A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
From a time when pennies were worth their weight in … copper
As she popped onto the seat beside me, I smiled. Nothing better than an earlymorning drive to take my granddaughter to school; nothing better than an early-morning drive with a detour … and she talked my ear off. At one point, though, she was silent—for what was probably mere moments but long enough for me to interject, “A penny for your thoughts.”
“Whaaat?” She looked at me quizzically, smiling. Then, “Gramma” (she’s too old, now, to call me “Grammy”), “what does that mean?”
“It means I would love to hear what you’re thinking about.”
“You mean my thoughts are only worth a penny?”
“No.” I smiled. It means I would pay to hear what you’re thinking … Your thoughts are important to me.”
(She still didn’t quite understand, so I continued.) “Back when there were pennies, they were valued … as thoughts were valued. So, when someone looked pensive—maybe they were daydreaming—someone would say, ‘A penny for your thoughts.’”
“Do you have any pennies, Gramma?”
“I have a whole bag of them. I’ve been collecting them.”
She instantly sat up a little straighter as she sprang back with, “Can I have some?”
“Sure.” I smiled at her, somehow satisfied that she, as well, thought that pennies could be special.
Pennies are a novelty now. They are not valued. They are left lying on sidewalks or in the dirt where people step on them or over them,
though perhaps a rare copper coin might spark some curiosity. Copper, at least, until 1982.
Back in the day … when pennies were a treasure to be collected in jars and then counted to spend on penny candy, or at the cinema or on a coveted toy. Back then.
Back in the day when thoughts were as treasured as a jar full of pennies. I like to think they still are. I treasure my granddaughters’ thoughts because they reveal so much about their hopes, their dreams, their fears.
And even further back, more than 400 years ago in a line from Sir Thomas More’s Four Last Things, which was published after his death, there it was, with one slight variation: “A penny for your thought.”
And back in the day when pennies were worth more—a single coin being worth as much as two dollars and fifty cents. Back then.
And here we are … some of us, no doubt, collecting pennies in jars or bags, imagining that one day they may be worth more, once again, and even trying on new versions of the old idiom: a nickel for your thoughts, a dime for your thoughts … but none of them sound the same, or feel the same, so we just keep on collecting until a someone comes along who wants to share in this bit of thoughtful history and perhaps collect a few pennies of their own.
Perhaps this idiom will live on. One thing I know with certainty, though: We can be collectors of thoughts. A penny for your thoughts, Taya. n
PHOTO: Josephine Holmes
Collecting pennies and thoughts
YWIM HOSTS COOK SHACK SESSIONS
This
year’s sessions
conclude
on Sept.
6 at Twin Lakes Campground
Yukon Women in Music (YWIM)’s Cook Shack Sessions are family-friendly, with acoustic concerts featuring performances by YWIM artists, singers, songwriters and musicians at different parks across the territory.
Hosted throughout the summer on Saturday afternoons, the events include music workshops designed for anyone, regardless of skill or experience level, followed by concerts, complete with door prizes from Yukon businesses and ending with a jam session that is open to everyone as well.
Those who wish to participate are welcome to bring their own instruments, though loaner instruments are also available for people who are travelling and happen to chance upon the events taking place.
The Cook Shack Sessions were started in 2016 by now-retired producer BJ MacLean. Last year, the helm was taken over by Amelia Rose Slobogean and Christina Mae Nimigon, who wanted to keep the series alive after McLean’s retirement.
“Amelia and I both had the experience of being perform-
ers at the Cook Shack Sessions,” says Nimigon, who also serves as YWIM’s treasurer. “We felt that it was something that was of great value to the community. It’s such a beautiful situation to be out in nature and to be performing.”
There’s more to the Cook Shack Sessions than just the Saturday afternoon, though. For some, it turns into a weekend-long event
with impromptu jam sessions taking place the night before and the day after.
“Some people stay an extra day, so on Sunday evening you can hear fiddles, guitars and banjos across the campground,” Nimigon says. “Before quiet time, of course.”
One thing MacLean started in her final year was adding a special
spot for youth in the sessions. The Cook Shack Sessions may be the first time ever performing publicly for some musicians under the age of 16.
“It’s very different performing for an audience of strangers than it is doing a recital or something at school,” says Nimigon.
Cook Shack Session at Teslin Lake Campground
PHOTO: Corliss Burke
Dancing our way through life
Adream gave me the title of this piece, which is so appropriate for harvest season when communities celebrate. I woke up laughing, realizing I had no idea what “Barn dance before you die” meant or what sort of dream could have led up to that strange concluding statement. But then, my memory started to churn out the barn dance calls I used to say when I taught folk dance to elementary students through the Artist in the School program. I thought, Maybe there’s a story about life, and how to live it in that sequence
“Three steps in, and curtsy or bow. We’re ready to start the barn dance now.”
Sure, I figured, there’s the beginning of socialization for all of us. There’s a bunch of other kids to check out and wonder about, but you know there are going to be rules of engagement … not literal curtsies and bows, but pleases and thank-yous, and no hitting or kicking or mean words.
Swing around with your friend.”
Throughout our lives, we practise those basic social skills over and over and over again, with slight variations. The trick is to swing your partner without getting into a been-there, done-that frame of mind, but keeping interactions fresh and personalized and friendly (keeping the dance lively).
“Both hands out and give it a whirl, if you’re a boy or if you’re a girl.”
to back and around you go.”
So we get older, and relationships deepen and become more intimate. We learn to trust so that we don’t worry that our barn dance partner is going to crash into us when they’re out of sight behind our backs. Trust is tricky. We have to learn to talk about the hard stuff. We have to make sure we are reliable, too.
“First two people sashay down, hee-haw!”
“Right hand out and around you go. Swing your partner head to toe.”
Okay, kids, the word swing doesn’t mean to yank your partner’s hand, sending them off balance. When we’re young, we learn about give and take, being gentle and careful, speaking and listening respectfully, being invited to birthday parties and issuing invitations in return, shaking right hands without squeezing hard.
“Left hand out and do it again.
Yeah … if you’re a boy or if you’re a girl. You’re figuring this stuff out and noticing how fluid humans are, how we change over time. We look so solid, but our imaginations and ideas and selfconcepts are so very mobile and ever-changing. We meet our new selves every morning.
“Arms up for a do-si-do, back
At this point in the dance, you and your partner are sideways-galloping down the space between the two rows. Everyone else is clapping and stamping and hee-hawing, but you and your partner are moving as a pair—two distinct individuals in a community. It’s freeing. It’s empowering. It’s nerve wracking. You hope you won’t trip and fall. But if you do, you know there will be plenty of helping hands to get you back on your feet.
When every pair has sashayed down, “Grand March!” is called, and the whole group skips around “the barn.”
Whew, you’ve done it. You’ve gone through all the stages of socializing. You’ve grown up in this community of dancers. Now you’re circling the barn, surveying the physical and social and psychological space where you’ve become you, feeling a sense of accomplishment and completion. You’re very warm and a little out of breath, and you’re smiling so much your cheeks hurt. As the music draws to an end, it’s time to physically or mentally curtsy and bow to all your partners again. And everyone will be sure to say, “Thanks for the dance, partner.” n
“It really sparks a lot of excitement in the children and gives them an opportunity to enjoy a weekend with their parents out camping but also be mentored by the more seasoned musicians that are in attendance as well.”
Active since 1998, YWIM started small, with just a group of musicians getting together for songwriting circles. In the past 27 years, that initiative has grown into a full-fledged organization that has put on concerts, recorded compilation albums and helped to launch new talent through workshops and professional development opportunities.
“In the past, we’ve had compilation CDs where Yukon Women In Music’s musicians are given the opportunity to record and produce a CD as a group—so you’re not making a whole album, you’re making one song on it,” says
Another session in full swing q
Nimigon. “It’s very beneficial for emerging artists to have an opportunity to learn what it really means to go into the studio to produce a song. It’s very educational and eye-opening for the emerging artists, and fun for the established artists.”
Another event, which Nimigon says is a complement to the Cook Shack Sessions is YWIM’s JamFest, which, this year, will take place Aug. 29 at Braeburn Lake Camp.
“This is a chance for musicians, especially the ones who are jammers who haven’t had a lot of experience performing or working with other musicians,” she explains. “The JamFest does attract a lot of recreational musicians or shower singers.
“It’s two and a half days of working together with the leaders, who are professional musicians, who guide the participants in all different aspects of music, like working together, doing fills, communicating onstage with other musicians … It’s endless.”
Even musicians with experience might enjoy taking a workshop in an instrument they have never played before, and Nimigon says the jam sessions can be a confidence booster for younger or newer musicians.
