What's Up Yukon, October 22, 2025 by What's Up Yukon

PHOTO: Oli Tamagnini

Gsays. “It’s a great little way to put a time capsule on my experience, playing with Jaxon Haldane, which has been amazing.”

floor route.

“I like them both; they both serve a purpose,” says Tentrees of the two different recording approaches. “Personally, if I had to pick one, it would be live-off-thefloor. There’s just something you can’t duplicate in the feel and sound.”

ordie Tentrees is in a weird position, as he says. Just this spring, he put out his most-recent album, a collaboration with Winnipeg-come-Oklahoma bluegrass singer-songwriter Jaxon Haldane, called Double Takes, and he’s already working on an album with an early-2026 release in mind. But in the meantime, he’s slowing down and taking some time off from the road to be at home with his family and tap into his creativity.

“I’m in an ultra-creative space and I’m just riding it,” he says. “It’s kind of bizarre. I’ve never put out two back-to-back records so quickly, but here I am.”

Being in Nashville gave Tentrees access to an endless pool of world-class musicians. One special guest musician, who appears on Double Takes, is Charlie McCoy, a multi-instrumental session musician who has played with Elvis Presely, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings and Roy Orbison. The record also features drummer Shawn Fitcher, known for his work with Peter Frampton and Tim McGraw and bassist Steve Mackey, known for his work with Dolly Parton.

Tentrees and Haldane recorded Double Takes in Nashville, last December, with producer Nash Chambers and a group of Nashville musicians. While Tentrees drew on Bob Dylan’s influence to make a Nashville record using Nashville musicians, he admits it felt much different for him to record songs with musicians who had not performed onstage with him—other than Haldane, with whom Tentrees has been playing for 10 years.

“I think it has its own vibe to it, and its own story,” Tentrees

“It’s just kind of a funny thing to imagine being somewhere and you can just ask anybody that you want if they’ve got time that afternoon to come down and play on your record,” says Tentrees. “That’s just what they do there.”

Making two albums in close succession, Tentrees wanted to make each one different, exploring a multitude of styles, techniques and production methods. Double Takes was meticulously crafted, with retakes and overdubs, while, for his upcoming record, Tentrees has opted to go the live-off-the-

Tentrees started working on his new record during an eastern Canadian tour, this spring, though he’d had the idea kicking around for a couple years at this point. He stopped at Ganaraska Recording Co. in Baltimore, Ontario, to start the recording process. The studio is a converted farmhouse run by Jimmy Bowskill and Steve Marriner, complete with a vast array of vintage recording equipment. For this record, Tentrees decided to lean more towards the blues, something that had been on his bucket list for some time.

“I haven’t really entirely made a blues record before,” he says. “I’ve only done sort of folk, Americana and country-blues records. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be neat to try to make a real blues record?” Tentrees committed to the first round of recording sessions, then

cont’d on page 3 ...

A harp, a hat and an SM58

PHOTO: Michael McCann Images

Gordie Tentrees Is Reconnecting With Home

realized he’d better start writing some songs. Tackling the album in two passes, he’s currently writing the second half, working out of his backyard studio in Whitehorse.

“I’m writing the rest of the record as we speak,” he says. “I’m just consumed by it.”

Tentrees is doing something different this winter than he has most of the past 25 years: he’s staying home.

“My kids are at the age where I think they would appreciate having their dad at home more, so I’m gonna stay here and I’m not gonna go back out until next summer, which is the longest time that I’ve stayed still [in my career], which

I’m really excited about,” he says. “I’m coaching my daughter’s hockey team, for example, and I’m going to be doing some community work where I go to communities and play music.”

Tentrees has gone to Old Crow for a week at a time, a couple times through the past year, to play music with the youth and build relationships in the community, and plans to do that some more. He also works

with a team that writes healing songs and he is looking forward to putting more attention into that work.

“I’ve really stepped into that role. I’ve been doing it for the last five years,” he says.”I’ve created this space for myself where I’ve become a healer in a sense that I use music to support people, as a helper in their healing journeys, so I’m really enjoying that. I do it three days a week, minimum, when I’m not on tour, so I’m going to really dig into that this winter.”

Tentrees is confident that being home for a rest will help with his creativity, as he spends time with his family, community and nature.

“I have this feeling, as songs are just coming out really fast at the moment, that by the time I get out of this winter I’ll be thinking about another record,” he says. “It’s really fun to be in that mindspace and also really nice to dig into my community and my family, which are really important to me. Instead of trying to cram all that in-between tours, I’m really going to just celebrate that and embrace it.

“I’m stoked to be working on a new record,” he says. “Life is good. I can’t think of a better thing to be doing. I’m lucky to still love something that I do.”

Visit tentrees.ca to keep up with Gordie Tentrees’ music, shows and more. ■

PHOTO:

Tamagnini

Slidin’ the Dobro

PHOTOS: Michael McCann Images Gordie in concert

IHOW TO PAY AN ARTIST ARTREPRENEUR

t has been a long time since I’ve written an “Artrepreneur” article! For those of you who may not have seen them, this was a series of articles I wrote about the business side of art for What’s Up Yukon, for a number of years. They were mostly directed to artists and aimed to share my years of experience, as a self-employed artist, with my colleagues.

This article has a wider intended audience, though I’m hoping information here might be useful to artists too. I’m writing for people or organizations that might want to hire an artist to perform a service. I will write one, soon, as a guide for commissioning and renting artworks.

Artists can offer many services—some interacting with the public, including demonstrations of their artwork and hands-on workshops. Often artists can tailor a workshop or demonstration of a topic or project you might be working on. This might be worth considering for trade shows and fairs. You can give away water bottles, but what if an artist could hold people at their booth longer?

This will likely begin with a brainstorming meeting. Please remember, at this kind of meeting, that if you are employed by your organization, you are paid for the time, and the artist is not yet. If you proceed, it’s worth taking this time into consideration in the fee that you agree to.

The Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC), sets a fee schedule that is meant for a minimum wage for various artist engagements. Visit www.carfac.ca to see their pay scale. If you are applying for funding to do a project, or if you are a professional business or organization, this is your reference point. Funders in the Yukon like to see artists treated with respect, and CARFAC’s fee

Whitehorse. She has contributed to What’s Up Yukon since our first issue on Feb. 9, 2005.

schedule lays out a structure for that.

It is important to understand that the project requires the artist to do a lot more work than just the public-facing hours. CARFAC rarely breaks artists’ time into hours. It sets rates for up to half a day, and up to a whole day. It’s best to set a fee for the project and not jealously count the hours.

I understand that many smaller organizations cannot meet CARFAC fees. I will sometimes work for less than CARFAC fees. I feel that this is an artistic choice I can make, a choice I can make as an artist in my community, knowing that not everything can receive funding. There are still ways to make this kind of lower fee better.

One way is to make sure the cheque is there at the event or, even better, before it. Or as soon afterwards as possible. Don’t make the artist chase you for the cheque. If the artist has to buy materials for the event, at least part of the fee should be in their hands ahead of time.

If funding for the event is registration-dependent, it is important to decide how far ahead of time you will decide to call off the event. You might want to set it up so the artist is paid for the planning time whether the event runs or not.

Self-employed people generally do their taxes as a business, as a sole proprietorship. If all of the money coming in adds up to $30,000, even before the cost of

materials and other expenses are taken out, they are required to charge GST. That doesn’t leave much for the bookkeeping involved, let alone much to live on. Pay artists GST on the fee you can offer. Make clear to artists that you will. People have been poorly educated about GST for a long time. Stop making artists fight you for the GST. Then they will have more time and energy to make the event wonderful, which is what both of you want. The Yukon government is the only entity that doesn’t pay GST. Just because you are funded by YG doesn’t mean you are exempt. The artist isn’t.

I will note that What’s Up Yukon has cheerfully paid GST on my fees for decades.

Let’s talk about commissions and art rentals soon! ■

PHOTO: Nicole Bauberger

Susan Walton and young audience member at Arts in the Park during her “Collection of Questions” project, in collaboration with the author

LGOOD FOR LIFE

ately, a friend has been talking about “Good for Life,” as in “I’ve just bought a car that is GFL.” He means that it’s the last car he expects to buy and use in his lifetime, having reached an age where he’ll soon be fourscore years old.

Good for life is a nice way of dealing with the concept of one’s mortality. While statistics show that life expectancy has increased in Canada, we know that there will come a day when—like Monty Python’s dead parrot—we will be bereft of life (but hopefully not nailed to a perch!).

Now, my friend already exceeds the Statistics Canada average life expectancy for Yukon men

one that will run happily for another 10 years. (Don’t bother with a 25-year warranty though.)

Taking a good-for-life approach makes sense for many of us older folks. Don’t pretend life is infinite: acknowledge your limitations and make the most of what you can, no?

It ties in with the to-do list we’re supposed to do as we get older, such as drawing up a will, preparing an Enduring Power of Attorney or figuring out what should happen to us health-wise and money-wise if we’re incapacitated (a.k.a. Representation Agreement, for money; and Advance Directive, for health in the Yukon).

condo that will never be brandnew again; and then there’s the “count-up” clocks—like the first time your baby smiles at you (the first of many to come).

