PHOTO: Manu Keggenhoff
Manus Hopkins is a journalist and musician, originally hailing from Whitehorse.
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING
t wasn’t easy to build back
the Atlin Arts & Music Festival (AAMF) after the pandemic put an indefinite hold on its ability to take place. It’s been six years since the festival last graced the northern B.C. community’s Tarahne Provincial Park, and demand has been steadily rising for its return throughout that time.
“I think it’s extremely exciting,” says Theresa Beaudoin, festival treasurer. “It’s been a long time coming … It’s been an extremely long time coming. It’s a little bit nervewracking, too. It’s
exciting and nervewracking.”
The team behind the festival is approaching this year with caution, treading carefully while hoping for the best and seeing how things go. The looming question as to whether they can pull off a full return for the highly-anticipated event will be answered July 11 to 13.
“It’s a monumental challenge to bring it back and we’re learning as we go and having to learn from our mistakes as we go,” says Stephen Lancaster, festival president. “We’re certainly positive about figuring it out, to make it successful.”
In late 2019, an almost entirely new board was picked for a 2020 edition of the festival that did not end up happening. Lancaster says only ashes were left of the festival once the pandemic swept through, and he felt the team was starting at square one in putting
on a new edition.
“We did hire a producer and artistic director for the 2020 year, just before covid hit,” explains Beaudoin. “We had received grant money that was sitting in the bank and we decided, then, to do a documentary because we had to cancel the festival and thought, What could we do with this money?”
With Matthew Lien hired to create a documentary about the history of the festival, a project for the stacking off-seasons was set in motion. Lots of past and returning performers will be featured in the documentary, which will cover the festival’s history through its beginning, growth and cancellations during covid years—right up until this year, ending with the 2025 return.
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Festival grounds in 2017
PHOTO: Manu Keggenhoff
Will we see crowd surfing again this year?
“This year, we are going to go ahead and do it,” Beaudoin says. “And we’re going to finish that documentary with this festival.”
Through all of the challenges with finding the right producers, securing funding and making people believe that the festival really would return, Beaudoin highlights the importance of having not lost hope, saying that she remains confident that this year’s festival will be exactly what people have been waiting for these past six years.
“We have been struggling, but I have faith in us that we can pull this off and we will pull this off,” she says. “It’s a challenge, but once it all comes together, it’ll be a good event, and people are looking forward to it.”
A few years in, when pandemic restrictions were being lifted, Beaudoin started to hear murmurings that Yukoners wanted
the AAMF to return. When people began eagerly asking when it was coming back, she knew it was something that could once again be a success, returning to its former glory and recementing itself as a major annual event for the North.
“The festival … it’s not just about the music,” she says. “It’s about bringing people together.”
This year’s lineup is stacked with talent, featuring both travelling and local acts. Nearly 30 bands and artists will perform over the festival’s three days, including The Sadies (Toronto), The Grapes of Wrath (Kelowna, B.C.) and Tiller’s Folly (Vancouver area), plus Yukon-based acts such as Claire Ness, Bria Rose N’ Thorns, Hendrika, and many more. A number of visual artists will display their work and lead workshops.
To Lancaster, coming out this year means more than just enjoying a weekend of live music and art; it means being part of a story.
“It’s like the end of a movie,” he says. “You can be part of the success of rising out of the ashes and making this event what it used to be. It’s kind of a Kumbaya feeling where you get to hang out with friends and enjoy each other’s company.”
With the festival coming up quickly, the board is searching for more volunteers to be onsite, so the weekend will run as smoothly as it can. Volunteers are still needed in several areas of the festival, to fill such roles as security personnel, beer garden staff, Kids’ Zone attendees and merchandise handlers. Volunteers for the set-up and tear down of the festival are also needed, and those who work prior to the festival will receive a free ticket with
a camping spot so they can enjoy the weekend of music, arts and community.
Beaudoin and Lancaster agree that having a festival in the secluded northern B.C. town of Atlin is a special experience, with Beaudoin noting that it is closer to Whitehorse than Dawson City, which is another of the North’s summer music-festival destinations.
“We’re so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the beauty that surrounds this town just gives people the mental freedom to relax and express themselves and feel safe, and just be friendly with each other on a level that normally you just wouldn’t experience every day in your normal life,” says Lancaster.
“The opportunity to have that external experience … I think people are looking forward to it.”
Adding to Lancaster’s points, Beaudoin says a lot of Yukoners love coming to Atlin and are always eager to have a reason to go and visit the town and be im-
mersed in its friendly community. She also takes a moment to say that the festival is always searching for new sponsorship, and she makes sure to thank its existing sponsors, saying that is always helpful because governmentgrant applications are not always successful.
“We’re relying heavily on our sponsorship and our community, and [on] selling tickets,” she says.
Tickets are selling fast for this year’s festival, and with limited spots still available, the time to secure your ticket is now. To see the full lineup and to find information on volunteering, camping and tickets, visit www.atlinfest.
“We will have a very enjoyable festival,” says Beaudoin. “There will be a little bit for everybody.” n
Love Where You Live
PHOTOS: Manu Keggenhoff
posters and brochures to help get your message out
CREATING A ‘SPACE OF CONNECTION’
FLet Mallory’s Postering help spread your messaging and showcase your
rom behind a drum kit in Montreal’s bustling music scene, to centre stage in the North, Brigitte Jardin has found her voice in the vast landscapes of the Yukon. The singersongwriter’s upcoming tour promises to showcase how geographical and personal transformation can reshape an artist’s entire musical identity. The bilingual music delivers country songs with a honkytonk touch.
Jardin tells What’s Up Yukon that she finds the North has given her space, both physically and emotionally, to step forward as a songwriter. “I truly found my own voice.” She draws her inspiration from the community in the Yukon and also from the northern landscape. She raves about the soft pastel light in winter and the quiet benches along the trails. “All that shapes the songs I now create, songs that feel both rooted and personal.” She weaves French and English language seamlessly in her music. For example, “Lonely Time” is in English while other songs are in French. How does she decide which language serves a particular song better?
