IDIOMATIC ORIGINS
HERE’S
TO LEAVES …
… and to turning over new ones.
The snow is lingering on mountaintops, the grass is greening and the trees are budding. And soon — very soon — we will see new leaves, which brings us to this idiom: turning over a new leaf. Man, I cannot count how many new leaves I have turned over in my life in my 60some years. I’m sure there will be many more.
What do you see when you turn over a new leaf? My first thought is Veins! … the source of life for any living being. In other words, turning over a new leaf means that I desire to uncover lifegiving practices. I have some ideas, presently, as I’m sure many of you do. Some of mine include writing more (and not being afraid to write more), and encouraging other writers, whenever possible.
There’s so much more …
I want to learn so much more about our territory’s 14 First Nations; I want to sing more, play piano more, listen to my Spotify library and maybe even dance a little more, return to Salt Spring Island next year and perhaps discover some of the many West Coast islands. And to study scripture in its original Jewish context and Hebrew language. Top of this growing list is moving more and copyediting more.
So many leaves to turn over.
Sometimes turning over a new leaf may result in a more dramatic shift in our lives … perhaps involving letting some things go and seeing other things emerge. It may mean going in an opposite direction career-wise or heading a different direction in another area.
Whatever new leaves you are turning over, the heavily nuanced meaning behind this idiom is one of positive change and may embody that feeling you get when you see the sun break through the clouds after an overcast day; or
when you see the sunrise after a restless night … you get the idea. Simple, but the possibilities and positive health benefits of a lifegiving change are just endless.
You might almost be expecting me to break forth with a stanza from “Tomorrow.” Well, our daughter did teach me a lovely song as we ferried from Victoria to Salt Spring this month: “I Am Blessed” by Desirée Dawson (on YouTube if you want to check it out).
This idiom is what I would call a “contagious” idiom, meaning that when one person turns over a new leaf, it may inspire someone else to do the same — or that the rippling effects may change the world, one “leaf” at a time.
Okay, now I’m practically dripping with positivity (and I am one who loves the minor keys of life
and appreciates the “valleys,” both of which have their own beauty).
Because of my interest in Hebrew, I am going to refer to this phrase for turning over a new leaf — daf chadash, which literally means to “open a new page.” For those of you who love books, love reading, you can probably relate to this translation; turning a page, like turning over a new leaf, invites understanding, opens possibilities, brings closure.
And turning over a new leaf, as individual as it often is, may also be something that an entire community does when they decide on a change together and then become that change.
So, here’s to turning over a new leaf and discovering and experiencing lifegiving change. ■
We encourage all Yukoners to learn more about mining and mineral exploration, as it is a major economic driver of the Yukon’s private sector. Mining provides jobs for our families, friends, and neighbours. It spurs many spin-o industries and jobs and contributes to the quality of life we enjoy.
As we transition to more environmentally friendly technologies, critical minerals will play a big role in that transition. The Yukon is ready to do our part to fill this emerging need.
Josephine Holmes is a freelance writer and a former copy editor at What’s Up Yukon. She is a prairie girl, at heart, but loves the Yukon and has been a sourdough since 1994. The other thing she loves, aside from spending time with family, is being called “Grammy.”
PHOTO: Josephine Holmes Dew drops on Bleeding Heart leaves
FROM MENDENHALL TO YVR ON A DIME
The day I accidentally rented a “brand-new” rag-top Mustang
We had a massive scare. Pam had a fall and ended up in hospital. When they did the CT scan in Emergency, they discovered a 5 cm “opacity” in her lung. They couldn’t be sure what it was, so out of an abundance of caution, they booked her in for a series of tests in Vancouver at the BC Cancer Agency.
The thoracic surgeon heading up the tests wanted us to wait until Pam was more mobile and, as the date approached, we became increasingly convinced that this was stage two lung cancer. We were basically hoping that the PET scan in Vancouver would show that the cancer was confined to the lung. If it had spread, then it
would be immediately classed as stage four.
We made arrangements for a
friend to come over and take care of our house and dog while we would be away for almost a full week. Due to complications from the fall, Pam would be using a wheelchair and I would be accompanying as her medical escort. I started phoning around for
hotels close enough to the agency to walk. The prices were outrageous! Like $400-plus with no food involved. On such short notice, all the subsidized places like the Easter Seals House were totally booked months in advance. I told Pam that “This is ridiculous — we could get an executive suite at the River Rock Casino cheaper than this!”
That is exactly what we ended up doing. It was a gorgeous suite,
PHOTOS: Gary Atkins
Pam in the ’stang outside the River Rock
column with Gary Atkins
Gary Atkins is editor of What’s Up Yukon. He and his wife, Pam, live in Mendenhall.
CANADA SUMMER GAMES
Young Yukoners have a long road trip ahead
In the hyperactive world of amateur sports in Canada, there are many road trips but only one Monster road trip, which covers nearly the entire horizontal length of this great country from the shadow of the St. Elias mountains in the west on the Alaska border to the most easterly city in North America, St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, perched on the shore of the North Atlantic like the guardian of the Titanic derelict located nearby, deep on the ocean’s floor.
Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory, is easily Canada’s most western community and the distance between the two is vast, but it’s not easy to pin down how vast.
The first time your intrepid geographer tried to calculate the total mileage of this monster road trip to be undertaken by Yukon athletes attending the 2025 Canada Summer Games from August 8-25, the number came back at just over 8,100 kms in a meandering vehicle driven leisurely across the country. Further investigation came up with these more official numbers:
Flight distance: 3,227 miles or 5193 km. Shortest direct drive: 4,771 miles or 7678 km.
The discrepancy is explained by planes flying over the polar route above the curvature of the Earth. Either way, it’s a long haul to get from the shadow of the Klondike goldfields to the graveyard of the Titanic without crossing any international borders.
Music at the Medal Reveal: 100 days out conference
The premier events in summer games, of course, are swimming and soccer, the world’s most popular sport, referred to as “the beautiful game” around the globe.
The medal games will be played in
the venerable King George V Soccer Stadium which is the oldest surviving soccer-specific stadium in North America with a seating capacity of 6,400 spectators although the attendance record is
double that. It was built in 1925. Rowing and triathlon were dropped from the ‘25 games but Rugby sevens, both genders, were added and the U-18 Junior Soccer women were upgraded to full
April 30, 2025
medal status, meaning we will now have 17 sports and 19 disciplines in play at St. John’s. They include: Artistic swimming, Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Canoe kayak, Cycling, Diving, Golf, Lacrosse, Rugby sevens, Sailing, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Wrestling.
If the games organizers try to identify the individual Canadian athlete who travelled the farthest to attend and compete, he or she will certainly come from somewhere in the Yukon River watershed, possibly up near the Arctic Ocean, which is the end of the road in northwestern Canada or, in this case, the beginning.
These games will be the 16th edition of the Summer Games, and 31st overall, the third Canada Games hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador (1977 and 1999), and the second in the city of St. John’s (1977), according to their website intro.
For full information about the 2025 Canada Games visit: canadagames.ca/future-games/stjohns-2025 ■
A young drummer at the conference on
The 2025 Canada Games Logo
PHOTOS: St. John’s 2025 Canada Games
Freelance with Doug Sack
Doug Sack is a former sports editor of the Yukon News and the Whistler Question, and a longtime columnist for Ski Canada magazine.
the outdoors continues. The Yukon is still the place they call home.
HAPPY CAMPER: SIGNS OF WEAR AND TEAR Camping
Present Day:
In The Yukon And On Vancouver Island
On Vancouver Island
Nail biting, teeth clenching, beads of sweat … reserving a campsite is not for the faint of heart.
My husband and I are on a mission to reserve a campsite at one of our favourite destinations, Green Point Campground in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This popular park is located on Vancouver Island’s spectacular West Coast, world-renowned for magnificent, lush, old-growth forests and stunning views of the ocean as far as the eye can see.
We review the updates on the Parks Canada reservation system. We do a couple of practice runs navigating through the links on our separate devices.
