Takhini Elementary
Tai Chi Sword Form 10:30 AM Whistle Bend Elementary School
WELLNESS LISTINGS
Tue Apr 29 Workers Wellness Workshop Series 12:00 PM Yukon Employees #8217; Union Unlock new key healthy habits, connect with other workers and be inspired by others.Attend online or in-person.
Sat May 3 Teddy Bear Clinic
10:00 AM Whitehorse General Hospital A fun and family-friendly event where kids can bring their favorite stuffed animals for a “check-up” with healthcare professionals! Enjoy activities like face painting, coloring, snacks, and more.
Sat May 10 Remember Mother 11:00 AM Hospice Yukon
Elder and Counselor available
Emotional and Spiritual support, free to Indigenous women, girls, 2 spirited in Yukon, Northern BC: Phone, video appointments or in person. Call Toll Free 866 667 6162 or visit www.yawc.ca for info.
Monthly
Every other Tuesday Sharing Circle 12:00 PM Old Justice Building KDFN Every other Tuesday for recovery focused sharing circles. Connect, share challenges and gains, and access support and wisdom. Snacks and refreshments served. whatsupyukon.events/4en
Mondays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM
Salvation Army 311 Black St Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
Infant Feeding Mondays 1:00 PM Yukon Midwifery ProgramYukon Health and Social Services
AA Life Ahead (O, A) 7:00 PM 509 Hanson St. Held in person or by zoom – ID 251-363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.
AA New Beginnings Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Sacred Heart - Rear Entrance - basement
Tuesdays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM
Salvation Army 311 Black St
Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
VFWC - Drop-In 11:00 AM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Drop-In includes Laundry and Shower.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 6:00 PM 100 25 Firth Rd Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Join us! Every Wednesday morning. Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details
AA UglyDuckling Group (C/M, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral New members always welcome, this is a non smoking group.
Ugly Ducklings Group (O,A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Held in person or by zoom – ID 251-363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.
Wednesdays
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 8:00 AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details
VFWC - Drop-In 11:00 AM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Drop-In includes Laundry and Shower.
Community Kitchen 11:30
AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
Al-Anon 12:00 PM 407 Black Street, downstairs Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.
AA No Puffin (C, A) 7:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral (Hellaby Hall)
AA Porter Creek Step Meeting (C) 8:00 PM Our Lady of Victory
Thursdays
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM
Salvation Army 311 Black St Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
VFWC - Drop-In 11:00 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Drop-In includes Laundry and Shower.
Polar Group (O, A) 7:30 PM 311 Elliott St. & 4th Ave. Held in person or on zoom, Zoom ID 251363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.
Fridays
Moth & Flame - Bright Light Morning Meditation Series 9:00 AM Queer Yukon Society - The Cache
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:30
PM Online Zoom ID 482-5189588 PC 334796 call 778-9072971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower access.
Community Kitchen 5:00 PM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
AA Whitehorse Group (C, A) 7:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral
Saturdays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00 PM 609 Steele St.1:00 PM
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:00 PM Online Zoom ID 482-5189588 PC 334796 call 778-9072971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and showers.
Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
AA Hospital Meeting 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
Sundays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A)1:00 PM 609 Steele St.
AA Yukon Unity Group 1:00 PM Online By zoom – Zoom ID 482518-9588 PC 334796 For more info call 778-907-2971
AA Hospital Meeting (O, A) 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
THUNDERBOLTS
STARTING MAY 2ND
You should see this, if: you’re into messed-up heroes, moral gray zones, and watching a team that’s one bad day away from total disaster.
LEGEND OF OCHI
You should see this, if: you secretly wish your dog could lead you through a mystical forest and you're emotionally prepared to cry over animated creatures.
THIS MOMENT WILL BE DIFFERENT ONLY SATURDAY, MAY
The Unknown Chef has fed you at many local restaurants, for years, and has decided to share some recipes he has developed and others he has stolen from other chefs.
LEMON GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS
time. The total time from start to table was about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Here’s how I did it all up.