“During the winter, these musicians can go to the jams and open mics in town, to hone their skills, and then they apply to perform at Cook Shacks as emerging artists,” she says. “It kind of balances with the Cook Shack Sessions.”
This past winter, YWIM presented a series of jam sessions and singalongs in retirement homes, in partnership with the Thomson Centre, ElderActive Recreation Association, the Royal Canadian Legion and Queer Yukon.
“It wasn’t limited to seniors,” says Nimigon. “The focus was to make it accessible for seniors. We welcomed all levels and got quite a bit of great feedback from it. Now, there’s actually a legacy program that developed out of it
t Plenty of performances and jam sessions for all
at Normandy [Living]. We aren’t running it, but it came out of doing these jam sessions. Now, it’s independent from YWIM but it’s still going on. We’re really happy to be able to spark these kinds of things in the community.”
Asked why YWIM and its events are important to the Yukon’s community of musicians and music lovers, Nimigon takes a brief pause to think, admitting that it’s a big question to answer.
“Music is so important for our mental health,” she begins. “A big part is sharing cultures and sharing our voices with others. YWIM is not one-hundred percent focused on professional musicians; it is part of what we do, but a big part of why it is important to the community is that it makes music accessible to people who are not professional musicians.
“There is so much talent and beautiful music that comes out of people who are not motivated or not inclined to be professional musicians because they have other parts of their lives, but they still have so much to give and share. Even professional musicians might come to a workshop with brandnew musicians and learn from the new musicians as well. The
education goes both ways … you can never learn everything about music and about sharing music with others, so it’s very fulfilling for all levels.”
There’s no experience level too low to participate in a YWIM jam— even tapping a table, snapping one’s fingers or humming along to a melody are ways to contribute, according to Nimigon: “Music is something everyone can participate in, one way or another.”
The final Cook Shack Session of the year takes place Sept. 6 at Twin Lakes Campground. Visit yukonwomeninmusic.com to learn more and to keep up with YWIM. YWIM thanks the companies that provide them support, such as Yukon Lotteries and the Yukon Arts Fund, as well as PJ Productions and all their local donors. The organization will hold its public AGM in October, at which point they will be open to having new board members join.
“It’s a very exciting group,” says Nimigon. “But it’s a lot of work, the things we do, and it’s a volunteer board, so the more members we have on the board, the more projects we can take care of.” n
PHOTOS: Corliss Burke
p (L-R) Catherine Bouchard, Mike Stockstill, Amelia Rose Slobogean
BOTHERSOME BUGS
Campground critters share their home—in the Yukon and in British Columbia
There are two types of campers: those who swat the pesky mosquitoes, blackflies and no-see-ums in the tent, all night, until the buzzing and biting finally stops; and those who hide deep inside their sleeping bag, with a toque over their face, accepting how bugs are part of the camping “recreation” package.
My husband is the former and I am the latter.
Depending on the campground location and the time of year, neither one of us get much sleep.
Location, location, location
I romanticize my years of living in the breathtaking Yukon. I fell in love with the stunning, picturesque landscapes, the fresh clean air and the pristine lakes.
Our last camping trip in the Yukon was in the month of September. We experienced the dramatic autumn colours and avoided the peak times for insects. I don’t recall being attacked by a single bothersome bug.
I am also not in denial. We have camped throughout the summer months in the Yukon, and the annoying insects have earned
Freelance with Erica Henault
to Vancouver Island, 30 years
a variety of monikers for good reason. Especially the mosquitoes. These pesky little “helicopters” have had their way with me far too many times, leaving me covered in itchy, inflamed, red bumps. These unwelcome visitors are plentiful and on a relentless hunt for blood.
The Yukon is not the only home for mosquitoes and pesky insects. We have camped in numerous parks throughout British Columbia where we have been swarmed and attacked by irritating bugs. Warm, humid days and a creek or river nearby provide the perfect conditions for attracting various insects.
We have been eaten alive on the Bowron lakes and on Loon Lake in the Cariboo region of B.C. We often enjoyed camping
at Chubb Lake, about 40 minutes south of Prince George, with a hit or miss when it came to bugs. Camping on Vancouver Island is usually an entirely different experience. We were surprised one weekend at Sproat Lake, and attacked by bugs all night. This is rare. A constant breeze coming from the ocean helps minimize the number of insects.
Magical moments in nature
I hold my breath, point my camera and try to capture this unexpected sighting of wildlife. These fleeting seconds often become only a precious mental picture as the critter disappears into the camouflage of the forest.
My husband and I have been fortunate to witness many animals in their natural habitats.
Moose have shared their lake with us in the interior of British Columbia. Squirrels, marmots and a variety of birds visit us often.
My husband, the bird whisperer, has the ability to attract birds. I don’t know whether it is their reflection in his glasses, or his body language. They trust him.
We have seen many bears on our camping trips. One surprise encounter was a young bear in a tree at China Beach on Vancouver Island. We were on high alert for the rest of our hike, since a mother bear was likely nearby.
Campground critters share their home
It is always an awe-inspiring, magical moment to observe wildlife on our camping adventures. I am constantly reminded how we are part of this delicate balance in nature. We are visitors in their home.
As for the annoying bugs … unwelcome insects are part of the camping experience, depending on the time of year and where we are camping. There are insect repellants on the market and homemade concoctions, with a variety of results. It all comes down to trial and error, and personal preference.
My first line of defence is always my superhero husband. He will stay awake all night slaying every pesky bug in our tent until the buzzing and biting finally stops.
Editor’s Note: Visit our website, whatsupyukon.com, to see more exciting pictures from Erica. n
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Janet Patterson
My husband, attracting more birds in the Yukon
Red fox in the Yukon
Chipmunk in the Yukon
PHOTOS: Erica Henault
Column with Dan Davidson
Dan Davidson retired after three decades teaching in schools throughout the Yukon. He continues to write for various publications, including two columns in What’s Up Yukon.
A PARANORMAL MYSTERY
Oracle
Written by Andrew Pyper
Read by Joshua Jackson
Audible original 9 hours and 20 minutes $20.96
In an interview about this book, former Berton House Writer-inResidence Andrew Pyper describes its origins this way:
“Some years ago, I wrote a short story about a boy who grows up in a haunted house and whose parents attempt to exploit that experience for profit—much like The Amityville Horror—except none of the family actually believes in what’s happening, aside from the boy. Nate Russo is the adult version of that child. Which leaves him afraid. And alone. And angry.”
This information is provided to us during the first 10 minutes or so of the audiobook, presented as a series of newspaper stories that outline the experiences that are claimed to have taken place at the creepy old house on Henry St. in a town called Gloverville, named for the factory where gloves were made. It also reveals the con. Along with that background we
learn that a young girl named Pauline Olt disappeared on that street and was never heard from again. What we learned later in the story is that the young Nate sort of understood what had happened at the time and tried to tell his parents, but instead got caught up by the scam that they tried to perpetrate as a money-making venture.
Something was wrong with the house, and it was occupied by more than just the four living members of the Russo family. The addition was something that Nate came to call the “Bone Man,” a phantom that visited him at night, pulled at his legs and tried to get him to look at it.
Somehow the Bone Man left Nate with a gift, though he thinks of it as a curse; it’s the ability to tap into the emotions and memories of people who are connected in some way to other people who have been abducted or injured. He can see where they have been taken. This has made him valuable to the FBI, who have quietly hired him as a consultant for such situations and assigned a pair of agents, Fernandez (female) and Tillman (male), to work with him on all such cases. He has been provided housing in an area of the country, near an airport, where he can be airlifted to just about anywhere within a few hours.
There have been many successful investigations. Lately, however, it seems he can only find where the victims have been buried.
We meet him as an adult at the most recent of these crimes. The last several have strongly resembled each other, as if they had been done by the same person. They haven’t been, because the perps have all been captured, and they don’t even know each other.
The very next case takes him
back to his original hometown, where everything began, and involves the abduction of a young girl who is similar in age to the one that he remembers from when he was a boy. Here he is on home ground and is remembered by at least one local official as the “boy who cried wolf” many years ago. This makes it more difficult for him to use his special skill.
The solution to this mystery involves a combination of routine and paranormal detective work. It’s not really a spoiler to reveal that there is a connection to Nate’s boyhood home and to his link to the Bone Man, but just how that all comes together is still a bit of a surprise.
