What's Up Yukon, November 2 issue

The first-ever Japan Fest is set to take place in Whitehorse

An exciting cultural event is coming to Whitehorse soon! Taking place on Sat urday, November 5, the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY) has teamed up with the City of Whitehorse to bring you Japan Fest. This cultural and interactive event will be held at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (in the Grey Mountain Room) between noon and 3 p.m.

Attendees can expect to see demonstrations of Aikido (a mod ern Japanese martial art), Iaido (a martial arts style that showcases awareness and swordsmanship), Bon-Odori (a Japanese folk dance), Taiko drumming and Japanese vio lin and piano performances. Anime videos will be shown, and manga books will be available to read. A traditional Japanese tea ceremony will also be demonstrated.

Guests watch as a

There will be activities to par ticipate in, such as origami crafts, calligraphy and face painting. If you are hungry and wanting to try some Japanese fare, free bento boxes will be given to the first 150 festival-goers (vegetarian options will be available).

Lindsay Agar is the corporate events coordinator for the City of Whitehorse and has collaborated with JCAY to bring Japan Fest.

“We were wanting to do a Japanese cultural event. After dis cussing some ideas, we came up with Japan Fest.” Originally this was planned for the summer, but due to people being able to go on holiday again in the summer, Agar thought it best to wait until the fall. “Japan Fest took about two to three months to plan. We hope everyone who comes has a fun time!”

An extra fun fact: Whitehorse has a Sister City, in Japan, called Ushiku. The relationship between the two cities started in 1985 and has been growing strong ever

Angela Szymczuk

is performed with

purity and tranquility

since. Ushiku is located northeast of Tokyo, near Kasumigaura Lake (also called Kasumigaura Bay).

Each year, the host city alter nates, and students visit White horse or Ushiku to learn more about the cultures. In 2018, a group of 10 students, with three adults as chaperones, went to visit Ushiku. While there, they took in the amazing sites. They visited the famous 120-metre-tall Buddha statue, Ushiku Daibutsu, as well as some local schools, and learn ed to make miso. In 2019, when Japanese students came to White horse, they went canoeing, visited wildlife preserves and enjoyed many other Yukon adventures. There is no cost for Japan Fest, and everyone is welcome. A spe cial message from the Mayor of Ushiku will be read at Japan Fest, and the Mayor of Whitehorse will be popping by. Later next week, updates about Japan Fest events will be posted on the JCAY web site, as well as in What’s Up Yukon n

Angela Szymczuk

PHOTO: Courtesy of the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY)

SASS IS COMING BACK

Canadian treasure Sass Jordan will be returning to Whitehorse for another headline slot at Blue Feather Music Festival this year on November 4

Sass Jordan is always busy.

In fact, the British-born, Montréal-raised, multi-Plat inum-selling, award-winning song stress has been constantly busy since her career began 40 years ago. Between releasing albums, touring the world and even once starring in an off-Broadway Janis Joplin show, it seems Jordan never gets a break—but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I guess I never really think about this as a career,” Jordan pensively told What’s Up Yukon. “I just think about it as a lifestyle, day to day, and it’s always differ ent. I think that’s a big part of it— I’m the type of person who gets bored easily if I do the same thing over and over again every day.”

Jordan is a musician first and foremost, but considers music a stepping stone to many other cre ative outlets, and she feels lucky to have been able to use her music career to access other opportun ities in the artistic world.

“Being a creative performer of music allows you to branch out into all kinds of relative fields,” said Jordan. “I’ve just done tele vision, I’ve done film stuff, I get to write stuff, I get to talk about shit—there’s all kinds of relative fields that music affords me the

opportunity to get involved in, which is really a large part of the appeal to me.”

This past summer, Jordan re leased her newest record, Bitches Blues, a collection of classic blues covers along with three original cuts, as a follow-up to her ac claimed 2020 all-blues offering, Rebel Moon Blues

“It’s chapter two in my latest, fun exploration of different genres of music,” Jordan said. “It’s more blues, although my music has pretty much always been blues roots-based, so it’s not like it’s a huge stretch.”

Jordan says interpreting songs by old masters of blues that she never explored in such depth be fore was a fun challenge to under go, and it was interesting to find out what did and didn’t work for her. She says the songs on Bitches Blues, which sees her covering artists like Rick Derringer and Fred McDowell, as well as putting her spin on other many-times-done blues classics, all just felt right.

One of the cover songs is one Jordan feels is especially poign ant now—“Still Alive and Well,” the album’s opening track, which was written by Rick Derringer and popularly performed also by John ny Winter.

“Who can’t relate, especial

With a long career behind her, Sass Jordan is a celebrated Canadian music icon

ly after the past two and a half years, to being still alive and well, if you are,” Jordan said. “If you’re at a concert, you’re definitely still alive and you’re probably well, because I can’t see why you’d be going to a concert if you’re feeling like shit.”

And speaking of concerts, the main reason we’re chatting with Jordan is because she’s coming up to Whitehorse soon to play at Blue Feather Music Festival, which she’s done before and is always eager to do again. She even goes

as far as to call Whitehorse one of her favourite towns.

“It’s just a beautiful town,” she said. “I love the land around it. It’s gorgeous.”

Because Blue Feather is always in November, Jordan hasn’t ac tually experienced a proper Yukon winter or summer, but has found plenty to do in Whitehorse, like hanging out with sled dogs and visiting Baked Café. She can’t re member the name of Baked, at first, saying it’s been five years since she last went up and she’s barely been anywhere else since, but after describing the location, she instantly recognizes the name.

“It’s like a TV show,” she said with a laugh. “Everybody gathers there, everybody knows every body and it’s just awesome.”

At this point in a life and career that has seen Jordan do so much, the main item on her bucket list is simply to continue living—and do ing everything that comes with be ing Sass Jordan. Though she’s been at it for four decades, the topic of slowing down, let alone retiring, doesn’t even come up in our con versation, as continuing to make music and seek out new creative opportunities is a crucial part of Jordan’s life.

“As time goes on, I realize more and more and more how profound ly healing music is,” she said. “Not just for others, but for me.”

Jordan will be performing as part of Blue Feather Music Fes tival at the Yukon Arts Centre on November 4. For more informa tion and for tickets, visit blue feathermusic.com n

Nikki Macarena

Dennis

freelance with Manus Hopkins

Manus Hopkins is a recent journalism school graduate originally from Whitehorse. Now based in Toronto, he works as a freelance music and arts journalist. He also loves cats.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Sass Jordan

LESSONS FROM THE ROAD

CHANGE OF SEASONS

We are in a state of seasonal change

Not only is the weather changing, but the roads are changing as well. This change can sometimes happen dramatically and quickly, so we need to change our driving atti tudes as well.

There are several changes that need to happen at this time of year.

Firstly, we need to maintain our vehicle so it is in good work ing order for winter. The mostimportant thing is that we need to change our tires. Our cars are essentially “our tires.” Now is not the time to be driving on summer

tires; we need to make sure we get winter tires on our car. This will give us the ability to handle the car, as well as having more stopping power in the winter sea son. Please do not wait until that first snowfall to make the change. Do it now and be prepared for that first snowfall.

Secondly, we need to change our driving style. Visibility chan ges and changing road surfaces make driving a little more difficult and riskier than during summer months. The most-important thing we can do is to slooow down. Just because the speed limit says 50, is it safe to do 50? Drive according to road conditions so you have time to predict, prepare and then have the ability to stop safely.

Visibility is also extremely im

portant. It is as important to be seen as it is to see. Turn on your headlights (relying on daytime running lights is not enough). In many vehicles, daytime running lights will not turn on the tail lights. Without tail lights in foggy, snowy weather, you become invis ible from behind.

Also, clear the snow, ice and frost off of your vehicle. If your car is covered with snow, ice and frost, it is nearly impossible to see anything. We can never use the defense “It’s not my fault, I didn’t see you.” You have the ability to be seen; you also need to take steps to be able to see

Please—this winter—change your tires, clean your car off … and slow down. n

Mcken Jayrhon Ken

Maureen Johnstone CPCC, PCC Leadership Coach

Once fall is behind us, and winter sets in, there can be rapid changes in road conditions

PHOTO: Pixabay

column with Scott Boone

Scott was professionally trained in 2010, by Safety Services Nova Scotia, to be a driving instructor, and after teaching for two years there, he moved back to the Yukon in 2012. In January 2020, he launched Yukon Driving Academy. Scott has a love of driving, takes pride in seeing his students succeed on their journey to becoming safe drivers and wants to see the roads used in a safe and defensive way.

The

Rulerships: Venus, Taura, Libra.

Earth. Colours: Green, Peridot, Rose.

Gemstones & Minerals: Em erald, Rose Quartz, Turquoise. Plants: Clover, Rose. Trees: Cy press, Myrtle.

The Deck: The Rider-Waite Cole man-Smith, first published in 1910. Card illustration here by Aimée.

Lunar Position: I cast the read ing during the Waning Gibbous Moon in Aquarius, with white sage and compassion. May it harm none.