Coleslaw
Ingredients:
• Cabbage
• Carrot
• Onion
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Cornish game hens, aka Rock Cornish game hens, these are tender young chickens. They were initially bred in England as a cross between Cornish and White Plymouth Rock breeds in the mid 20th century. Typically these birds weigh in between 1–2 pounds and are around 4–6 weeks old when they are harvested.
Cornish game hens taste exactly like chicken. However, being as young and small as they are, they are far more juicy and tender than regular chicken. You can find them in the frozen section of your favourite grocer, usually next to the turkeys. Thaw for 24 hours in the fridge before cooking.
I mentioned in a previous column that sometimes I do love to spend a bit of time in the kitchen. This past Easter we decided to forgo the traditional turkey or ham and do these Rock Cornish game hens instead. It was well worth the effort.
I won’t lie though. It took a little planning and preparation. I made that borscht a little while ago and still had some leftover cabbage, so figured that I would also do up some home made coleslaw to serve with dinner.
Being as it was Easter, I decided to spend a bit more time in the kitchen and make some fancy sides as well. I made steamed broccoli and cauliflower with a creamy cheese sauce and my everpopular whipped potatoes.
I used the leftover glaze on the side and we were set for a fabulous feast! All in all, I spent about 30 minutes doing prep and roughly 20 minutes of hands-on cooking
• Salt & pepper
• Coleslaw dressing
Method:
1. Finely slice your cabbage and cut it into manageable pieces. Use a cheese grater to grate your carrot. Combine in a colander and wash thoroughly. Use your salad spinner to dry it all.
2. Transfer this to a large bowl and add a small amount of very thinly diced onion. Cover this all with coleslaw dressing — I used a store bought dressing for this one. Salt and pepper to taste and you’re done.
Lemon Glaze
Ingredients:
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Lemon juice
• Cornstarch
• Lemon zest - optional
• Method:
1. Combine about a 1/3 cup of honey, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 3-4 Tbsp of lemon juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove, stirring occasionally. If you have a zester and, like me, don’t get to use it very often, you can also add some finely diced lemon zest at this point.
2. In a measuring cup add 1 heaping tablespoon of cornstarch to about a 1/3 cup of cold water and whisk. Pour this into your honey mixture, whisking constantly, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for another 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
• Bakery Goods & Bread
• Bar Supplies
• Beef / Chicken / Pork / Seafood
• Cappuccino / Slushie Machines
• Co ee Makers
• Compostable products
• Containers & Bags
• Convection Oven / Roller Grills
• Co on Candy Machine
• Cutlery & Utensils
• Dairy / Eggs / Ice Cream
• Deli Meats
• Fridges & Coolers
• Frozen & Fresh Food
• Frying & Baking Pans
• Plates / Wraps / Tinfoil
• Popcorn Machine
• Sandwich Tables
• Slicers / Mixers / Toasters
• Stoves - Propane & Electric
• Toilet Paper / Tissue / Napkins
Cornish Hens
Ingredients:
• Cornish game hens
• Olive Oil
• Salt & pepper
Method:
1. Dry the hens with a paper towel or a tea towel and coat the skin with olive oil. Season with freshly-ground sea salt and black pepper. Tie (truss) the legs together and make sure that the wings are tucked in. Remove and discard any giblets.
2. Spray a large roasting pan with non-stick spray and place a rack in the bottom. Preheat the oven to 425F and place the hens in the centre rack. Cook for 50–60 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 165F in the thickest part of the breast. There should be no pink at all.
3. Once the hens are fully cooked, adjust your oven rack to place the hens about 6 inches below the broiler and set the oven to broil. Generously slather the hens with your glaze and return to the oven for another 2-3 minutes — just until the thick glaze gets a little bubbly.
You’re going to want the hens to rest for up to 10 minutes before you serve them. I did my usual whipped, not mashed, potatoes using butter, milk, sour cream, nutmeg and white pepper. I also steamed broccoli and cauliflower and made a cream cheese sauce by melting Velveeta and Cheez Whiz, with a dash of milk and a little salt to taste.