In the summer of 1997, Andrew Pyper stayed at Berton House. While there, he worked on his novel Lost Girls. It was his first taste of the North and he was hooked. He returned to the Yukon three times after that and a subsequent book, The Wildfire Season, was set in and around Ross River. The Homecoming (2019) was the eleventh book of 12 issued under his own name, but he later adopted the pen name Mason Coile and produced two books under that pseudonym. William appeared in 2024, and Exiles will appear this coming September.
These will be his last books because we had the sad news that cancer had taken his life on January 3 at the age of 54. A third Oracle audible had to be finished (from his drafts and notes) by another writer.
Oracle was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios as a one-hour drama series, with Jordan Feiner and 3 Arts Entertainment attached to produce. Andrew Pyper wrote the three original audiobooks and would have served as an exec producer on the series. n
We are a non-profit initiative celebrating creative talent in Yukon, NWT and Nunavut. Shifting Ice Yukon Shop is dedicated to supporting northern makers, come and find a unique piece of art! Support local: ykshop.shiftingice.ca @ shifting_ice_shop 1-867-668-6535 info@shiftingice.ca
Andrew Pyper
PHOTO: Upper lower case
Kathy Piwowar
ART SHOWS
Until Aug 29 Without Saying by Ernest Chua & Colin Dorward YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery This exhibition challenges the need for labels like “insider” or “outsider,” instead emphasizing the clarity and power of artistic vision. https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Until Aug 29 In Northern Light YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery A selection of works from the Yukon Arts Centre’s Permanent Art Collection that celebrate the distinct and transformative light of the North. https://yukonartscentre.com/
Until Aug 29 Colours of Earth by Brent Liddle Yukon Arts Centre YAC
A solo exhibit of watercolours by Kluane resident Brent Liddle depicting the landscapes, flora and fauna of Yukon in collaboration with the Yukon Conservation Society. https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Until Aug 29 Youth Exhibit - Two Great Horse Riders Doing Great Deeds YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery
Local artist Imogene Dali Rose GignacKeevil work reflects the world around her and the world she imagines, often melding the two in a surprising synergy. https://yukonartscentre.com/
Until Aug 30 Rediscoveries YAAW
An exhibit of large-scale acrylic paintings by Marie-Hélène Comeau created almost 20 yrs ago during her undergraduate studies in Montreal. Opening Reception Aug 1, 5-7pm
Monthly
Tuesdays
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Wednesdays
Intermediate Jam - Bluegrass & Old Time 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion biweekly Hosted by the Yukon Bluegrass Society
Karaoke 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Whitewater Wednesday 7:00 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
Fiddle Night 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
Fridays
Live Music 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Live Music 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
Saturdays
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Sundays
Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
GENERAL EVENTS
Until Thu Aug 28 Yukon Theatre -The Naked Gun 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre
Wed Aug 27 Yukon Theatre – The Gold Rush (4K Restoration) 6:00 PM Yukon Theatre Charlie Chaplin’s comedic masterwork— The Gold Rush is an indelible work of heartwarming hilarity. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/the-gold-rush-4k-restoration
Wed Aug 27 Yukon Theatre –Terminator 2: Judgement Day 8:00 PM Yukon Theatre A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/ terminator-2-judgement-day
Thu Aug 28 Yukon Party Caucus – Porter Creek and Lake Laberge Constituency BBQ 5:00 PM Porter Creek Super A Hosted by Yukon Party Caucus MLAs Geraldine Van Bibber, Brad Cathers, and Yvonne Clarke. Enjoy the BBQ classics and catch up with the members of the Yukon Party. Thu Aug 28 Yukon Theatre – Mamma Mia 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre Donna, an independent hotelier, is preparing for her daughter’s wedding with the help of two old friends. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/ mamma-mia
Clayton’s CAR CARE Tips
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.
Until Sept 10 I Am More Than You
See Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
A bold and heartfelt exhibit of youth voices, where learners across the First Nation School Board share who they are - beyond what the world sees.
Until Sept 15 Creating Community: A Look at Visual Arts Arts Underground This exhibition is presented by Friends of the Yukon Archives Society. https:// www.artsunderground.ca/currentexhibitions
LIVE MUSIC
Wed Aug 27 Celtic Crossover 7:00
PM MacBride Museum A night of high energy music that blends tradition with a modern edge! From lively fiddle songs to emotional ballads and rocking guitar riffs!
Sat Aug 30 Dutch Handsome & the Ransoms 7:00 PM 98 Hotel Back by popular demand…they folks tearin’ are up the dance floors across the territory!
Sat Aug 30 54-40 Concert 5:00 PM
Shipyards Park A free, outdoor concert with 54•40
Sat Aug 30 Kevin Barr 6:00 PM Cork & Fork Live Music Cork and Fork, where the flavors are as amazing as the live musical acts that enhance the experience. https://www.corkandfork. ca/live-music-schedule-2025
Fri Sep 5 The Way of the Wind 7:00
PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre A moving journey on stage that pushes the limits of creativity in contemporary dance, sound design and lighting. https:// yukonartscentre.com
Sat Sep 6 Kim Rogers & Gemini Fire with Special Guests, Unicorn Parts 8:00 PM Kopper King & Showroom Whitehorse’s very own Kim Rogers & Gemini Fire celebrating another rockin’ single release party with Unicorn parts!
Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/the-naked-gun
Mon Aug 25 - Wed Aug 27 Street Eats
2025 11:00 AM Whitehorse Downtown Locations Food trucks will dish out lunch and dinner - There’s something to satisfy every palate – bring your appetite! https://www.whitehorse.ca/ event/street-eats-2025/
Mon Aug 25 Yukon Theatre - The Naked Gun 6:30 PM Yukon Theatre
Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/the-naked-gun
Mon Aug 25 Yukon Theatre - Stand By Me 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre In a small woodsy Oregon town, a group of friends are in search of a missing teenager’s body, they set out on an unforgettable two-day trek that turns into an odyssey of selfdiscovery. https://www.goelevent.com/ YukonFilmSociety/e/StandbyMe
Tue Aug 26 Yukon Party Caucus – Copperbelt North BBQ 5:00 PM Tanana Lane Greenspace BBQ with the leader of the Yukon Party Currie Dixon. Enjoy the bbq classics and catch up with the members of the Yukon Party.
Tue Aug 26 Whitehorse Power Centres Project - Info Session 6:00 PM The Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre Whitehorse You are invited to learn more about Yukon Energy’s plan for a resilient and renewable energy future and share feedback through our website, email, or at an open house. https:// yukonenergy.ca
Wed Aug 27 Silent Art Making with Ernest Chua 6:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Free art workshop with artist Ernest Chua in conjunction with the exhibit Without Saying featuring Ernest Chua and Colin Dorward. Materials are provided. https://form.jotform. com/252187531443254
Sat Aug 30 Yukon Filmmaker Bootcamp - Directing Actors 10:00 AM SPYA Studio Explore key techniques for directing actors, including communication strategies, the do’s and don’ts of working on set, and practical tips for approaching casting, and more! https://spya.ca/ bootcamp
Sat Aug 30 Plant EncounterValerian 1:00 PM Herbal Hearth An immersive afternoon to study Valeriana officinalis and their medicine. For more info about the workshop, contact harvester@nomadicharvests.com. http://www.nomadicharvests.com Sat Aug 30 Trivia Night (Members & Signed in Guests) 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Trivia topics: TV animals, dogs, etc - Cash prizes and bragging rates - Bring an electronic device to play on.
Mon Sep 1 Labour Day BBQ 11:00 AM Yukon Employees 217; Union Come join us and bring all your friends for our annual Labour Day Barbecue. We have meat and vegetarian options, and everyone is invited.
Wed Sep 3 Spanish Conversation Group 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church Casual, no lessons, just conversations. Wednesdays noon, info Louise call 687-7238 or Michele 867333-6081.
Sat Sep 6 2025 Klondike Road Relay - Party in the Park 12:00 PM Rotary Peace Park A FREE community event to celebrate at the NorthwesTel Finish Line of the 42nd Klondike Road Relay! Fri Sep 12 Alyssa Bunce – Our Lady of the Home 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre The story of Liza, a housewife of the 1960s who finds herself troubled by
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
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
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 trick-taking 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
Common Threads Prayer Shawl Ministry 9:30 AM Church of the Northern Apostles. 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
Keep Fit 10:30 AM Church of the Northern Apostles.Come stretch and breathe with us!
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.
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
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
Fireweed Summer Market 3:00 PM
Shipyard Park Grab a picnic dinner and get that special gift. Enjoy local live music and other amusements from buskers.https://fireweedmarket.ca/
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
Anglican Worship Service 10:00 AM Christ Church Cathedral.