Description:

Major Arcana Three, The Empress, shows a serenely radi ant figure on a velvety throne, surrounded by wheat and other grain crops, in a setting of natural abundance. In my drawing of the card, I clothed The Empress figure in the finery of my grandparents, with the heavily adorned wheat and rose crown (pártás) of my family’s region. The headdress is connected to an even-older trad ition of wearing antlers for cere monies and gatherings. Over time, elaborate embroidery and embel lishments replaced the antlers, still symbolizing creativity, fertil

“In my drawing of the card, I clothed The Empress figure in the finery of my grandparents, with the heavily adorned wheat and rose crown (pártás) of my family’s region.”

ity, the archetype of the femin ine—all things we encounter with The Empress card in the Tarot.

Advice:

Ruled by Venus, The Empress brings our core values to the table. Heading into winter, we are encouraged to reflect on our deepest values. What is most im portant to you and why? What are you nurturing and why? What at

titudes, people or habits can you stop nurturing?

Major Arcana III, The Empress, relates to: all God dess archetypes in cluding Mary Mother of God, creativity, abundance, fertility, nurturing, mothering, pregnancy. The card asks you: What is your relationship to matri archy? What do women you love advise you to do? Do you listen to them, and why or why not? Which women in your life could use some extra help getting ready for winter or wintering this year, and how can you help them?

The shadow sides of The Empress include: the sup pression of female energy and im balanced values, jealousy, being blocked, being creativity blocked, cheapness, being unprincipled, problems recognizing female leadership, and overindulgence in luxury.

Seek and listen to the advice of experienced women! Embrace and rebalance the feminine prin ciple, in all parts of life. Examine your core values. Recognize and find abundance and distribute wealth according to your core val ues.

Find where luxury and com placency lie, and manage those pockets of wealth into available resources for what you care to nurture. Find utter creativity, even in the dark. Remember how sacred is the act of birth and the life that follows. Value women and follow their lead. n

column with

Dawn Robinson

Specializing in nomadic arts, Aimée Dawn Robinson is a dancer, writer, visual artist, Tarot reader and astrolo ger. Readings with Aimée offer you fresh perspective and realistic tools for change and re-balancing. Read all about it, book readings, workshops, and gift certificates online at: www.bowandarrowtarotandastrology.com.

Photo: Aimée Dawn Robinson

AUSSIE GIRL IN THE YUKON

A NORTHERN PREGNANCY

The first trimester of our developing Yukoner

So it’s official: I’m pregnant!

Yep, the Aussie girl (who said and wrote, for years, that she would never have kids) is having a kid! So what have been the ups and downs of being preg nant in the remote northern Can adian wilderness of the Yukon?

PRE-PREGNANCY

Let’s just say I’m no spring chicken. At 36 years old, there’s only so many fertile years left, and with a much younger husband, I didn’t want to be a grandma while my kid was growing up. My husband Ryan and I agreed, “OK, let’s see if kids are in our future.”

We removed any conception barriers and figured let’s see if it happens or it doesn’t. Either way, we’re happy with or without.

However, we obviously wanted to make sure that we were try ing so we could know if we were able or not able to have kids. We knew we didn’t want to spend lots of money, so if we couldn’t bio logically have one ourselves, then we would have to accept that it would just be us … and lots and lots of dogs. Which was totally OK.

But to confirm we were, in fact, biologically able, we did ovulation testing every month.

Then, boom! Within three months the double lines appeared on the pregnancy test. Ryan and I were shocked and stoked. We started planning what our lives would be like—maternity and paternity leave, the kid’s room, what school they would go to …

Then one morning, almost six weeks in, there was blood. My heart fell. We went to the emer

gency room and multiple tests confirmed a miscarriage was hap pening. Nothing could be done.

We went home and, for the next week, I was a shell of myself.

I had no motivation for life.

It was a tough experience for Ryan and I. It broke my heart hav ing something taken away before you really got a chance to have it.

At first I was too depressed to deal with anything and was telling Ryan, “I can’t do that again.”

But as most women know, our hormones can sometimes rule our lives, and I realized I actually did want to have a baby. That’s why I cared so much about losing it. So we kept trying.

~ Rainbow Baby ~

“The name ‘rainbow baby’ comes from the idea of a rainbow appearing in the sky after a storm, or after a dark and turbulent time” ( https://www.healthline. com/health/pregnancy/rain bow-baby).

THE FIRST MONTH August 16, my period was a day late. I tested and the double lines came up. I was pregnant! Excite ment briefly washed over me—but then, also fear and dread. How can I be excited when it may not stick? I asked myself.

At this stage of four weeks, a pregnancy test is the only con firmation that there is even some thing going on inside your body. I was so afraid that anything I would do would hurt the baby. So I stopped all my crazy adventures,

stopped drinking alcohol and started eating healthier. I called Solstice Maternity and applied for a midwife, to hopefully alleviate some concerns that I had … Each day I would go to the bathroom, expecting blood.

THE SECOND MONTH

At week five, I spoke with the doctor and midwife and was re lieved to hear I could exercise and do other things. My intense fear of another miscarriage was subdued because most women go on to have a healthy baby after a miscarriage. Doesn’t exactly still prevent you from worrying. But there isn’t much you can do if it happens again.

So, my really crazy adventures were still on hold, but at least I could do some exercise—so many, many hikes of Fish Lake and Grey Mountain!

I really wanted a midwife but I also wanted to make sure that if there were complications, or if I needed a doctor, that it was possible. And it is! They work together to help ensure that you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. I wanted longer appoint ment times and a direct line to my baby deliverer, and postpartum care. My fear is that I will have postpartum depression, with my already-medicated anxiety and depression, and that Ryan would be stuck with a baby at home and with me unable to help.

The midwife service is new in Whitehorse but has highly quali fied women who love babies and you! It’s great to have the options of who will help you and how you want to have your baby. My re sponse to home birth was, “I want a hospital and all the drugs.” My midwife laughed and made a note.

Ryan already has the wardrobe picked out for the day the little one comes home

PHOTOS: Kylie Campbell-Clarke

Kylie Campbell-Clarke is an Australian writer and photographer exploring the Yukon.

Kylie Campbell-Clarke at 12 weeks of pregnancy

six weeks, the only symp toms I had were irrational crying (for no reason) and exhaustion. Like, when I say exhaustion, I mean I’m sitting on the couch and the next minute I wake up foggy and dazed and realize I’ve been asleep for two hours. And I hope I’m one of the 20 per cent of women who don’t experience nausea.

However, in week seven I was not so lucky and the nausea hit like a ton of bricks. I was debili tated and the only way to relieve the nausea was to lay down in certain positions. It was exhaust ing. How do women get through work or their day like this? I called the midwife, who said, “I’m writ ing you a prescription. It’s no way to live.” And within a day of tak ing the medication, the nausea was gone. Miraculous, miraculous drugs!

THE THIRD MONTH

Ultrasound! Yes, it was time to check on the baby and see if it was alive at nine weeks. This was the first step to confirming that

everything was actually going OK. I mean, my boobs hurt just sitting, my belly looked like I constantly ate a big lunch, I napped all the time while still getting 10 hours of sleep at night, and I randomly cried on weird occasions. So I fig ured it was still alive, and when we went in for the ultrasound, we got to see the little “kidney bean” and its flickering heart.

It suddenly felt pretty real. Depression hit me pretty hard. Not wanting to move or do any thing, feeling like a meat sack, being drained of all my life energy by this “blood-sucking, foodstealing kidney bean.” It was pretty bleak. Luckily, my doctor is amazing and helped me through it. Not going to lie, it felt awful. But addressing the problem quick ly resulted in getting out of that funk, quickly, and onto 11 weeks successfully. Although the exhaus tion still made me less active than I would like, the midwife just kept telling me that there would be this “magical” day in my second trimester and that life would be good. I can’t wait!