I made what’s known as lemon cartwheel twists for a garnish and served the leftover lemon on the side to squeeze over the hens. Serve the leftover glaze on the side also, and impress everyone with an amazing meal. n
Pièce de résistance
Trussed and ready for the oven
Making the coleslaw
Getting the sides and glaze ready
Friday, May 9
SHOWTIMES: 8:30PM, 10:00PM, 12:00AM
Photos: John Howland Photography, Melissa Naef
FARO
Pick
ATLIN
Sundays
St. Martins Anglican Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM St. Martins Anglican Church 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome. Atlin Christian Assembly 11:00 AM St. Atlin Christian Centre 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome.
Mondays Caregiver & Tot Drop-in 10:00 AM
Atlin Recreation Centre This is an unstructured hour for You and your Littles to get social and run wild. This IS NOT a drop off, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Call or email 993-4102 atlinarc.coordinator@gmail. com for more info.
Yukon
Communities:
Wednesdays AA Yukon Unity (OM) 3:00
PM Online Yukon Health Centers, Live Video Meeting Beaver Creek, Carcross,
Carmacks, Dawson City, Destruction Bay, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Old Crow, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake. Online users’ sign in info: yukonbcdistrict52@gmail.com
CARCROSS
Sat Mar 29 Yukon, A Welcoming Place - Celebration of Culture 5:00 AM Haa Shagóon Hídi (Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre 2 days of performances, storytelling, workshops, and cultural connections, featuring incredible artists, musicians, and comedians.
Thu May 1 Wild Adventure Yukon 2025 Season Opener 5:00 AM Wild Adventure Yukon Step back in time and learn what it took to be a prospector during the Klondike Gold Rush! Dog Cart experiences on a first-come, first-served basis. https://www.wildadventureyukon.ca/
Second Sunday of Every Month St. Saviour’s Church Services 2:00 pm St. Saviour Church 867-668-3129
First Friday of the month Mother Goose Group 11:00 AM Haa Shagóon Hídi (Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre Learn stories, songs, and rhymes, lunch provided. Suitable for babies and children 5 and under. Please bring along a water bottle and blanket to sit on. To register, call 332-2389. https:// whatsupyukon.events/jwf
Wednesdays Yoga with Richard Mueller 12:00 PM Carcross Firehall Free for everyone some fitness required. Thursdays Yoga with Jess Ghùch Tlâ Community School Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. Dropin, Free admission! For more info email yogajessyukon@gmail.com.
CARMACKS
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:
• Sunshine Restaurant
• Carmacks Rec Centre
BATTERY
Batteries store energy that is needed to start your vehicle, there are a few things to remember about batteries. Regular maintenance #1 is making sure the battery is secured properly so it doesn’t vibrate, keeping connections clean and tight at the terminal, with loose connections you may run into problems like vehicles won’t start, alternator not charging properly and could cause battery and alternator failure.
Making sure your battery is ready for the colder weather we see in the Yukon like adding a battery pad or battery blanket to keep it warm when the vehicle is not in use; by keeping the battery warm in colder weather you will get the most power out of the battery on start up. Here is a side tip: if you don’t drive your vehicle on a regular basis and are experiencing battery problems, you could ask you local mechanic to install a low amp battery maintainer; this will keep your battery fully charged even when the vehicle is parked for a long time.
• CDC / CIBC Bank
• Tatchun Center General Store
First & Third Tuesdays of Every Month Carmacks Regular Council Meeting 7:00 PM Carmacks Municipal Building
Mondays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre Learn To Curl (All Ages) 4:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Floor Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM Carmacks School
Drop In Curling 6:00 PM Carmacks School 14+ Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Tuesdays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM Open Court 1:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
After School Club 3:30
COMMUNITY EVENTS... cont’d
DAWSON CITY 9 9
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:
• Dawson City General Store
MONTHLY
1st Saturday of every month Coffee House & Open Mic Night Klondike
Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 7:00
PM family-friendly open mic night at KIAC. Admission by donation with all funds raised donated to a different community group each month. Last coffee house of the season May 4 to resume in the fall of 2024.
Weekly
Mondays
Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in 6:30-9
PM Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, though little instruction is provided. KIAC Classroom, back door Drop-In Pickleball 5:30 PM Robert Service School
Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:45 PM Robert Service School Ages 16+ - Free - Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
Tuesdays
St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
Hand-Building Pottery Drop-In 6:30
PM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Self-guided group studio time for those with some experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, little instruction is provided.