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
The Gathering (Anglican Indigenous Service) 5:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral A celebration of faith, reconciliation, and hospitality.
KIDS & FAMILIES
Tue Aug 26 Story Time with ParentChild Mother Goose Facilitators
Meredith and Rachel 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library https:// yukonlibraries.ca/event/14396263
Wed Aug 27 Neighbourhood nature: Hospital Ridge 7:00 PM Wickstrom Road Pullout Explore local trails, part of the neighbourhood nature series. We’ll look at the Subalpine Fir as we enjoy views from the Hospital Ridge. yukon.ca/wild-discoveries
Sat Sep 13 Humane Society Yukon Fundraiser 5:00 PM Boston Pizza Dinner and soft drinks, silent auction and door prizes. Meet some of the Humane Society’s adoptable animals who will be there in person.
Sat Sep 13 Kids Beginner Judo 11:30
AM Yukon Regional Training Center Kids Beginner Judo welcomes children aged 5-12 to learn valuable skills from NCCP certified black belt coaches. www.yrtc.org
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
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 Drop-In Science and STEM Activities - no need to register - For children to compete with a parent or guardian!
MEETINGS
Wed Aug 27 Whitehorse Concerts Annual General Meeting 7:00 PM #201-28 Lewes Blvd Call Joanne, 6687713 for more info.
Thu Aug 28 Yukon Conservation Society AGM 7:00 PM Yukon Conservation Society Members, Staff and Board are invited to YCS’ AGM, lets catch up, reconnect, elect new board members, and find out what’s going on with YCS. https://www. yukonconservation.ca/
Wed Sep 3 Yukon Rendezvous 2025 AGM 6:00 PM Canada Games Centre Yukon Join us as we wrap up another year of operation and celebrate our society’s 62 years of continued success! This is your chance to come out and be involved in our community’s festival, and help plan!
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. The 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/yapcsmonthly-meetings
Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon
ONLINE EVENTS
Wed Aug 27 Communication Skills after Separation or Divorce 5:30 PM Online Learn about the impact of conflict on children, alternative ways to respond to conflict, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Email flic@yukon.ca for more info.
Wed Sep 10 Managing Conflict After Separation or Divorce Workshop 5:30 PM Online Learn about the process of separation, how to help your children cope with conflict... email flic@ yukon.ca for more info.
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.
Anglican
LITTLE BROWN BATS MAKE GREAT NEIGHBOURS
(But not great houseguests)
The Yukon is home to little brown bats, one of the most widespread species of bats in Canada. They live as far north as Dawson City, which is particularly impressive when you consider that they only come out at night. That’s hard to do in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
What is a bat?
Bats are unique in the animal world: the only mammal that can fly. With over 1,100 species of bats
in the world, they are found in all kinds of ecosystems, from rainforests to deserts. Some species eat only fruit, others specialize in eating scorpions or snakes, while a few species drink blood. Yukon bats eat only insects—particularly mosquitoes!
Little brown bats can live more than 30 years but only give birth to one pup a year. They roost under loose tree bark, hollow trees and rock crevices. They really love old cabins and human-made structures.
Males are solitary while females roost together in nursery colonies of 20 to 200 bats. They return to the same roost every year, so biologists are able to monitor a colony for decades.
They’re not blind, it’s just dark
It’s silly to call someone “blind as a bat” since bats are not blind at all. While their eyesight is per-
fectly fine, they do hunt at night. So instead of relying on their eyes, they use echolocation to hunt their prey. Just like sonar, they send out a sound and listen for it to bounce back. The echo tells them everything they need to know about the size, location and type of object the sound hits. Using this method, a colony of little brown bats can eat almost 20 kilograms of insects in a season.
While bats are on their hunt, they might swoop close to you. If this happens, no need to panic; they are hunting the mosquitoes that are hunting you.
What to do if you find a bat
While echolocation is very effective, sometimes even bats get confused. Young bats who are just learning might get disoriented and collide with windows and trees, or fall to the ground while learning to fly.
If you find a bat on the ground or inside somewhere it shouldn’t be, there are some precautions you should take before intervening. Although bats aren’t known to attack people, little brown bats have a lot of teeth and can bite if you pick them up. Always wear personal protective gear, such as thick leather gloves, to scoop it into a box or container.
Bats are not good at taking off from the ground, so it’s best to place the bat in a tree where it can rest and then swoop down and fly off when it’s ready. Sweep up any guano (poop) and toss it on the lawn—good fertilizer!
If you find a group of bats in your attic or cabin, you likely have a nursery colony of female bats and their pups. Bats provide great pest control around a property but are not great houseguests. They smell bad.
The only thing you can do, this time of year, is to watch carefully at dusk to note where the bats are getting in and out. Mark those spots with tape, but don’t block it off; otherwise, you’ll trap the pups inside and they’ll die. Wait until October when you can be sure the bats have migrated south for winter, then carefully block off those entrances.
Little brown bats return to the same roost every year, so those same bats will be back next spring, looking for a way in. Be sure to plug up even the smallest crack. They are tiny!
At the same time, install a bat house on your property, in the fall, to encourage returning bats to stick around the property and provide free mosquito removal (without wearing out their welcome).
Go to bat for bats
You can learn more about little brown bats from the Wildlife View-
ing Program. Pick up a copy of our Yukon bats booklet or participate in one of our Going Batty interpretive programs, to see a little brown bat up close. Biologists will be on-site to demonstrate how we trap bats, take measurements and put tracking tags on them before releasing them.
Or visit yukon.ca/en/outdoorrecreation-and-wildlife/yukonwildlife/little-brown-bat to learn more about Yukon’s little brown bats! n
yukon.ca/sites/ default/files/env/envyukon-bats-2023.pdf for
PHOTO: Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Carrie McClelland / Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Brian Slough
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•Easy access and regular snow clearing of the access roads
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Beef Stroganoff (also spelled Stroganov), is a classic Russian dish that is credited to be more than 250 years old, attributed to a chef of the Russian Nobel family Stroganov. The recipe has travelled around the world and, as such, has many variations.
In its simplest form, beef stroganoff is thinly sliced beef in a hearty sauce, finished off with sour cream and served over a bed of broad egg noodles. Most western recipes include mushrooms.
The first time I made this dish, I’d been asked to prepare it for a daily special in a kitchen somewhere. Having never made it before, I literally had no clue where to start. Our head chef was surprisingly kind to me. Instead of his usual throwing a copy of Irma S. Rombauer’s Joy of Cooking at me (and yelling), he actually took some time to explain what he wanted.
What he showed me was basically the same as the recipe in the Joy of Cooking, but using red wine instead of white as the base for the sauce. There are as many variations out there as there are cooks, chefs and bottle-washers, but this one is simple, quick and very tasty.
I wasn’t sure about doing this until I woke up this morning. When I woke up and it was a dull, dreary day—pouring rain—I knew that this stickto-your-ribs meal would be perfect. One of the best things about this meal is that
you probably have all of the ingredients already in your pantry, fridge and/or freezer. Of course, the better cut of beef that you use the better the outcome, but anything from flank steak through stewing beef to a nice rib-eye steak will work great.
I would highly suggest using sliced fresh mushrooms, but I was out of them. I did find a can of sliced mushrooms in the pantry and I wasn’t about to go out in the rain just for mushrooms. All in all, this took just under 30 minutes, start to finish, and landed on our plates for less than $5 each and with plenty of leftovers. The leftovers will last about four to five days in the fridge or can be frozen for a quick meal at a later date. I’d suggest fresh noodles in that case.
INGREDIENTS
• Beef
• Onions
• Butter
• Mushrooms
• Salt and pepper
• Vegetable oil
• Nutmeg
• Basil
• Red wine
• Sour cream
• Broad egg noodles
METHOD
1. Start by thinly slicing beef into strips about 2 inches long. Grate about a tablespoon of onion and melt about a tablespoon of butter in a frying pan. Get a large saucepan ready with water, salt and a bit of vegetable oil to coat the top for your egg noodles.
territory.
You can apply for funding for projects that:
» generate local spending;
» create employment opportunities;
» build needed infrastructure;
» bring new money into the Yukon;
» develop skills, knowledge and experience;
» facilitate community involvement; and
» build partnerships.
Apply by September 15 for requests between $20,001 and $75,000.
2. Sauté the onion for about 2 minutes, then add your beef. Sauté that for about 5 more minutes until everything is evenly browned, then remove from heat. Put this into a mixing bowl and keep warm.
3. Put the noodles water on to a high boil. When it reaches that high boil, add your egg noodles and give them a good stir with a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon, to prevent sticking. Stir again every few minutes. Once they are soft, or al dente (your preference), remove from heat.