Whoever said that pregnancy was beautiful or glowing clearly never experienced it. It’s basic ally feeling like you’re a lazy whale that’s always exhausted— and everything hurts. It continues with nausea so debilitating that you kind of wish that the random crying fits (for no reason) would come more often to distract you from it. But the worst thing is not being able to tell people—be cause miscarriage and the possi bility of genetic issues linger over you—so you can’t even be excited for it because you don’t know if you will get to keep it. Basically, you’re emotionally and physically in pieces, but you can’t talk to anyone about it. It’s the loneliest and most-uncomfortable place to be.The first trimester sucks, ser iously! n

Help Shape Yukon’s

on Board!

boards

■ Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues

Deadline: until

Contact: stephanie.coulthard@yukon.ca

■ Physiotherapists Advisory Committee

■ LPN Advisory Committee

■ Licensed Practical Nurses Discipline Panel

■ Registered Psychiatric Nurses Advisory Committee

■ Midwifery Advisory Committee

■ Pharmacy Advisory Committee Deadline: Ongoing Contact: boards.plra@yukon.ca

■ Building Standards Board

Deadline: Until

Contact: Hector.Lang@yukon.ca

■ Employment Standards Board

Deadline: Until

Contact: Eva.Wieckowski@yukon.ca

■ Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Board of Trustees Deadline: until

Contact: Carla.Braun@yukon.ca

■ Judicial Council Deadline: until

Contact: Carla.Braun@yukon.ca

■ Yukon Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators Deadline: January 31, 2023

Contact: Carla.Braun@yukon.ca

■ Yukon Police Council Deadline: until

Contact: Carla.Braun@yukon.ca

■ Yukon Review Board

Deadline: January 31, 2023 Contact: Carla.Braun@yukon.ca

■ Bid Challenge Committee Deadline: Until

Contact: bccsecretariat@yukon.ca

■ Yukon Aviation Advisory Committee Deadline: Until

Contact: Leah Stone (867) 667-8270

■ Driver Control Board Deadline: Until

Contact: Ryan Parry (867) 667-5833

Council

Kelly.Gruber@yukon.ca or (867) 667-5336

Fish and Wildlife

Board Deadline: Until

Contact: kelly.gruber@yukon.ca or (867) 667-5336

Board

Central Yukon

Central east

North

Southeast

Southwest

Deadline: November 30,

Contact: Kathryne.Janz@yukon.ca or (867) 667-5234

Housing Corporation Board of

Contact: MaryAnne.Clarke@yukon.ca

An ultrasound of the “Little Kidney Bean”

Charlie (left) and Phil trying to get their heads around a “new sibling”

PHOTOS: Kylie Campbell-Clarke

ART SHOWS

Until Nov 5 Arctic Highways Yukon Arts Centre Across the Arctic landscape, culture and art has travelled effortlessly along with the movement of the wind, the sun and our reindeer herds, creating a network of Arctic Highways.

Until Nov 5 Dintth’in: Fire Starter by Kaylyn Baker Yukon Arts Centre Held in the main gallery An incredible collection of beadwork by Kaylyn Baker and fashion spans all four seasons sharing stories and memories from the land.

Until Nov 26 Watercolour Wanderers by Judy Tomlin & Melanie Harris Arts Underground Held in the Edge Gallery, inspired by the Yukon’s vast outdoors, spectacular scenery and unique history, and enjoy the calm peacefulness that noticing the beauty around them brings to their art.

Extended to Nov 26 Our Relations by Dennis Shorty Arts Underground Held in the Focus Gallery, carved soapstone sculptures mixed with moose and caribou antler and copper.

Extended to Nov 26 Posters From the Yukon Archives Arts Underground Held in The Hougen Heritage Gallery, thirty reproductions of posters from the holdings of the Yukon Archives.

LIVE MUSIC

Wed Nov 2 Whitewater Wednesday Night Jam 7:00 PM The Local Bar a open mic kinda show and all you have to do is bring in your instrument, find Jack and/or Peggy and we’ll set you up! No need to be shy.

Wed Nov 2 VVinyl VVednesdays 7:00

PM Lefty’s Well Every Wednesday a local record junkie will be showcasing their collections for you, and maybe sometimes trade or buy.

Thu Nov 3 Live Music Thursdays 7:00 PM 98 Hotel

Thu Nov 3 Well Played – Open Mic 6:00 PM Lefty’s Well Old fashioned open mic, Show up and write down your name, players will be called up in order.

Thu Nov 3 Live DJs - Thursday Throwdown 9:00 PM The Local Bar

Fri Nov 4 Blue Feather Music Festival 7:00 PM Yukon Arts Centre Featuring Sass Jordan, Stevie Salas & Bernard Fowler-imf’s and the Naysayers. Tickets online or at the door.

Sat Nov 5 Music For Breakfast 9:00 AM 98 Hotel the last Saturday of every month. All New Members to The Breakfast Club Welcome. Music lasts until noon

Sat Nov 5 Folk Coffee House

Featuring – Glenn Chatten 6:30 PM Whitehorse United Church Glenn Chatten, accompanied this evening by violinist Alana Martinson and percussionist Lonnie Powell. Open Held in the basement of the church, stage signup in person starting at 6 pm.

Sat Nov 5 Blue Feather Music Festival 7:00 PM Yukon Arts Centre

Featuring Dilana, Russ Dwarf with Bumblefoot, Sierra Levesque - Bria Rose & The Thorns. Tickets online or at the door.

Sat Nov 5 The Dinks, Mister Bigly, Semi Optimistics 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well Local musicians, cover charge at the door.

Sun Nov 6 Jazz on the Wing –The Ostara Project, a Canadian Septet 7:30 PM Yukon Arts Centre Award-winning jazz musicians Jodi Proznick and Amanda Tosoff of Music Arts Collective, showcases the strength and creativity of Canadian women in jazz. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.ly/3zaO6ef

Mon Nov 7 24 Hour Challenge Cabaret and Open Mic 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well Join the participants of Nakai’s 24 Hour Challenge and members of Whitehorses’ writing and storytelling community.

Mon Nov 7 Live Music Mondays at Whiskey Jacks 7:00 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill Patrick Jacobson at Whiskey Jack’s every Monday with a weekly “feature performer” for the last set. https://www.whiskeyjacks.ca/

GENERAL EVENTS

Nov 2-5 Yukoner Appreciation Week

Whitehorse Over 90 local businesses and organisations, showing their appreciation, by giving back to customers and clients, with discounts, prizes and fun events!

Wed Nov 2 Kick Off Event for Yukoner Appreciation Week 10:00 AM Old Fire Hall Connect with local businesses, win some great prizes from awesome giveaways and enjoy some pre-holiday excitement! https:// bit.ly/3N2XgiH

Wed Nov 2 Community Kitchen 11:30

AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre

Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, lowbarrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.

Wed Nov 2 Line Dancing 1:00 PM Golden Age Society

Wed Nov 2 ArtWings Whitehorse 5:00 PM Best Western Gold Rush Inn Are you interested in arts around Whitehorse, want to be more social = better arts, wings are half price, Jacob and Norah from Nakai facilitating.

Wed Nov 2 Canadian Parents for French AGM and Pizza Supper 5:30

PM Whitehorse United Church Enjoy some free pizza and share your ideas! Email yukoncpf@gmail.com for more info.

Wed Nov 2 Black Adam Yukon Theatre

Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods--and imprisoned just as quickly--Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world. https://bit.ly/3z7cn4I

Wed Nov 2 Texas Hold’ Em 6:30

PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and guests. Bragging rights!

Wed Nov 2 Claws of the Panda with Jonathan Manthorpe 7:00 PM CIC Yukon Branch Jonathan Manthorpe to discuss developments in China. To register email yukoncic@gmail.com.

Wed Nov 2 Intermediate Bluegrass

Jam 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 A fun and relaxed jam, medium tempos, bluegrass and related genres (old-time, classic country, etc). Lots of opportunities to take a solo if you want, but not at all required. Email ian.boyce@northwestel.netfor more info.

Wed Nov 2 The Mel Brooks Musical

– Young Frankenstein 7:00 PM It’s alive! Mel Brooks’ electrifying adaptation of his cult classic film will leave you in stitches! Tickets online or at the door https://bit.ly/3rMutVy

Thu Nov 3 Nakai (Morning) Training

– Section A 8:00 AM Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre Morning warm up and learning for performing artists with Nakai Theatre’s Fall Training Cohort. www.nakaitheatre.com/workshops

Thu Nov 3 2022 Education, Career & Volunteer Expo 10:30 AM Yukon University Students, Job Seekers & Volunteers want to know more about your company and organisation.

Thu Nov 3 Polarettes Gymnastics Club AGM 6:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club RSVP to Kimberly Jones, Executive Director by email Kimberly.Jones@polarettes.org

Thu Nov 3 Public Speaking Training - Toastmasters 12:00 PM Northwestel Building Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics to help you with presentations and speaking in front of people.

Thu Nov 3 Sew a Basket –

Intermediate Sewing 6:00 PM

Yukonstruct Makespace Learn to sew circles, lining and interfacing in this intermediate sewing class. Register online. https://bit.ly/3Fdfz2O

Thu Nov 3 Black Adam Yukon Theatre

Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods--and imprisoned just as quickly--Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world. https://bit.ly/3z7cn4I

Thu Nov 3 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.

Thu Nov 3 Triangle of Sadness 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre Celebrity model couple, Carl and Yaya, are invited on a luxury cruise for the uber-rich, helmed by an unhinged boat captain. https://bit. ly/3DsJ3Ir

Thu Nov 3 Prayer 7:00 PM

Mountainview Church We take some time to connect with one another to praise God and pray for our church, our leadership, our city, and anything else in our hearts.