“For me, the language of a song usually follows the emotion and the context in which the experience happened. So, if I’m writing about a memory with my family, for example, the lyrics naturally come out in French. That’s the language those moments were lived in.”
On the other hand, if the feeling or situation she wants to express unfolds in English, then the song tends to take shape in English, she explains. Not only is Jardin a bilingual artist, she calls herself a queer artist. She
explains that country music, as rich and beautiful as it is, is often perceived as existing within a set of strict, traditional codes. “That can make it feel like there’s little room for voices that fall outside those norms.
band members are out of the territory, I had to put together a new live set-up for this tour. I’ll be joined by Wyatt Best on pedal steel, Daniel Witt on electric bass, and my sibling Caroline Allatt on electric guitar and back vocals. I’m really excited about this new combination of musicians.”
The tour will be the perfect opportunity for the audience to listen to some of Jardin’s new songs from her upcoming album. The music on her new album will explore and express themes of duality, between north and south, French and English, past and present.
“Performing these songs will allow me to shape and refine them in real-time, before heading into the studio. That said, I’m keeping a few tracks under wraps, to leave a little surprise for later,” Jardin says.
Speaking of duality, the musician will show traditional country music and Cajun repertoire. She says that she tries to keep a dialogue alive between old and new, tradition and modern context. “I’m honouring traditional music by having a conversation with it. What I mean is, I love diving into folk music—la musique du peuple!—to learn its codes and understand its roots. That naturally influences my songwriting. But, at the same time, my compositions are also shaped by the world we live in today.”
“As a queer artist, I want to push those boundaries to the best of my ability by reframing country music through a more modern and inclusive lens,” she says. It’s about honouring the tradition while creating space for new stories and identities, she tells What’s Up Yukon, and adds, “Representing queer voices in this space is not only an act of visibility, it’s also an act of joy.”
In the past, Jardin performed with The City Slickers, but the upcoming tour will be different.
“Since I now sing while playing a full drum kit, and also because
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Combining traditional and modern, Jardin also wants to give her audience emotions. She hopes that people feel seen when she plays music—that they feel something real.
“More than anything, I want to create a space of connection. In a society where rituals are becoming more rare, gathering together in person around music is powerful. Actually, I don’t think there’s anything stronger in life than genuine connection.”
For more about Brigitte Jardin, visit her site here (brigittejardin. com). n
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Brigitte Jardin is touring the Yukon
PHOTO: Reynald Desjardins
Elke Reinauer is a freelance writer based in Germany with strong ties to the Yukon.
Jacqueline Bedard is a freelance writer who is inspired by the stories of those who pursue their passions, and by the often-meandering paths they take to get there.
CRAVING CONNECTION AND TAKING ‘THE JUMP’
Sometimes walking off a cliff is the most courageous thing you can do, metaphorically speaking
Louise Dumayne, an actress, and Neil Fletcher, a marketing executive, bought an off-grid cabin 90 kilometres north of Dawson City on the Yukon River. Neither had much in the way of suitable skills. The property came with an old cabin, a 30-year-old snow machine and no boat.
Fletcher and Dumayne weren’t blind to what they were getting into (not completely, at least).
Dumayne had been on vacation in Alaska, several years in a row, and loved dog mushing and caring for the dogs. As she met people, the adventure opportunities grew.
Together, Dumayne and Fletcher embarked on four longer-term winter experiences—two as sleddog handlers and two at an Alaskan miner’s place as caretakers. And throughout these adventures, they learned winter survival skills. Yet, in every one of those situa-
tions, the household systems were already in place or the people were there to guide them.
Buying their own land and cabin took their northern adventure to a whole other level.
Dumayne says, “When we first bought our place, it was quite intense. We had to figure out every single little thing … the basics of life. And pre-Starlink, we were mostly cut off from the world. It was just harder on every level.”
Day-to-day was about survival. The other shift they made was moving from adventures in Alaska, to deciding to immigrate to Canada.
“Why Canada?” I asked. “All your adventures have been in Alaska.”
Dumayne explains. “We felt Canada would be a better home for us. As Brits, we’d have a chance of immigrating to Canada. And, ultimately, we felt more culturally aligned.”
The couple heard about a property for sale downriver. After some consideration, they purchased it, and nearly 11 years later they’re finding their rhythm. Finally, they have been able to move beyond the survival stage. Now they have not one, but five snow machines and a riverboat.
They even had time to meet people in Dawson. And they picked up a little off-grid shack in West Dawson—convenient for when they want to come into town, spend time with friends, and not make the long trip home. But meeting people took time.
“There was no pub culture,” Dumayne points out.
They would go to the bar and realize it’s not the same in Canada. People don’t tend to connect in pubs like they do in England. It took a while to get involved in the community and make connections.
Life in the northern wilderness is a constant adjustment, Dumayne says: “We dress differently, we travel differently, we have to talk differently to be understood, and we talk about different things.
“Sometimes I crave having a connection … something that is continuous throughout my life.”
That’s why Dumayne returned to writing, to an art she enjoyed in her youth. She longed for a connection with people who “work in a creative way.” Mostly, these connections take place online, through classes and writing groups, but there are in-person Yukon connections as well. Not one to procrastinate, Dumayne has drafted her first novel, is working on edits
and is strategizing with her agent on next steps.
Like Dumayne, Fletcher has been connecting with people in his field (marketing) and picking up an increasing number of contracts while making like-minded connections.
Dumayne and Fletcher are gradually becoming part of the Yukon fabric.
Looking back on the journey to this point, Dumayne says, “The lifestyle we’ve chosen is tremendously exciting and very peaceful at the same time.”
It was a hard road to get here, but the petite five-footone Dumayne is tenacious.