Good for life is also handy when trying to sort out what I don’t need in my life going forward. This is where activities such as Swedish Death Cleaning come in. By intentionally decluttering my home and belongings now, there is less for my loved ones to do after I die.

As humourist Art Buchwald once said, “The best things in life aren’t things.”

Is this frypan that I haven’t used in 10 years something that I need for the next 10? No! Oh, and

(75.9 years) and 81.47 for women. He’s smart about planning for the future, looking at how old his parents were when they died and figuring that he probably will do the same.

So don’t hold on to the old beater car. Get a new or newer

(This to-do list is not just for older adults, by the way. Younger folks should have one, too.)

While good for life is a bit of a countdown clock, we live with these all the time, at any age: the last mid-term I ever have to write at university; the brand-new

look at that warm-but-ugly sweater that I got 25 years ago without knowing that it would be GFL and would keep me warm for the winters that remain.

Making conscious decisions about how you want to live your life can be hard work—and sad,

even—but it also lightens the load mentally and physically, I find.

Good for life fails when life changes, however. The Big C (cancer), the Big D (dementia), and major mobility changes can really alter one’s perspective. Something that wasn’t GFL before will suddenly do just fine, thank you.

And a good-for-now mindset is needed for those of us who want to age in (the right) place. My house is probably not GFL. I know that there may come a day when I need to move somewhere that provides meals and housekeeping because I’m no longer up to that.

The Yukon government (YG) recently published “Care and services as I age: A personal planning guide for Elders and Seniors”—a 16-page booklet that walks folks through their current and future needs and how they can address them. It’s available online on the

YG website (yukon.ca/en/personal-planning-guide-elders-andseniors). For Yukoners who are planning to age in place, it’s well worth checking out.

Good for now means you don’t know what the future holds, so you’re going to live each day with purpose, ready to roll with the punches when they come. A bucket list may help direct your actions, as it works without a deadline other than, well, one’s death.

One thing I admire about my friend’s good-for-life attitude is that he makes the most of life. He is always trying something new and/or challenging. GFL doesn’t mean same-same, day-in-day-out stuck in a rut, but it’s an opportunity to do stuff before time runs out … to live a good life.

A little GFL is good for all of us.

Practising some good-for-now camping at Simpson Lake, this past July

A GFL car, on the road to somewhere

PHOTO: Nancy Campbell

PHOTO: Janusz Walczak via Pixabay

Nancy Campbell

The

Sonja Seeber and her husband, Paul, are Yukon trappers who live in the

and who have

for

GEARING UP FOR NOVEMBER 1

sights,

the smells, the changes

Once August comes to an end, the trapper will want to think about the upcoming season for real. That holds true for a trapper who gets to drive to

plate the many changes that come with the fall season. Even though I secretly wish for just one more summer day, I’m looking forward to the quiet time before Nov. 1, when trapping, for us out here, starts.

See, we don’t have many beavers (their season opens Oct. 1) and we won’t trap the pair we have here on the lake because they’ll keep the water level high, fixing and upgrading their dam (which sits close to where the lake water will then drain

the post office or Canadian Tire during the trapping months—us, we’ll have ordered everything we need back in April. That leaves me to sit back, relax and contem-

into the river) so that it won’t break and leave them vulnerable to

predators.

Float planes are pulled out of the water either at the beginning or middle of October; alas, I’m wondering when I’ll be hearing the last small plane of the season. Also, there won’t be any more canoeists standing in the yard, as paddling time is over (it would be quite chilly, paddling downriver, looking into channels that are covered with a fine sheet of ice). Will yesterday be the last time this year that we’ll catch a pike out of this lake? Lots to mull over … especially, do I dare wait til tomorrow to go cranberry hunting one more time?

The river starting to freeze at the end of October

The Yukon is truly a paradise, once the mosquitoes and black flies have died off and the nights have gotten cooler, ripening and sweetening the berries to be gathered. The lake becomes a glassy mirror, reflecting the yellow larch needles and the different browns

SENIORS' SOIREE

THURSDAY • NOV 28 • 2025

and reds from the berry bushes, buck brush and fireweed. The dark sky will be split by northern lights. And the smell! Do you like the decaying forest floor? Leaves disintegrating; black mushrooms that

Pelly Mountains

developed a lifelong passion

the trapping lifestyle in the North.

PHOTOS: Sonja Seeber Getting warm just looking at all this firewood

A moose down at the lake in the middle of October

BRINGING THE BLUES

Sue Foley, an Ottawa-born blues guitarist and singersongwriter will take the stage for the second year in a row at the Blue Feather Music Festival

To boil it down, Sue Foley is a blues guitar player. She’s a lot more than that as well, but to distill her long-storied career into a simple description isn’t easy. The Ottawa-originated, Austin-Texas-based musician has released over a dozen albums and spent more than 30 years touring, but nothing ever seems to be too much, or even enough for her.

“I’m basically a blues artist and I’ve had a long career already,” she says. “I don’t know what else to say.”

There is a lot more to say, though. While Foley typically outs with a three-piece electric band, her latest album, 2024’s One Guitar Woman, is a solo record, featuring just herself and her acoustic guitar. It received some high accolades, including Grammy and Juno Award Nominations, and helped bring to public light Foley’s passion for women guitar players, a topic about which she’s done extensive research—parts of which involve her musicology PhD and an upcoming book of interview compilations called Guitar Women. Foley always has lots of projects on the go, but many of them are in the works for years before anyone even knows about them.

“I’ve got all these big projects and it looks like I’m super productive, but what’s been happening is that I’ve slowly been hacking away at things for years, learning guitar styles and and learning about artists and doing interviews for a book, and doing this and doing that, and slowly you’re hacking away at this giant mountain that feels completely insurmount-

able; then all of a sudden, you’re done,” she says. “It’s going to look like I work like a dog, and I kind of do, but it’s been slow and steady, and that’s been the real trick for me.”

What keeps Foley going after all these years is a confidence that her best work is yet to come, and she says blues is a genre where artists can age gracefully, improving with time. You can grow into the blues with age, as the wisdom, skill and knowledge that make blues artists great often comes with experience and time.

“That’s the great thing about being an artist or a musician,” she says. “No matter how good you get, you’re always looking, or you should be—looking forward to the next level—so for me it’s just always been about getting better at my craft.”

Though she’s lived in Texas for decades and has embraced the

music scene down there, Foley will always be a Canadian artist, and does a good portion of her touring north of the border. The home market has always been important to her and she’s performed in Alberta, the East Coast and Ontario, as recently as this summer, and has retained a large fanbase up north over the years as well.

“Even in the U.S., when people introduce me, they always say I’m

from Canada,” she says. “It’s still a big part of my identity. I just chose to settle in the U.S. for access to a bigger market.”

Last year was Foley’s first time visiting and performing in the Yukon when she took the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) stage for the Blue Feather Music Festival. She’ll be back for this year’s edition, which runs Nov. 7 to 8 at the YAC.

“It’s a great festival, and Gary [Bailie], who runs it, is a soulful,

amazing guy and I would consider him a pillar of that community,” Foley says. “He taught us so much about the culture of the Yukon and exposed us to some of the most natural beauty of this amazing place. We’re excited to come back.”

Bailie knew of Foley and scouted her group last year and invited them to play the festival, and even then he had told Foley that he’d like to have her back. Luck-

ily, her schedule this year allowed her to make the trek up once again. Last year, they stayed an extra day to explore and go dog sledding, and the choice to return was a no-brainer.

“I’m sure [Yukoners] are excited every year when the festival plays again because it brings a lot of music to the community, and a lot of new musicians,” Foley says. “I just thought it was super warm and inviting.”

Though Foley thinks she hardly needs to convince music-loving Yukoners to come out to this year’s festival, she hopes to see some familiar and new faces and to explore the territory some more.

“If people need encouragement, just come out and listen to the music and be with people and share art and creativity,” she says. “Gary is such an amazing man, with such a huge heart, and truly loves his community, and it just shines forth. I encourage everybody up there to go, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t … I mean, why wouldn’t you?

“We’re looking forward to the show,” says Foley. “We love coming up there, and I can’t believe it’s already on the horizon.”

Visit suefoley.com to keep up with Sue Foley’s music, tour dates and writing. And visit bluefeathermusic.ca to learn more about the Blue Feather Music Festival, see the lineup and buy tickets. ■

Manus Hopkins is a journalist and musician from Whitehorse.

Freelance with Manus Hopkins

PHOTO: Todd V. Wolfson

PHOTO : Gary Bailie

PHOTO : A. Pidgeon

Sue Foley returns to Blue Feather in 2025

Sue Foley at Blue Feather, 2024

Sue Foley

ENTER YOUR EVENTS ON-LINE

or email them to: events@whatsupyukon.com

Please visit whatsupyukon.com for up to date event details. Some events may be postponed or cancelled after we print It’s Easy. It’s Fast. It’s Free!