Last year, on the morning of the reservation launch day for this campground, we promptly click on “reserve” at 8 a.m. We are advised our random position in the queue. We each have over 4000 people ahead of us.
When it is our turn, we attempt to coordinate a campsite and specific dates. The little green dots (the campsites) rapidly turn red, indicating that site is no longer available. Therefore, we have to act quickly and our Plan B, C, D … comes into play. We vary the dates and the campsite numbers until we secure a reservation. We keep an eye on the clock since we
have a time limit to complete this process.
This year, we had an entirely different experience. We clicked on “reserve” at 8 a.m. and we were immediately able to book a campsite and dates with our first choice.
We high five each other. We have won the lottery! In The Past: Camping In The Yukon
This is reminiscent of our camping experiences in the late 1970s.
We often had an entire campground to ourselves. One favourite experience was camping right beside Frenchman Lake. We appreciated the many reasons we fell in love with the Yukon in the first place — the dramatic display of autumn colours, a crystal-clear lake and especially the sound of silence. We did not want to leave this perfect spot.
Of course, there are many perfect camping spots in the Yukon!
Our major takeaway on this return trip was how the majestic, wide-open landscape and picturesque scenery were even better than we remembered from years ago. The priceless gifts of fresh clean
I wrote a story, “Thirty Years Later — Returning Home To The Yukon” published in What’s Up Yukon on September 28, 2022. I shared our travel adventures in 2011 when we rented an RV for the month of September and explored favourite camping, hiking and fishing areas. September was a perfect month to travel and we had no problem finding a campsite each night. No reservation was required. We could keep our schedule flexible and easily stay for more nights.
Studies
air, pristine lakes and rivers mean more to us now than ever before. Showing Signs Of Wear And Tear
of our past camping adventures. Today, we usually stay in our eight-foot camper which sits on the back of our pickup truck.
Our trusty little camper is 40 years old and has weathered a
We have slept in tents on some
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few storms. One corner has been patched up after a minor accident. My husband weatherproofs the roof each year so we can stay sheltered from the inevitable heavy rain on Vancouver Island.
After four decades, our camper is showing signs of wear and tear. We are also 40 years older and showing signs of wear and tear. Setting up camp takes us much longer. With creaky knees, and our
let out a collective sigh of contentment. We have left the background noise of our daily lives behind us. We can truly relax now and enjoy our peaceful surroundings.
We hike along a favourite rainforest trail within Green Point Campground and down the hill to the beach.
We have been on this trail many times, yet when the view of the Pacific Ocean opens up in front of us, we are overcome with emotion. The fresh ocean breeze, the light mist against our skin, the stunning views as far as the eye can see … once again, we are grateful to witness the spectacular beauty and balance in nature.
As the sun begins to set, we find a log to sit on and share a small flask of wine, a tradition. We are getting ready to watch one of the greatest shows on earth, the awe-inspiring beauty of a West Coast sunset!
A Happy Camper
We have camped in many incredibly beautiful locations throughout the Yukon and in British Columbia. The scenery changes. The feelings do not. We slow down to appreciate
the extraordinary and the exquisite beauty in the ordinary.
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530
reading glasses nearby, we put up tarps, tie knots, pound pegs into hard, rocky ground and get our campfire started. By “we,” I mean mostly my husband, one of the original Boy Scouts. I help, give advice, and administer first aid as needed.
Do we want to continue leaving the comforts of our home? Can we still easily climb onto the loft bed in our camper? Are the more frequent night time potty breaks an issue?
Are we still having fun?
Present Moments
At Our Campsite
We arrive at our campsite and
We lose ourselves in photography and are reminded how we are part of the bigger picture. We gain clarity and perspective, and appreciate more than ever our health, our mobility and especially our time together.
My husband and I have the privilege of growing older together. Yet camping never grows old for us.
Are we still having fun? A wholehearted, “Yes!”
We are truly grateful and happy campers. ■
Freelance with Erica Henault
A former dental hygienist, Erica Henault has always been a writer and a photographer. She and her husband moved to Vancouver Island 30 years ago, where their love of camping, new adventures and exploring
PHOTO: Chuck Henault
Erica enjoying tranquil moments at Frenchman Lake Campground
Our tranquil campsite at Green Point Campground in Pacific Rim National Park
An exceptionally stunning sunset at Long Beach on the West Coast of Vancouver Island
Magnificent Bove Island on Tagish Lake in the early evening light
PHOTO: Erica Henault
PHOTO: Erica Henault
PHOTO: Erica Henault
THE TOWN OF FARO
Faro’s unique history tells a tale
sense of community
The Town of Faro has a “weird staying power,” according to long-time resident Katy Peeling.
Peeling has lived in Faro for over 50 years through the community’s boom-bust cycles. She calls it a “serial community,” meaning that it has changed and reformed many times, and it keeps going. Each new community that forms has had a “different character and personality,” she says.
Faro was first created as a home for workers at the Anvil (later, Cyprus Anvil) open-pit lead-zinc mine. The mining company built the town’s infrastructure — many different types of houses, a school for grades K to 12, a medical centre and recreation facilities.
“When staking began, the claims were named alphabetically and the sixth claim — the Faro claim — was the winner,” says Peeling. “So, they named the new town after the discovery claim.”
In July 1968, the Yukon Territorial Council agreed that the townsite would be named Faro, also for the card game in which players bet on card order, in the hopes that Anvil would “hold a winning hand,” according to the Whitehorse Star.
The Faro mine area is located on the traditional lands of the Kaska Nation and is known as Tse Zul to the Ross River Dena for the “hollow rock” found there.
Shortly after construction began in June 1969, a lightningcaused fire destroyed most of the town. Just two houses and two maisonettes on Ogilvie Cres. were left standing. Undeterred, the mining company rebuilt, and by September people were moving into homes in Faro.
In 1974, Peeling and her husband came to the town in a Chevy pickup with their own home-built camper on top. They left again in ’75 because there was not enough housing. Friends encouraged them to apply for work at the mine, so they came back and stayed.
Over the years the town grew to over 1,600 people, and there were lots of activities to keep them busy, including a slate of hockey leagues, an annual curling bonspiel called the Sleeping Bag, and Farrago, a music festival that pulled in bands from across the country.
With major expenses, such as housing and groceries, subsidized by the mining company for mine workers, it was a golden age in the community.
“It was so much fun to be in the community at that time, but everything at that period was,” says Peeling. “People were involved in the community. In a small town, if you want something to happen, you have to pitch in and do it right.”
In 1982, mineral prices plummeted, causing mines throughout the Yukon to struggle, and Cyprus Anvil to close temporarily. When
it reopened a year later, workers came back to the town, but the community was different.
Peeling remembers it being difficult to describe how vibrant the town was before the first shutdown. “We tried to explain to the new people coming into the community that we did this, that and the other, and they said, ‘Oh no, you couldn’t do that in such a small town.’ But we had a local newspaper, for instance, that came out every two weeks and they didn’t see how that could happen.”
After the fire in 1969, the town had to be
fab housing built through the years for mine workers and their families.
The mine closed again in 1985, and the town’s population plunged to 400. There were efforts to open the mine again in ’86 and ’96 that were successful for a few years before the site was finally shuttered to active mining in 1998.
Today, it is one of the “most complex abandoned mine cleanup projects in Canada,” according to the remediation project’s website.
Faro was one of the last mine sites in the Yukon that constructed a town, rather than a camp, to house employees. And unlike other mining communities, the town of Faro was able to continue after the mine closed.
In the early 2000s, Faro set out to grow its economy by increasing tourism. They built the Campbell Region Interpretive Centre and the Faro Golf Course, which runs through the town. The Crane and Sheep festival and the Faro Golf Tournament have become annual highlights, drawing visitors to the community.
Now, working alongside the town’s administration and community members, the Yukon government’s Historic Sites Unit (HSU) is determining which of Faro’s buildings to include in the Yukon’s Historic Sites Inventory.
The inventory is an online database of more than 4,000 built sites that have cultural or historical significance, such as buildings or bridges.