4. While your noodles are cooking, add 2 more tablespoons of butter to the frying pan and sauté your mushrooms. Once they are nicely done, add the beef again and sprinkle with about 3/4 tablespoon of flour, a grating of nutmeg, a pinch of basil, plus salt and pepper to taste.
5. Return to a medium-high heat and add about a 1/3 cup of dry red wine. As this is warming, stir in up to a cup of sour cream and mix well. Once this starts to thicken a little bit, remove from heat.
Plate your egg noodles and pour your beef and sauce over the top. Garnish the plate with some parsley and a dollop of sour cream. Serve while it’s still piping hot. As the Russians say, наслаждаться! (Enjoy!). n
WHAT’S LEFT ON YOUR SUMMER CHECKLIST?
Daylight is waning and soon we’ll be digging out the cold weather gear. But before old man winter arrives, you can still fit in a few more summer adventures. It’s the perfect time to hit the South Klondike Highway and enjoy the kaleidoscope of changing colors as you make your way to the shores of Skagway’s Taiya Inlet.
Breathe in the ocean air while dining at one of the harborside restaurants or fun food trucks before the season ends. Next, stroll around Skagway’s historic district shopping area or take advantage of Skagway’s easily accessible trails with a hike to the Dewey Lakes or Yakutania Point to burn off those calories.
Meet Skagway’s newest downtown resident, Godzilla, at the Skagway Weenie Wagon.
WELCOME KLONDIKE ROAD RELAY
On Friday, September 5, hundreds of runners will liven up the streets of Skagway as they await their turn to start the 42nd annual Klondike Road Relay. Join Skagway DJ Swazey as he gets the party rolling at the 2nd & Broadway race starting line.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the old Dyea Townsite trails on foot or bike followed by a picnic on the Dyea flats. If you really want to treat yourself, adventure tours such as sailboat excursions, ocean raft tours or ziplining through the rainforest are available through M&M tours at 1st & Broadway, skagwayalaskatours.com. Let Skagway help you celebrate the end of summer 2025 in style!
Meet Skagway’s newest downtown resident, Godzilla, at the Skagway Weenie Wagon. Meet Skagway’s newest downtown resident, Godzilla, at the Skagway Weenie Wagon.
Photo by Wendy Anderson
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF YUKON FRANCOPHONE WOMEN
Angélique Bernard is a translator, communications specialist, radio host, writer and community volunteer. She was the Commissioner of Yukon from 2018 to 2023.
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.
Sylvie Binette
S
ylvie Binette was born in 1960 in Les Cèdres, in Quebec.
She has been attracted to the North since childhood. She visited the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67 and was captivated by a film about the Arctic. She knew that she would one day visit this remote area.
She arrived in the Yukon in August 1985 to work as a French monitor, and then filled various jobs: head cook and maintenance manager in a North Canol Road lodge, contract worker for a needs analysis on Yukon francophone women, supervisor of the implementation and management of the French section at Mac’s Fireweed Books, guide interpreter at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, supervisor of family programs at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, and manager of the George Johnston Museum in Teslin.
She launched Binette Cultural Solutions in 2010, and Heavenly Wild in 2022.
Sylvie loves going on ski excursions, and she was a volunteer ski patroller at Mount Sima and Mount McIntyre in the 1990s. She participated in several art exhibitions and was a member of many francophone and anglophone boards of directors.
Sylvie received the Exceptional Commitment Award from the Association franco-yukonnaise in 2022; the Alma Castonguay Award for a remarkable woman, at the 2011 Gala de la francophonie; and the Binet-Dugas Award for excellence in services in French, at the 2004 Gala de la francophonie.
In the Yukon, Sylvie was able to explore new passions and discover new skills such as creativity, endurance and resilience.
Ketsia
Houde-McLennan
Ketsia
Houde-McLennan was born in 1982 in Chicoutimi, in Quebec, and grew up in Montreal.
She arrived in the Yukon in the summer of 2004, to learn English. She returned for a year in 2005 and came back for good in 2007. She worked at the immigration department of the Association francoyukonnaise (AFY). This position profoundly impacted her, and what she learned from immigrants still influences her work to this day. She always tried to bring this perspective to the projects she carried out.
From 2009 to 2014, Ketsia worked at her dream job: executive director of Les Essentielles, the Yukon francophone women’s group. Imagine being paid to be a feminist activist! Some of the projects she led were exhibitions of women artists, a play on the reality of a bilingual couple, campaigns on consent and violence prevention, and lobbying for services in French. This was a varied and interesting position.
Her career path then led her to Kaushee’s Place, the Yukon Women’s Transition Home; and Victim Services at the Yukon government. She met mentors that taught her everything she needed to know about gender-based violence. Since April 2025, she has been the director of the Women and Gender Equity Directorate at the Yukon government.
Ketsia took part in theatre projects with Les Essentielles and the Théâtre Art’lequin.
In the Yukon, Ketsia found a land of opportunities where she lived intense professional and personal experiences, supported by people that trusted her and gave her a chance.
STUDENT FLEX PASSES
Juliette Anglehart Zedda
Juliette Anglehart Zedda was born in 1974 in Québec City.
Very young, she seized the opportunity to go backpacking (Spain, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Nepal, India and Indonesia). She says that travelling really opened her mind.
She visited the Yukon in 1992. The mother of her then boyfriend lived in the territory. The young couple came to visit her for a summer. Juliette came back to live in the Yukon in 2003.
She launched her business, Grace Space, in 2015, and offers psychosomatic services as well as counselling, yoga and mindfulness classes.
Juliette was the first employee of the Yukon Mental Health Association. She undertook the necessary steps to reshape the group into the Yukon Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Juliette has always considered Les Essentielles as a unifying group of Yukon francophone women. It was one of the first reasons she loved the Yukon when she first came. Women are well-organized, strong, determined and pull together in a remarkable way. She was president of Les Essentielles from 2012 to 2014, as women’s issues have always been important to her and the group organized nice projects and events.
The Anglehart Zedda family loves to travel between Vancouver, Haines and Italy, and they spend several winter months in Nicaragua in a house that they own. Juliette loves to travel, and she met someone who loves to travel more than she does!
The Yukon has provided Juliette with great friendships, strong connections with First Nations and a deep love of luminosity.
Johanne Maisonneuve
Johanne Maisonneuve was born in 1957, in Montreal, and grew up in Chambly, Quebec.
She arrived in the Yukon in 1975. At 17 years of age, she had already travelled to four of the seven continents. She chose the territory for its unspoiled nature and other cultures. She arrived in Carmacks in 1977, to be a waitress.
In 1984, Johanne opened the Yukon College Campus in Carmacks and worked there for three years. She also launched the Carmacks Alternative Program. In 1990, she opened a shelter for women fleeing violence. She also worked for the Yukon government’s Wildland Fire Management.
In 2011, she moved to Whitehorse. At 53 years of age, she started a new career as a visitor service attendant in Kluane National Park and Reserve in Haines Junction and, in winter, worked at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. She took a well-deserved retirement in the fall of 2023.
Johanne discovered a new passion for natural fibres. She became a member of the Whitehorse Northern Fibres Guild. She made her own wool with fleece from local sheep and learned to felt. She also creates willow baskets and latticework.
In 1998, Johanne became the first recipient of a prestigious award, bestowed by Concordia University and the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, acknowledging exceptional community involvement.
Johanne does not regret choosing the Yukon and listening to her gypsy heart. She worked in various fields and appreciated the simplicity of life. She is grateful for all that the Yukon has offered her. n
PHOTO: Submitted by Sylvie Binette
PHOTO: Submitted by Ketsia Houde
PHOTO: Tazio Zedda
PHOTO: Submitted by Johanne Maisonneuve
WELCOMETOFALL!
Sep 16 Leading Through Fa gue, Complex and Uncertain 10-11:30 am Livestream
Sep
Sep 23 Conscious Aging Talk ( 2 hrs.) 7- 9 pm Normandy Living, 468 Range Rd
Oct 1-3 Mental Health First Aid for Northern Peoples
90650
Sep 18
9 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm T1023 CRN 90526 $285+GST Register by Sep 25
Oct 6-10 NEW FASD for Frontline Workers (5 days)
9 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm C1440
90628
Oct 17 Transforma onal Leadership: Segment A - The Resilient Leader 9 am-12 pm YukonU Rm C1530
90527
Register by Oct 1
Register by Oct 10
Oct 17 Transforma onal Leadership: Segment B - The Resilient Organiza on 1-4 pm YukonU Rm C1530 CRN 90528 $135+GST Register by Oct 10
Oct 23 NEW Conscious Aging: Trans ons
9 am-4 pm Normandy Living, 468 Range Rd
Oct 28 NAVIGATING DIFFICULT CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
9 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm C1530
CRN 90644
Register by Oct 16
$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird
Registra on deadline with YukonU is Oct 21, Early Bird registra on by Oct 7. Late registra on un l Oct 27: email sam@ctrins te.com
Nov 6 NEW Conscious Aging: Harves ng Wisdom from Lived Experience
9 am-4 pm Normandy Living, 468 Range Rd
Nov 7 Loss in the Workplace
8:30 am-12 pm L’AFY, 302 Strickland St.