Thu Nov 3 The Mel Brooks Musical –Young Frankenstein 7:00 PM It’s alive! Mel Brooks’ electrifying adaptation of his cult classic film will leave you in stitches! Tickets online or at the door https://bit. ly/3rMutVy

Fri Nov 4 Seniors Crib 1:00 PM Golden Age Society

Fri Nov 4 Yukon Harvest Celebration 5:00 PM Edgewater Hotel A celebration of Yukon grown foods! 6 - Course dinner featuring Yukon products with cocktail and wine pairings! To reserve call 332 4460 or email events@ yukonhotels.com

Fri Nov 4 Legion TGIF Dinner Night 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254

Fri Nov 4 Triangle of Sadness 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre Celebrity model couple, Carl and Yaya, are invited on a luxury cruise for the uber-rich, helmed by an unhinged boat captain. https://bit. ly/3DsJ3Ir

Fri Nov 4 The Mel Brooks Musical –Young Frankenstein 7:00 PM It’s alive! Mel Brooks’ electrifying adaptation of his cult classic film will leave you in stitches! Tickets online or at the door https://bit.ly/3rMutVy

Sat Nov 5 Yukon Amateur Radio Association Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM A&W Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those are interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.

Sat Nov 5 Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles Holiday Market 9:00 AM Golden Age Society Toys, Vintage Glass, Linens, Wool, Vinyl, Books, Coins, Tools and Many More Treasures!

Sat Nov 5 Japan Fest Matsuri 12:00

PM Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre Celebrate our Japanese Sister City program! Aikido, Iaido, Bon-Odori, Taiko performances and sumo wrestling, origami, calligraphy, games, face painting, and a tea ceremony for all to enjoy! Free admission.

Sat Nov 5 Yukoner Appreciation Sip and Spa 12:00 PM Elements Hair Studio and Day Spa Annual event as a part of Yukoner Appreciation week! Details to come, check out all social media platforms.

Sat Nov 5 Nakai’s 24 Hour Challenge 12:00 PM Jump start a new idea, scratch an itch, or realize a long held dream. Start at noon, finish creating at noon. Screenings to be announced. https://nakaitheatre.com/24hours

Sat Nov 5 The Mel Brooks Musical – Young Frankenstein 7:00 PM It’s alive! Mel Brooks’ electrifying adaptation of his cult classic film will leave you in stitches! Tickets online or at the door https://bit.ly/3rMutVy

Sun Nov 6 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

Sun Nov 6 Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM a caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth.

Sun Nov 6 Secondhand Clothing

Bizarre 2:00 PM Whitehorse SeventhDay Adventist Church Clean clothes needed and donations accepted if in good condition. Please call before dropping clothes off and for more info 633-3463.

Sun Nov 6 Sunday Gatherings 3:00

PM The Northern Collective Church Sun Nov 6 Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone

Mon Nov 7 Canadian Open Data Summit 9:00 AM Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre For open data advocates, publishers and users; civic technologists; smart city ground-breakers; open government specialists; data literacy champions; newcomers to open data who want to survey the national scene and learn more. https://bit.ly/3dStu2G

Mon Nov 7 Live Edge Stool

– Beginner Welding 5:00 PM Yukonstruct Makerspace Learn to weld while building a live edge stool! Register online. https://bit.ly/3MZIuZT

Mon Nov 7 Euchre - For Members and Signed in Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Euchre a trick-taking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member you can sign in 2 guests MAX

Mon Nov 7 DIW – Sew Pajama Pants 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Learn how to follow a sewing pattern and create a pair of pajama pants. Register online https://bit.ly/3TridGL

Tue Nov 8 Men’s Community Group

Mountainview Church 5:30 PM We start with a meal and fellowship, then work through a biblical study, and take time to pray for one another, and for shared requests.

Tue Nov 8 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

Tue Nov 8 Chess Club 6:00 PM

Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!

Tue Nov 8 Woodshop Orientation 6:30 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Learn about the Yukonstruct wood shop and each piece of woodworking equipment. Participants will each get hands-on practice with some of the machines. https://bit.ly/WUY-hHU

Tue Nov 8 10 Card Crib 6:30 PM

Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 https:// bit.ly/3oWjB5W

Mon Nov 8 K.S.A 2022 Annual

General Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon All are welcome to attend, and if you are interested in getting involved with your local snowmobiling community. https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents

KIDS & FAMILIES

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays LAB Drop-In 12:00 AM Heart Of Riverdale For grades 8+, make beats, write, eat food.

Tuesdays Baby Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Rhymes, music, stories, movement, art & outside time. Ages 6 - 24 months & caregiver, Whitehorse Public Library meeting room. Free drop-in..

Tuesdays Toddler Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Rhymes, music, stories, movement, art & outside time. Ages 2 - 4 yrs. & caregiver, Whitehorse Public Library meeting room. Free drop-in.

Tuesdays Free Super Smash Bros. 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe All skill levels welcome! Please bring your own controller, and if you have a Nintendo Switch and/or Gamecube controller adapter please bring them so that we can have multiple setups.

Wednesdays Warhammer Wednesdays - Age of Sigmar 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe Every Wednesday

Thursdays Kill Team Thursdays 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe 668-5750 Units can be drawn from both the core book, elite book, Kill team annual and white dwarf.

Fridays Standard Format - Magic: The Gathering 6:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe Legal sets = Ixalan, Rivals of Ixalan, Dominaria, Core Set 2019, Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance. Banned Cards = Rampaging Ferocidon

Saturdays Pokemon Saturdays 12:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe Call 668-5750 for more info.

Wed Nov 2 Polarettes Preschool/ Family Drop In 11:00 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club enjoy the gym as a giant indoor play space. A great place to practice skills or just play and explore! Open gym is for members only.

Sat Nov 5 Polarettes Preschool/ Family Drop In 3:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club enjoy the gym as a giant indoor play space. A great place to practice skills or just play and explore! Open gym is for members only.

ONLINE EVENTS

Wednesdays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https://www. rootedtreemassage.com/book-online.

Wednesdays Live And Online Kundalini Yoga 8:00 AM Online Kriya, mudra, and mantra awaken your body and focus the mind. We will follow one sequence until you are able to find yourself in the flow, before moving on. Unfold to your own nature: do what feels good, soak in the good vibes, and watch this beautiful practice transform you. Kundalini has a powerful effect on the endocrine system, improving lymph drainage, hormonal balance, and mood.

Fridays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community

Fridays AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 334-7693

Saturdays AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 334-7693.you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https://www. rootedtreemassage.com/book-online

Mondays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help

Tuesdays Restorative Online Healing Circles 7:30 PM Online Check-in, Q&A, connect and feel the results. No experience necessary. Register online, or call 335-0078 or email alison@ alisonzeidler.com for more info.

Tuesdays Mental Health Awareness and Support Online it is essential that people build capacity to support those with mental health concerns. https://bit. ly/3GTz6T5

AND PORK RAGU

so make sure you have the real deal. If you don’t have them in your pantry al ready, you can find

Sichuān

at the Yukon Asian Market on Wood Street.

try

If you have any leftover

Maybe

Serves 4.

a cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat, toast the peppercorns until fragrant, then place in a mortar and pestle (or a

grinder) and finely grind.

2. Place the skillet back over medium-high heat and add the oil. When shimmering, add onion, garlic and ginger, then cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the ground pork and the Sichuān peppercorns and break up the pork into small pieces with a spatula. Cook until the pork is browned.

3. When the pork is browned, add the tomato paste, chili paste, dried pepper, water and tofu, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until a vibrant red oil comes to the surface of the sauce, about 20 minutes. Add more water, if necessary, to keep the liquid above the pork. Season, to taste, with salt.

4. While the sauce is simmering, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.

5. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water, then drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Bring the pasta and sauce to a simmer, using pasta water to loosen if necessary. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and sesame flakes. n

Lemon and zest

in The Boston Globe, Seriouseats.com as well as in other publications.

Cubed tofu

PHOTOS: Sydney Keddy

Crumbled, dried chili

Tofu And Pork Ragu, with Sichuãn (Szechuan) peppercorns and ginger

Growing up on the East Coast of Canada, I envied western hunters that rev elled in these adventurous pur suits and I dreamt of one day hav ing the opportunity to harvest a mature ram myself. These dreams were put on hold for eight years while I completed my schooling at Dalhousie University, and despite having fallen in love with Halifax’s charm, I knew that the time had finally come for me to “head out west.” Five days after graduation, I found myself packing my truck and hitting the highway. I was moving to the Yukon.

After living in Whitehorse for a year, I was finally eligible to hunt as a Yukon resident. Despite being able to purchase the tag that al

lowed me to legally hunt sheep, I knew there was still tons of work that needed to be done before I’d actually be able to pull it off. I lacked the necessary mountain fitness, my long-range shooting needed work, I barely knew any thing about sheep biology, and my “backcountry skills” were rudi mentary at best.

For the next few years, I made training a priority and spent virtu ally all of my spare time hunting and fishing in the mountains. I was fortunate enough to find success early on in these endeavours and harvested several caribou, black bears and moose in this time per iod. This surplus of meat allowed me to not only fill my freezer, but also helped me to fulfill the lifelong dream of no longer hav ing to buy any red meat from the grocery store. As time went on, I found myself completely en thralled with the entirety of the process, and my understanding and appreciation for the wildlife, the vast Yukon landscapes and for spot and stalk hunting, all grew simultaneously.