To make the list, a building needs to meet a few key criteria: It must be over 50 years old, retain its original character — meaning that it has not undergone major alterations — and have significance to past, present or future generations. The HSU staff have started conversations with community members in Faro to find out which sites are important to them.
Faro has some historically significant buildings, such as the theatre, which was built in 1966 near Cobalt, Ontario. It was moved to Faro in 1971 to provide a space for more entertainment and cultural experiences in the town. There are also buildings that could be significant because they represent a certain time in the community, such as the different types of pre-
The inventory is one tool that HSU uses to manage heritage sites in the territory. It includes a record of almost 50 years of documentation for sites scattered across the territory — from actively managed sites such Fort Selkirk — which is co-managed with the Selkirk First Nation — to hundreds of relic sites in the Klondike Gold Field, to the remains of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s winter cabin on Yukon’s North Slope.
for further protection, preservation, and education to ensure its historical and cultural value is recognized and maintained for future generations.
What’s next for Faro?
A typical maisonette, Faro 1970. There were many different types of housing built in the town, including bunkhouses, duplexes, single-family homes and maisonettes (townhouses)
Once a site is listed in the inventory, it may also be considered
“I think we’re all trying to figure that out,” says Peeling. “I feel
so grateful for having watched it over the past 50 years. It’s a long time, and I know it will all come out right in the end.” ■
It’s
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 10:00 a.m. to noon.
The Downtown (Coast Hotel), Dawson City
What to expect as dementia progresses and how to manage changes
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Golden Age
PHOTO: Harmut Dege, Yukon Energy Mines and Resources Library Faro townsite sign,
PHOTO: Yukon Archives, Richard Harrington fonds 79/27 #146 PHO 103
PHOTO: Yukon Archives, Richard Harrington fonds 79/27 #140
View of Faro’s lower bench, 1970
PHOTO: Harmut Dege, Yukon Energy Mines and Resources Library
rebuilt
Language Skills for Ukrainians
5:15 PM Yukon Learn A discussion group workshop provides a relaxed and friendly environment where learners can practise and learn English conversation skills.
Weekly Shuffleboard
Tournament 6:00 PM
Whitehorse Legion Branch
254 For members and signed in guests. A double knockout style competition and games are limited to 6 ends or 15
minutes
Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!
SuperSmash Bros, Mtg: Commander 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
10 Card Crib - Members & Signed In Guests 6:00 PM
Whitehorse Legion Branch 254
Whether you are a seasoned crib player or a beginner, come play! Learn tips and tricks and have some fun! https://bit.
ly/3KP0B5s
Wednesdays
Multicultural Connection
Group 11:00 AM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon – MCY
Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn about parenting in different cultures. A free lunch program for immigrants and refugee families. Lunch and transportation provided. Call 332-1803 for more info.
Spanish Conversation 12:00
PM Whitehorse United Church Call 333-6081 for more info.
Anglican Holy Communion
– Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month
Sew & Tell All – Elders Hangout 1:00 PM Kwanlin
Dun Cultural Centre
Facilitated by Kwanlin Dün Elder-in-Residence Shirley Smith, everyone welcome. Feel free to join and start a beading project or work on something that you’ve already started! For more info email culturalprograms@kdcc.ca
QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer
Yukon Society The Cache Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and
guests. Bragging rights!
Mtg: Modern, Warhammer
Age of Sigmar 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Writing Things DOWN(town)
6:30 PM A regular, free drop-in writing group at the Whitehorse Public Library. This is a space to start writing your memoir or finish that article. Writing prompts will be provided to generate ideas.
Thursdays
Public Speaking Training
- Toastmasters 12:00 PM
Decora Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters.
Practice 2 minute table topics
Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse
Public Library Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Find out what role playing games are all about! Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are always welcome.
Mtg: casual Commander, Warhammer 40k & Kill Team
6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Mountainview Church
Community Group 7:00 PM 16 years or older? Mountainview Church Community Group! We’ll share some snacks and talk about what the bible has to say about discipleship.
Fridays
Coffee & Chat 11:00 AM
Golden Age Society Coffee and chat is a way to connect with your community, develop friendships, and have fun.
Mtg: Pioneer, YuGiOh Casual
6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Saturdays
Yukon Amateur Radio
Association Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM A&W
Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.
Cribbage - Members and Signed in Guests 2:00 PM
Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Masks are mandatory.
Members must have a valid 2021 membership and they may sign in 2 guests MAX.
Pokemon, Mtg: Youth Magic, Lorcana 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Sundays
Mountainview Church
Sunday Service 9:30 AM
Church In The Building
9:30 AM, 11AM or Church At Home 7 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM
Mountainviewwhitehorse.ca/
Watch
Clothing Room 10:00 AM
Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone
Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM
A caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth
Secondhand Clothing Bizarre
2:00 PM Whitehorse SeventhDay Adventist Church Clean clothes needed and donations accepted if in good condition. Please call before dropping clothes off and for more info 633-3463.
Sunday Gatherings 3:00
PM The Northern Collective Church
KIDS & FAMILIES
Monthly
1st & 3rd Saturdays Grades 5 - 7 Junior Youth Group
7:00 PM Mountainview Church
Passionate about giving kids opportunities to have fun & make new friends, while teaching them about Jesus & His great love for our world https://mountainview.church/ connect/youth
2nd and 4th Saturdays Grade 8 - 12 High School Youth Group 7:00 PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https://mountainview.church/ connect/youth
Weekly
Tuesdays
Story Time 10:30 AM
Whitehorse Public Library Join us for stories, songs & rhymes! A free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 and caregivers at Whitehorse Public Library
Parent-Child Mother Goose 10:30 AM The Child Development Centre Celebrates the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Bonding time with your little one or to learn for later.
Wednesdays
Community Connections 1:30
PM Yukon Family Literacy Centre An intergenerational story time and craft program. Meet local elders, have a coffee, do some crafts, and make a friend!
Thursdays
Transformations Along The Chu Nikwän 1:30 PM Yukon Visitor Information Centre Join Amber for a free walking tour every Thursday along the Whitehorse waterfront to learn about the Yukon First Nations people and the history of the Yukon.
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Youth 11-17 are invited to join, no experience necessary.
Saturdays
Science Saturdays 11:00 AM
Whitehorse Public Library Free Drop-In Science and STEM Activities - no need to register - For children to complete with a parent or guardian!
MEETINGS
Thu, May 29 Hospice Yukon AGM 7:00 PM Learn about Hospice Yukon’s activities over the past year, and hear a brief financial review. All are welcome to attend.
Weekly
Tuesdays
Rendezvous Rotary 6:30
PM Tony’s Pasta and Seafood House Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at Tony’s
Pasta and Seafood. Come and join us for fun, and fellowship. Thursdays Toastmasters Decora 12:00 PM Sundogs Toastmasters Club. Club is open to all interested parties and we provide constructive feedback to help develop public speaking skills.
Monthly
First Monday Klondike Snowmobile Association Board Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon https://ksa.yk.ca/ coming-events/ First Monday Yukon Amateur Radio Association Monthly Meeting 7:00 PM EMO Building Discussion of club business. Prospective hams are welcome.
Third Thursday Yukon AntiPoverty Coalition Monthly Meeting 5:00 PM ZOOM Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition for regular meeting. Everyone is welcome. Call Kathy 3349317 or info@yapc.ca for a zoom link or join us in person. https://yapc.ca/actions/detail/ yapcs-monthly-meetings
Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon
ONLINE EVENTS
Fridays AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 3347693
Saturdays AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 3347693.
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.
A Film Called Saturday cont’d
lowed Katherine and Frances on their weekly expedition, Jessica was also interested in exploring the story further by incorporating Super 8 footage from the family’s film archives, as well as making some cinematic magic with Frances and Katherine’s dollhouses.
“I wanted to play with different storytelling techniques, so the observational film where I follow them around on their Saturday, and then through the tabletop — the miniature dollhouse piece. And then the third part is the archival.”