Nov 17 De-escala ng Poten ally Violent Si a ons
9 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm C1440
CRN 90652
CRN 90595
CRN 90394
$150+GST Register by Oct 31
$135+GST Register by Nov 1
$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird
Registra on deadline with YukonU is Nov 10, Early Bird registra on by Nov 3. Late registra on un l Nov 15: email sam@ctrins te.com
Nov 19-20 Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)
8:30 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm C1440
Dec 2 Mo va onal Interviewing
9 am-4:30 pm YukonU Rm C1530
CRN 90627
CRN 90653
$245+GST Register by Nov 14
$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird
Registra on deadline with YukonU is Nov 25, Early Bird registra on by Nov 10. Late registra on un l Dec 1: email sam@ctrins te.com
Freelance with Rita
Rita Smith, born and raised here, started working on light-duty vehicles right out of high school—now the service manager at a heavy-equipment shop. At night she operates her horse farm, Goldsmith Morgans.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE EXPECTING FOUR LEGS
Part Two of Three
One thing I know: more harm comes from intervention, overfeeding, overdoing and getting in the way of what Mother Nature perfected
You really do not need to feed a lot more while baby is growing—but watch out … As soon as that baby hits the ground and is nursing, she will start eating “like a horse” so she has everything she needs to feed that 100-pound baby that will be putting on a pound a day.
Normal gestation is 11 months (345 to 355 days). Several weeks before, the mare starts developing volume in her udders, with the time growing closer. This is when your “baby brain” starts to go a bit nuts—frantic even. Am I prepared enough? My god, I’ve been waiting patiently for 100 years and now I feel like I have so much to do. Boy? Girl? Names! Ohhh, the names and the colours … the what-ifs.
making sure you have everything done for the summer as, once baby is born, sorry “Alice,” you ain’t getting Jack done. Way too much cuteness—enough to stop a tank in its tracks. You might as well give in and enjoy it as they grow so fast, up and running within hours. Next thing, you’ll be dodging deadly baby kicks and smacking that bad butt. (Yes, you need to school them, as mom would, very early.) If you give them an inch, they will give you a whole four-foot leg, which can break bones, so do not let their cuteness get the best of you. Take
previous research of what to do in case of an emergency. My next significant sign is watching for waxy-type droplets at the teats, a sure sign that foaling is imminent (usually within a day or two). Once the water breaks, that foal has about a half-hour window to get out of there before there are major problems. The main problem in birthing is dystocia, where the foal is not coming out in the proper position, and once the mare starts hard contractions, it is almost impossible to push them back and get things straight.
The average cow moose gives
Once the foal is in proper position, they must be presented with the amniotic sack first, and there is risk of what is called “red bag” (placenta coming out first), and intervention is needed immediately so the foal does not suffocate.
There is a risk of the foal coming out and being dropped, stepped on or being at risk from predators waiting just feet away. The amniotic sack and umbilical cord break away at this point and mom starts cleaning and drying her newborn baby. The placenta must pass out of the mare within
survival in its greatest moments. If the process happens as it should, the foal will gather its balance, and the natural instinct to nurse begins. If this doesn’t occur, the natural process of the neurological system getting kickstarted through the birth canal did not happen and the foal will have Dummy Foal Syndrome and will walk around aimlessly, not knowing what to do. There is a very successful procedure called the Madigan Squeeze (which you do with a series of loops of rope around the foal’s torso) that will reset the system. Sterilizing the umbilical stump and making sure the foal passes its first feces are just some of the other steps that must be taken to ensure good health.
So many variables rolling around in your head: images of what this beautiful offspring could look like, the stress about mom and baby being healthy,
in the good moments, a once-ina-lifetime experience, but know their future depends on training.
As time grows closer to a new foal entering the world, carrying historic bloodlines from a fewhundred years ago, I refresh my
birth to a 30-pound calf (why you see many with twins). The average 2,000-pound horse gives birth to a 100-pound foal (why twins are almost sure to be lost, with the tangle of many legs to get out in a narrow passage).
approximately three hours, or infection will set in (pieces of it cannot be left behind). The foal will try to clear fluid from its nasal cavity, will take in its new surroundings and will try to get to its feet within the hour. This is
Needless to say, you either let Mother Nature take its course (what will be will be) or you can beat your mind and body up (obsess about it)—or make sure you are there for the big moment and intervene if need be.
For me, it’s all about whether you can live with regret. This is my reward for 10 years of hard work and dedication—my final-exam marks. As the time is coming closer, I have made all appropriate preparations and will do my absolute best to welcome this beautiful new life into the world.
Welcome to the wonderful world of breeding horses. n
To be continued in Part 3
Smith
Mystiks Smokin Ace (from Alberta) with a solid mind, friendly disposition and solid conformation
Five-year-old Rita being introduced to horses at Takhini Hot Springs
GoldSmiths Arctic Rebel, the first registered, purebred Morgan born in the Yukon (in publications such as Western Horse)
PHOTOS: Submitted by Rita Smith
8:30PM, 10:00PM, 12:00AM
Photos: John Howland Photography, Melissa Naef
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Fri Aug 29 SlamFest Mt Sima 4:00
PM Compete, hang out at the beer garden, enjoy a BBQ, listen to live music, and vie for cash prizes! Get ready to secure your spot for the gnarliest downhill mountain biking race at Mt. Sima! https://mountsima. com/event/slamfest-2025/
Sat Aug 30 Tree Hugger’s Throw
Down - Women’s Disc Golf Event
9:00 AM Mount McIntyre Disc Golf Course Free beginner-friendly, women-only event! Sign up by emailing whitehorsedga@gmail.com
Sat Aug 30 Autocross for August 10:00 AM Yukon Liquor Corp Parking Lot Safely test your autocross skills in tight quarters, you must be a member to participate, helmets mandatory, be prepared to sign a waiver, and food & drinks on site.
Sun Sep 7 2026 Yukon Rendezvous Can Can Line Auditions 4:30 PM
Northern Lights School of Dance Get ready to bust out your dancing shoes! Group auditions to run 4:30-5:30pminterviews to follow immediately after. https://whatsupyukon.events/n8x
Fri Sept 4 - 5 Klondike Road
Relay Skagway USA & Rotary Park Whitehorse Run or walk, the historic trail used by the Gold Rush Stampeders. Beginning in Skagway, Alaska the race cuts through British Columbia and ends in Whitehorse, Yukon. https://www. klondikeroadrelay.com/ Sat Sep 13 Yukon MTB Champs Whitehorse https://yukoncycling. com/
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
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 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 335-1996 for more info.
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
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. whitehorsearchery.com/schedule
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 Keep Fit 10:00 AM Church of the Northern Apostles Come stretch and breathe with us - only $5.00
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
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.
Elderactive Intermediate Hiking 1:00 PM ElderActive Recreation Association Leisure Walking is similar
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
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
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
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 7:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Yang Hand Forms refinements 7:45 PM Hidden Valley School
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
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
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 Aug 26 Diabetes Wellness 6:00
PM Yukon Healthy Living Program
(formerly CCSP) Learn from a variety of diabetes specialists and take action with practical tips for healthy eating, medication management and physical activity. Call 667-8733 for more info. https://yukon.ca/en/ health-and-wellness/health-concernsdiseases-and-conditions/healthiertomorrow-starts-today
Wed Sep 3 International Overdose
Awareness Day 12:00 PM Blood Ties Four Directions Centre A free barbecue and more at this event. Everyone is welcome!