“She says, “If you become clear about what it is you want in this world, often if you just keep going at it … keep going at it
… you’ll get a little break. “You just have to stay focused. It’s about finding what makes your soul sing, and moving towards it.” n
Neil and Louise celebrating the ice breakup on
Filling water buckets before the creek freezes up
PHOTOS: Submitted by Louise Dumayne and Neil Fletcher
Louise on the sled
A day off to explore the Dempster Louise has become a skilled faller
the Yukon River
Freelance with Ben
and lives in downtown Whitehorse with his wife and two kids.
THE COVERGIRLS ARE BACK
The 80s all-women rock band returns to rekindle the fire
Three women sit around a table in the permanent pavilion behind a downtown Whitehorse house, their conversation punctuated by birdsong and the occasional drift of cigar smoke from Bernie, Pam’s husband, who tends the garden. It feels nothing like downtown anywhere— more like a secret Vancouver backyard with its abundance of greenery. But this is where the story of the Covergirls picks up again, 40 years after their last show.
Darcy Ward leans forward in her sunglasses, short blonde hair framing her animated face. “We were so good,” she says. Beside her, Barbara Chamberlin—gracious in a maroon sequin dress, her signature hair still magnificent—nods in agreement. Pam Phillips, in a dark-green fedora and tank top, grins from beneath the brim. These three, along with drummer Marlene Peterson, will reunite as the Covergirls on July 5 at Lefty’s Well.
The story begins in 1981 Seattle, when Darcy was “just a green kid out from Hawaii” looking for fame and fortune. She’d landed a fill-in guitar gig with an all-women band called Sapphire, when fate stepped in. “Pam and Marlene had put together a group called the My Dolls, and their bass player up and quit on them,” Darcy recalls. “They came over to commiserate and I’m like, ‘I can do it.’ I’d never picked up a bass in my whole life, but I knew it would translate.”
reputation for note-perfect covers. They spent a month in a coastal barn, working exclusively on originals—a disciplined retreat that crystallized their sound. “Barb would bring us the song, cooked, but then we would just add pepper and salt,” Darcy says. “Everybody had room to be who they were.”
What made the Covergirls special wasn’t just their musicianship—though listening to their old recordings still gives them goosebumps—but their chemistry. Five women in their twenties, each bringing different strengths: Barbara’s songwriting and keyboards, Pam’s guitar tone achieved with just one overdrive pedal, Darcy’s dynamic bass playing, Marlene’s drumming, and Gretchen’s additional keyboards creating what they describe as a “wall of sound.”
Sluicebox. The territory’s music scene was wild then—venues like the Capital Hotel, 60 Below, the Brass Rail, and the KI all hosted live music six nights a week. “Can you believe that?” Pam marvels. “There were like several places having music six nights a week.” It was here, in this smaller but musically-vibrant community, that the band made deep connections. Pam met her future husband, Bernie, in 1984, and the women found themselves part of a tight-knit scene that included other touring acts like Marg and Ivan Zenovitch. “We would jam,” they recall.
The end came naturally, as these things do. After years of intense touring—“six nights a week, week after week, year after year”—different members wanted different things. Their final show was at Whitehorse’s Sluicebox, on Halloween 1984, closing a chapter that had defined them.
Now, four decades later, the fire is rekindling. Gretchen McKendry won’t be able to join, but the four—Pam, Barbara, Darcy, and Marlene— are ready to prove that some connections transcend time. “I wish I was this good back then,” Darcy admits. “I’m just more confident now.”
They’ve been working up their setlist remotely, sharing ideas and memories across the continent. The plan is all covers—the songs that made them legendary in Whitehorse—but they know that once they start rehearsing together, magic might happen. “It’s going to be so organic,” Barbara says. “Who knows what’ll happen?”
That leap of faith led to two weeks of intensive training at a gig in Westport, Washington, where Darcy learned four sets of music while the band found its chemistry. “We were a very good four-piece band,” Pam remembers. “We f*cking kicked it.”
The evolution—from the My Dolls to Velvet Hammer to the Covergirls—mirrors the band’s journey from local Seattle act, to touring professionals. When Vancouver’s influential Feldman Agency—the management behind Loverboy and Bryan Adams— signed them, they found themselves playing A-rooms across Canada. “We were very honoured to be on that roster,” Darcy recalls, “playing the best venues for a couple of years.”
“We had four different lead singers,” Darcy explains. “I was the ‘Joan Jett girl,’ doing all the Joan Jett and Billy Idol. Each one of us had our own genre that we were masters of.” The harmonies were particularly strong—three voices weaving together on songs like “Sweet Dreams,” while keyboards layered underneath.
Their touring took them across North America and to Germany, where they replaced the metal band Vixen on a military base tour. Playing to crowds of 5,000 soldiers who rushed the stage during “99 Luftballons,” they felt like rock stars. “We were so appreciated,” Pam remembers. “And thank God they didn’t have phones then.”
The Yukon connection began in 1983, when they first came north to play the Dustbowl and the
As our conversation winds down, the talk turns to memories and music, to the mysterious act of creativity that happens when the right people find each other at the right time.
The Covergirls are back, and the fire never went out—it was just waiting for the right moment to flame again.
The Covergirls will perform three shows during their Yukon reunion: Wednesday, July 2, headlining the Whitewater Wednesday Jam at the 98; Friday, July 4, also at the 98; and Saturday, July 5, at Lefty’s Well. n
The transformation accelerated when Barbara joined as lead singer and keyboardist, bringing with her an arsenal of original songs and a home recording studio that was cutting-edge for the early 1980s. “Barb was ahead of the curve,” Darcy explains. “She had her own home recording studio back in the day, when it was still reel-to-reel. She was a demo queen.”