The observational doc
At the heart of Saturday is the interaction between Katherine and Frances. The observational approach was Jessica’s original vision for the film, to allow them to
from page 3
to various Whitehorse haunts, including Home Hardware, Tara Kolla’s Wish Factory, Well-Read Books, the Love2Thrift Community Thrift Store (which isn’t seen in the film) and the Ridge Pub in Granger for lunch and a pint.
“In most of my work, I try to feature local music, local locations, local people,” Jessica explains. “I think it’s important that if you’re telling a Yukon story, that you make it as Yukon as possible.”
The archival footage
The Hall family films are not your average home movies. Both Frances and her husband, John, are adept filmmakers who have captured the family’s lives since the children (Katherine, Jessica and their sister, Elizabeth) were very young.
“do their natural thing.” Fortunately, they are both comfortable when it comes to being on camera, and are accustomed to being directed by a family member.
“I’d been filmed for many years by my husband so I know a lot of things, like how you’re not supposed to look at the camera and stuff like that,” Frances explains. “So does Katherine, so it was easy.”
One of the funniest exchanges between them takes place while they ride in the car and discuss what Frances had put on her bagel at breakfast, butter or olive oilbased margarine.
Their good-natured banter reminds me of a scene in a buddy movie. Jessica explains that for this shot, the film crew hid the camera and left Katherine and Frances “to their own devices.”
“It was a funny shot,” Frances admits, sounding a bit surprised with her own comical chops. “I didn’t know how we sounded together. I really didn’t know that.”
Frances and Katherine’s quest for dollhouse supplies takes them
been.”
The potential hiccup Frances refers to is the Canada Immigration Act’s excessive demand clause.
“If the border agent or the person you’re dealing with at the border decides that anyone in your family might have an excessive demand on social services, including special education, they could deem your family not fit and not allow you to enter,” Jessica explains. “And it’s really subjective, it’s who you get at the border, so it’s not necessarily evenly enforced.”
them. He came up with the street scene idea.”
The dollhouse scene is one of Frances and Katherine’s favourites.
“It’s very strong,” Jessica says of her parents’ Super 8 films.
“Every single moment in our family footage is something you can build onto in terms of a scene, you can really tell many different stories with it because you’ve got all this beautiful footage. So I wanted to include that because the theme is family, this is where we come from.”
Through Frances’ voiceover and the gorgeous colour foot-
The young family travelled to Canada undeterred and entered the country without incident. Still, there were other challenges in Canada. Frances was confounded with some of the professionals advising her on all the things that Katherine would never be able to do, such as ice skate, when in fact she could already ice skate, and ride a bicycle to boot.
“You’re always proving people wrong, aren’t you, Katherine?” Frances asks her daughter.
“Yeah,” Katherine agrees softly.
The dollhouses
Saturday opens with a street scene made from several of Katherine and Frances’ dollhouses. The scene is not only beautifully shot, but it also speaks to the film’s themes and sets the tone for the audience of what’s to come.
“The film is about many
age, we learn about the family’s move from England to Hong Kong and eventually to Canada where, Frances had heard, they would find some of the best schools for a child with special needs. The footage also introduces us to a young Katherine.
“My husband got the job in Hong Kong, so we took the whole family including the horrible dog [a Dalmatian named Cassandra] with us to Hong Kong, because we were all family,” Frances recalls.
“And then there was no real hiccup about getting from Hong Kong to Canada, but there could have
The Yukon Hospital Foundation raises funds to enhance the quality of healthcare for all Yukoners. Every dollar you give is used to support the area of greatest need. Your hospital needs your support. There is a great need for advanced equipment, including critical diagnostic imaging, surgical and other specialized tools. Give our doctors, nurses and sta the necessary equipment to provide the care you need.
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things,” Jessica says, when I ask her about the dollhouses. “It’s about milestones. It’s about, you know, reaching your potential. It’s about family. And we wanted it to feel friendly and light and magical. We wanted people to feel warm and welcome to it as soon as they turned it on.
“So the opening shot was really important and I have to credit [my director of photography] Peter with the approach we took because we brought all the dollhouses that we could bring down [to the Old Fire Hall, where the scenes were shot] and we assessed
“Some of those houses are my houses in the street, and some of them are Katherine’s,” Frances says. “And then Katherine’s big house at the end. I was quite impressed with it, I thought “God they did a good job with that!” It’s amazing what the camera can do with it, isn’t it?”
There are other truly magical moments that happen in the dollhouse, including one involving a 3-D printed movie projector and a screen that Jessica crafted from paper, some black tape and a Bic pen; a photograph that comes to life; and seemingly giant hands placing photos in the dollhouse. Some of these special effects were contributions from the crew, like editor Hart Snider.
“I would make another film with exactly the same team, 100 percent,” Jessica says. “Good people, really skilled, and really kind, which I think is important.”
The response Saturday has been screened for Yukon audiences three times: twice at the Available Light Film Festival, at the Yukon Film Society’s Canadian Films Week, and at the Dawson City International Short Film Festival at Easter. Since its Yukon screenings, Frances and Katherine are being recognized by Yukoners who have seen the film.
“I went to vote, early voting, and one of the young ladies who was doing all the clerking things, she was like ‘Oh, you’re the lady with the dollhouses in the movie. I really enjoyed that movie!’” Frances recalls. “I was like, ‘Thank you, complete stranger!”
“I get approached at work, by my co-workers,” says Katherine, “They really, really enjoyed [the] movie a lot. And one of my coworkers went to Dawson recently to see my movie.”
Winning over Yukon audiences is one thing; showing a film outside the territory is something else. In March, Jessica travelled to Powell River, B.C., to attend the screening of Saturday at the Qathet International Film Festival.
“It played… ahead of a feature and the applause was very enthusiastic and lots of hooting and hollering and this person came up to me after the screening and said ‘You know, everyone claps at the shorts, but nobody claps like that. People really like your film.’ So this was really nice, because people don’t know me at all [in Powell River]. It’s not even a Yukon-based thing at all, so it was really encouraging and lovely to know that this is touching people and making them cry a little bit.”
Katherine’s day Before I leave, I’m granted a tour of the main dollhouse featured in Saturday. It’s wonderfully decorated with an eclectic assortment of objects — tiny books, a miniature oven, a cat figurine, a few arcade games — that Katherine has collected.
“We don’t care that much about anachronisms,” Frances says of their approach to decorating. “They’re supposed to be Victorian dollhouses but you’ll find a television or a regular phone.”
I’m not surprised. If there’s anything I learned in the hour I spent with the Halls, it’s that they don’t believe in doing what’s expected, particularly when it comes to all the things that Katherine is capable of accomplishing. She’s most proud of owning her own house, which she shares with Jessica and a cat named Fred.
In honour of the film, Teri Snelgrove gave Katherine, Frances and Jessica matching silver necklaces that spell Saturday. They are all wearing them the day that I’m visiting which is, of course, a Saturday.
“It’s an important day,” Frances says. “It’s Katherine’s day. Saturday.”
Saturday will be available for streaming in both English and French at NFB.ca/film/Saturday and from the free NFB app starting May 16. All NFB content is commercial-free.
It has just been announced that Saturday has been awarded an honourable mention in the Made in the Yukon (MITY) Professional Award category at the Dawson City International Short Film Festival ■
The front door’s always open
Filming scenes in Well-Read Books
Frances and Katherine on set at the Old Fire Hall
THUMBING IT DOWN UNDER - PART 9:
After eight months of travelling, I was starting to feel homesick for the Yukon
Except it was November and my original plan was to go back in April, not in the middle of a Yukon winter. So I let Maz talk me into trying to extend my working visa for another month so I could experience an Aussie Christmas before going back to New Zealand, to volunteer on organic farms until April.
Maz, Charlotte and I had just spent a magical two weeks on a beach in far north Queensland where Maz had been living. We decided to hitch together to Cairns, to extend my visa.
To our surprise, the immigration officer told me that I wouldn’t stand a chance getting it extended up there but would have a much better chance in Brisbane — 1700 km away!