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 Program - Yukon 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 778907-2701 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 Happy Hour Ladies Group (W, A) 6:15 PM Inclusion Yukon
Ugly Ducklings Group (O,A) 8:00
PM Christ Church Cathedral Held in person or Zoom ID 251 363 5766 no passcode or by phone 1-778-9072071
Wednesdays
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly)
8:00 AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-3341725 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 (Back Entrance)
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
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 (Back Entrance)
Polar Group (O, A) 7:30 PM 311 Elliott St. & 4th Ave. Held in person or Zoom ID 251 363 5766 no passcode or by phone 1-778-907-2071
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 (Back Entrance)
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 407 B Ogilvie Street
Saturdays
AA Morning Joe Group (C, A) 11:00
AM Inclusion Yukon
AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00 PM 609 Steele St
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 Hospital Meeting (O, A) 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
All Northern. All Fun.
What’s Up Yukon is now a local option to sell your tickets on-line! is your best resource for events across the Yukon!
EVENTS PROMOTERS
Call for Instructors 2025-26
Artist in the School delivers arts instruction and experiences to elementary and secondary school students across the Yukon. High quality, engaging and culturally diverse programming is offered by Artists from a variety of disciplines, over the course of the school year.
Are you a professional artist with proven teaching experience? We would love to hear from you! Artists from all artistic disciplines are invited to apply.
To take a closer look and/or apply go to artistintheschool.ca
Questions? Contact Marlene Collins, Artist in the School Coordinator: info@artistintheschool.ca or 867.332.1904
Elias Community
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 Aug 30 reNEWed Festival 11:00 AM Carcross An annual event showcasing creative repair, reuse and repurpose as a celebration of resilience and sustainability.
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. Drop-in, 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
• CDC / CIBC Bank
• Tatchun Center General Store
Fri Aug 29 Yukon Women In Music (YWIM) Jamfest 2025 7:00 PM Braeburn Summer Camp Jamfest is about the joy of playing music with others! All genders are welcome. https:// yukonwomeninmusic.com/ Sat Sep 6 YWIM 2025 Cook Shack Session 11:00 AM Twin Lakes Campground Free family friendly music events. Everyone - all agesWelcome! Music workshops and live concerts + jam sessions!
First & Third Tuesdays of Every Month
Carmacks Regular Council Meeting 7:00 PM Carmacks Municipal Building Mondays Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM Carmacks School 14+ Floor Hockey 7:00
JUNCTION
BGC
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 Haines Junction Hoobeedoo 6:30 PM The Mezzanine
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 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
AA: “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
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
Thursdays Shuffleboard 6:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Fridays Beginner Yoga 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre Youth Gym Drop-In 6:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Saturdays Pickleball Outside 11:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Sundays Pickleball Outside 11:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre
MAYO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: • Haldane Services
MOUNT LORNE
Sun Sep 14 Mount Lorne Mis-Adventure Trail Race 2025 9:00 AM Mt. Lorne Firehall Walk, run or walk/run, choose 21, 10 or 5 kms - even kids 1 km run, everyone welcome! Start & finish at Mt.
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.
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) Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing.
8:00
Crocus Bluff Disc Golf Course simple, welcoming league for all skill levels
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
LISTEN TO YOUR FRIEND (THIN THE CARROTS!) GATHER
Then eat the tops …
Sometimes it takes a stern talking-to from an outspoken friend, to galvanize one into doing what must be done. On a sunny day around the end of July, after a swim and a drink on the deck, my friend S examined my garden while I finished cutting her some kale.
“Miche, you’re killing me!” she said. “Do some weeding. Thin those carrots. Jeez.”
I’ve known S since 1996, when she was a theatre brat hanging out at the Guild in a big white shirt and a dangly scarf. Her wit was quick and bold, and she was not shy about skewering her friends. Though I was often the one skewered, I soon learned that a large and generous heart beat under that big white shirt.
S was right there in those early days when I needed help moving furniture from the dump to my cabin, or a ride to the party, or a shoulder to cry on during a breakup. She roped me into an aerobics class, got me running after I quit smoking, agreed to be my souschef making sausages during a cooking demonstration at a fundraiser, and twice accompanied me to a wilderness homestead to cook for 13 people for four days.
Thirty years later, she’s still a theatre brat, still favours a big white shirt, still skewers me regularly and is still right there when I need help or even just the pleasure of her company. She doesn’t get mad when I (consistently) call her P, after another friend whose name is also composed of three syllables ending in a vowel. (To be fair, I regularly call P by S’s name, and she doesn’t get mad either.)
The day after S’s brief but effective lecture, I weeded the garden. I thinned the carrots. I thinned the carrots for hours. I
Miche Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She is also somewhat of a gardener. Miche has also written two books: The Boreal Feast: A Culinary Journey Through The North and The Boreal Gourmet: Adventures In Northern Cooking.
INGREDIENTS
washed vast quantities of carrot tops in several waters, and made carrot top chermoula, pesto and salsa verde, gave chermoula to S, distributed pesto to friends and neighbours and gave out bags of the lacy greens. For now, I am done with carrot tops (but I have a freezer full of goodies for the winter).
Postscript: S liked the chermoula. She found a recipe for chicken tagine online and ran around the stores looking for shelled pistachio nuts. Next day, she thanked me in an email: subject line, “delicious.” You see? It’s worth it to thin the carrots.
CARROT TOP CHERMOULA
Chermoula is a Moroccan marinade typically made with cilantro, cumin and other spices. It’s often used in tagines, a type of stew named for the vessel it’s cooked in—a clay or ceramic pot with a shallow base and a tall, conical top. In this version of chermoula, carrot tops provide the bulk of the marinade with a bit of cilantro for its distinctive peppery, lemony flavour.
• 2 tsp cumin seed
• 1 1/2 tsp fennel seed
• 1 1/2 tsp coriander seed
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 2 cups chopped carrot tops
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
METHOD
1. Combine cumin, fennel, coriander and chili flakes in a cast-iron frying pan. Dry-roast over medium heat until aromatic—about 5 minutes. (Be prepared to sneeze: the capsaicin from the heating chili flakes can be pronounced.)
2. Grind toasted spices with a mortar and pestle and add to a food processor, along with the chopped herbs and garlic. Pulse several times until the mixture is coarsely ground, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
3. Add lemon juice, pulse and then, with the machine running, pour in olive oil in a steady stream. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again to make sure you’ve got all the good bits, then taste and add
salt. Pulse once more to combine.
4. Decant into a bowl with a cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook. Will keep in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
SALMON TAGINE WITH NEW POTATOES, TOMATOES, AND OLIVES
Adapted from Ghillie Başan’s recipe for monkfish in her wonderful book, Tagines and Couscous: Delicious recipes for Moroccan one-pot cooking. Note that you don’t have to own a tagine to make a tagine. A frying pan or casserole with a lid will work well.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup chermoula
• 1 lb sockeye or coho salmon filet, sliced into four serving pieces
• 8 new potatoes
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 red or yellow pepper
• 4 cloves garlic
• 16 cherry tomatoes
• A handful of kalamata olives
(Be bold, leave the pits in the olives for more flavour.)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly-ground pepper
METHOD
1. Coat salmon pieces with 1/3 cup of chermoula, cover and marinate in the fridge for about 2 hours.
2. While salmon is marinating, prepare the potatoes. Peel and cut into 3 or 4 bite-sized chunks. Cook in boiling, salted water for about 8 to 10 minutes, to the point they are still al dente, not fully cooked. Drain, cool under running water, drain again and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in your cooking vessel over medium heat. Once it’s shimmering, add the salmon, skin side down, cover, and cook for about 5 minutes. Flip and sear the flesh side for about 1 minute. Remove from the pot to a plate and set aside.
4. Chop the onion and the pepper into pieces around the same size as the potato. Add to the pan, along with a splash of white wine, water or vegetable stock. Cover and cook until softened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of liquid as necessary.
5. Add the garlic and potatoes, cover and cook for another 5 minutes, until potatoes are fully cooked.
6. Add tomatoes and olives and the remaining chermoula, then stir, cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until tomatoes have burst their skins.
7. Push the vegetables aside and place the salmon back in the pan. Cover and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until salmon is fully cooked. Remove from the heat, uncover and allow to sit for a couple of minutes before serving.
8. Serve in wide bowls with lots of bread on the side for mopping up the juices.
Makes 4 servings. n
Carrot Top Chermoula
PHOTOS: Miche Genest
Column with Miche Genest
Salmon Tagine
WHAT’S ON PUCCINI’S TOSCA
YAC’s presentation of the National Arts Centre’s production of Puccini’s TOSCA is the first mainstage opera in the Yukon since the Gold Rush. A partnership with NAC, Edmonton Opera and featuring the Whitehorse Community Choir and the Problematic Orchestra. Tickets are only $25!
DATE: September 20 | 7:00 PM
SARAH HARMER
The celebrated Canadian singersongwriter and environmental activist will entertain with her musical blend of folk, pop, rock, and bluegrass. Tickets are $45.
