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The Big Squeeze
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Ahhh summer, the time of year that conjures up thoughts of long, sunny days and a steady stampede of tourists and motorists eagerly embarking from Whitehorse onto trails less traveled
More recently, summer in Whitehorse has brought another sight—lemonade stands popping up in front of stores and on street corners. It’s The Big Squeeze, our popular citywide lemonade-stand fundraiser in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yukon!
Each year, roughly a dozen businesses around town compete to raise funds for Yukon’s youthmentoring charity, putting their fun twists on the classic lemonade stand, in hopes of being dubbed “The Biggest Squeeze” by a panel of expert taste testers.
“We’ve seen a lot of variety since this began a few years back,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBSY) board rep Becky Johnson, adding that “some of the businesses supporting us like to go all out, with zany extras and gourmet recipes.” Gourmet, you say? Just ask last year’s winningest team (from the Boreal Clinic) who won over the Big Brothers Big Sisters judges with their sprucetip-infused thirst quencher. “We used an old family recipe that we loved, and it turns out our community does too!” explained Evie Allen, owner of Boreal Clinic.
Originally envisioned in 2013 as a fun summer fundraiser for the Prince George chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Big Squeeze has grown to become a beloved summer event in over 15 cities nationwide, from Victoria to Guelph. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yukon began their own twist on the tradition in 2018, and the fun summer event has grown in popularity since. Although the event had to be cancelled in 2020, last year’s return of The Big Squeeze was a tasty reminder that support for our community (and appreciation of a great glass of lemonade) is alive and well.
Area businesses each compete by offering their lemonade in exchange for a donation, and some choose to also include additional draws such as baked goods, live music or a barbecue. All proceeds from The Big Squeeze stay right here in the Yukon, to support BBBSY proactive mentoring programs. And that, according to many fans of the event, is precisely why each glass of lemonade seems to taste just a bit sweeter.
“Along with raising awareness for our programming, we see The Big Squeeze as a fun communitybuilding event that attracts both locals and tourists,” explained Ben Johnston-Urey, executive director for BBBSY. “And a big part of that fun is the participation of local luminaries who serve as our ‘celebrity’ taste testers for the competition. This year’s team includes The Rush’s Bobby Ferris, Yukon MP Brendan Hanley, and a few surprise guests,” said Johnston-Urey. “They’ll be carefully weighing each stand’s offering, ranking them according to taste, creativity, stand presentation and mouthfeel.”
Both the best-tasting and highest-fundraising teams from this year will win bragging rights as The Biggest Squeeze—walking away with custom trophies handcrafted by Lumel Studios and Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers. “The entire event really keeps our judges on their toes—you may have one stand offering a new spin on the classic lemonade, and another that offers up an entirely unexpected beverage experience,” Johnston-Urey continued. “Stands run the gamut of taste profi le, fl avour combination and use of ingredients.”
Craig van Lankveld, BBBSY board member and long-time taste tester, agrees. “It’s a tough job having to sample all the delicious lemonade and baked goods each year. After six or seven stands, you
Photo: Carmen Escobar, Former ED for Big Brothers Big Sisters Left to Right- Elisabeth Lexow, Mentoring Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Angela Krueger, Family and Community Liaison for Boreal
Clinic, Sienna Escobar, Caitlin Johnston-Urey, Speech Pathologist for Boreal Clinic and Hon. Larry Bagnell, Former Yukon MP.
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defi nitely get a bit jittery from all the sugar.” For any fi rst-time judges, he offers a few tips: “Take small sips and keep your head in the game by reminding yourself that it’s all for the kids.”
Stands will operate from 11
@Yukon Transportation Museum
ILLUSTRATION: courtesy of BBBSY
a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 20, and you can fi nd a map of participating locations on the BBBSY Facebook page or by visiting www.yukon. bigbrothersbigsisters.ca. From there, you can also learn more about the agency’s program offerings geared for children and youth ages 6–16, as well as how to donate directly or get involved.
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