Undaunted, we three amigos headed to Kuranda to stay at the youth hostel where Maz and I had met four months ago.
Thumbing a ride with three girls was so much fun. We picked flowers from the side of the road and handed them to anyone who walked or rode by. We danced, laughed and sang while
waiting for a lift. We got all sorts of interesting rides
One older Canadian couple, with a dog box on the back of their truck, gave us a whole watermelon when they dropped us off! We were amazed to learn that there are dog sledders in Australia. There are a few places they can race in the snow but many enjoy “dryland mushing” using
scooters, bikes or karts.
From Kuranda, we hitched to Townsville where we rented an on-site van in a caravan park with a swimming pool for $20. The next day we had to split up so Maz could hitchhike the inland highway south to see her family in Victoria and Charlotte and I could stay on the coastal highway to Brisbane.
Charlotte and I were lucky enough to be picked up by a nice
bloke, hauling bananas in a Mercedes-Benz semi truck that took us all the way from Townsville to Brisbane. It was a bit of an eyeopener to experience how he drove straight through the night, when he shared his “beans” with us so we could stay awake and keep him company.
We got to Dalby at 5 a.m. and helped him clean the truck until his boss arrived and gave us a lift into Brisbane in his convertible.
Although we were exhausted, we hit the town to get my visa extended. After a wild goose chase and lots of frustration we found the building and had little hassle extending it.
While fighting our way through the crowded street this older guy noticed the scarf tied around Charlotte’s hand that she was using to open doors with. We told
with Donna Lawther
Donna Lawther is a retired teacher and semi-retired traveller who is busy writing a book of her adventures on her little patch of Yukon wilderness.
PHOTOS: Donna Lawther
Maz, Charlotte and I had too much fun hitchhiking together
Maz and I hitchhiking down from Northern Queensland with my backpack held together with gaffer tape
Thumbing It Down Under ...
him she had city disease and he became very interested and told us he was a counsellor.
While I went to the bank he quizzed Charlotte with heaps of questions about her hatred of cities. Finally she started crying to get him to go away.
“One more question,” he said. “Can you picture a babbling brook?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Can you put your hand in it?” he asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Crocs!” Charlotte answered.
That got rid of him, but minutes later we were accosted by a guy doing a questionnaire. Before we knew it, he bustled us into an elevator and sat us in front of a “personality test” with no explanation at all.
It was 200 questions long but we filled it out anyway. I thought it was a university project. Then Charlotte lay down on the bench and had a snooze while we waited to find out what our test revealed.
I was enjoying the air conditioning and quiet surroundings, when an older lady came storming up the stairs carrying a book, with a volcano on the cover, called “Dianetics”. She tore a strip off the receptionist for giving her son this book and trying to lure him into their cult.
As soon as she left, I woke Charlotte up and said we should leave. Suddenly, the receptionist said that someone was ready to see us.
“Sorry, gotta go,” I said and dragged Charlotte out the door. I had heard of the Church of Scientology, back then in 1987, but was in such a vulnerable state that I didn’t realize we were be-
ing reeled into it until it was almost too late. We had only gone around the block when we were stopped by another canvasser! We scared him away quickly, by peppering him with questions about how he feels about what he is doing.
From Brisbane, Charlotte headed south and I went to Kingscliff to stay with my old traveling mate Caroline. She was staying at her Mom’s place, across the street from the beach, for her university summer holiday.
A few days later, (the night that I was originally supposed to be flying out of Australia) I met my fourth soulmate. I saw him the minute that he entered the crowded Kingscliff bar. His bushy beard stood out in the room of clean shaven men. When he came to talk to Caroline, whom he had met the week before, he quickly turned his attention to me as soon as he heard my accent.
I love looking back at the synchronicity of how the soulmates that I met on my travels affected each other’s journeys. I inspired Charlotte to move to the Yukon.
Caroline encouraged Maz to settle down in Lismore (because of its
great art school and hippy culture). And their encouragement to extend my visa and hang out in Kingscliff resulted in me meeting that fourth soulmate — my husband!
In Part 3 of this series, I reminisce about how I fell in love with the little town of Murwillumbah the first week I was in Australia. I even bought a lotto ticket, planning to buy a house along the river if I won.
I didn’t win the lotto, but I did fulfill that dream because Murwillumbah is my husband’s hometown and where we lived for many years - in a big old house beside the river. The End.
1st Place
Grade 4/5: Mia Vance (Grade 4, ESES)
Who is Alex Van Bibber?
Grade 6/7: Connor McRae (Grade 6, JHVES)
The Frontier of Flying: Bush Planes in the Yukon and Their Impacts on Communities
2nd Place
Grade 4/5: Darragh Hovenden (Grade 4, EWES)
Surviving the Irish Famine
Grade 6/7: Ewen Wheeler (Grade 7, JHES)
Hugh Aitcheson: Battle of the Atlantic
3rd Place
Grade 4/5: Quinn Kennedy (Grade 4, ESES)
My Great Grandpa John
Grade 6/7: Jasmine Mangupit (Grade 7, SECS)
The Impact of Manon Rheaume
Thank you to all our generous volunteers, donors, partners, funders, and supporters, as well as all participating schools, teachers, and students for making this program possible!
Learn more at yukonstikineheritagefair.ca
Thanks to all of you who have followed my journey. All 9 parts of Thumbing It Down Under can
CONGRATULATIONS
2025 Yukon/Stikine Regional Heritage Fair Participants and Award Recipients
Best Graphic Design Award
supported by Patricia Halladay Graphic Design
Avaleen Bowen-Tyacke (Grade 4, ESES)
Frank Stanli
Best Research and Writing Award
supported by Midnight Arts
Jasmine Mangupit (Grade 7, SECS)
The Impact of Manon Rheaume
Canadian Heritage Award
supported by Yukon Historical & Museums Association
Abby Fry and Waverly Wigmore (Grade 7, EWES)
La découverte de la catastrophe d’Halifax
Genealogy Award
supported by Maggie Leary
Grade 4/5: Avaleen Bowen-Tyacke (Grade 4, ESES)
Frank Stanli
Grade 6/7: Isaac Tremblay-Gordon (Grade 6, SECS)
Jack Stick: Trail to the Coast
Indigenous History, Heritage and Culture Award
supported by Linda Johnson and Lori Eastmure
Jade Morberg (Grade 4, ESES)
A Lifetime of Art
Oral History Award
supported by Linda Johnson and Lori Eastmure
Isaac Tremblay-Gordon (Grade 6, SECS)
Jack Stick: Trail to the Coast
be found at whatsupyukon.com/ author/donna-lawther/ ■
Funders and Supporters
32 students participated in the fair held May 1, 2025 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.
Participants were from:
École Whitehorse Elementary School (EWES), Elijah Smith Elementary School (ESES), Hidden Valley Elementary School (HVES), Jack Hulland Elementary School (JHES), Robert Service School (RSS), and St. Elias Community School (SECS).
Oral Presentation Award
supported byYukon Historical & Museums Association
Grace Dolan (Grade 7, JHES)
Bead to the Bone
Yukon Archives Award
supported byYukon Archives
Connor McRae (Grade 6, HVES)
The Frontier of Flying: Bush Planes in the Yukon and Their Impacts on Communities
Yukon History Hunter Award
supported by Michael Gates
Connor McRae (Grade 6, HVES)
The Frontier of Flying: Bush Planes in the Yukon and Their Impacts on Communities
Isaac Tremblay-Gordon (Grade 6, SECS)
Jack Stick: Trail to the Coast
Parks Canada Peoples’ Choice Awards
Grade 4/5: Margaux Arenas (Grade 4, EWES)
The Philippines and Immigration to Canada
Grades 6/7: Margaret Kinna (Grade 7, SECS)
The Takhini River Horses
Heritage Fair National Showcase Selections
Abby Fry and Waverly Wigmore (Grade 7, EWES)
La découverte de la catastrophe d’Halifax
Isaac Tremblay-Gordon (Grade 6, SECS)
Jack Stick: Trail to the Coast
Program Partners
Me, on Kingscliff Beach, in 1987
Charlotte and I, on our way to Whitehorse in my trusty Pinto.