DATE: October 1 | 6:00 & 9:00 PM
OUR LADY OF THE HOME
Don’t miss Our Lady of the Home by Alyssa Bunce — a captivating, comedic, and moving reflection on identity, mental health, and self-reclamation. This powerful one-woman show unpacks the stigma of “hysteria” and celebrates Liza’s courage to choose herself. Tickets are $25.
DATE: September 12 | 7:00 PM
Karen McColl is a wildlife-viewing specialist with the Government of Yukon Department of Environment. She loves learning about nature and sharing that knowledge with others.guidelines for safe wildlife viewing.
GIVE SQUIRRELS A CHANCE
Red squirrels are solitary and territorial; they let you know if your presence is unwelcome
Look around when you hear this chattery rodent
You can be forgiven for overlooking the red squirrel. They aren’t graceful like a fox, or impressive like a bear. They aren’t difficult to spot like a wolverine, or elusive like a lynx. In fact, it’s hard not to notice the persistent chatter of these wily rodents as they skitter up and down trees in backyards and urban areas. It could be easy, therefore, to think of red squirrels as rather ordinary or, as some might even say, irksome Understanding more about the behaviour of red squirrels may soften this stance. If you think their abundance makes them boring, think again: Few other animals offer such accessible wildlife-
Middens, or caches, are often found near white spruce with plentiful cones
viewing opportunities, and there is more to these twitchy-tailed animals than first meets the eye. Red squirrels are solitary and territorial animals. By now, their young (those lucky enough to survive their first perilous months of life) have struck out for their own territories. These small mammals don’t migrate or hibernate in winter but survive by conserving energy—by limiting their movements and eating from food caches.
In summer, squirrels feast on mushrooms, berries, birds’ eggs, insects and mice, but during the coldest and darkest months they primarily rely on the seeds of white spruce cones. That’s why squirrels are now monofocused on gathering and caching food for winter. These hoarders drop cones from treetops in gentle thuds, then transport them to a central stockpile called a midden, a pile
Squirrels can eat 100 cones in a day: they remove the scales of the cone to get at the seeds inside
of cone scales that can be several feet deep. Squirrels remove the cone scales to eat the inner seeds, kind of like how people eat corn on the cob, except we don’t drop the kernels (they just get stuck in our teeth). Beneath the piles of scales lies a network of tunnels where squirrels store freshly-harvested cones, the green ones that haven’t opened yet. Humidity in the tunnels helps to preserve the cones until eating time.
If these copper-furred rodents appear more ornery than usual, it’s likely because they are running out of time to collect the roughly 15,000 cones they need to get through winter. They devour the seeds of up to 100 cones a day. Such is the urgency that some resort to in pilfering cones from their neighbours. Squirrels are on high alert for thievery, ready to defend their caches from marauders. Their rattle call is meant to
scare away intruders, as are their shorter barks and “chucks.” They will also stamp their feet and flick their tails.
Perhaps you have experienced this rather unwelcoming behaviour on a recent walk in the woods. The next time you do, take a moment to look around. You may be surprised at what you notice.
Squirrel territories are small— less than the size of a football field—so when this hyperactive animal loudly announces its presence, you know a midden is near. Look for the most productive spruce trees (those with the most cones). You’re likely to spot the midden nearby.
Squirrels also build nests of moss, grass, bark, fur and twigs. They have several on their territory and one more of these will be in the vicinity of the midden. Look for them in the crooks of spruce trees, about three metres
Like crumbs left after a meal, cone scales show where squirrels like to eat
off the ground. Nests will usually be in trees that are connected to the canopy of other trees, offering squirrels escape routes from the snapping jaws of ermine, marten and birds of prey. Other signs of squirrel activity include smaller piles of cone scales in preferred eating locations and well-worn pathways between favourite trees. And if there’s a mushroom in a tree, a squirrel likely left it there to eat later. These chirpy animals are fascinating if you take time to read the clues in the boreal forest.
Wildlife Viewing is offering two free events about red squirrels in Whitehorse in September: one in French and the other in English. Une affaire de noix! is Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.; and Ahhh nuts! is at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Visit Yukon.ca/wild-discoveries for more details n
Thank You for your Support of All-City Band’s 2024 - 2025 Season
Advertising: ArtsNet Yukon; CBC Radio; Music Yukon; NorthwesTel Inc.; What’s Up Yukon; Yukon News & Yukon Rendezvous
All-City Band Society Board of Directors: Alexander James; Aliena McIntyre; Annette Smith; Bill Barrick; Colin Graham; David Musselwhite; Eric Labrecque & Jennifer Journeay
All-City Band Society Fundraiser Coordinators: Alexandria Miller (Purdy’s Chocolates Sorting); Alexa Grant (Bake Sales); Alexandria Miller (Dessert & Dance Food Coordinator) and Sarah Curtis & Jodi-Lyn Newnham (Grocery Bagging)
All-City Band Music Directors: Alexander James and Aliena McIntyre for the countless ways they give of themselves every day to this organization
All-City Band Musicians for the generous giving of their time in practice, rehearsals, performances, mentorship, fundraising, concert set up & take down, moving instruments & much more!
All-City Band Production Team: Alexander James; Aliena McIntyre; Jennifer Ondrack and Marie Gallagher Band Trip Support: AirNorth; Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale, Gary McKone, Graham Frey, Jennifer Derham, Jennifer Lee, Joe Zucchiatti & Perry Diamond; Professor Wendell Clanton & the University of Victoria; Wilson’s Transportation; and Lotteries Yukon
Concert Support: The Longest Night Society; Office Supply Centre Ltd.; Whitehorse Concerts and Yukon Arts Centre Concert Videography: Arctic Photos (David Musselwhite) and Eclectic Video Productions (Steve Philp) Dessert & Dance
Donations & Support: AirNorth; Andy Slade; Anne Turner; Annette Smith; The BIG Band; Canada Post; Chieftain Energy; Creations North of 60; Cultured Fine Cheese; Icycle Sports; James McCullough; Jazz Yukon; Kilrich Industries; Kim Friedenberg; Logan Bennett; Lonnie Powell; Metalbeard; Norcope Industries; North End Gallery; Olivier Clements; Sarah Hamilton; Spruce’d Eco Cleaning! Tintina Glassworks; Whitehorse Motors; Wild Crocus Creations; Yukon Arts Centre; Youth Investment Fund Elementary School Tour Support: Elijah Smith, Golden Horn, Hidden Valley, Jack Hulland, Selkirk, Takhini, Whistle Bend & Whitehorse Elementary Schools
Fundraising Support: Honourable Adeline Webber, Commissioner of Yukon; Fireweed Market; Purdy’s Chocolatier; Raven ReCentre; and Save-On Foods
Jazz Band Tour Support: Artist in the School; Ghúch Tlâ Community School; Jazz Yukon; Khàtìnas.àxh Community School; Watson Lake Secondary School & Youth Investment Fund; Junior Band Retreat Support: Little Atlin Lodge
Junior Band Sectional Clinicians: Autumn Chandler; Donna Reimchen; Jake Paleczny; Logan Bennett; Lucas van de Ven; Ragn Royle; and Rob Ziegler
Photography: Andrew Lin; Arctic Photos (David Musselwhite); Ben Barrett; Bruce Barrett Photography; Jennifer Journeay; Kieran Cowie & Kim Friedenberg Photography
Visiting Workshop Clinicians: Buzz Brass and The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
And enormous thanks to the Staff of Porter Creek & FH Collins Secondary Schools and Yukon Department of Education for their ongoing support of our programming throughout the year.
Sponsors 2024 - 2025 Season:
Emerald Band Level ($5000+) Office Supply Centre Ltd
Gold Band Level ($2500 - $4999)
Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre
Silver Band Level ($1000 - $2499) Budget Blinds of Yukon Crowe MacKay LLP
Bronze Band Level ($500 - $999) Calgary Wind Symphony
Friends of All-City Band (<$499) däna Näye Ventures
A massive thank you to Artist in the School Program; City of Whitehorse; Jazz Yukon; Yukon Government Arts Operating Fund & Lotteries Yukon and Yukon Government Youth Investment Fund for their support of our programming throughout the year.
And a special thanks to all the band musicians, their parents/guardians and supporters for the many volunteer hours they spend helping with baking, supervision, driving, fundraising, concert set up & take down, moving instruments and much more! Your help, support and encouragement keep this wonderful community alive.
Thank you!
PHOTO: Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Carrie McClelland/ Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Carrie McClelland/ Government of Yukon
PHOTO: Carrie McClelland/ Government of Yukon
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