In August of 2021, I embarked on my first serious fly-in sheep hunt, with my hunting partners and great friends Rory Allen, Steve Hossack and Sean McEwen. Steve, Rory and I had done a lot of hunt ing together and were confident in one another’s abilities, and our buddy Sean had many years of mountaineering experience on us, which helped to fill in any gaps that we had in mountain naviga tion. We hunted hard for eight days and found many sheep, but only managed to come across one

barely legal ram that we couldn’t get to. Once shooting a sheep was no longer in the cards, we changed gears and managed to harvest a mature bull moose that was lower down in the valley. De spite not tagging a ram, I learned more in those eight days about sheep hunting than I had in all my years prior and immediately got to planning the following year’s trip upon our return home.

On July 29 of this year, it was finally time to get after it again. With Rory and Steve out of town, Sean and I set out as a two-man team and ventured into an area where I had glassed up several legal rams a few years prior. That night we quickly set up camp and did one last gear check as we mentally prepared ourselves for the task ahead. The next morning we got up early and began our journey up the creek and into the mountains.

On the hike in we were treated to mild weather and blue skies that offered unobstructed views of the surrounding mountaintops. We were delighted to find that the creek that we followed, up into

the hills, would be the perfect water source for our trip, as it was easily accessible and spanned the entire length of the valley. We were pleasantly surprised by how smooth the hiking was and were lucky enough to find several cari bou sheds on the way in. Just be fore we punched into the back of the mountain bowl, a break in the alders offered us a clear view of an alpine meadow where we spot ted our first ram of the trip. It felt like things were coming together. Sean and I laughed as we finished off the last few kilometres of the hike before setting up camp.

That night we were treated to more action as we watched seven rams feed around the alp ine meadow opposite the valley from our base camp. We watched them for several hours and de termined that while two of them were pretty close to being legal, none of the sheep were obvious “no-doubters.” Distracted by the sheep across the bowl, we near ly missed two more rams feed ing directly above us, less than a kilometre away. One of them was clearly too young, but the guy

he was travelling with had a lot more mass and appeared to be an older sheep. They only offered us a quick look; but with all this ac tion, two days away from the sea son opener, we couldn’t possibly have been more excited.

The next morning we headed up and over the mountain where we finally got to look back into the next range. Within minutes we got eyes on another band of rams sitting 1.5 kilometres below us and feeding straight up in our direction. Too good to be true. We hunkered down in the rocks and watched them for an hour, prepared to spend the night shad owing the sheep if we found one in the bunch that was legal. They continued to feed into our dir ection and forced us to retreat when they got to 400 yards, as we feared that we might spook them and stir up the area. We returned to base camp that night and found a large bull caribou hanging out at our tent, where he fed along and grazed, about 200 yards away from us while we cooked supper.

page

of the

having the

to hunt and harvest a mature Dall sheep is merely a pipe dream

Casey Donovan with his first harvested ram

PHOTOS: Casey Donovan

Casey Donovan

Yukon Unguided is a grassroots educational platform that aims to inspire an ethical and passionate community of DIY hunters and anglers.

With all of the action that we had been having, it seemed like nothing could go wrong … but pretty soon our luck would change. After the morning climb, on Au gust 1, and after several hours of glassing from the mountaintop, we spotted a large storm system heading in our direction and de cided to hike back to camp. Mid way down our descent, we were met with heavy rains, strong winds and crashing hail that forced us to retreat into the tent—a humbling reminder for us that mother nature was indeed still the one in charge. We weathered the storm through the night and well into the afternoon of August 2, logging over 16 hours hunkered down in the tent. When the storm finally let up, visibility was still at an all-time low, as thick clouds had completely socked in the valley. As the clouds slowly began to lift, Sean made the suggestion to pack up camp and move farther down the creek, which would allow us to hunt the hills a few kilometres closer to where we would have to hike out in a few days’ time. With limited opportunity to glass through the fog, I agreed with Sean that this seemed like the most efficient use of our time.

By the time we moved camp, we only had four to five hours of daylight left to work with and we decided to make the most of it with another climb into the alpine. After navigating a sketchy boul der field, we finally made it to the summit to glass. Just as we pulled out our scopes, more clouds moved in and socked us in once again. With all our days’ efforts seemingly wasted, we stubbornly sat around and tried to get eyes on the one saddle that we could see sporadic ally. Just before the clouds elimin ated our view entirely, we picked up six white dots on the hillside.

With the fog threatening to stick around, Sean decided to hike around the peak to see what he could find. I sat tight on the rocks, in hopes that the clouds would clear up enough for me to get eyes on those six white dots again. When Sean returned, I was thrilled to report that not only were those six white dots sheep, but they were all rams and I was pretty con fident that one of them was the

“no-doubter” we were looking for. We watched the sheep as they con tinued to feed into the saddle and, with the daylight hours dwindling, we were forced to make a play. We decided to tuck down behind the ridgeline and out of sight, in or der to close the distance. With the sheep out of sight, we were bank ing on them getting tired and rest ing up in the saddle, which looked like a great spot for them to poten tially bed down for the night.

It took us two hours to close the gap. As we tiptoed in for those last few-hundred yards, we were thrilled to see that the rams were bedded down right where we wanted them. A quick look with my rangefinder confirmed that we were sitting 334 yards away from our target, with no option to get any closer without spooking them. We did our best to stay calm, and we confirmed one more time, with the spotting scope, that he was in deed a legal ram.

Once I finally grabbed my gun and got him in the crosshairs, I was forced to exercise more patience as we waited for the bedded-down ram to stand up and offer a clear shot. To further complicate things, we were forced to guess the speed of the howling winds, which I knew from that distance would have a significant impact on the trajec tory of my solid copper, 180-grain .30-06 round. With Sean in the spotting scope, at my left, I was finally able to get a good shot off as the sheep stood up and turned broadside. As the gun went off, my bipod malfunctioned and I briefly lost the ram in the crosshairs. Sean was able to confirm that it was a good hit in the bread basket, but, to our surprise, the ram ap peared to barely flinch and walked another 50 yards into the rocks, where he bedded down yet again— this time, clearly hurt and staring straight at us.

In an attempt to end the ani

mal’s suffering as quickly as pos sible, and for fear of the ram jump ing off the nearby cliff, I loaded the gun immediately in an attempt to make a follow-up shot. In a mo ment of panic, I hastily forgot to re-acquire my new yardage which, now that the ram had moved, was closer to 400 yards rather than the previously acquired 334. Coup ling this mistake with the howling winds, I proceeded to miss two fol low-up shots, cleanly, before Sean jumped back on the glass and told me that my bullets were hitting low and left. I made the necessary adjustment in my scope and took another shot, this time hitting the ram directly in the heart, killing him instantly. We breathed a sigh of relief as we walked up on the ram, for the first time, and con firmed that he was a legal sheep.

Phew.

It took us two hours to field dress the ram before we hiked down off the mountain and hung

the meat in a tree along the creek. We then hiked back up the valley where we spent the night and grabbed our camp. The pack out took us the better part of the next day, and music from our nearly dead cellphones helped to keep our spirits high as we completed the “victory march” back out of the mountain block. That night we hooked into several grayling on the fly rods, while we slowly smoked the sheep ribs over an open fire, before enjoying a proper Yukon surf and turf. Once back in White horse, we butchered the animal in Sean’s garage, with the help of a few of our good friends who came by to congratulate us on a success ful hunt and to hear the story of the trip.

Sheep hunting is a truly unique experience that challenges both your mind and body. Overcoming the odds and seeing the other side of a successful sheep hunt is a feeling that I find difficult to put into words. While I still have so much to learn about these amaz ing animals and the rugged land scapes they call home, it is the promise of the unparalleled ad venture, the overcoming of adver sity and suffering, with your close pals, and the excuse to spend time exploring such beautiful places, that will forever keep me coming back for more.

To this day, I’m still not able to reach into the freezer and pull out one of those beautiful packs of sheep meat without my mind travelling back to those days, in August, when Sean and I ran ridges and harvested our very first ram— memories of an adventure that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

If I could teach one thing to any new sheep hunter, about the les sons that I’ve learned in the hills, it would be to make patience your friend. Stay patient in your prep aration, in your training, in your planning and when you’re in the hills judging that legal ram for the very first time. It’s easy to let emotions cloud your decision mak ing, when the margins for error are so small, but taking the time to do things right can be the dif ference maker between a fun and successful harvest or having things go south and going home emptyhanded. n

PHOTOS: Casey Donovan

A true Yukon Surf n’ Turf

These are the same friends who remind me, every now and then, to slow down, take it easy and to erase at least 99 per cent of the contents of my to-do list. A strange concept for “dynamo” me to grasp, until I put my back out this week standing up. Yes, you read that correctly— all I did was stand up from kneel ing beside my beehive. No heavy lifting, sporting accident or previ ous injury. I plain and simply stood up and my body told me that it had had enough … Slow down!