The old Queenslander-style house that we lived in along the river in Murwillumbah
Check out ALL EVENTS at whatsupyukon.com
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Thu, May 15 Intro to Yukon Camping & Outdoor Adventures — Family-Friendly Workshop! 6:00 PM A friendly and practical 2-hour workshop will walk you through the basics of getting outdoors. An evening of guidance, gear talk, trip planning tips, and real answers to your outdoor questions.
Sat, May 24 AY Eagle Hill Energy Run 9:00 AM This annual Athletics Yukon run tests your legs by running up Haeckel Hill or Thäy Täw starting at the wildlife viewing parking lot and ending at the windmills.
Sat, May 31 Sunshine Shuffle - Backyard Ultra 9:30 AM In this race participants will run a 6.7km once every hour starting on the hour, the race goes until only one runner is left!
Wed, Jun 4 High School Rugby Champs and Senior Club Competition 12:00 PM Get ready for the high school rugby tournament! Find out how to register for high school and senior rugby games.
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
SWEATPANTS WANTED
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 The Ultimate Midnight Sun HAT Tournament (frisbee) 5:00 AM 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.
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
We’re collec ng clean, com sweatpants for pa ents in need! Hosted by Volunteer Services & First Na ons Health Programs ���� When: FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025 ���� Time: 7:00 am to 10:00 am ���� Where:
Whitehorse United Church (Corner of 6th Ave & Main St)
What to Bring: New or gently used sweatpants only
How It Works:
→ Enter the church parking lot from Main Street
→ Stop at the signed walkway and a WGH Volunteer will collect your dona on → Exit via 6th Avenue
Questions? Contact Gwen Ross at 867-393-8673
Thank you for your support!
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. Babynastics with Coach Libby 11:15 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www.polarettes.org/ babynastics
Strength for Endurance
12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 1:00PM Northern Strength Academy
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45
PM Eight Days Martial Arts Indoor Cycling 5:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Ladies Lift 5:30 PM
Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00
PM Eight Days Martial Arts Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 2A 6:30 PM Jack Hulland Elementary School Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a non-profit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www.whitehorsearchery.com/ schedule
Stretch & StabilizeFunctional Conditioning 7:00
PM Grace Space Purposeful movement with our Functional Conditioning non-yoga movement class. http:// amitieyoga.ca
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Wednesdays
Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00
AM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30
AM Northern Lights School of Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement
Tai Chi Essential Form continued 10:00 AM Heart of Riverdale
Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40 AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2. com/jiacg Noon Strength & Conditioning 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00 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.
Move & Meditate - Slow Vinyasa Yoga 12:10 PM Grace Space Movement and mindfulness with our Moving Meditation - Slow Vinyasa Yoga. http://amitieyoga.ca
Elderactive Intermediate Hiking 1:00 PM ElderActive Recreation Association Leisure Walking is similar to Nordic walking but is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more relaxed pace Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy Functional strength class teaches compound multi-joint lifts that improve athleticism, strength, coordination, power and more.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts
Introduction to Tai Chi 6:00
PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 1 refinements 7:00 PM
Grey Mountain Primary School
Indoor Range Night 7:00 PM Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 3 continued 7:15 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:45
PM Eight Days Martial Arts
The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Thursdays
Strength for Endurance
6:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
Winter Power Hour Series
6:00 AM BrittyFit 95 Lewes Blvd Ignite your fitness regime in 50 minutes with Brittyfit No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Tai Chi for Seniors 10:00 AM Golden Age Society Come early, bring water, and wear comfortable, smooth soled indoor shoes.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Strength & Conditioning 1:00 PM Northern Strength Academy
Babynastics with Coach Naomi 3:30 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to
your child’s developmental needs. www.polarettes.org/ babynastics
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45
PM Eight Days Martial Arts
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 6:00 AM 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
Flow & Fly – Vinyasa Yoga
8:30 AM Grace Space A dynamic and invigorating practice to awaken your inner strength. http://amitieyoga.ca
Ladies Lift 9:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Strength & Conditioning 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 11:00
AM Eight Days Martial Arts
Open Mat 12:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Sundays
Free drop-in Tai Chi practice
10:00 AM Takhini Elementary Tai Chi Sword Form 10:30
AM Whistle Bend Elementary School
WELLNESS LISTINGS
Wed, May 28 Dementia
Education: Dementia and Progression 1:00 PM Golden Age Society Free event.
Register today: Call First Link® Yukon Dementia Helpline 1-888-852-2579.
Sat, Jun 14 Whitehorse
Brain Tumour Walk 9:00 AM
Register as an individual, join a team or create a team for the
community brain tumour walk.
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 Entrancebasement
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 867-3341725 for more details
AA UglyDuckling Group (C/M, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral New members always welcome, this is a non smoking group.
Ugly Ducklings Group (O,A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Held in person or by zoom – ID 251-363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.
Wednesdays
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 8:00 AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-3341725 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 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 Polar Group (O, A) 7:30 PM
311 Elliott St. & 4th Ave. Held in person or on zoom, Zoom ID 251-363-5766, call 778-9072701 for more info.
Fridays
Moth & Flame - Bright Light
Morning Meditation Series 9:00 AM Queer Yukon Society
- The Cache
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St.
Captain Martin House
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:30 PM Online Zoom ID 482518-9588 PC 334796 call 778907-2971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s
Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower access.
Community Kitchen 5:00 PM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s
Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
AA Whitehorse Group (C, A) 7:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral
Saturdays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00
PM 609 Steele St.1:00 PM
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:00 PM Online Zoom ID 482518-9588 PC 334796 call 778907-2971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and showers. Community Kitchen 5:00 PM
Victoria Faulkner Women’s
Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
AA Hospital Meeting 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
Sundays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A)1:00
PM 609 Steele St.
AA Yukon Unity Group 1:00
PM Online By zoom – Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 For more info call 778-907-2971
AA Hospital Meeting (O, A) 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
but it posed a new problem. Getting Pam from Richmond to West Broadway every day — in a wheelchair — on the SkyTrain — on time! Some of the appointments were really early in the morning and, I have to admit, we kind of live on “Yukon Time” out here in Mendenhall.
Some really great friends of ours, who also live here in Mendenhall, came over one evening for a couple of drinks and a visit while I was knee-deep in planning the logistics. I know Vancouver and the lower mainland very well after living down there in my previous life and our friend actually grew up there.
She said, “That’s ridiculous. Even though there’s a SkyTrain stop at the hotel, you’ll have two transfers, multiple elevators and by the time all is said and done, you’ll be spending about $50 a day on tickets ... just rent a car.”
We didn’t feel that we could afford to rent a car but she suggested, just put it on your points card! Uh-oh! The seed had been planted.
The next day I visited my card account to see what I could rent on points and by the end of the day I had “accidentally” rented a “brand-new” rag-top Mustang on
a cell phone video of one on his lot. He showed me the back seat and said “You don’t want to put it in there, it’ll trash the leather,” then opened up the trunk and said “There’s more room in here than the back of your Focus, so if it fits in the Focus, you’ll be good to go.”
Amazing.
Thanks, Jens! Air North was fantastic getting us down to YVR and making special arrangements for Pam and her chair. You should have seen us at the airport! Me pushing Pam, and Pam pushing the baggage cart with all of our luggage. It must’ve looked hilarious. I left Pam sitting in the sun and went to pick up the car.
points. Not a dime involved.
That night I woke up in terror about 3 a.m. and couldn’t get back to sleep. My concern was whether or not I could fit the wheelchair into the trunk of the Stang.
When Whitehorse Motors opened up the next morning I called our good friend Jens and asked him. He was absolutely great. He went outside and took
Wow! It really was a brand new rag-top. Absolutely gorgeous. I brought it around to arrivals to pick up Pam. The first thing I did was crack the plastic on the owner’s manual to see how to lower the roof. It was a glorious day and I managed to get the top down without a hitch.