ART SHOWS

Until Nov 2 Mammoth Dreaming by Joyce Majiski Arts Underground https://www.artsunderground.ca/

Until Nov 14 Yukon Prize 2025 Finalists YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery This exhibition brings together the work of 6 contemporary artists shortlisted for the 2025 Yukon Prize for Visual Arts. Experience the vision and creativity of the finalists, each offering a powerful lens on the world around us. https://yukonartscentre.com/

Until Nov 14 Held in Motion - New Acquisitions to the YPAC YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery An exhibition for the 2024- 2025 Yukon Permanent Art Collection acquisitions https:// yukonartscentre.com/

Until Nov 30 2025 Longlist Yukon Prize for Visual Arts Arts

Underground View work from artists Michel Gignac, Megan Guná Jensen, Jeffrey Langille, Matthew Lien, Joyce Majiski, Helen O’Conner, and Omar Reyna. https://www. artsunderground.ca/

LIVE MUSIC

Sat Oct 25 Tyler Shaw - Community Concert 5:00 PM Whitehorse FREE all-ages community concert featuring Canadian artist Tyler Shaw! Corner 3rd Avenue & Steele Street, Sun Oct 26 Jazz on the Wing - Phil Dwyer Trio 7:30 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Jazz on the Wing - Phil Dwyer Trio. It would be diﬃcult to over-estimate the natural talent and commitment of this artist.

Fri Oct 31 Halloween Night 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well Featuring The Pissfits, Sanktuary doing Metallica and Badger Legion doing Bad Religion. Come down for a frightful night of live covers, spooky drinks and a costume contest!

Fri Oct 31 Halloween DJ Show - Terror at the ‘98 8:30 PM 98 Hotel House, Disco, Indie DanceCostumes welcome, prizes!

Sat Nov 1 Blues Happy Hour with David Vincent and The Invaders

3:00 PM 98 Hotel

Sat Nov 1 Coffeehouse featuring - Flicks & Groove and the Open

Stage 6:30 PM Whitehorse United

Church An all ages event that provides a venue for audiences to enjoy emerging local performers, this month featuring Flicks & Groove!

Sat Nov 1 Blues Vibes with Brandon Isaak Trio 6:30 PM Old Fire Hall

The Brandon Isaak Trio live. A night of Blues and fundraising hosted by Ukrainian Canadian Association of the Yukon (UCAY) https:// yukonukrainians.ca

Sat Nov 1 Dark 80’s - Antifrank 8:00

PM Lefty’s Well A full night of trueblue eighties covers featuring your favorite brit-pop, new-wave, darkwave, and synth-goth tunes. Don your best goth and dark-eighties garb for a chance to win prizes.

Sun Nov 2 Craig Cardiff 2:00 PM

Old Fire Hall Craig Cardiff in concert. Come ready to sing, dance, and become part of the show. Everyone comes as strangers and leaves as a group. https://linktr.ee/craigcardiff

Monthly

First Saturday Folk Society

Coffeehouse 7:30 PM Whitehorse

United Church. an all ages event that provides a venue for audiences to enjoy emerging local performers. Bring cash to buy coffee, tea, and tasty treats!

Weekly

Tuesdays

Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Wednesdays

Intermediate Jam - Bluegrass & Old Time 7:00 PM Whitehorse

Legion bi-weekly Hosted by the Yukon Bluegrass Society

Whitewater Wednesday 7:00 PM 98 Hotel

Karaoke 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Thursdays

Muster Point 6:30 PM Baked Cafe

Muster Point live and featuring a rotating lineup of local guest artists.

Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Fiddle Night 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

Fridays

Live Music 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House

Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Live Music 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

Saturdays

Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Sundays

Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

GENERAL EVENTS

Mon Oct 20 Small Business Week - Coffee & Kickoff 8:30 AM

Yukonstruct Makespace Set the stage for three days of learning, networking, and inspiration under the theme The Economic Revolution is Here. https://www. whitehorsechamber.ca/smallbusiness-week-2025

Mon Oct 20 Navigating Workforce

Challenges - Creative StrategiesReal Success 11:30 AM Yukonstruct

Makespace An engaging and solutions-focused panel discussion, where industry leaders and business innovators come together to share real-world insights, proven strategies, and inspiring success stories.

Mon Oct 20 Silent Disco at the Library 6:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Headsets and music provided by Boreal Boogie, experience the joy of movement and dance amongst the stacks at the Whitehorse Public Library (in a way that doesn’t disturb the readers, those who are studying and general “quiet” of the library). https://yukonlibraries.libnet.info/ event/14830302

Tue Oct 21 Whitehorse Connects 10:00 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre A welcoming space where people can connect with resources, meet others, and build relationships with service providers.Everyone welcome. Hot lunch, hair cuts, portraits, live music and more!

Tue Oct 21 From Doing to Leading

- Building a business that runs without you 11:30 AM Yukonstruct

Makespace An engaging panel discussion, hear from entrepreneurs and experts who have made the transition from “doing it all” to building businesses that run smoothly without them. https:// www.whitehorsechamber.ca/smallbusiness-week-2025

Tue Oct 21 Business Speed Dating

- Insights in Minutes 5:30 PM

Baked Cafe A fast-paced evening of one-on-one conversations with Yukon’s business experts and gain valuable connections in the Yukon business community. https://www. whitehorsechamber.ca/smallbusiness-week

Tue Oct 21 A Perfectly Reasonable Night of Comedy 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre A night of hilarity with Carolyn Taylor of The Baroness von Sketch Show, Pat Kelly of This is That and celebrated comedian Peter Oldring https://yukonartscentre. com/

Wed Oct 22 Workplace SolutionsSafety Culture 8:00 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Workplace Solutions

Speaker Series - Featuring: Guest

Speaker Curtis Weber!

Wed Oct 22 From Risk to Retirement - Smart Strategies for Business Owners 1:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace A finance-focused miniconference is designed to give you the strategies and insights needed to protect what you’ve built and prepare for the future.

Small Business Week on a high note and join us for an evening of ideas, connections, and celebration.

Wed Oct 22 Yukon Women’s + Money Club 7:00 PM Whitehorse

A peer-led community for women and gender-diverse folks who are looking to grow their knowledge and confidence. https:// yuko nventureangels.ca/yukonwomens-money-club

Thu Oct 23 - 26 Yukoner

Appreciation Week Whitehorse

Downtown Locations Support local. Celebrate community. Discover something new. Join us for three days of shopping, dining, and celebrating local businesses.

Thu Oct 23 Pumpkin Patch - Paint n’ Sip 6:00 PM Ricky’s All Day Grill

Whitehorse Sip, and paint your own pumpkin patch - ticket includes instruction, supplies + 1 drink. https:// majesticvp.wixsite.com/majesticvp

Thu Oct 23 Pinetree Quilter’s Tea

7:00 PM Whitehorse United Church

Fri Oct 24 Yukon Theatre - American Werewolf in London 9:30 PM Yukon Theatre A Halloween classic!

American college students David Kessler and Jack Goodman on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.

Fri Oct 24 Live Comedy - Nick Burden and Noah Brodeur 7:00 & 9:30 PM Boiler Room Lounge

Featuring internationally touring headliner, Nick Burden, and one of Canada’s fastest rising stars, Noah Brodeur! Don’t miss out on an unforgettable night of comedy!

Fri Oct 24 Pinetree Quilter’s Tea

7:00 PM Whitehorse United Church

Sat Oct 25 Workshop - Felted Landscapes with Toos Omtzigt 9:30 AM Arts Underground Learn how to use both needle and wet felting techniques to make a 2-dimensional wall hanging. All materials are supplied. Email programs@ artsunderground.ca for more info.

Sat Oct 25 Haunts and Holly Craft Fair 10:00 AM Jack Hulland Elementary School Come support over 100 local vendors and shop local. Carpool if you can and bring your reusable bags!

Sat Oct 25 Fall Fur and Craft Sale 11:00 AM Elks Lodge 306 Call 1867 667 7091 or email yukonfur@yknet. ca for more information.

Sat Oct 25 Nakai Theatre - 24 hr

Challenge 1:00 PM Best Western Gold Rush Inn A night at the Gold Rush Inn, solidarity with other creators, soup and a chance to create!

Sat Oct 25 Yukon Theatre - Bride of Frankenstein 6:00 PM Yukon Theatre Halloween Classic! Mary Shelley reveals the main characters of her novel survived: Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.

Sat Oct 25 Rocky Horror Paint N’

Sip 6:00 PM Ricky’s All Day Grill

Whitehorse Create a Rocky Horror–inspired painting while sipping your favourite drink and enjoying a night of spooky glam fun. All supplies provided.

Sat Oct 25 2026 YR Sam Search 6:30 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill

Want to be a Sam? This might be your year! Throw your hat in the ring and be part of the fun. Let the shenanigans begin!

Sat Oct 25 Barn Dance 7:00 PM St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Live Music, bake sale and fun!

Sat Oct 25 The Thinning of the Veil - An Evening of Protection & Ancestral Connection 7:00 PM Horwoods Mall Explore the rich history of this season, learn vital techniques for spiritual protection, and create a safe, sacred space to connect with our beloved ancestors and guides.