Mondays
Fun with Food 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Learn new skills, share recipes and take food home!
Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Tuesdays
Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster
Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/caregivers.
Tea & Bannock – Haines Junction 1:00
PM https://whatsupyukon.events/teabannock-68ab07
Men’s and women’s sewing group 1:00 PM Mun kų
BGC Game Night 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Play, have fun, build skills and challenge your friends
Wednesdays
Seniors and Elders Refreshments and Games 2:00 PM Haines Junction
Seniors Residence
AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 3:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre
Girls Club 3:20 PM St. Elias Community School Held in the art room, open to Girls and identifying as Girls from Grade 8 to 12.
BGC Rec in the Gym 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School
Art Journaling Group 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Bring your own creative supplies that you like to use.
This can be scraps of paper, magazines, glue, paint, pen, markers, stamps, ink etc. and a book or journal to create
Thursdays
Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/caregivers.
Seniors Activities 2:00 PM St. Elias Community Centre Floor curling, carpet bowling and indoor walking group.
Haines Junction Thrift Shop 2:00
PM St. St. Christopher’s Thrift Shop is a great place to pick up items. Prices are low and numerous adult items are available for $2, and most items for children are $1.
Adult Volleyball 7:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Fridays
Stories and STEM Activities 10:00 AM Haines Junction Library
Wednesdays
St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening
Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican
Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
Welcome Wednesday Supper and Games 6:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church
QYS Drop-in 1:00 PM DCMF Office
Screen Printing Drop-in 6:00 PM
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC
Classroom (enter via backdoor) Selfguided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing.
DCMF Film Selections 7:00 PM
Dënäkär Zho The best committee ever! Just watch movies! Help us select the films for the 2025 film festival. Come once, twice, or all the time! To get on our mailing list, email: filmfest@kiac.ca
CFYT Trivia Night The Drunken Goat Fun filled night of Trivia. Every other Wednesday. A variety of trivia categories! Come with your team or join a team when you arrive!
Thursdays
CDC Toddler Program 10:00 AM
Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture KIAC Free drop-In for kids 5 & under with parent/guardian Story time & free play!
Drop-in Volleyball 7:30 PM Robert Service School Ages 13+ - Free
lAA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:30 PM Haines Junction Health Centre
Saturdays
AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre
Sundays Anglican Church Service 10:30 AM St. Christopher’s Church Anglican Church Service at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church in Haines Junction https:// anglican.yukon.net/services.html
AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 1:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre
MARSH LAKE
Tue Apr 29 Open studio with Rhoda Merkel 6:00 PM Swan Haven Interpretive Centre Rhoda Merkel, Swan Haven artist-in-residence, will showcase the pieces she worked on during her two-week stay at Swan Haven and share her highlights. https://yukon.ca/swans
Wed Apr 30 M’Clintock West Ridge (Brownie Mountain) 6:30 PM Department of Environment Join Wildlife Viewing staff for a short but steep hike. We recommend bringing hiking poles and boots. https://yukon.ca/swans
Last Wednesday of every month MLCS board meeting 7:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Tuesdays
Play Bridge 1:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre
North of 60 Seniors Coffee and Chat 2:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Yoga with Richard Mueller 5:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre Free for everyone some fitness required.
Wednesdays
South of 6 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Thursdays
Shuffleboard Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM
Fridays
Beginner Yoga Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM
Youth Gym Drop-In Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM
Fridays
Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/ dawson-legion-8336c3
Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM
Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Enjoy KIAC’s bright, airconditioned space to create and focus on your artistic practice. Even betterwe’ve waived the drop-in fee this day. Drop-in Bouldering 6:00 PM Robert Service School Free - drop-in - all ages
Saturdays
Youth Parkour Tumbling 12:30 PM Robert Service School All AgesFree – Drop-In. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Open Studio – Drop In 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Space to create and focus on your artistic practice.
AA North Star Group Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-993-5095 or 867993-3734 for more information
Sundays
Anglican Church Service 10:30
Anglican Church Service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City. Corner of Front and Church Streets at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City
Adult Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM Robert Service School Ages 16+ - Free - Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
Saturdays
Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM
Sundays
Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM
MAYO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Haldane Services
MOUNT LORNE
Sun May 4 Spring Public Safety
Education BBQ 11:30 AM Golden Horn Fire Department Meet & greet with firefighters and local response agencies and get answers and learn more about public safety! Bring the whole family for a fun, informative day!