I managed to make it back into the house (dressed in my pink bee suit), bent in half, staring at the floor. I looked so ridiculous I couldn’t help laughing hysterical ly, and my family simply stared at me and wondered why I had just walked through the front door, walking on my hands and feet like a bear. I knew I had to stop and relax, but didn’t have the skill set to be motionless (there was a rea son my mother was forever asking me to just sit still).

My son laid a yoga mat down for me on the living-room floor and I asked him to put a timer on for 30 minutes. Half an hour lying still on a Monday morning, wishing my back out of spasm, felt like an eternity. If I could have squirmed, I would have. I didn’t have time for this. My mind just kept going through the final autumn to-do list in the garden: get bees ready for winter, collect wood, move gera niums, clear out greenhouse, rake leaves, create spiral garden, move horse manure, mow wildflower garden, harvest remaining vege tables, put away garden hoses (all before lunch time). The timer went off. I stood up and hobbled back to the garden, in agonizing pain, to work on winterizing the beehive for the rest of the day. That was Monday and today is Fri day. I haven’t moved much in-be

ART OF SLOWING DOWN

tween. The week has been spent sloth-like in my bed, pondering the art of slowing down.

I googled “meditation for lower back pain,” hoping for a miracle cure. I had to be still (not diffi cult as I couldn’t move anyway), focus on my breathing and con sciously scan my body and check in with every part of it. My body had plenty to tell me, not just my back. In fact, the whole right-hand side of my body was feeling pretty worn out now that I was taking the time to listen to it. Knee pain, shoulder tension, sore hip, swol len hand (bee sting), low blood pressure—you name it—my body had plenty to shout out about.

“Slow down,” my aching body cried, “and take time to check in on me more often. If you had listened to me earlier, you wouldn’t be in the state you are now.”

There are certain bodily func tions that are not possible in bed unless you have the assist ance of trained nursing staff and some functional bedpans. I had neither, so the next lesson in the art of slowing down was learning how to get from my bed to the bathroom (and back) with slow, conscious movements. Have you ever stopped to think about all the movements required to sit down on a toilet? I hadn’t until this week when every movement had to be thoughtfully executed to avoid sharp pangs of agoniz ing pain. With slow, gentle steps and the best posture I could mus ter, I would make my way to the bathroom. Arriving at the toilet, I would pray the seat was down and the lid was up (or I would have to mentally compute and then execute a way for my body to accomplish the simple task of preparing the toilet for use). Turn around (small steps, no twisting), back up to the toilet (small steps, no twisting), brace thighs, engage abdomen and bend knees (slowly, no twisting). With any luck I would find myself centered over the toi let seat and ready to do my busi ness. Phew, what a relief. Wait … how was I meant to reach the toi let paper beautifully hanging by

my right arm? It’s a move called the toilet paper twist—very, very, very slowly. Got it. Now to stand up again: brace thighs, engage ab domen and straighten knees.

I have never been so grateful to be standing again after going to the toilet. Forget flushing the toilet. That would mean turn ing around (very slowly), bending over (very slowly), reaching out to the handle (very slowly), push ing the handle down (very slowly) and then doing it all in reverse just to get back to standing. No, somebody else can flush the toi let this time; I am going over to the sink (very slowly) to wash my hands. Hang on a second … I need to lean over to reach the tap? OK, here goes, very slowly. Ouch, I only wanted a squirt of soap (I shouldn’t have twisted). Relax, it’s OK, your hands are clean now. Stand up straight again, turn to wards the hand towel (slowly, no twisting) and dry your hands. I’m done, I’m done, I’m done; thank goodness I can go back to bed now—very, very, very slowly.

The simple day-to-day act of going to the bathroom turned out to be a very complex process when broken down into infinitely small, conscious movements to avoid pain. I had no idea, until I

was forced to slow right down. When I look back over the sum mer and think of all the hours of work I relentlessly asked my body to do in the garden, day after day, I realize that I have been taking my usually strong and healthy body for granted. Sure, I was able to grow lots of food, but at what price to my body? Imagine if I had taken the time to check in with my body every day this summer. I would have kept stretching every morning instead of rushing out into the garden to start work. Per haps I wouldn’t have been nurs ing a back injury this week and pickling beets instead. I have no choice now but to slow down and gently stretch my body back into shape, with the total awareness it deserves. My lesson in the art of slowing down has been learnt. It now needs to be put into practice.

If I only put three things on my to-do list each morning, make time to stretch, and listen to my body, I should be able accomplish everything I set out to do in a day and take care of myself in the pro cess. As for the bees, they have slowed right down for winter and are tucked away warm and cozy, deep inside the beehive until next summer!

Busy as a bee. n

Friends who know me may well be wondering why on earth Amanda Mouchet is writing about the art of slowing down

Slow down, my aching body cried, and take time to check in on me more often

PHOTO: Amanda Mouchet

Yukon-based photographer Amanda Mouchet loves life in all its forms, lights and colours. Her work behind the camera is simply an extension of how she sees beauty and happiness in the world around her.

Mouchet

A GARDENER’S WORK IS NEVER DONE

marigolds, geraniums and snap dragons get shipped up in trucks each spring and are quickly bought up and taken to their new homes.

Our Gift Certificates may be used towards scheduled and charter flights, getaway packages, and air passes. Available in any value, starting from $25.

The last of the vegetables have been harvested and stored, the colourful leaves raked together and one might think that there’s nothing left to do this year. But just like a hunter is busy thinking of the next hunt ing trip or still processing the meat from the last one, in the time between hunting seasons, a gardener doesn’t stop thinking about the garden just because nothing is growing at the moment.

Planning, preparing and dreaming about your garden is a year-round job. The compost pile needs to be turned over, there are garden beds you can prepare for spring, seeds to collect, and if you’re really eager for next year, you can even sow a few things already (like spinach) and they’ll come up when the ground warms up again (just remember to mark when and where you sowed them). As the temperatures drop and more and more of the flowers in your garden hang their heads in resignation to the cold and bitter late-autumn winds, it’s normal to think about and assess what went well this year and what you’d like to try to do differently next year.

Many plants, especially here in the North, complete their whole life cycle within one growing sea son and won’t return next year. These plants are called annuals. There are also many perennials (plants that usually come back each spring) that can survive a winter down south but aren’t hardy enough for a long Yukon winter. Annuals can be beautiful additions to a garden and it’s al ways fun to go into the local gar den centres in spring and pick out new plants for the year. Colourful petunias, zinnias, nasturtiums,

However, it’s hard to see all the time, love and money that you invested in your plants be taken away with the first hard frost. An nuals will always be a part of most gardens, especially in hanging bas kets and planters, but having truly hardy and resilient plants in your garden beds is a great alternative to spending money, each year, buying lots of annuals and, best of all, you won’t have to say goodbye to them after one season. Peren nials might be more expensive in the moment, but it’s an invest ment that can give you much more joy in the long run, and save you time in years to come.

If you’re thinking of adding some more perennials and other low-maintenance choices to your garden, next year, here are a few to consider in your planning.

(In my experience these are very Yukon-hardy garden options, but keep in mind that success with perennials always depends on a variety of elements including lo cation, soil quality, fall hydration, amount of snowfall [snow can act as insulation to protect the roots of perennials] and the length of extreme cold periods in winter.)

Loyal Garden Companions

• Columbine: they come in many different colours and shapes and are great self-seeders

• Iceland Poppy: some of the first flowers to bloom in a northern garden and, if you are diligent about dead heading the spent flowers, they’ll bloom all summer long (listed as a short-lived peren nial or a biennial, but they self sow, readily, and will appear year after year if given enough freedom and space)

• Delphinium: beautiful tall spires of blue and purple flowers that attract pollinators (there are some kinds that aren’t very hardy, but Alpine delphinium/candle larkspur seems to be a good choice for the Yukon)

• Iris: showy flowers that will usually start to bloom in late June

Ship your gifts without reindeer.

Air North Cargo is the convenient and reliable way to ship your gifts across Canada, and you don’t need to harness reindeer. It’s enough to make Santa jealous.

1.800.661.0407 or (867) 668.2228

A gift that can carry them as far as Santa.

To a non-gardener it might seem as if the gardening season has come to an end now

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

Jessica

Linaria maroccana under a blanket of fresh snow

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Wed Nov 2 Beginner Cycling Series with Adrienne Marsh 4:15 PM Habit Health and Wellness A series of 5 classes, email habitcommunity@gmail.com

Wed Nov 2 Habit Spin 6:30 AM, 5:30 & 6:45 PM Habit Health and Wellness, Drop in for fun, inclusive, 50 minute indoor cycling (spin) class.

Wed Nov 2 Zumba 6:00 PM 7th Ray Studio A fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Register online

Wed Nov 2 Kids BJJ 4:45 & 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Children’s classes are focused on self defense Jiu Jitsu. A typical class starts with a warm up game, stretching, technique/ drilling, and ends with more fun games! For kids 4 - 12 years old.