Sat Oct 25 Live Comedy - Nick Burden and Noah Brodeur 7:00

PM Boiler Room Lounge Featuring internationally touring headliner, Nick Burden, and one of Canada’s fastest rising stars, Noah Brodeur! Don’t miss out on an unforgettable night of comedy!

Sat Oct 25 Yukon Theatre - The Rocky Horror Picture Show 9:30

at the bizarre residence of Dr. Frankn-Furter. Props are welcome and there will be a costume contest with prizes to kick off the night!

Sun Oct 26 Learn to Draw with David Kaarsemaker 10:00 AM Arts Underground Immerse yourself in this 6 session, 18 hour comprehensive series on learning to draw with artist David Kaarsemaker. https://www. artsunderground.ca/events

Sun Oct 26 Sunday FundayPumpkin Painting Workshop 12:00

PM Decora Celebrate the season with a cozy, creative afternoon of pumpkin painting. Family friendly! https://decoragrown.ca/

Sun Oct 26 Pints and Pumpkins 3:00 PM Winterlong Brewing Co. Join us at Winterlong for the Pints & Pumpkins event! Enjoy beer and pumpkin carving while supporting the food bank.

Sun Oct 26 Yukon TheatreMonsoon Wedding 5:00 PM Yukon Theatre Diwali at the Cinema! Celebrate Diwali amongst friends and community members! Monsoon Wedding - The Rain is coming... and so is the Family.

Mon Oct 27 The 98th Crafty Monday 9:00 AM 98 Hotel All Crafters Welcome! Bring your project, get social, share ideas, meet friends! Come celebrate our 98th Monday of joy and crafts! Wear your ‘98 pin/badge of honour and show us what you got! DIY kits available for purchase!

Tue Oct 28 2025 Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference 9:00 AM Yukon Learn Participants will learn practical tools and approaches to make stronger cases for budget protection, program growth, and greater organizational recognition.

Tue Oct 28 Social Hour - Pumpkin Carving 4:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Bring your own pumpkin and let your creativity run wild. Connect with fellow community members, enjoy snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and ever-refreshing Yukon Brewing beverages! Open to all!

Tue Oct 28 Resin Jewelry - Design Experience 6:00 PM Ricky’s All Day Grill Whitehorse Create 2–3 custom resin jewelry pieces (pendants, earrings, or keychains) Learn beginner-friendly resin tips + tricks (no experience needed!) https:// majesticvp.wixsite.com/majesticvp Wed Oct 29 Safe Tool Use 101 6:00 PM Raven ReCentre This workshop is designed for women and genderdiverse people, but everyone is welcome to attend. Learn to use a variety of power and hand tools in a supportive environment

Tue Oct 28 Pumpkin Painting Workshop 6:30 PM Decora Escape into creativity and fall inspirationchoose up to 3 of our hand-picked pumpkins—funny, funky, and full of personality—and bring them to life with paint, laughter, and a delicious beverage. https://decoragrown.ca/

Wed Oct 29 thru Sat Nov 1 The Weir by Conor McPherson 8:00 PM The Guild Hall Acclaimed as one of the top 100 plays of all timebrilliant Irish ghost story - The Weir is a tightly woven modern classic! https://yukonartscentre.com/

Thu Oct 30 Owners Wanted Workshop 5:00 PM NorthLight Innovation A dinner & conversation around buying/selling businesses in the north and how we can work together to achieve success. https:// futurpreneur.ca/en/ Thu Oct 30 Make Your Own

Halloween Terrarium 6:00 PM

Ricky’s All Day Grill Whitehorse Make spooky mini terrariums for your home! Guided instruction, all supplies and one drink included. https://majesticvp.wixsite.com/ majesticvp

Wed Oct 22 Business After HoursThe Economic Revolution is Here! 5:30 PM Old Fire Hall Close out

PM Yukon Theatre A newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter

Thu Oct 30 Carnage for Christmas 6:00 PM Yukon Theatre It’s Christmas in October, and Santa brought murder. Trans podcaster Lola returns home, and so does a ghost with a grudge. DIY, punk, and campier than your cousin’s drag brunch. More laughs than screams, more fake blood than budget. Fri Oct 31 Skeleton Parade 7:00 PM Whitehorse Downtown Locations Dust off your old bones and join in our macabre procession...This is a free, volunteer run event - get

creative with costumes, contribute skeleton puppets and lanterns and join in the music!

Fri Oct 31 Halloween Karaoke & Costume Party 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Annual Halloween Karaoke and costume party - Sing your favorite songsEnter the costume challenge - Try the specialty drinks and mocktails!

Fri Oct 31 Babes in the Bush Boolesque 8:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Yukon’s finest Burlesque, Drag and Circus Performers with Special Guests: Bettie Bombshell from Australia, Scarlett Delirium from Vancouver, hosted by Yukon’s sweetheart, Claire Ness!

Fri Oct 31 The Ridge Halloween Party 10:30 PM The Ridge Pub Hit the dance floor and party with us until the witching hour! Drink Specials all night long, Open LATE! A spooky night full of chills and thrills! Sat Nov

1 Christmas Market 10:00 AM Best Western Gold Rush Inn

Sat Nov 1 Water in the LandscapeIntermediate Painting with Acrylics 11:00 AM Arts Underground Join accomplished artist Virginia Wilson in an intermediate-level acrylic painting workshop, review existing painting techniques and assist with methodologies. https://www. artsunderground.ca/

Sat Nov 1 Yukon Baby and Maternity Fair 12:00 PM CSSC Mercier – Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon Featuring vendors showcasing amazing products and services offered by our wonderful community, a workshop series from experts in intimacy, pelvic floor, child development, snacks, a breastfeeding nook, silent auction and much more!

Sat Nov 1 iF3 Big Mountain Sessions

6:00 PM Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre Join us for a chill night of watching epic ski movies at ACC Ski Movie Night and get your winter STOKE! Everyone Welcome - All ages!

Sat Nov 1 Glaze Refresher

Workshop with Lisa Moore 6:00

PM Arts Underground Review all the steps needed to prepare your bisqueware and finish it with glaze. We will learn how to dip, brush, paint, pour and layer glazes and explore underglazes and glaze resists. https://whatsupyukon. events/a48ac5

Mon Nov 3 2025 Territorial Election

Whitehorse Various Locations

The 2025 Territorial Election has been called! Polling Day is Monday, November 3, 2025.

Monthly

First Thursdays Pinetree Quilters

7:00 PM Whitehorse United Church.

2nd Monday Ukulele Group 6:00

PM Golden Age Society salvin@ northwestel.net

2nd Monday Whitehorse Slow Jam

7:00 PM Golden Age Society

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 tricktaking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member

you

Beginner ASL Class & Social Hang

6:15 Queer Yukon Society - The Cache

Drawing Club 6:30 PM Arts

Underground Join like minded artists in the studio for a free drawing club. Bring your own supplies and be creative in a group environment. https://www. artsunderground.ca/events

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 3321803 for more info.

Spanish Conversation 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church Call 3336081 for more info.

Sew & Tell All – Elders Hangout

1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Facilitated by Kwanlin Dün Elder-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 Drop-in Sewing 4:00 PM Skookum Jim Friendship Centre Facilitated by Donna Norman, bring your own projects, connect with others, and finish those works-in-progress. Open, welcoming space to sew, share, and create together.

Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For sign 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

QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon

Society The Cache

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.

QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon

Society The Cache

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

Sat Oct 25, Sun Oct 26 & Mon Oct

27 The Haunted Halls of Booringia 12:00 PM Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre Everyone is invited to join in on the familyfriendly fun - with a haunted house and movie - The Witches.Come in costume and receive free admission and Halloween treats!

Sat Oct 25 Halloween Spooktacular 1:30 PM Canada Games Centre Yukon FREE Family Fun - everyone welcome - costumes encouraged – games & bouncy castles - indoor trick-or-treating - Halloween Glow Skate – FREE rentals - movie - Kung Fu Panda 4 - circus performances! Sun Oct 26 Wild Trick or Treat 10:00 AM Yukon Wildlife Preserve Special animal feedings at Carnivore Corner - Candy Corn Trick or Treat Guessing Game - Wildly tricky Scavenger Hunt - roast a marshmallow or hotdog! Fun for the whole family!

Tue Oct 28 Territorial ElectionYouth Forum 6:00 PM Boys & Girls Club Yukon Your voice matters. Connect with local candidates, share what matters most, and grab some free dinner while you’re at it!

Wed Oct 29 Sip n’ Study 5:00 PM Baked Cafe Hang out, get help with homework, study with friends, drink free coffee! Ideal for students grades 10-12 Fri Oct 31 Pumpkin Palooza 6:30

PM Bethany Church CANDY, PRIZES, Bouncy Castle, Arcade style Basketball, face painting, crafts, balloon darts, plinko, and so much more!admission is free for everyone all children receive one free activity! Families with children ages 0-12. Sun Nov 2 Kids Kreate 1:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Get messy, have fun, and learn about art at our free monthly Kids Kreate art classesRegistration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. We supply all the materials. Your

children supply the imagination. Good for ages 4-11 https:// yukonartscentre.com/

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.