Barbara’s arrival shifted the band’s focus toward original material while maintaining their
(L-R) Barbara Chamberlin, Pam Phillips and Darcy Ward
PHOTO: Ben Charland
Ben Charland is a local writer and communications consultant. He also teaches creative writing, literature and theatre at Yukon University,
Charland
SOURCE: The Covergirls
50th Anniversary Celebration
30 SAT 5PM AUG
Tue Jul 8 Bikepacking 101 7:00 PM
Sport Yukon Learn the basics with local bikepackers, how to pack your bike, plan a trip and enjoy a night out in the wild. Email velonorthyukon@gmail.com
Tue Jul 8 Invasive Species Workshop & Community Weed Pull 6:00 PM
Inclusion Yukon An invasive-related foraging workshop - learn all about invasive plants and discover which ones are safe to eat! Open to everyone!
Wed Jul 9 Caribou Night 7:00 PM
Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre
A fundraiser in support of the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Trust - Information booths, guest speakers covering a variety of topics and viewing a film premiere of Borderline. https:// www.yukon-unguided.com/
Wed Jul 9 Producing 101 9:00
AM SPYA Studio Gain a strong understanding of the role of the Producer from initial idea development to final distribution. https://spya.ca/ event/producing-101/
Thu Jul 10 Yukon Caribou Hunting Workshop 6:00 PM Yukon University
Learn how to prepare you to hunt Yukon caribou ethically, successfully, and with deep respect for this iconic species. Open to all ages – youth and families welcome! https://www. wildplaceadventures.com/
Thu Jul 10 Pride and Parody: An Improvised Regency Comedy at ‘Round Back 7:00 PM The Guild Hall
Audience members will be positively delighted to observe morsels of gossip, plucked from their very lives, take shape in this entirely improvised play. guildhall.ca/shows/round-back-25.php
Fri Jul 11 Freestyling with John from Dawson 7:00 PM The Guild Hall Join Rapper John from Dawson and DJ Charles Hegsted on an expressive freestyling adventure and performance. www.guildhall.ca/shows/round-back-25. php
Fri Jul 11 Opening Night: Materialists
Yukon Theatre A stylish Rom-Drom from the director of Past Lives and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. yukonfilmsociety. com/schedule/materialists
Fri Jul 11 Opening Night: 28 Years
Later Yukon Theatre It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/28years-later
Sat Jul 12 Hannah Mazurek at ‘Round
Back 7:00 PM The Guild Hall Catch this solo set of original blues (with an old favourite or two), and special guests! https://guildhall.ca/shows/ round-back-25.php
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.
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
Wed Jul 2 Neighbourhood nature: Ingram delights! 7:00 PM Hillcrest Join us as we explore nature trails in the Ingram neighbourhood, featuring stunning views and a beautiful wetland area. yukon.ca/wild-discoveries
Tue Jul 8 Knee-high nature: mini mammals 10:00 AM Robert Service Campground Explore the great outdoors with your toddlers on a Totler nature hike. Learn about Yukon wildlife and enjoy nature together. yukon.ca/ wild-discoveries
Thu Jul 17 Neighbourhood nature: McIntyre Creek 7:00 PM Pumphouse at Middle McIntyre Creek Experience the beauty of McIntyre Creek with a nature walk highlighting trails, wetlands, and local flora. yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries
Mon Jul 28 Neighbourhood Nature - Riverdale 7:00 PM Riverdale Subdivision – Whitehorse Explore the many small trails and the Yukon River and Fish Ladder where we will talk about the role the water plays in this ecosystem, and how much the area has changed over the years. yukon.ca/wild-discoveries
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 Jul 2 Yukon Film Society’s AGM 5:30 PM Yukon Film Society Members are invited to the Yukon Film Society’s AGM. Enjoy an engaging meeting and a BBQ social to follow!
Wed Jul 2 DPSAY AGM 7:00 PM Online Email dogpoweredsports@ gmail.com for the Zoom link. For this upcoming season, looking for new board members and race managers! https://dpsay.org/
Thu Jul 3 Recreation & Parks Association of the Yukon AGM 7:00 PM RPAY & Recreation & Parks Assoc of the Yukon Join in-person or by Zoom, review year-end financial statements, elect some directors and adopt bylaw! Light refreshments provided.
Wed Jul 8 Sport Yukon AGM 6:00 PM Sport Yukon
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
Thu Jul 9 Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society & Kaushee’s Place AGM 4:30 PM Online
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 Men’s Remote Chat 10:00 AM Zoom don_cheeseman@msn. com for the link. Regular churchgoer or just curious, this is a welcoming, nopressure time for conversation
AA Juste Pour Aujourd’hui (C) 5:00 PM, Zoom ID 833 9614 4061 mot de passe 0 ou telephone 1-587-328-1099
Thursdays
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:30 PM Online Zoom ID 868 3045 2752 pc 6y2K8a or phone 1-587-328-1099
Fridays
AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 334-7693
Saturdays
AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 334-7693.
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:00 PM Online Zoom ID 868 3045 2752 pc 6y2K8a or phone 1-587-328-1099
Sundays
AA Yukon Unity Group 1:00 PM Online By zoom – Zoom ID 868 3045 2752 pc 6y2K8a or by phone Phone 1-587-238-1099
Wild Discoveries Summer Events
Join Yukon Wildlife Viewing for FREE walks, talks and hikes all summer long!
▪ Plant ID walks in English and French
▪ Mushroom ID walks
▪ Butterfly and pika walk on Keno Hill
▪ Bird monitoring in Teslin
▪ Programs on berries, bats, squirrels, salmon and more
▪ Also: day hikes, neighbourhood nature walks and programming for toddlers
All events are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit Yukon.ca/wild-discoveries.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF YUKON FRANCOPHONE WOMEN
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Les Essentielles. For this occasion, short biographies of Yukon francophone women will be presented throughout the year in the pages of our paper. Thank you to l’Association francoyukonnaise, l’émission Rencontres, and l’Aurore boréale for their collaboration in this project.