1st Tuesday Monthly LAC Meeting Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Mondays Run Club 6:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Yoga with Jess 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. To register or for more info email yogajessyukon@gmail. com.
Drop-In Yoga 7:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre By donation all levels welcome
Tuesdays
Active Fun Fitness Class - Drop In 6:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Improve your balance, flexibility, strength and endurance in this indoor class led by Colleen Ennis. Drop in, admission by donation. Suitable for mature youth & adults. https://whatsupyukon.events/fhm
Thursdays
Community Drop In 11:00 AM Mount Lorne Community Centre
Run Club 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre
OLD CROW
Mondays
Men’s Night At The Rec Centre 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Tuesdays
Kids Gym 3:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya
Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Wednesdays
Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal
Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 966-3015 for more info.
Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Sundays
St. Luke’s Church Service 11:00 AM St. Luke’s Church 867-993-5381
ROSS RIVER
Tuesdays
Sewing Night 7:00 PM The Hope Centre
Wednesdays
Family Bible Study 8:00 PM The Hope Centre
Fridays
Family Game Night- Coffee House 9:00 PM The Hope Centre
Sundays
Church Service 12:00 PM The Hope Centre
SKAGWAY Alaska
Wednesdays
Women’s Morning Worship 7:00 AM
First Presbyterian Church of Skagway
All are welcome. Part of the Alaska Presbytery and the PC U.S.A.
Windy Valley Babies 10:30 AM Skagway Public Library Stories, Songs, and Fun with Ms. Anna! Designed for ages 0-3.
Fridays
Skagway Teen Night 6:30 PM Skagway Public Library
Sundays
Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First
Presbyterian Church of Skagway
Sunday School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway
TAGISH
First Monday of every month Carcross
Tagish Renewable Resources Council 1:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
First Monday of every month Tagish
Advisory Council 8:00 AM Tagish Community Centre
First Tuesday of every month Tagish
Community Association 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Second Thursday of every month Tagish Local Advisory Council 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Wednesdays
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 2:00
PM Tagish Community LIbrary Targeted literacy programming by Yukon Learn at the Tagish Library. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon.
Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM Tagish
Community Centre
Thursdays
Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish
Community Centre
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
Tagish Local Advisory Council Meeting 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre .
Saturdays Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
TESLIN
Thu May 1 Community Art Night 6:00 PM Teslin Recreation Complex Learn the tips and tricks and all about watercolor painting, all levels of experience welcome. 8 spots available.
Mondays
Teslin Tigers Cross Country Ski Club 3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre
Co-Ed
WATSON LAKE
Watson Lake Recreation Centre Sell your awesome handmade crafts, or gently used items, or want to downsize, this is your chance to have fun with your neighbours! Email recprogrammer@watsonlake.ca for more info. https://whatsupyukon.events/ cd53f1
Daily Northern Lights Space & Science Centre Shows 11:00 AM The spectacular dancing Northern Lights are showcased, a video that is broadcast in the NLC’s domed 100-seat theatre daily throughout the summer season. Plays daily on the hour starting at 11:00 AM
Second Saturday of the month Watson Lake Direct Aid 2:00 PM Northern Lights Centre
Tuesdays Smart Recovery Meetings 3:00 PM Wye Lake Cabin Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services For more information, email joey.mitchell@yukon. ca or call 332-3187
Pickleball & Badminton 7:00 PM Watson Lake Secondary School
Wednesdays
Drop-In Ninja Tumbling 5:30 PM Watson Lake Secondary School All ages welcome. Adults are welcome too, come to do some stretching or try some handstands etc.
Fridays Friday Night Lanes 7:00 PM Call 3357979 to register
Saturdays Baptiste
REFLECTIONS ON AN ATTEMPTED MURDER AND RECOVERY
Knife:
intensely personal that only a first-person narrative would suffice.