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

Mon Oct 27 BGC Yukon AGM 6:00

PM Boys & Girls Club Yukon Come see the impact of our programs, meet the Board and engage with our team. RSVP to od@bgcyukon.com

Sun Nov 2 Yukon Breeze Sailing Society AGM 7:00 PM Sport Yukon A great opportunity to connect with fellow sailing enthusiasts, and get involved in the club’s direction. Everyone is welcome.

Mon Nov 3 K.S.A Annual General Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon All are welcome to attend so please come out and join us as we review the past year, offer a brief presentation on how we’re doing currently, elect our 2025/2026 Board of Directors, and discuss the upcoming snowmobile season. https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents Wed Nov 5 Yukon River Marathon Paddlers Association AGM 5:30 PM Sport Yukon For more information email secretary@yukonriverquest. com

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/ 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 Anti-Poverty Coalition Monthly Meeting 5:00 PM Lewis Hall (Whitehorse United Church). For more information: 3349317 or info@yapc.ca. Everyone is welcome.

Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon

ONLINE EVENTS

Tuesdays 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, no-pressure time for conversation

AA Juste Pour Aujourd’hui (C) 5:00 PM, Zoom ID 833 9614 4061 mot de passe 0 ou telephone 1-587328-1099

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.

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 (O) Zoom ID 868 3045 2752 passcode 6y2K8a or phone 1-587328-1099

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

I’m excited to be your Yukon Party candidate for Whitehorse Centre. To learn about me and my perspectives to make our downtown the very best it can be, please visit jacobsenvisions.com or scan the QR code. Scan

TOMATO AND ONION SALAD

Tomatoes and onions … What could possibly go wrong?

Imentioned in one of my earlier recipes, Country-Style Beef Stew, that in my early 20s, I rented a house with a couple of amazing folks. Steve, who had been the sous chef at the Banff Springs; and Andrew, who was the head wine waiter at Walden’s, a very exclusive restaurant in Edmonton.

While we made amazing threecourse meals, accompanied by the tastiest wines at home—all on a budget, of course—we also went out together, occasionally, to some really nice restaurants, if only to check out the competition and steal some recipes to bring back home.

One of those restaurants happened to be the Bistro Praha, right in the heart of downtown Edmonton. It was, and still is, one of the nicest restaurants in the city.

It was opened in 1977 by the late Frantisek Clkanek, who, after immigrating from Czechoslovakia, couldn’t find the sort of café that he used to frequent in

Prague (Praha). He was yearning for Czech delicacies and classical music, like he was so used to getting back home.

In order to fill his desire, he started his own restaurant. The Bistro Praha has been a fixture on the Edmonton dining scene ever since. If you are ever in Edmonton, I highly suggest a visit. You won’t be disappointed.

Could this restaurant that wasn’t even 10 years old, at the time, really be so incredible? We needed to find out. I mean, if the likes of Joni Mitchell, Kirk Douglas, Rod Stewart and just about every superstar hockey player had visited, it was time we did as well.

The menu seemed to have a little bit of everything, from pork to pasta, schnitzel to lamb, chicken, fish, beef, duck ... soups, stews, goulash and salads. The first thing that caught my eye was the Tomato and Onion Salad.

I naively asked our waiter, “What’s a tomato and onion salad?” Without batting an eye and with as dry a sense of humour as he could muster (I love that in a good waiter, by the way), he smiled, sort of (maybe smirked a little), and said, “It’s a salad made out of onions and tomatoes, Monsieur.”

I was forever hooked! We,

of course, stole the recipe and started making this at home on a regular basis. It is very cheap, incredibly delicious and really fast to make. Since we didn’t dare ask the chef for his recipe, we experimented a little until we came up with a very plausible facsimile. Here’s what we ended up with.

INGREDIENTS

• Tomatoes

• Onions

• Olive oil (EVOO)

• Balsamic vinegar

• Sea salt

• Freshly-ground black pepper

• Brown sugar

METHOD

1. Assemble your ingredients and a large mixing bowl.

2. Halve the tomatoes, slicing in the middle, not the ends, then cut each half into 6 equal parts. Use 1 1/2 tomatoes per serving.

3. Halve the onions end to end, not down the middle, then slice into rings. Do not dice. Use 1/2 of a small- to medium-sized onion per serving.

4. Put the tomatoes and onions into your mixing bowl and very gently toss with wooden spoons. You don’t want to lose the flesh of the tomatoes in the process.

5. Add some EVOO and gently mix again to ensure that everything is evenly coated.

6. Add a touch of balsamic vinegar, a sprinkle (1/2 Tbsp) of brown sugar, and your freshly-ground salt and pepper. Continue gently tossing and adding salt and

pepper, to taste.

7. Plate this alongside a warm buttered bun with some cheese slices, and enjoy!

Chef’s Note: This salad is best made and served at room temperature using very fresh tomatoes. You should use a very sharp knife, even a serrated one, to cut the tomatoes, to avoid bruising. If you can leave it to marinate for a little while before serving, the flavours will infuse and become far more distinct. This will keep for a very short window of time in the fridge. It won’t go bad; it will just get very soggy and lose its appeal. I don’t suggest making more than you are going to serve in one sitting. ■

The simplest of ingredients

PHOTOS: Unknown Chef

Mix very gently

Prepare the tomatoes and onions

JTHE BOOKSHELF

THE STORY BEHIND THE T.E.S.T.

ohn Firth spent a long time getting around to writing his biography of Jean-Marie Mouchet, the Roman Catholic missionary who founded and ran the Territorial Experimental Ski Training (TEST) Program.

In 2024, he published North Star: The Legacy of Jean-Marie Mouchet (FriesenPress, 324 pages). In a recent interview he discussed how he came to write the book.

“Well, what got me started on it was having met him and talked with him forty years ago … fortyfive years ago, I guess it is,” he said.

“Basically, I just thought, you know, listening to his philosophy, listening to what he wanted to accomplish and how he was doing it, and knowing what his track record was by that point, in 1981, I thought, you know, there’s a story here that’s a lot deeper than just a guy who’s coaching a bunch of people. So I just sort of hung onto that idea for basically twenty-five or thirty years.”

Mouchet himself was not particularly keen on the idea, having the conviction that the program was more important than he was.

“This book was a long one incubating,” Firth continued. “He’d had other people approach him and ask him if they wanted to do it, and he always said no. And then when I said to him, I think it’s time to write that book, and I’ve still got those interviews we did back in 1980. He thought about it for a while and finally he said, ‘Yeah, okay, let’s do it.’ He just felt everybody was trying to put him up on a pedestal. He didn’t want that, that’s for sure. He didn’t want to be there. He said, ‘That’s not me.’”

Firth’s book begins with Mouchet’s roots in Malbuisson, France, where he was born in 1917, and where he acquired the skills (woodcraft, skiing and marksmanship) that would serve him so well when his vocation (being the youngest son) took him to the priesthood. A love of Jack London’s stories helped guide him to the North, after serving in the French Resistance during World War II.

It was during his posting in Telegraph Creek that he began to develop his ideas about skiing, as

a way to help Indigenous youth to reconnect with the land and their traditional values, while at the same time providing them with the means to adapt to the social and cultural change that was having an impact on them.

He would develop these ideas much further when he was reposted to Old Crow in the Yukon, in 1955.

“There were a lot of people involved in that TEST program. And when it was at its peak, the people numbered probably in the hundreds, I would think, between participants and parents. Yeah, it was amazing what he managed to encourage and produce from such an out-of-the-way place as Old Crow.”

His students began to be noticed at competitions outside the Yukon.

“Martha Benjamin’s accomplishment brought it out of the shadows, so to speak, when she won that Canadian championship. She’s still around. I chatted with her in January. She still skis a bit and she still goes out and does what she can on the trails, but she is ninety-something years old now.”

Later there would be branches in Inuvik and Whitehorse.

Firth’s book was a finalist for the Canadian Book Club Awards in the Non-Fiction/Education section.

“I don’t know what we ended up with, but we were in the top three, anyways. No, we didn’t win it, but we were a finalist for it. It also won an award from the International Skiing History Association, which is a worldwide body of skiing, snowboarding sports people, and they give out awards each year for books and

films about the sport.

“They contacted me and asked me to submit my book to it because

1977. Please send comments about his stories to dawson@whatsupyukon.com.

they had heard about it. So I did that and ended up winning the award. It’s called the Ullr Award, named after the Norse god of Winter.”

It’s decided by a panel of judges from Europe and North America,

“So that was kind of cool that I won that. Dawn and I went down to Lake Placid to get it, even though we made the vow that we would not go into the United States. We were promised that we would be going to a good Democratic corner of New York State.”