People were staring at us as I loaded Pam in the front seat, our
luggage in the back and popped the trunk to load the wheelchair.
Oh no! The rag-top was slightly different than the car Jens had shown me, with the box that held the top, of course. I fumbled and fussed, mused and mulled — but finally, using my love for Tetris, I was able to figure out the only way that the chair would fit and we were off.
What a week we had. The car and suite were definitely part of the highlights. Of course, staying at the River Rock, I had to go visit the casino. I was seated at anchor on one of the $5 blackjack tables and telling tall tales about living in Dodge and playing anchor at Diamond Tooth Gerties. And it was working. Through my playing we were all up!
They changed out the dealer four times in 45 minutes but we all kept winning. Finally this nononsense dealer came in and changed the mood. We all started losing immediately. After a couple of hands, I looked at the other players and said “I’ve seen this MO before, I’m outta here!”
The real Mendenhall Miracle was that Pam’s PET scan showed that the opacity had vanished. When the oncologist started asking some very strange questions, we got hopeful. When the radiologist cancelled the CT simulation for radiation therapy, we were
over the moon. We still had the biopsy to do, but things were looking great.
We got in the Stang, put the top down and whizzed down to White Rock for a stroll on the boardwalk and pier, plus tacos and a beer on the waterfront. It was funny, on the way down I could see some construction up ahead and … well, being in a Mustang, I didn’t want to be at the back of the line. So I kinda, uhm, overtook everyone, so I’d be in front.
Being the good Yukoner that I am, I slowed right down as I approached the construction zone, which appeared to make a lot of the people behind me very unhappy. But, as we entered the construction zone, there was a cop with a radar gun. I could feel the relief from the people behind me as not a single one of them got a speeding ticket.
The next day, we went for the biopsy and the respirologist cancelled it outright, saying that there’s nothing to test — the opacity was absolutely gone! We had won the lottery!
Going from being convinced that we were dealing with at least stage two cancer, hoping it wasn’t stage four, to being 100 percent free was an incredible moment.
So we put the top down and did the Sea-to-Sky highway to Whistler and back. What a drive!
That was funny as well. I had my phone paired to the car and during the ride it rang. It was physio in Whitehorse trying to set up some appointments for Pam.
The lady said, “I’m having a bit of trouble understanding you.” I slowed down a bit and told her that we were in a rag-top Mustang on the Sea-to-Sky highway. She said, “Well that makes me a little jealous, I’ll call you back on Monday when you’re back home.”
The other miracle of the trip was that even though this was during the first week of October, the weather was sunny and in the mid 20s all week. We actually hit 30 in Whistler.
While we were cruising Whistler, we stopped for a group of school kids crossing the road and one young fella looked at me, stuck both hands up in the air and yelled “Man! I love your car!” It made our day even better.
I’ll admit that when we got back home and climbed into our F-150, it felt a little clunky and square, also in need of a good cleaning! But it was nice to be home. Pulling into Mendenhall and our driveway after the hubbub and congestion of Vancouver never looked so good. And a new lease on life was the
on top! ■
cherry
PHOTOS: Gary Atkins
Rag-top and hammer both down on the S2S!
Yukon steel toes juxtapositioned with the logo the car threw when the door was open
ATLIN
Fri Jul 11 - Tue Jul 15 2025 Atlin Arts and Music Festival Tarahne Park
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 9934102 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 Jun 7 Discover Aviation (former COPA for kids) 11:00 AM 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 867668-3129
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
First & Third Tuesdays of Every Month Carmacks Regular Council
Meeting 7:00 PM Carmacks
Municipal Building
Mondays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Learn To Curl (All Ages) 4:00 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Floor Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM
Carmacks School
Drop In Curling 6:00 PM Carmacks School 14+ Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Tuesdays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
Open Court 1:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
After School Club 3:30 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Adult Social 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Carmacks Minor Hockey
Association 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Drop-in Basketball 5:00 PM
Carmacks Rec Centre
Public Skate 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Volleyball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Wednesdays
Family Play Group (Ages 0-5)
10:00 AM Carmacks Rec Centre
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Public Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Archery 6:00 PM Carmacks
School
Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Thursdays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Carmacks Minor Hockey
Association 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Pickleball 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Badminton 6:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 7:00
PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Public Skate 7:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Basketball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Fridays
After School Club 3:30 PM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Public Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Cent
Adult Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Teen Night 6:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Volleyball 6:30 PM Carmacks Rec
Centre
Adult Skate (19+) 7:00 PM
Carmacks Rec Cent
Ping Pong + Foosball Night
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Saturdays
Learn To Skate Ages 5-12 10:00
AM Carmacks Recreation Centre
Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 11:00
AM Carmacks Recreation Centre
Tiny Toes Tea Time 1:00 PM
Carmacks Rec Centre
Open Court 3:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Centre
Family Skate 5:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre
FARO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up
Yukon at:
Campbell Region Interpretive
Centre
Van Gorda
First and Third Tuesday of every month Faro Council Meeting 7:00
PM Town of Faro
Tuesdays
Parent & Tot 10:00 AM Faro
Recreation Centre
Open Gym 1:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Adult Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Wednesdays
Seniors Games & Walks 1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre. The gym is open for seniors who would like to improve their fitness goals.
Fitness Fun for Seniors 2:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Pickleball 2:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Volleyball 3:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Basketball 7:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Thursdays
Parent & Tot 10:00 AM Faro
Recreation Centre
Open Gym 1:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Youth Group 7:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Fridays Pickleball 1:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Seniors Yoga 2:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Open Gym 2:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre Chair Yoga & Deep Relaxation for Seniors
Basketball 3:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Saturdays
Pickleball 2:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Open Court Basketball 3:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Open Gym 4:30 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Sundays
Open Court Basketball 3:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre
HAINES Alaska
HAINES JUNCTION
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Little Green Apple
Fri May 30 2025 Summer Music Series 6:00 PM We do the grilling for you while you enjoy some of the best Live Yukon music on the patio, rain or shine: bluegrass, rock, jazz, classical, you name it, we’ve got it! Fri, Jun 6 Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival 5:00 AM 3 days of music, mountains and magic! Join us for the 20th edition in the beautiful wilderness of Haines Junction, Yukon Territory. Sat Jun 21 Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay 2025 Join us for an unforgettable ride through the stunning landscapes from Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska!
Second and fourth Wednesday of every month Village Council meetings 7:00 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Village Council meetings are also held the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. [Remote attendance only]
Mondays Fun with Food 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Learn new skills, share recipes and take food home!
Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Tuesdays
Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/ caregivers. Tea & Bannock – Haines Junction 1:00 PM https://whatsupyukon. events/tea-bannock-68ab07
Men’s and women’s sewing group 1:00 PM Mun kų
BGC Game Night 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Play, have fun, build skills and challenge your friends
Wednesdays
Seniors and Elders Refreshments and Games 2:00 PM Haines Junction Seniors Residence
AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 3:00 PM Haines Junction Health Centre
Girls Club 3:20 PM St. Elias
Community School Held in the art room, open to Girls and identifying as Girls from Grade 8 to 12.
BGC Rec in the Gym 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School
Art Journaling Group 3:30 PM
St. Elias Community School Bring your own creative supplies that you like to use. This can be scraps
of paper, magazines, glue, paint, pen, markers, stamps, ink etc. and a book or journal to create Hianes 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.
Haines Junction Thrift Shop 2:00 PM St. St. Christopher’s Thrift Shop is a great place to pick up items. Prices are low and numerous adult items are available for $2, and most items for children are $1.
Adult Volleyball 7:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Fridays Stories and STEM Activities 10:00
AM Haines Junction Library
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
KENO CITY Fri, Aug 1 Keno City Music Festival’ 5:00 AM The Keno City Music Festival is a grassroots and free event aiming to unite music enthusiasts in the historic silver mining town of Keno City
MARSH LAKE
Sat Jun 7 Southern Lakes Yukon GranFondo 10:00 AM Come for the race, stay for the shindig, and make it home to bed all in one day.