The suspect, who is only ever referred to as
“A” (for assassin) in the book. was identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey. By an odd coincidence, his trial, which is anticipated towards the end of the book actually, began just a few days after I recently finished reading Knife
The trial was originally sched-
Meditations After an Attempted Murder
By Salman Rushdie
“At quarter to eleven on August 12th, 2022, on a sunny Friday morning in upstate New York, I was attacked and almost killed by a young man with a knife just after I came out on stage at the amphitheater in Chautauqua to talk about the importance of keeping writers safe from harm.”
These words begin the author’s account of the event itself and his nearly miraculous recovery over the next year and a bit. While his previous autobiography was narrated in the third person, Rushdie writes that these events were so
uled for an earlier date, and Rushdie anticipates that earlier date in this memoir, but as it turns out Matar’s lawyer petitioned to have the trial delayed until after this book appeared, which was last April 2024, so that it could be part of the evidence to support his client’s “not guilty” plea.
Such a plea seems quite ridiculous in the face of the fact that the assassin’s act was seen by more than 1000 people as he stabbed Rushdie more than two dozen times in less than two minutes.
The book is divided into two
sections. The Angel of Death tells something of his life up to the time of the stabbing, including the story of his meeting his wife, Eliza, and finally having a truly successful marriage. He has children from his earlier marriages and is on fine terms with all of them as well as his former partners.
He has had a disturbed life following the publication of his massive novel The Satanic Verses, which was widely viewed as blasphemous in the more rigidly Islamic nations, and which resulted in the Ayatollah Khomeini putting a $3,000,000.00 bounty on his head by a religious fatwa, with him living under strict security protection from 1989 until 1998.
During that time there were several attempts made to collect on the bounty, but these were foiled.
Rushdie nearly canceled his scheduled Chautauqua appearance two days before the event, having experienced a very disturbing nightmare about being stabbed in an ancient Roman amphitheatre, but he carried on, reasoning, as he had said elsewhere, that his life had been fairly normal for a number of years in the 21st century.
This section of the book concludes with his time recovering in the hospital and the beginning of his rehabilitation. This account of his recovery extends into the second section, called The Angel of Life, which chronicles his return to New York, first to a friend’s apartment, for the sake of security, and eventually to his and Eliza’s own apartment. It is clear throughout all of this section how crucial the support of his wife and family was to his recovery.
Most of Rushdie’s wounds healed and closed over time, but
some things remain issues for him. He lost the use of his right eye and partial loss of movement in his left hand. As time passed, he became convinced that he needed to write this book as a type of self-therapy.
For me the least satisfactory portion of the book was the imaginary interview that he records with his would-be murderer, whom he did not actually meet. It is a chapter containing the questions that he would like to have asked Matar, and what he imagines, based on what he’s been able to find out about the young man, the answers might have been.
I haven’t seen any reporting from the actual trial so far.
Sir Salman Rushdie is the author of 15 novels – Luka and the Fire of Life; Grimus; Midnight’s Children (for which he won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker); Shame; The Satanic Verses; Haroun and the Sea of Stories; The Moor’s Last Sigh; The
Ground Beneath Her Feet; Fury; Shalimar the Clown; The Enchantress of Florence; Two Years, Eight Months, and Twenty-Eight Nights; The Golden House; Quichotte (which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize); and Victory City –and one collection of short stories: East, West He has also published five works of nonfiction – The Jaguar Smile; Imaginary Homelands; Step Across This Line; Joseph Anton; and Languages of Truth – and co-edited two anthologies, Mirrorwork and Best American Short Stories 2008 He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. A former president of PEN American Center, Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for services to literature. n
Sir Salman Rushdie
PHOTO: Wikipedia, Elena Ternovaja
column with Dan Davidson
Dan Davidson retired after more than three decades teaching in Yukon schools. He has continued to write for various publications, including two columns in What’s Up Yukon.
PHOTO: Supplied by Dan Davidson
PHOTO: Wikipedia, Elena Ternovaja
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
SHIPYARDS PARK
Come for lunch and stay for our outdoor trade show filled with engaging activities and giveaways.
It’s a great chance to have fun, eat a free lunch and be inspired to make your workplace safer and healthier. Bring your coworkers, friends and family—let's celebrate workplace safety together!