John Firth is the Yukon’s current Story Laureate and an international award-winning author/ storyteller who writes about the history, the people and the places of the North. His books include The Caribou Hotel: Hauntings, hospitality, a hunter and the parrot; One Mush: Jamaica’s Dogsled Team; Yukon Sport: An Illustrated Encyclopedia; River Time: Racing the Ghosts of the Klondike Rush; Better Than A Cure: One Man’s Journey to Free the World of Polio (Ramesh Ferris with John Firth); Yukon Quest: The 1000-mile dog sled race through the Yukon and Alaska; and North Star: The Legacy of Jean-Marie Mouchet. John Firth was awarded the annual Heritage Award from the Yukon Historical and Museums Association, in 2019. ■

Dan Davidson has been writing about books for Yukon publications since

PHOTO: Dan Davidson

North Star: The Legacy of Jean-Marie Mouchet, by John Firth

PHOTO: AMMI Lacombe Canada MAMI Jean-Marie Mouchet

PHOTO: Supplied by John Firth John Firth

PHOTO: AMMI Lacombe Canada MAMI Mouchet, from the Oblate website

Northern Ins te of Social Jus ce (NISJ) Continuing Studies, Yukon University

WELCOME to FALL & WINTER

2025 FALL COURSES

2025 FALL

Naviga ng Di cult

COURSES

Loss in the Workplace

Applied

2026 WINTER COURSES

•

Naviga ng Di cult

Client Rela onships

Oct 28 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

Loss in the Workplace

Nov 7 8:30 am-12 pm

L’AFY, 302 Strickland St.

$135+GST

$329+GST or

YukonU Rm C1530

$135+GST

$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird

$299+GST Early bird

Registra on deadline with YukonU is Oct 21, Early Bird registra on by Oct 7. Late registra on un l Oct 27: email sam@ctrins te.com CRN 90644

Registra on deadline with YukonU is Oct 21, Early Bird registra on by Oct 7. Late registra on un l Oct 27: email sam@ctrins te.com

CRN 90644

NEW Conscious Aging:

Harves ng Wisdom from Lived Experience

Nov 6 9 am-4 pm

Harves ng Wisdom from Lived Experience

Nov 6 9 am-4 pm

Normandy Living, 468 Range Rd

$150+GST

Normandy Living, 468 Range Rd

$150+GST Register by Oct 31

CRN 90652

CRN 90595

De-escala ng Poten ally

Violent Si a ons

De-escala ng Poten ally Violent Si a ons

Nov 17 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1440

$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird

Registra on deadline with YukonU is Nov 10, Early Bird registra on by Nov 3. Late registra on un l Nov 15: email sam@ctrins te.com

CRN 90642

Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)

Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)

Nov 19-20 8:30 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1440

Caregiving Through Loss and Grief for Frontline Professionals and Family Caregivers

Jan 21+ 9:30-11:30 am

Applied

Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)

Feb 11-12 8:30 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

Administra ve Law for Advocates

Feb 18 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$125+GST

Jan 21+ 9:30-11:30 am

$245+GST

YukonU Rm C1440

$245+GST

CRN 90627

Mo va onal Interviewing

Livestreamed over 5 weeks

$250+GST

CRN 90049

Mo va onal Interviewing

Dec 2 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird

Mental Health

First Aid Canada for Northern Peoples

Feb 4 9 am-4:30 pm

Registra on deadline with YukonU is Nov 25, Early Bird registra on by Nov 10. Late registra on un l Dec 1: email sam@ctrins te.com

$329+GST or $299+GST Early bird Registra on deadline with YukonU is Nov 25, Early Bird registra on by Nov 10. Late registra on un l Dec 1: email sam@ctrins te.com

CRN 90653

Feb 4 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$285+GST

$285+GST Register by Jan 28

CRN 90050

13 Factors of Psychological Health and Safe

Feb 10 8:30 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$185+GST

YukonU Rm C1530

$185+GST

CRN 90051

$245+GST

YukonU Rm C1530

$245+GST

CRN 90052

Transforma onal

Leadership: Segment AThe Resilient Leader

Feb 13 9 am-12 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$125+GST

CRN 90055

Naviga ng Di cult Client Rela onships

Naviga ng Di cult

Client Rela onships

Feb 24 9 am-4:30 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$329+GST or

YukonU Rm C1530

$329+GST or

$299+GST Early Bird

YukonU Rm C1530

$135+GST

CRN 90053

Transforma onal

Leadership: Segment BThe Resilient Organiza on

Feb 13 1-4 pm

Leadership: Segment BThe Resilient Organiza on Feb 13 1-4 pm

YukonU Rm C1530

$299+GST Early Bird

Registra on Deadline with YukonU is Feb 17, Early Bird registra on by Jan 24. Late registra on un l Feb 23: email sam@ctrins te.com

CRN 90056

YukonU Rm C1530

$135+GST

$135+GST Register by Feb 6

CRN 90054

Dan Davidson

Dan Davidson has been writing about books for Yukon publications since 1977. Please send comments about his stories to dawson@whatsupyukon.com.

DAWSON CITY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

The Gazebo provided a music venue every Friday this summer

Another enjoyable season of the Dawson City Summer Concert Series came to an end on Aug. 15, with a final performance at the Palace Grand Theatre, on King Street, due to damp, inclement weather.

Most of the concerts were blessed with good weather and were held at the Front Street Gazebo, with people sitting on the grass. The other alternate location was the KIAC Ballroom on Second Avenue.

Those who could not make it to the live concert had the option of listening to the live broadcast on CFYT 106.9 FM in Dawson City, or at cfyt.ca, anywhere in the world.

This family-friendly series was organized by the Klondike Visitors Association (KVA) and made possible by support from the Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC); the Yukon government, Arts Fund; Yukon Lotteries; City of Dawson Community Grants; and Parks Canada, Klondike National Historic

Sites (KNHS).

The summer began on June 6, with local singer Alex MacNeil performing solo instead of with his band, the Revenants, offering a mix of original material and popu-

lar cover tunes.

June 13 featured Keziah, another local performer who got her public start here performing at the local Coffee House/Open Mic monthly events while she was still in high school.

June 20 offered Kevin Barr and Boyd Benjamin, a guitar local and fiddle duo with some 15 years’ experience—often in Dawson. They are highly regarded as a team and

cont’d on page 15 ...

PHOTOS: Dan Davidson

Youth fiddlers at the Gazebo, June 20

Alex MacNeil at the Front Street Gazebo, June 6

Keziah at the Gazebo, June 13

Boyd Benjamin and Kevin Barr at the Gazebo, June 20

Dawson City Summer Concert Series ...

as individual performers.

The opening act for this Friday was Dawson’s Youth Fiddle group, led by their teachers Peter Menzies and Kristen Poenn (on keyboards) and featuring eight youngsters, just part of a larger group.

June 27 featured KABN, a blues/rock band from Whitehorse.

Brigitte Jardin gathered a crowd at the Gazebo on July 4, while Dawson’s Calhoun offered songs with social commentary on July 11.

Sadly, I had to miss Ross River’s

Dena Zagi on July 25, but I heard good things about the concert and I have heard them before.

Yukon musician Hendrika had a fine day to gather an audience on Aug. 1.

As we move towards the middle of the month, the weather here becomes more unpredictable and the mornings are often damp, which is not good for the sound equipment.

On Aug. 8, the Ottawa-based duo C.A. & Sonny had to relocate to the ballroom at Dënäkär Zho

(KIAC Ballroom), to offer their traditional folk concert to an audience seated in chairs instead of on the grass.

Whitehorse-based Caleb Tomlinson and The Perseids closed out the summer season at the Palace on a damp and chilly Aug. 15, a week when there was a lot of other music being heard all over town, as part of the Discovery Days week. ■

PHOTOS: Dan Davidson

KABN at the Gazebo, June 2

Brigitte Jardin at the Gazebo, July 4

Caleb & Perseids in the Palace Grand Theatre, Aug. 15

EVENTS

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Thu Oct 23 K.S.A. Season Opener

Snowmobiler Social 5:00 PM Yukon Transportation Museum

Get together for the Snowmobile social. A perfect event to connect and learn more about snowmobiling in Yukon.

Fri Oct 24 Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club Assessment

Are you interested in joining the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club for the upcoming season?

We’re excited to welcome new athletes to our team and are holding an Athlete Assessment Session in the Canada Games Centre (main lap pool). 4-5:15pm. To register wgb.poolq.net/ program-info/new-athleteassessment

Sun Nov 2 Floor Flow Burlesque

Workshop 2:00 PM YAC Yukon

Arts Centre Floor Flow – Beginner to intermediate with Bettie Bombshell - Headliner of Babes in the Bush Boolesque. Learn some dynamic choreography, crowd connection & beautiful lines to kill it on the floor! https:// www.simpletix.com/e/floor-flowbeginner-to-intermediate-with-b

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

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

Broga - Yoga for Men 5:30 PM

Centred - Yoga Breath Sound Chant Drum Dance Breathing, stretching, moving, strengthening, decompressing, inverting, balance

work, manly self-care at its finest. Email malbacph@hotmail.com for more info.