Tue, Jul 1 Marsh Lake MadnessTriathlon 5:00 AM Paddle, bike and run your way to victory! Sweet prizes for best costume, most supportive team and hear for a good time not the glory! 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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS...
DAWSON CITY
Pick up your copies of What’s
Up Yukon at:
Dawson City General Store
Tue, May 27 Dementia
Education: Introduction to Brain Health 10:00 AM Free event.
The Downtown (Coast Hotel)Conference room Register today: Call First Link Yukon Dementia Helpline 1-888-852-2579.
Thu Jun 12 - Sun Jun 15 25th
Annual Yukon Riverside Arts Festival 5:00 AM Dawson City, YT
MONTHLY
1st Saturday of every month
Coffee House & Open Mic Night
Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 7:00 PM familyfriendly open mic night at KIAC. Admission by donation with all funds raised donated to a different community group each month. Last coffee house of the season May 4 to resume in the fall of 2024.
Weekly
Mondays
Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in
6:30-9 PM Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, though little instruction is provided. KIAC
Classroom, back door
Drop-In Pickleball 5:30 PM
Robert Service School
Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:45
PM Robert Service School Ages 16+ - Free - Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
Tuesdays
St Paul’s Anglican Church
Morning Prayer 9:00 AM St
Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in
Wednesdays
South of 6 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre
Thursdays
Shuffleboard Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM
Fridays
Beginner Yoga Marsh Lake Community Centre 10:00 AM
Youth Gym Drop-In Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM
Saturdays
Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM
Sundays
Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM
MAYO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Haldane Services
MOUNT LORNE
1st Tuesday Monthly LAC Meeting
Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Mondays
Run Club 6:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Yoga with Jess 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre
Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. To register or for more info email yogajessyukon@gmail. com.
Drop-In Yoga 7:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre By donation all levels welcome
Tuesdays
Active Fun Fitness Class -
Drop In 6:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Improve your balance, flexibility, strength and
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.
DCMF Film Selections 7:00
PM Dënäkär Zho The best committee ever! Just watch movies! Help us select the films for the 2025 film festival. Come once, twice, or all the time! To get on our mailing list, email: filmfest@kiac.ca
Dawson City Disc Golf League 8:00 PM 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 Ages 13+
endurance in this indoor class led by Colleen Ennis. Drop in, admission by donation. Suitable for mature youth & adults. https://whatsupyukon.events/fhm
Thursdays
Community Drop In 11:00 AM
Mount Lorne Community Centre
Run Club 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre
OLD CROW
Mondays
Men’s Night At The Rec Centre 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Tuesdays
Kids Gym 3:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Wednesdays
Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal
Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 9663015 for more info.
Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Sundays
St. Luke’s Church Service 11:00
AM St. Luke’s Church 867-9935381
PELLY CROSSING
ROSS RIVER
Tuesdays
Sewing Night 7:00 PM The Hope Centre
- Free Fridays
Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/dawsonlegion-8336c3
Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM
Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Enjoy KIAC’s bright, air-conditioned space to create and focus on your artistic practice. Even better- we’ve waived the drop-in fee this day. Drop-in Bouldering 6:00 PM
Robert Service School Freedrop-in - all ages
Saturdays
Youth Parkour Tumbling 12:30
PM Robert Service School All Ages - Free – Drop-In. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Open Studio – Drop In 1:00
PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Space to create and focus on your artistic practice.
AA North Star Group
Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-993-5095 or 867-993-3734 for more information
Sundays
Anglican Church Service 10:30
AM Anglican Church Service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City. Corner of Front and Church Streets at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City
Adult Drop-In Basketball 6:00
PM Robert Service School Ages 16+ - Free - Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
Wednesdays
Family Bible Study 8:00 PM The Hope Centre
Fridays
Family Game Night- Coffee House 9:00 PM The Hope Centre
Sundays
Church Service 12:00 PM The Hope Centre
SKAGWAY Alaska Sat Jun 28 Skagway Marathon The Skagway Marathon has awe-inspiring scenery, including rivers, streams, and magnificent mountain peaks.
Wednesdays
Women’s Morning Worship 7:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway All are welcome. Part of the Alaska Presbytery and the PC U.S.A.
Windy Valley Babies 10:30 AM
Skagway Public Library Stories, Songs, and Fun with Ms. Anna! Designed for ages 0-3.
Fridays Skagway Teen Night 6:30 PM Skagway Public Library
Sundays Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First
Presbyterian Church of Skagway
Sunday School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway
TAGISH
First Monday of every month
Carcross Tagish Renewable
Resources Council 1:00 PM Tagish
Community Centre
First Monday of every month
Tagish Advisory Council 8:00 AM
Tagish Community Centre
First Tuesday of every month
Tagish Community Association
7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Second Thursday of every month
Tagish Local Advisory Council
7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Wednesdays
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 2:00 PM Tagish Community LIbrary Targeted literacy programming by Yukon Learn at the Tagish Library. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon.
Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Thursdays
Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish
Community Centre
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
Tagish Local Advisory Council Meeting 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre .
Saturdays
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
TESLIN
Mondays
Teslin Tigers Cross Country Ski Club 3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre
Co-Ed Curling League 6:30 & 8:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
AA: Teslin Group (O) 7:00 PM Catholic Church Rectory
Tuesdays
Rookie League 3:15 PM Teslin
Recreation Complex Open Gym 7:00 PM Teslin Arena Come hang out or play some sports during out open gym times!
Wednesdays
Pickleball 12:00 PM & 7:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex Youth Pickleball 3:15 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Thursdays
Dominos 1:00 PM Teslin Recreation Centre Drop in seniors
Fridays Open Arena 7:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Saturdays Parent & Tots 2:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Kids Curling 3:15 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex Interest based, dress warm.
Sundays
Adult Volleyball 4:00 PM School Gym
WATSON LAKE
Mon May 12 Pre-Kindergarten
Wellness Week Have an prekindergarten assessment done and take a pre-k photo, enter to win fun prizes! For more information call 867-536-5255.
Daily Northern Lights Space & Science Centre Shows 11:00 AM The spectacular dancing Northern Lights are showcased, a video that is broadcast in the NLC’s domed 100-seat theatre daily throughout the summer season. Plays daily on the hour starting at 11:00 AM
Second Saturday of the month Watson Lake Direct Aid 2:00 PM Northern Lights Centre
Tuesdays Smart Recovery Meetings 3:00 PM Wye Lake Cabin Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services For more information, email joey.mitchell@yukon.ca or call 332-3187
Pickleball & Badminton 7:00 PM Watson Lake Secondary School
Wednesdays Drop-In Ninja Tumbling 5:30 PM Watson Lake Secondary School All ages welcome. Adults are welcome too, come to do some stretching or try some handstands etc.
Fridays Friday Night Lanes 7:00 PM Call 335-7979 to register
Saturdays Baptiste Power Yoga 7:00 PM Fees apply. A muscle-shaping and mind-sculpting workout, work at your own level and ability, set to electronic music.
Sundays St. John’s Church Service 10:00 AM St. John’s Church Service (867) 536-2932
Sunday Nite Volleyball 11:00 AM Watson Lake Secondary School
Explore Skagway’s Art Scene
Delighting audiences since 1974, the Skagway Arts Council brings artists and musicians from around the world to share their talent with the people of Skagway, Alaska. Using donations and grant funds, in 2014, the volunteer organization partnered with the Municipality of Skagway to construct an outdoor amphitheater in the Seven Pastures Recreation Area, along the Klondike Highway. Named after the Skagway Arts Council founder, Barbara Dedman Kalen, Dedman Stage hosts regular arts events during the summer months.
The SAC Spring Kickoff Concert on Saturday, May 17 launches the 2025 summer event series. Learn more about the Skagway Arts Council’s upcoming events and more at skagway.com/events/
Also happening May 17, the Garden City Market at the Skagway Brewing Company features hand crafted items from local creators. Markets are scheduled monthly through the end ofthe year allowing shoppers to discover unique items and support local creators.
Come check out all the new merchandise we have on Sale at the Morning Wood