Isabelle Revel (Salesse)
I sabelle Revel (Salesse) was born in 1967 in Montpellier, France. She studied modern languages and tourism at the Université Paul Valéry and graduated with a French-German guiding diploma.
Isabelle arrived in the Yukon in June 1992 with her husband, Jean-Louis. From 1996 to 2002, she was the executive director of la Garderie du petit cheval blanc, the only francophone daycare in the Yukon. In 2000, she collaborated on the creation of a francophone preschool program for fouryear-olds that is now part of the regular French as a first-language education system in the Yukon.
From 2002 to 2012, Isabelle was the director of the Service d’orientation et de formation des adultes (SOFA), the counselling and adult-education department at the Association franco-yukonnaise, and became the executive director in 2012. She has contributed to the development of support services for francophone elders, the creation of a referral service in French in the field of justice and the revision of the Health Authority Act.
She greatly contributed to the development of literacy and adult education in French, in the territory and in Canada, and was the president of the Canadian Literacy and Skills Network for several years. In 2018, she received the Council of the Federation Literacy Award for her involvement in this field.
In 2024, she joined the Francopresse list of influential people of the Canadian francophonie for her work in protecting linguistic rights in a minority setting.
In the Yukon, Isabelle found a spectacular landscape, forged lasting friendships, discovered her voice for advocacy and met inspiring people.
Louise Girard
Louise Girard was born in 1952 in Chénéville, in Quebec. In April 1976, Louise left Quebec for the Yukon with her boyfriend, Ronald. They experienced life in a cabin, without electricity or running water. Louise learned how to be resourceful.
In 1981, she started working for the Yukon Native Products, and in 1987 she started her career with the Government of Yukon and occupied various positions, including at the Workers’ Compensation Board; the Department of Health, as health program director; and at the Yukon Housing Corporation, as finance director. When she retired in 2007, she was vice-president of operations.
In 1991, Louise had the opportunity to take part, with many other people from the francophone community, in the play Un jardin sur le toit (A garden on the roof).
Louise was treasurer of the board of directors of the Association francoyukonnaise, a member of the board of directors of the Teen Parent Centre, and treasurer of the Mount Sima ski resort, at the beginning of the organization in the ’90s. She organized numerous fundraising events for the dance troupe Les Souliers dansants, was a treasurer of the Tagish Community Association, as well as treasurer and an active member of the Tagish Volunteer Fire Department. She also assisted Thérèse Lacroix with the Guides program in French. She is passionate about travelling and discovering new cultures.
Louise is a happy grandmother of four grandchildren (two girls and two boys). It is the best gift that life could have given her.
Marie-Stéphanie Gasse
Marie-Stéphanie Gasse grew up in Que-
bec City. The outdoors and nature have been important activities throughout her life. During her childhood, she spent weeks in a small cabin in Matane Park. The family went fishing and would get up at 5 a.m. to observe moose and other animals. She was a part of the Guiding Movement, where she developed her love of canoeing and camping.
The call of the wild brought her to the Yukon in 1998. She wanted to learn English and the North had always fascinated her. She came back for good in 2001 and got involved in the board of directors of Les Essentielles and became the executive director, in 2003, for one year. She then worked as a bilingual family counsellor for the Government of Yukon, over the next 15 years.
Marie-Stéphanie was the Yukon representative on the board of directors of the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (Canadian Alliance of francophone women), between 2008 and 2017, holding the position of vice-president for a few years.
She was president of Les Essentielles (2015 to 2017), and in 2016 she represented Canadian francophone women at the 16th francophonie Summit in Madagascar.
Always devoted to the well-being of her community, Marie-Stéphanie joined the board of directors of the Association franco-yukonnaise as an administrator (2015 to 2017) and vice-president (2018 to 2019).
For Marie-Stéphanie, the Yukon represents splendour, nature and freedom. Among this united and diversified francophone community, she has forged strong friendships over the years.
Sandra JourneauxHenderson
Sandra
Journeaux-Henderson was born in 1940 in Port-Daniel, Quebec. She did most of her elementary and secondary education in English. She continued her studies, to become a certified teacher, by taking university classes in the summer. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts at Sir George Williams University, in 1977, and a Bachelor of Education at McGill University. Sandra spent 25 years teaching French in public schools in Quebec, Newfoundland and Saskatchewan. She arrived in the Yukon, in 1981, to teach French in two kindergarten classes at Whitehorse Elementary School.
In the summer of 1982, she telephoned almost everyone in the Whitehorse phone book and found about 60 parents who wished to have a French first-language program in Whitehorse. The French program started in September 1984, with classes from kindergarten to Grade 6. Summer camps and trips to Silver City and Kluane National Park were organized.
For her efforts in promoting education in French, for francophones in the Yukon, Sandra received an honour, in 1986, from the Compagnie des Cent-Associés francophones in Ottawa and, in 1989, she became a Member of the Order of Canada for her work in advancing French as a firstlanguage program.
After a teaching career of 50 years, Sandra retired in 2007. She was a teacher and vice-principal at F.H. Collins Secondary School in Whitehorse.
French still holds an important place in her heart. Even now, at 85 years of age, she continues to promote French first- and second-language programs in the territory’s schools.
Column with Angélique Bernard
Angélique Bernard is a translator, communications specialist, radio host, writer and community volunteer. She was the Commissioner of Yukon from 2018 to 2023.
PHOTO: Submitted by Isabelle Salesse
PHOTO: Submitted by Louise Girard
PHOTO: Maryne Dumaine
PHOTO: Submitted by Sandra Journeaux-Henderson
MORE THAN WORDS
Ernest Chua and Colin Dorward’s Without Saying exhibition is on display at the Yukon Arts Centre until Aug. 29
It feels strange to use words to introduce an arts exhibition that makes a point of communicating its messages without using words at all. But a new exhibition from Yukon artists Ernest Chua and Colin Dorward, aptly titled Without Saying, is all about emphasizing wordless dialogue, as each artist’s pieces invite the other to join a conversation that relies solely on visuals, emotions
and silent thought.