Wed Nov 2 Sass Class – Drop in Velvet Antlers Productions 6:00 PM Super sassy dance cardio and across the floor progressions, along with tantalizing floorwork and sexy choreography. Register online. https://bit.ly/3wkXVod

Wed Nov 2 Spirit Bear Karate The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre 6:30 PM & 7:30 PM Traditional Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate Do. Adult Class (16 y/o and up) http://spiritbearkaratekobudo.ca

Wed Nov 2 Badminton Adult Drop-in Takhini Elementary 7:30 PM Open to everyone 18 years old and older and all skill levels

Thu Nov 3 Intro to No Bun Ballet – Drop in Velvet Antlers Productions 6:00 PM A low impact, medium/ high energy, basics class while you tighten your core, increase your strength and build on the fundamentals for all VA classes and performances. Register online. https://bit.ly/3cbyCOI

Thu Nov 3 Habit Spin 6:45 PM Habit Health and Wellness, Drop in for fun, inclusive, 50 minute indoor cycling (spin) class.

Thu Nov 3 NO-GI JIU JITSU Eight Days Martial Arts 7:30 PM This class is very similar to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, only the students typically practice in shorts and a rash guard t-shirt, rather than a Gi. There is also typically a little more wrestling and leg locks due to the rules in tournaments being less restrictive.

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Email: events@whatsupyukon.com | Also, email us if there are any errors!

Please visit whatsupyukon.com for up to date event details. Some events may be postponed or cancelled after we print.

Sun Nov 6 Habit Yoga – Candlelight YIN with Cailyn MacMaster 6:45 PM Habit Health and Wellness Unwind from the week or ease into the next one. Drop in or pre register.

Mon Nov 7 Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai teaches combat skills that are good for self-defense along with positive holistic effects like respect, discipline, focus, and confidence. Open to ages 8 - 12.

Mon Nov 7 BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU Eight Days Martial Arts 6:00 AM & 7:30 PM a grappling based art that utilizes takedowns, sweeps, joint locks and strangle holds to subdue your opponent or attacker. BJJ emphasizes a lot of drilling and live sparring also know as “rolling”

Mon Nov 7 KIDS MUAY THAI Eight Days Martial Arts 4:45 PM a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. The sport is also referred to as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because it utilizes punching, kicking, elbowing and knee strikes. Muay Thai teaches combat skills that are good for self-defense along with positive holistic effects like respect, discipline, focus, and confidence. Open to ages 8 - 12.

Mon Nov 7 Women’s Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days Martial Arts 12:00 & 6:00 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Mon Nov 7 Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days Martial Arts 12:00 PM The art of 8

WELLNESS LISTINGS

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.

Tuesdays & Saturdays Counseling Drop-In and Short Term Counselling Service 11:00 AM Canadian Mental Health Association, Yukon Free Drop-In counselling is offered every Tuesday 11am - 4pm and Saturday from 11am - 3pm. Call 668-6429 for more info.

Wed Nov 2 Beginner with Experience

– Level 1 Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 5:30

PM Assumes some familiarity with the components of Sun Salutation A + B, foundational standing poses, use these to find the principles of intelligent movement universal to all yoga and all life activities. To register email wallymaltz@mac.com http:// www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/Schedule. html

Wed Nov 2 Hips Hams + Better Backs –

All Levels Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 7:30 PM Therapeutic work for healing, subtle work for strength. All levels welcome, preregistration required and drop-ins welcome. To register email wallymaltz@mac.com http://www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/ Schedule.html

Wed Nov 2 Overeaters Anonymous 7:30 PM Overeaters Anonymous For more information contact oayukon@

Thu Nov 3 AA Polar Group - O/M 7:30 PM

Christ Church Cathedral Join our support group in person or for our zoom room address email aapolargroup@gmail.com

Fri Nov 4 Yoga wake up flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https://www. rootedtreemassage.com/book-online

Fri Nov 4 Morning Yoga Stretch 9:00 AM

7th Ray Studio Easing into the day with gentling warming up and stretching. All levels are welcome Register online.

Fri Nov 4 Sally & Sisters/Soeurs 1:00 PM

Whitehorse United Church A safe place for women and children to access a meal.

Fri Nov 4 Slow Flow + Resto – All Levels

Alpine Bakery Upstairs 5:30 PM Stretch, flow + restore – a great way to end the week for a better weekend. To register email wallymaltz@mac.com http://www.yogayukon. ca/yogayukon/Schedule.html

Fri Nov 4 Sacred Breathwork 7:00 PM

Alpine Bakery (Upstairs) Improve the capacity to release fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, grief, and other charged or blocked emotions. Pre-registration required, by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Fri Nov 4AA Whitehorse Group (OM, NS)

8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Looking for support with your relationship with alcohol? Join the AA Whitehorse Group..

Fri Nov 4 Men’s Support Group for Indigenous men 18 and over CYFN

supportive props in relaxing variations of backbends, forward folds and twists, to relax deeply. To register email wallymaltz@mac. com http://www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/ Schedule.html

Mon Nov 7 Sally & Sisters/Soeurs 1:00 PM Whitehorse United Church A safe place for women and children to access a meal.

Mon Nov 7 Smart Recovery Addictions Support 6:45 PM Sarah Steele Building

Mon Nov 7 Live And Online Kundalini Yoga 8:00 AM Online Kriya, mudra, and mantra awaken your body and focus the mind. We will follow one sequence until you are able to find yourself in the flow, before moving on.

Mon Nov 7 Intermediate Yoga – Level 2 Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 5:30 PM Explore alignment and form in a wide range of familiar + new poses, applying what we learn to deeper forward bends, backbends, balances, inversions and some flowing sequences. Pre-registration required, email wallymaltz@mac.com. http://www. yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/Schedule.html

Mon Nov 7 Breathe + Stretch with Carrie Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 7:30 PM A slow paced class to lengthen and stretch the body. The focus will be on the spine, pelvis, and fascia with slow fluid movements to help give you a better range of motion and the ability to move more easily. An hour and a half to slow down and recharge your batteries with Carrie Ekholm. Pre-register carrie.ekholm@gmail. com http://www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/ Schedule.html

Mon Nov 7 Hips, Hams + Core – All Levels Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 7:00 PM Fairly vigorous classes with emphasis on breath and slower is stronger. Designed to dramatically increase core strength, stabilize, strengthen and open hips, safely regain hamstring mobility. All levels welcome. Preregistration required, email wallymaltz@mac. com. http://www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/ Schedule.html

Mon Nov 7 Absolute Beginners - Intro Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 5:30 PM Get an introduction to yoga over 7 weeks with instructors Erica + Carrie. Pre-registration required, email wallymaltz@mac.com. http:// www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/Schedule. html

Mon Nov 7 AA New Beginnings Group

The fragrant annual matthiola incana in late autumn

s Native Yukon Plants

• Yarrow: a very hardy northern flowering plant that has many medicinal uses (though usually white, there are also pink var ieties and even yellow ones)

• Bluebells/Lungwort/Merten sia paniculata: a common flower, in boreal forests, that blooms fairly early and has edible flowers

• Gorman’s Beardtongue/Pen stemon gormanii: a rather drought-tolerant northern flower that doesn’t grow very tall and attracts bees and butterflies

• Forget-me-nots: has pretty lit tle light-blue flowers that have a delicate, sweet scent

• Fireweed: the Yukon’s official floral emblem has vibrant ma

genta flowers that look gor geous when grown in clumps or like a short hedge (if you don’t want the cotton-like seed pods flying around your yard, be sure to cut off the flowers before they go to seed)

s Perennial Herbs

• Chives: a close relative of the onion that has edible leaves and flowers and is one of the first bits of green that usu ally appears in the garden in spring

• Lovage: a culinary herb, with a strong flavour, that can grow fairly tall and is generally used in soups, stews and sal ads

• Creeping Thyme: a great ground cover that can be used for cooking and is very hardy, once established

• Horseradish: technically a root vegetable that is naturally rich in antioxidants and is usually used as a spice or condiment due to its distinctive, strong taste (can grow very large, so

be sure to plant it somewhere where it will have plenty of room to spread without affect ing other plants)

s Hardy Shrubs

• Lilac: a shrub that can be found all over Whitehorse, bears fragrant purple flowers and likes full sun

• Spiraea: has clusters of deli cate, airy flowers, with foliage that turns yellow and orange in the fall

• Wolf willow: a drought-toler ant shrub with silvery foliage and small yellow flowers and many traditional uses; can be found growing wild in various parts of Canada, especially Al berta

• Mountain ash/rowan: a de ciduous shrub, with white flowers in spring and bright-or ange/red fruit in fall that have medicinal uses and often at tract large flocks of waxwings in winter

s Berries

• Black and red currants: mem bers of the gooseberry family, with a tart flavour that are wonderful in jams, preserves and syrups

• Saskatoons: a deciduous na tive shrub that grows widely in the Yukon and produces sweet berries that can be enjoyed raw or cooked

• Haskaps: a berry, with many health benefits, that has be come very popular in recent years and is well suited for harsh northern climates; pro duces sweet blue berries, early in the summer (cross pollina tion is required between com patible varieties, so it’s best to plant several plants together)

s Resilient Self-seeding Flowers

• Chamomile: an easy-growing plant with small, fragrant daisy-like flowers that can be dried and used to make tea

• Johnny Jump Ups: a small wild pansy that produces many seeds and will continue to pop up in your garden for years; the friendly flowers are edible in salads (or as decora tion on desserts) and have a long history of use in folk medicine

• Linaria maroccana/ Toadflax/“Fairy Bouquet”: a mini snapdragon lookalike with a sweet fragrance that blooms all summer long and will self seed freely if you don’t deadhead all the flowers

• Flax: cultivated for thousands of years for its fibre and oil; has charming light-blue flowers, is drought tolerant and wild birds like to eat the seeds in winter

Even when the yard is covered with snow, it’s never too early to dream about next year’s garden.