Ladies Kickboxing 6:00 PM Eight

Days Martial Arts

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 Dropin, no registration required, everyone is welcome. Call 3351996 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

Archery is a non-profit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. whitehorsearchery. com/schedule

Yoga with Jess 7:00 PM Golden Horn Elementary School Yoga is for everyone, join a community class, beginners welcome and all equipment provided. Drop in by donation. Email yoga.jessyukon@ gmail.com

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

Keep Fit 10:00 AM Church of the Northern Apostles Come stretch and breathe with us - only $5.00

Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40

AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg

Noon Strength & Conditioning

12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00

PM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!

Ladies Kickboxing 12:05 PM

Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.

Elderactive Intermediate Hiking

1:00 PM ElderActive Recreation

Association Leisure Walking is similar 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

Indoor Range Night 7:00 PM Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club 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.

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

No-GiJiu Jitsu 7:00 PM Eight

Days Martial Arts

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

WELLNESS LISTINGS

Mon Oct 20 Indoor Grief Walking

Group 3:30 PM Canada Games

Centre Yukon A gentle walk around the track with trained volunteers. Moving through grief can be supported by exercise and a listening ear. No cost, wristband included.

Sun Oct 26 Strengthening the

Heart 9:30 AM Location TBA

After Pre-Registration Join us on the land for a workshop with Shellby Fulton, RN that blends

Indigenous knowledge with western nursing care. Email admin@interconnecthealth.ca for more info.

Fri Oct 24 Somatic Boogie and Soak 6:00 PM Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs Dance in the meadow behind the Hot Springs followed by (an optional) soak afterwards! *Outdoor Silent Disco so dress for the weather! https://events. humanitix.com/somatic-boogieand-soak

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 1-778-907-2071

Wednesdays

TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 8:00 AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details

VFWC - Drop-In 11:00 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Drop-In includes Laundry and Shower. Community Kitchen 11:30 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House (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 Thursays 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 1-778907-2071

Fridays

Moth & Flame - Bright Light Morning Meditation Series 9:00 AM Queer Yukon Society - The Cache

AA “Joy of Living Group” (O)

12:00 PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House (Back Entrance)

VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower access.

Community Kitchen 5:00 PM

Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.

AA Whitehorse Group (C, A) 7:00 PM 407 B Ogilvie Street

Saturdays

AA Morning Joe Group (C, A) 11:00 AM Inclusion Yukon

AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00 PM 609 Steele St VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! Drop-In. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and showers.

Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info. AA

We are a non-proﬁt initiative celebrating creative talent in Yukon, NWT and Nunavut. Shifting Ice Yukon Shop is dedicated to supporting northern makers, come and ﬁnd

WHEN YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF CARROTS…

Make soup!

Readers might remember that earlier this summer a friend exhorted me to thin my carrots, and I did. Then I went away for three weeks. Happily, my roommate and I had two great dog sitters who stayed in our house and looked after everything beautifully.

One of them is an avid gardener. She looked at my carrots and said, “Her carrots are gonna be tiny if I don’t thin them for her.” So, she thinned them, not just once but twice. Now, that is a good house sitter!

The happy result was that in early October our little garden yielded about eight pounds of good-sized carrots—nothing to compare with Sarah’s Harvest or Yukon Grain Farm, but respectable. (Our dog sitters/gardeners got to eat a few of the smaller ones, and if they weren’t going off travelling, trust me they’d get a lot more!)

We don’t have a cold spot in the house, and storing them in layers of sand in a box isn’t an option, so we must keep them in the fridge. I learned from a gardener friend that the best way to do that is to scrub the carrots, transfer them to a resealable bag, tuck a piece of paper towel into the bag and leave the top open. (Other gardener friends follow this same method but don’t remove the dirt first.)

Storing eight pounds of fresh carrots in the fridge doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for other things. So, I pickled some. And I made soup, a really nice roasted carrot soup with warming spices, to take the edge off chilly fall days. Roasting the carrots first gives them a lovely, deep caramelized flavour, and adding a new potato to the mix makes the soup that much creamier.

October is a time of gratitude, and I’m feeling mighty grateful to our garden, to the forest, to the Indigenous Peoples who’ve stewarded this land for thousands of years, and to the friends and housesitters whose advice and diligence contributed to our carrot success.

Enjoy the harvest!

Roasted Carrot Soup with Ginger and Turmeric

Suitable for vegans if you go for the coconut oil and coconut milk options.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb carrots, scrubbed clean (no need to peel if they’re new)

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 Tbsp butter or coconut oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced

• 1 tsp powdered ginger

• 2 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

• 1/2 red pepper, diced

• 3 cups vegetable stock

• 1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut scrubbed carrots in half lengthwise, and the thicker carrots into quarters. Toss with olive oil and kosher salt and arrange in one layer on a large baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes,

flipping halfway so they’re nicely browned and caramelized. Remove from the oven.

2. While the carrots are roasting, prepare the rest of the soup. Melt butter or coconut oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat, add onion and sauté until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Add minced garlic, ginger, powdered ginger and turmeric, and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes. Add potato and pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, until vegetables are softened.

4. Add roasted carrots and vegetable stock to the pot, stir, cover and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn heat to mediumlow and simmer for about 20 minutes, until potatoes and carrots are quite soft.

5. Remove from heat, let soup cool for 10 minutes and blend with an immersion blender or in a food processor, until soup is a thick and creamy puree, with no lumpy bits whatsoever. Take your time with this step— texture is everything with a creamed soup.

6. Return soup to a clean pot. Turn heat to medium and whisk in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Allow soup to come to the boil, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and check seasoning, adding salt as necessary.

7. Serve as is or with a spoonful of plain yogurt or coconut yogurt. Will keep in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for 3 months. Makes about 6 cups. ■

Miche Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She is also somewhat of a gardener. Miche has also written two books: The Boreal Feast: A Culinary Journey Through The North and The Boreal Gourmet: Adventures In Northern Cooking.

PHOTOS: Miche Genest

Roasted Carrot Soup

Respectable-sized carrots

Roasted, caramelized carrots

Yukon Arts Centre and Chérie Coquette present:

With Yukon’s finest burlesque, drag & circus performers

BABES IN THE BUSH BOOLESQUE

Hosted by Claire Ness

31 8PM

ATLIN

Sat Oct 25 Fall Bazaar - Flea Market

11:00 AM Atlin Recreation Centre Come out and check the thrift tables for your Halloween costumes!

Fri Oct 31 Halloween Party - Family and 19+ 5:00 PM Atlin Recreation Centre Show off your costumes and trick r’ treat! Music, food and fun! Entry by donation.

Sundays

St. Martins Anglican Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM St. Martins Anglican Church Everyone is welcome. Atlin Christian Assembly 11:00 AM St. Atlin Christian Centre Everyone is welcome.

St. Joseph Catholic Mission Holy Mass 3:00 PM St. St. Joseph Catholic Mission.

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

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

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 Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre Floor Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM Carmacks

Centre Badminton 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec

Centre

Basketball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec

Centre

Fridays

After School Club 3:30 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

Ping Pong + Foosball Night Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Saturdays

Tiny Toes Tea Time 1:00 PM Carmacks

Rec Centre

Open Court 3:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre

FARO

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:

Campbell Region Interpretive Centre

Liquor Store

Van Gorda

Wed Oct 22 & 29 Mindful Movement for Seniors 2:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Gentle flowing movements to balance and strengthen the body, followed by guided relaxation.

Fri Oct 24 Halloween Party Cake Walk 6:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre For more info call 867-994-2375, email recprograms@faroyukon.ca or drop by the Rec Centre

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

5:00 PM Carmacks Rec

(Ages

Open Gym 1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro Recreation

Centre

Drop-in Archery 6:00 PM Faro

Recreation Centre Free, drop-in, equipment provided, call 994-2375 for more info. 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.

HAINES JUNCTION

Night - Jam - Open

6:00

St. Elias Convention Centre Kick off the night with a collaborative jam, share your new work, or a piece you have nailed in the open mic showcase! Community set up, we all pitch in to set up and take down, chairs, tables, coffee, tea... Adults only 18+ - dry event, no alcohol, smoking or vaping!

Thu Oct 23 Pumpkin Carving Workshop 6:30 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Bring your creativity and carve your best pumpkin design—perfect for all ages! Show off your masterpiece! Enter your pumpkin for a chance to win fun prizes. junctionjam.ca/event/pumpkincarving-workshop/ Sat Oct 25 Halloween Dance 6:00 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun for all ages! Games, Crafts & activities - Luxe Photo Booth - Pumpkin carving & costume contests with prizes! https:// mailchi.mp/3abd6e2ee180/p1mfi303nd

Archery 6:00 PM Carmacks School Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre

HOW ARE THINGS UNDER THE HOOD OF YOUR CAR?

Have you had a look under your hood, how are your fluid levels, what about your belts and hoses. Most owners manuals show you where to check fluids at, if you have to add any fluids make sure they are the ones for your car. The belts and hoses are sometimes a little harder to check, if you are unable to check them or have any questions, take your car to your mechanic so they can have a look at it for you.