Chua, originally from Singapore, is a self-taught artist now living in Whitehorse and thriving as a member of its creative community. Because he is autistic and mostly non-verbal, he uses his art as a medium to express himself, finding he can say more through visuals than with words. Chua’s works navigate representation and abstraction, making use of text, figures and symbology. With a talent for techniques like densification and deep layering, Chua has created a complex visual lexicon with his pieces, exploring many different approaches, finding what works for him and what doesn’t. He operates with a drive to always finish what he starts, even if he doesn’t return to a particular style or method.
Chua commonly practises out of the Teegatha’Oh Zheh Progressive Art Studio and is the June
2025 Jenni House artist-in-residence. He has work in the Yukon Permanent Art Collection, as well as several private collections. Dorword, originally from Edmonton, is also now Whitehorsebased and primarily practises as a painter. He holds a PhD in Visual Arts from London, Ontario’s Western University, an MFA from the University of Ottawa, and a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, in Vancouver.
Through his career, Dorward has achieved a number of accolades including being named a 2012 finalist in the RBC Canadian Painting Competition and winning the Honorable Mention in 2013. He was also awarded the William and Isabel Pope Artist Residency
in Painting at NSCAD University, in 2014. His work can be seen in numerous public art collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the RBC Corporate Art Collection, the Yukon Permanent Art Collection and the City of Ottawa Art Collection.
Dorward prefers not to explain his work verbally or in writing, instead letting the visuals take onlookers on whatever journey they wish. Though he and Chua come from different backgrounds as artists, the similarities in their wordless approaches create something special when their work is displayed together.
The similarities do not end at wordlessness, however. With a shared predisposition for abstraction, deep layering and symbolic complexity, Chua and Dorward silently invite viewers to engage with their work by highlighting the conversational component of the pieces, rather than focusing on contrasting elements.
“Silent, intuitive and resonant,” reads a press statement written by the exhibition’s co-curators Mary Bradshaw, Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) director and Phoebe Gonzales Rohrbacher, Teegatha’Oh Zheh
Freelance with Manus Hopkins
ratives,” the team’s statement continues. The progressive art studio movement, a rising wave of creative spaces opening up with the goal of supporting artists with intellectual, developmental and mental health conditions, is helping re-shape understandings of neurodiversity, identity and inclusion, according to the team, pushing the world of the arts towards a future where there are no insiders or outsiders in the creative realm.
“This exhibition celebrates that artistic significance is not contingent upon formal training, verbal articulation or conventional pathways,” concludes the statement. “Regardless of their level of understanding of the larger historical or current art context that they belong to, artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities are highly capable of innovation within contemporary art conversations and their work is not peripheral to the broader story of art. The paintings in Without Saying emerge from a clarity of vision, conviction in process and the power of the image
Sizing it up
to speak in ways that transcend words.”
Progressive Art Studio coordinator, along with Dorward himself. “The title suggests both the inexpressible power of painting, as a form of communication, and the intuitive connection between the two artists.”
Citing other movements like Art Brut, Outsider Art, and now the progressive art studio movement, the team behind Without Saying believes that artists have long challenged traditional hierarchies, highlighting marginalized and self-taught artists who come from backgrounds not involving formal or academic training.
“These movements redefined notions of authenticity in art, and disrupted assumptions about who gets to participate in cultural nar-
Without Saying, presented in partnership with Teegatha’Oh Zheh Progressive Art Studio, is on display at the YAC in the Main Gallery until Aug. 29. The exhibition is free to view and can be seen during opening hours. The Teegatha’Oh Zheh Progressive Art Studio is a space that aims to empower artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop their individual art practices, endeavouring to equip them with the necessary tools to pursue careers as exhibiting artists with dedicated time, space and high-quality art materials provided for them. To learn more about Without Saying, visit yukonartscentre.com/whats-on/ without-saying n
Manus Hopkins is a journalist and musician, originally hailing from Whitehorse.
Without Saying, an exhibit by Ernest Chua and Colin Dorward
So much to absorb
PHOTO: Shirley Chua Tan
PHOTO: Mike Thomas/YAC
PHOTO: Mike Thomas/YAC
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Thu Jul 3 Wildlife on the Water 7:00
PM Chadburn Lake yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries
Fri, Jul 4 3rd Annual BSC Golf Classic with Arctic Winter Games 12:00 PM This annual golf classic goes beyond the game—it strengthens community bonds, supports youth sports, and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the North.
Fri, Jul 4 Rugby Fest and Yukon Rugby Champs 4:00 PM Don’t miss Rugby Fest this July! Enjoy a full weekend of rugby skills competitions and tournaments for all skill levels.
Sat, Jul 5 - 6 The Ultimate Midnight Sun HAT Tournament (frisbee) 2 full days of frisbee, food, and fun with a Saturday night party under the midnight sun! For more info email email yukonultimate@gmail.com.
Sat, Jul 5 The Raven 50 Ultra and Relay 6:00 AM A Run for Life sponsored event, 50 miles or 50 km of raw, rugged alpine beauty. Email raven@runforlife.ca for more info.
Tue Jul 8 Neighbourhood Nature: Crestview 7:00 PM Crestview Explore local trails as part of our neighbourhood nature series. On this walk, we’ll go to mineral seep to look at the unique plants that grow there. yukon.ca/wild-discoveries
Wed Jul 9 Dream Trail Hike 9:00
AM Grey Mountain Road, upper parking lot. Experience the Dream Trail hike with its 700 m elevation gain and beautiful alpine scenery. A true nature lover’s delight. yukon.ca/wilddiscoveries
Thu Jul 17-20 Dustball 2025 Pepsi Softball Centre Limited to 65 teamsplay or watch in the stands, lots of fun activities, concession open. https:// www.softballyukon.com/
Fri Jul 18 - 20 Tennis Northern Cup
Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre Tennis Fun under the Midnight Sun! An annual tennis tournament welcoming players from across the North! All participants are guaranteed two scheduled matches. https:// tennisyukon.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
Babynastics with Coach Libby 10:30 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club
A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www.polarettes.org/babynastics
Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40
AM Northern Lights School of Dance
Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg
Noon Strength & Conditioning
12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy
Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00
PM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Indoor Cycling 12:05 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength. ca/
Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days
Martial Arts 12:05 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts KIDS MUAY THAI a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. Open to ages 8 - 12.
Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM
Northern Strength Academy
Ladies Kickboxing 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Qigong / Meditation 7:00 PM
Jack Hulland Elementary School
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tuesdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern
Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 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 No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Wednesdays
Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength. ca/
Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30 AM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Tai Chi Essential Form continued 10:00 AM Heart of Riverdale 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
Elderactive Intermediate Hiking
1:00 PM ElderActive Recreation
Association Leisure Walking is similar to Nordic walking but is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more relaxed pace
Strength & Conditioning 5:30
PM Northern Strength Academy
Functional strength class teaches compound multi-joint lifts that improve athleticism, strength, coordination, power and more.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Introduction to Tai Chi 6:00 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 1 refinements 7:00 PM Grey Mountain Primary School
Indoor Range Night 7:00 PM
Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 3 continued 7:15 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Thursdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach.
Inclusive for all levels
Winter Power Hour Series 6:00 AM
BrittyFit 95 Lewes Blvd Ignite your fitness regime in 50 minutes with Brittyfit
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength
Tai Chi for Seniors 10:00 AM Golden Age Society Come early, bring water, and wear comfortable, smooth soled indoor shoes.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 1:00 PM
Northern Strength Academy
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
Wed Jul 9 Mindfulness for Stress Reduction 12:00 PM Yukon Healthy Living Program (formerly CCSP) When times get tough, mindfulness activities can support you in improving mental clarity and self-awareness. Call 667-8733 for more info. https://yukon. ca/en/health-and-wellness/healthconcerns-diseases-and-conditions/ healthier-tomorrow-starts-today
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 778-907-2701 for more info.
AA New Beginnings Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Sacred Heart - Rear Entrance - basement
Tuesdays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM Salvation Army 311 Black St Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
VFWC - Drop-In 11:00 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Drop-In includes Laundry and Shower.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 6:00 PM 100 25 Firth Rd Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Join us! Every Wednesday morning. Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details
AA 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, lowbarrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 6672693 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 Morning Joe Group (C, A) 11:00 AM Inclusion Yukon
AA “Joy
Äshèyi Mǟn
The allure of Aishihik Lake — a remote retreat
During the 2024 paddle season, I celebrated my milestone 50th birthday by paddling over 50 Yukon lakes. Through the winter, I gathered insights and details about each lake to create the 50 Lakes Yukon guidebook, which will soon be available in bookstores. As part of this summer series, I will be highlighting various Yukon lakes, each with its unique features and highlights. For those looking for a more-remote retreat, Aishihik Lake is a top pick within a twohour drive from Whitehorse.
Äshèyi Mǟn (Aishihik Lake) lies within the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN). In Tlingit and Southern Tutchone languages, Äshèyi means “at the end (or tail) of the mountain range,” referring to the active CAFN settlement and important Southern Tutchone cultural and harvesting site at the north end of the lake.
The south end of the lake can be easily accessed at the Aishi-
hik Lake Campground. The Yukon government campground is well serviced with two boat launches, a dock, wheelchair-accessible camping and outhouse, picnic shelter, garbage and trailer parking. It is typically peaceful, and visiting in the peak of summer might grant you the entire lake to yourself—a perfect setting for a midnight sun paddle.
On the way to Aishihik Lake, there are two great stopping points: the iconic Otter Falls and the Canyon Lake Recreation Site with a picnic shelter, short trail to Otter Falls, and boat launch to another great lake destination.
Aishihik Lake is a valued fishing spot. It is designated as a Conservation Waters area, where limits apply to lake trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike and burbot.
Äshèyi Mǟn is 53 kilometres long and six kilometres wide at its widest point. It lies at a higher elevation of 930 metres (3,050 feet). The lake serves as the headwaters for the Titl’àt Tágà (Dezadeash River) and Ałsêkh River, with water flowing through Ädäts’ür Mǟn (Canyon Lake), over Nadèlin (Otter Falls) and along the Aishihik River.
CAUTION:
Aishihik Lake Road continues past the campground, running near the eastern shore of the lake. Note that there is no public boat launch and the road and bridges are not maintained past the campground.
Recreators should be prepared for high and sudden winds on both long, narrow lakes. There are strong currents (clearly marked with warning signs) near the Yukon energy control structures at the southeast corner of both lakes.
To get to Äshèyi Mǟn, take the Alaska Highway towards Haines Junction. Head north at km 1546 onto Aishihik Lake Road. You’ll
follow the gravel road for 42 kilometres to the Aishihik Lake Campground. The distance from Whitehorse is 164.8 kilometres with a drive time of a little over two hours. Otter Falls is located at km 28, and Canyon Lake Recreation Site at km 28.5 on Aishihik Lake Road. Along the route, you might glimpse the Aishihik herds of caribou and bison. n
PHOTOS: Wendy Morrison
Column with Wendy Morrison
Wendy Morrison is often found on a stand-up paddleboard on a Yukon lake. Her target is 10,000 more hours on the water, whether it brings mastery or not.
Aishihik Lake on summer solstice under the midnight sun
The other great recreation site of Canyon Lake, en route to Aishihik
A sunny summer afternoon on Äshèyi Mǟn
Campground launch spot at the Aishihik Lake Campground
ATLIN
Fri Jul 11 - 14 2025 Atlin Arts and Music Festival Tarahne Park The Atlin Arts and Music Festival is BACK! On stages around Atlin, including the main stage at Tarahne Park and the historic Globe Theatre atlinfest. ca/
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 23 Fly-In to Carcross and meet with Klondike Cruisers classic cars 11:00 AM Carcross
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
Centre Learn To Curl (All Ages) 4:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre Floor Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM Carmacks School
Drop In Curling 6:00 PM Carmacks School 14+ Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Carmacks
If you sense your car drifts or pulls to one side, you could have a wheel alignment problem. The alignment of your vehicle’s wheels can affect the way it handles. Your car may drive fine, but when you look at your tires, you may notice that they are wearing. Your steering wheel could also feel not centred. Our team of professionals can align your wheels by placing your vehicle on a wheel alignment machine. This machine uses laser guided measurements to allow our mechanic to set and adjust the suspension components back to the factory specifications. You can prevent the impact of wear and tear on your tires, reduce pulling and feel confident in a safer drive.
KENO CITY
HAINES JUNCTION
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Little Green Apple Tue Jul 1 Canada Day Parade & Community BBQ 11:00 AM Haines Junction, Yukon Celebrate Canada Day! Parade,
STEPPING INTO RHUBARB SEASON
Early in June, I walked into the summer kitchen at the Stepping Stone homestead, on the Pelly River, to a loved and familiar sight: Jim Tredger at the stove, keeping his eye on three bubbling espresso pots of coffee
He turned towards the door with a big smile, saying, “You’re just in time, coffee’s ready!”
Some Yukoners are lucky enough to have cabins in the wilderness; others are lucky enough to know some of those people. I fall into the latter category. Jim and his wife Carole Kroening have
welcomed me to stay at their little corner of beauty (on the banks of the Pelly) for more than 10 years now. Visits to Stepping Stone have been a highlight of many summers.
Always, Jim has been the first one up, lighting the fire in the big old wood-fired cook stove, putting the rhubarb on to stew and making the first of many rounds of coffees for guests who meander in as they wake up.
There is no morning schedule at Stepping Stone; it all happens organically. Sometimes a guest gets up at the crack of dawn to make a batch of scones; other times, like this past June, a guest flips crêpes in the big frying pan and offers you your choice of sweet or savoury fillings—or both. The savoury version might be asparagus from the Stepping Stone garden, combined with gruyère and prosciutto; the sweet, a combination of berries picked last year, with a dollop of whipped cream or yogurt.
In the afternoon there might be a cooking project, under Carole’s direction. Perhaps you’ll be mixing dough or prepping toppings for the famous Stepping Stone pizza— every visit includes pizza baked in the outdoor oven, with a fire set up by Jim that burns until the oven reaches 500F, so that pizzas cook in minutes. The toppings are dreamed up by Carole, though guests are encouraged to contribute memorable combos they’ve enjoyed recently, or long ago, and there’s always a dessert pizza. This year it was rhubarb and melted chocolate.
Stepping Stone rhubarb is as famous as the pizza: in the garden there are at least six massive plants that produce fat red stalks, all summer long. Jim and Carole are always dreaming up new rhubarb recipes. A few years ago, Jim invented the Pelly Button Cocktail, made with the juice strained from the morning’s stewed rhubarb. In haskap season, the garnish is a spoonful of berries floating on top.
This year, Carole wanted to experiment with a rhubarb fool, typically fruit and whipped cream folded together into a beautiful creamy mess. Together, she and I opted to turn the fool into a parfait. There were no complaints.
STEWED RHUBARB
*You can scale up the recipe according to how much rhubarb you have and how many people you’re serving.
Ingredients:
• 4 cups chopped rhubarb
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar—more (or less), to taste
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• A handful of cranberries, for colour, if your rhubarb is not the red variety
Method:
1. Place water, rhubarb and cranberries, if using, in a small pot, cover, and bring to the boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until rhubarb is soft but still retains its shape.
2. Add sugar and lemon zest and cook for a minute more. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
3. Pour rhubarb into a strainer set over a medium-sized bowl. Allow the juice to drip through until the stewed rhubarb is fairly solid—about 15 or 20 min-
utes. Reserve juice.
4. Serve stewed rhubarb in parfait, use in quick breads or muffins, spread on toasted scones, or spoon it into your morning yogurt. Will keep, covered, in the fridge for about 1 week, and for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Makes about 2 cups.
RHUBARB PARFAIT
This parfait could as easily be breakfast or an after-dinner treat.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups stewed rhubarb
• 2 cups Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup granola
*Dessert option: substitute 2 cups whipped cream flavoured with 1 tsp vanilla and 2 Tbsp sugar (for the yogurt).
Method:
1. Choose your serving dishes—4 glasses or jars that will hold up to 8 oz.
2. Layer ingredients in each glass, starting with a tablespoon of granola, followed by 2 Tbsp of yogurt and two of rhubarb. Repeat, ending with a spoonful of yogurt and a sprinkling of granola. Chill until ready to serve.
Makes 4 servings.
“Buttons” for two
Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 3 oz rhubarb juice
• 2 oz soda water
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• Berries or lemon for garnish
Method:
Combine all ingredients, except garnish, in a tall glass over ice. Stir and add berries or lemon. Makes one cocktail. n
PELLY BUTTON COCKTAIL
Miche Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She has also written two books, The Boreal Feast: A Culinary Journey Through the North and The Boreal Gourmet: Adventures in Northern Cooking.
PHOTOS: Miche Genest
Rhubarb Parfait
A pitcher of Pelly Buttons for Happy Hour at Stepping Stone
✓ Explore exhibits
✓ Hands-on activities
✓ Great food
✓ Connect with new and old friends!
Join us in Teslin for a special anniversary weekend!
✓ Cultural demonstrations
✓ Art fair
✓ Take-home crafts
✓ Treasure hunt
✓ Walk/run on the George Johnston Trail
✓ and more.