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

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

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/teabannock-68ab07

Men’s and women’s sewing group 1:00

COMMUNITY EVENTS...

DAWSON CITY

Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:

Dawson City General Store

Tue Oct 28 Owners Wanted

Workshop 5:00 PM Yukon University

Dawson City Campus Please join us for dinner & conversation around buying/ selling businesses in the north and how we can work together to achieve success. https://futurpreneur.ca/en/

Weekly Mondays

Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in 6:30-9

PM Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, though little instruction is provided. KIAC Classroom, back door

Drop-In Pickleball 5:30 PM Robert Service School

Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:45 PM Robert Service School Ages 16+ -Free Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.

Tuesdays

St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)

St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)

Hand-Building Pottery Drop-In 6:30

PM Klondike Institute of Art and

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

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

“Yukon

(O) 1:00

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.

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+ - Free

1st Tuesday Monthly LAC Meeting Lorne Mountain Community Centre Mondays Run Club 6:00 PM Lorne Mountain

Community Centre

Yoga with Jess 7:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Yoga is for everyone, join a community class, beginners welcome and all equipment provided. Drop in by donation. Email yoga. jessyukon@gmail.com

Tuesdays

Active Fun Fitness Class - Drop In 6:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Improve your balance, flexibility, strength and endurance in this indoor class led by Colleen Ennis. Drop in, admission by donation. Suitable for mature youth & adults. https:// whatsupyukon.events/fhm

Thursdays

Community Drop In 11:00 AM Mount

Lorne Community Centre

Run Club 6:00 PM Mount Lorne

Community Centre

LMCA Tennis Drop-In 7:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre All equipment provided, all ages and abilities welcome!

OLD CROW

Mondays

Men’s Night At The Rec Centre 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow

Fridays Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM Royal

Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/ dawson-legion-8336c3

Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC)

Enjoy KIAC’s bright, 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 Free - drop-in - all ages

Saturdays

Youth Parkour Tumbling 12:30 PM Robert Service School All AgesFree – Drop-In. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Open Studio – Drop In 1:00 PM

Klondike Institute of Art & Culture

KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Space to create and focus on your artistic practice.

AA North Star Group (O, A) Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion

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.

Community Centre

Tuesdays

Kids Gym 3:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Wednesdays

Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal

Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 966-3015 for more info.

Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Sundays St. Luke’s Church Service 11:00 AM St. Luke’s Church 867-993-5381

ROSS RIVER

Mondays

Adult Softball 7:00 PM Baseball Field Ages 16+ Bring your glove, and friendsno experience needed.

Tuesdays

Sewing Night 7:00 PM The Hope Centre

Street Hockey 7:00 PM Ross River

School Open to all ages and skill levels

Wednesdays

Family Bible Study 8:00 PM The Hope Centre

Thursdays

Community Softball Nights 7:00 PM

Baseball Field Come out and have some fun, fitness and community spirit! All

ages welcome.

Fridays

Family Game Night- Coffee House 9:00

PM The Hope Centre

Sundays

Church Service 12:00 PM The Hope

Centre

SKAGWAY Alaska

Wednesdays

Women’s Morning Worship 7:00 AM

First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

All are welcome. Part of the Alaska Presbytery and the PC U.S.A.

Windy Valley Babies 10:30 AM Skagway

Public Library Stories, Songs, and Fun with Ms. Anna! Designed for ages 0-3.

Fridays Skagway Teen Night 6:30 PM Skagway

Public Library

Sundays

Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First

Presbyterian Church of Skagway

Sunday School 4:00 PM First

Presbyterian Church of Skagway

TAGISH

First Monday of every month Carcross

Tagish Renewable Resources Council 1:00 PM Tagish Fire Hall

First Monday of every month Tagish

Advisory Council 8:00 AM Tagish Fire Hall

Third Wednesday of every month Tagish

Community Association 7:00 PM Tagish Fire Hall

Every 2nd Wednesday Coffee And Chat

2:00 PM Tagish Community Centre Held every 2nd Wednesday at the Rink

Second Thursday of every month Tagish

Local Advisory Council 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday Tagish Wheely Great Community Library 12:00 PM Tagish Community Centre Site

Thursdays

Tagish Local Advisory Council Meeting 7:00 PM Tagish Fire Hall

TESLIN

Mon Oct 20 Arctic Winter Games

Community BBQ 5:00 PM Teslin

Recreation Complex Learn about AWG, team trials information and meet the oﬃcial mascot Michael Jay the Fox!

Thu Oct 23 Community Art Night 6:00

PM Teslin Recreation Complex

Sat Oct 25 Parent & Tot Play 11:00 AM

Teslin Recreation Complex

Tue Oct 28 Season Kick Off Registration

Parent Meeting - AGM 6:30 PM Teslin

Recreation Complex All youth who are interested in hockey this year should have an adult rep at the meeting. Dinner provided.

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 (Basement)

Tuesdays

Rookie League 3:15 PM Teslin

Recreation Complex Open Gym 7:00 PM Teslin Arena Come

hang out or play some sports during our 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

MOUNT LORNE

Oct 31 Halloween Party 5:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre

Fri Oct 31 Halloween Boogie 7:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Dress for the weather this is OUTDOOR dancing! Costumes welcome - wear your spookiest bathrobe or dress up as yourself. Bonfire will be lit outdoors

Volleyball 4:00 PM School Gym

WATSON LAKE Sat Oct 25 Spooktacular Halloween Party! 9:00 AM Watson Lake Recreation Centre A Boo Bash — a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration filled with costumes, crafts, treats, and playful surprises! For kids newborn to age 5, but older siblings can attend as well.

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.

Rookie League 5:30 PM Watson Lake Ball Diamond Fridays Bowling League 7:00 PM Watson Lake Recreation Centre For more info Call 335-7979 or frontdesk@watsonlake.ca Saturdays Baptiste Power Yoga 7:00 PM Fees apply. A muscle-shaping and mindsculpting workout, work at your own level and ability, set to electronic music. Sundays St. John’s

look like poop. I do like the crinkling of leaves underfoot … checking on the squirrel population while I walk. Do I see a midden or a place covered in cone “empties” … a place they frequent to eat cone seeds? They have, hopefully, by now, scurried to find a territory all their own to defend. The buzzing of dragonflies is being replaced by the bugling of a string of sandhill cranes flying over, as early as the middle of September. A bald eagle swoops down like a rock, trying to catch a duck. The grey jays, the ravens

interested in eating red currants, as I’m still picking them).

Once the tundra swans stop over for a night at the end of September, I know there’s not much time left to get organized before I’ll be asking myself, all winter long, where that toboggan is, because I haven’t stored it properly before the snow buried it. What else to do before snowfall?

A TRAPPER’S PREPARATIONS

• Fix marten boxes (we leave ours out, a few trees over from where they’ll hang when

and the grizzly will have cleaned up the gut pile from the moose we shot (seems bears are not really

• Build more squirrel snares (my goal, this season, is to snare 200). They won’t pay for the gas I need for the snowma-

trapping. The bear might still find them and play).

• Check traps. Soak in hot paraffin wax, if needed. They’ll be faster, due to less friction. That way they won’t rust and will keep my hands clean.

chine—not like in the early days! I won’t have made a big dent in this fur bearer’s population, either.

• See if the snowmachine will start and have all the tools and spare parts ready. It pays to have all your supplies at home before the end of summer. If

not and you forgot to order that spare belt, well, I guess you’ll be using snowshoes instead of your snowmachine this winter.

• Check all roofs for leaks and put new tarps on your wood sheds. Check and oil your rifles, sharpen axes and skinning knives, and pack your lures into the little cooler you’ll be taking with you when out working. I empty the 45-gallon rainwater-filled drums that we keep for wildlife fire emergencies … no fun looking at a solid block of ice, all winter long.

• Prepare your firewood for the winter. A game-changer “he” is—our wood splitter. Never had one out here before. It sure feels good not ending up with a sore shoulder at night. Do not procrastinate about firewood: order a load of green (cheaper, too, I’m sure) each year, if space permits, so that eventually, three years from now, you’ll be looking smug and will be heating dry wood each season. Nothing more embarrassing Up North than having to order a load of dry firewood at Christmas time.

In the evenings, checking and preparing comes to a stop and we enjoy an hour of reading under an LED bulb that hardly uses any juice from the solar-powered batteries. We will be waiting for one more critter (the otter) to show, having to investigate before the lake freezes solid. Now we will be truly alone until April. Will there be enough snow (we need 40 centimetres on the ground to go trapping by snowmachine)? Or do we strap on the snowshoes? Will the lake be safe to travel on or do we have to go to the ridge? Take your shovel to fill trenches with snow, so that you can drive across them. Pack your come-along, a change of clothes, snacks, tea, the emergency First Aid pack. I don’t get to sleeping in, anymore, as daylight is money. Very late fall, up to Christmas, is when trapping is at its best, because the furbearer numbers are highest then.

Be safe out there, and buy fur now. You can do so at the Yukon Trappers Association annual Fur and Craft Sale event at the

Hall, in Whitehorse, on Oct. 25. ■