Seed catalogues will soon start ar riving again in the mail, and so,

while you’re flipping through their colourful pages on a snowy winter morning, keep in mind that one way to add a bit of extra vitality to your garden is to plant more perennials. Plant them in places where they won’t be disturbed, remember to mark them so you won’t accidentally dig them up and, over time, you’ll be able to divide and propagate some of these dependable plants and give them as gifts to friends and family. n

Mountain ash berries waiting to be feasted on by waxwings

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

cud

will

exercise.

do well in a home

and with proper introduction, another dog.

do not know how he is with cats.

interested in adopt

out

at hu manesocietyyukon.ca. If you already have a pre-approved

PORCUPINE SQUAD

Youth Drop-In Centre

Recreational program for

When: Tuesday to Friday 3pm to 9

& Sat 1-9 pm

Ages: 12-18 years old

For more info: See Facebook page for schedule & activities, or email Oliver: obulpitt@bcgyukon.com

AllStars After School Program

An affordable, quality after

When: Monday to Friday 3-5:00 pm following the school calendar.

Ages: Ages 6-11 years old

Cost: Tuition fees as follows: $315/month allstars@bgcyukon.com for inquiries

Location: Downtown/Takhini Elementary

call 633-6019 to put

within the last

towards him.

Learning Tree Early Years Centre

An affordable,

When: Monday to Friday 7:30am-5:15pm

of

Ages: 18 months - 5

Cost: Tuition fees as

Toddler: $160/month, Preschool: $150/month Emily Howard at 393-2824 ext 206 or eypd@bgcyukon.com

Location: Riverdale

FOSTER FAMILIES NEEDED

most adoptions happen in the city, YARN relies heavily on foster homes in the city when pups are ready for adoption. We look after all the vet appointments and adoption applications.

YARN cannot continue accepting litters, unless it has foster homes to care for them in the city, while they find their homes. We are in need of some great Fosters Families to help our little fur-babies when they arrive in Whitehorse.

If you are interested and able to help in fostering please get in contact with us via our page @YukonAnimalRescueNetwork

BRAKE FLUID

Regular brake fluid changes ensure that a car’s braking system operates safely and effectively.

Modern braking systems use brake fluid to transfer the application of the brake pedal down to the front and rear brakes, to bring the vehicle to a stop. The fluid is usually silicone based, which does not compress, giving a solid pedal feel and an increased temperature rating. The downside to using this style of fluid is that it absorbs moisture from the air.

Constant braking causes massive amounts of heat to be generated by the braking components, which is then transferred into the fluid. If there is moisture in the fluid, this will decrease the temperature rating of the fluid, and can result in a soft brake pedal and increased stopping distance. Most manufacturers recommend brake fluid changes every 2 years, regardless of kilometres travelled, but it may need to be changed more frequently if the vehicle is operated under abnormal conditions.

ATLIN

Fridays Atlin Community Library Atlin Community LIbrary 2:00 PM Open two days per week, Fridays and Saturdays, covid protocols

Sundays St. Martins Anglican

Sat Nov 5 Drop In Pickleball 3:00 PM

Carmacks Recreation Centre

Sun Nov 6 Toddler Time 1:00 PM

Carmacks Recreation Centre

Mon Nov 7 Drop-in Basketball 5:00 PM

Carmacks Recreation Centre Ages 5-12 (57PM) and Ages 13 to adult (7-9PM)

Sat Nov 5 Under 5 Gym Drop-In 10:00 AM Robert Service School

Sat Nov 5 Drop-In Walking Group 12:00 PM Robert Service School Open to all ages, children under 10 to be accompanied by an adult, Parents with strollers are welcome. Set distance goals to achieve or just come for exercise and socialization.

Sunday Service 10:00 AM St. Martins Anglican

10:00 AM Everyone is

Atlin

Tuesdays Craft Dinner 5:00

Inn Craft and eat with good

start

an

Tuesdays 5 Mile Group (OM) 7:30

Hit building Next to Centre for Culture

1-250-651-7900

YUKON COMMUNITIES:

Wednesdays 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.

CARCROSS

First Sunday of Every Month St. Saviour’s Church Services 2:00 pm St. Saviour Church 867-668-3129

Mondays Light Walkers Group (OM) 5:00 PM Fire Hall meeting room 1137 Austin St.

Sat Nov 5 DPSAY Race in Carcross – 5 Miles Carcross

CARMACKS

Wed Nov 2 Toddler Time & Indoor Soccer/Learn to Play 10:00 AM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Wed Nov 2 Teen Movie Night 7:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Thu Nov 3 Carmacks Open Gym 5:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Thu Nov 3 Family Movie Night 7:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Fri Nov 4 CTJS Floor Hockey 5:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre Kids & Youth Floor Hockey (5-7PM) and Adult Floor Hockey (7-9PM)

Sat Nov 5 Disc Golf Drop-In 1:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre All ages! Free! The Recreation Department has a variety of Driver, Fairway, and Putter Discs to use. https://bit.ly/3QIuxAs

Better Buildings

Mon Nov 7 Carmacks Spikerz Volleyball 6:00 PM Carmacks Recreation CentreIndoors at the VOC - Rec Center until the outdoor courts at Merv Tew Park & Tantalus School are ready! https://bit. ly/3Ot7cSv

Tue Nov 8 Drop-in Basketball & Soccer 5:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre Ages 5-12 (5-7PM) and Ages 13 to adult (7-9PM)

Tue Nov 8 Nerf Battle Dome 5:30 PM

Carmacks Recreation Centre Carmacks Recreation Centre

DAWSON CITY

Tue - Thur St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 4:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live) Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4pm Yukon Time for Evening Prayer.

Tue - Thu Saint Mary’s Weekday Mass 5:00 PM Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Join Father Emanuel for weekday mass Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Wed Nov 2 Youth Muay Thai Classes 3:00 PM Minto Park Concession Ages 7-13 Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca to register.

Wed Nov 2 Fitness Program 3:30 PM Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre

Wed Nov 2 Cooking Club 4:30 PM Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre

Thu Nov 3 Cooking Club 3:00 PM Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre

Fri Nov 4 Cards & Conversation 12:30

PM Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. Proof of

Sun Nov 6 AA North Star Group Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-993-5095 or 867-993-3734 for more information

Sun Nov 6 Under 5 Gym Drop-In 10:00 AM Robert Service School

Sun Nov 6 Learn to Skate 4:00 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre For those 18+ Learn the basics of skating – register at the arena

Sun Nov 6 Screen Printing Drop-in with Dan Brown 6:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC) Includes: use of screens*, emulsion, and ink! There is a refundable deposit of $20 per screen though participants are welcome to bring their own.

Sun Nov 6 Yin Yoga 8:00 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre For a deep stretch and relaxation before bedtime Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca

Mon Nov 7 Handbuilding Pottery DropIn Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 11:00 AM Handbuilding pottery. For independent potters with experience who feel confident working independently.

Mon Nov 7 55+ Stretch & Strong Fitness Class 2:00 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre A 6-week strength class for Dawsonites Call 993-7400 ext 299

Mon Nov 7 Badminton & Pickleball 6:00 PM Robert Service School Open to all ages (children under 10 must be supervised).

Mon Nov 7 Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:30 PM Robert Service School Gym – Free Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info

Mon Nov 7 Young Peoples Talking Circle 7:00 PM Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre

info

recreation@cityofdawson.ca or call 993-7400 ext 299.

5:00

Fri Nov 4 Adult Rec &

&

Sat Nov

AM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 11:00 AM No registration required, just show up! Space is very limited.

Tue Nov 8 Romp & Run 10:30 AM YOOP Hall Email Jen.Suttis@cdcyukon.ca for more info.

Tue Nov 8 Preschool Learn to Skate 10:45 AM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre Half Hour

for

preschoolers ages 3+. Email recreation@ cityofdawson.ca

Tue Nov 8 Hand Building Pottery

PM KIAC

11:00

Get low-cost funding for improving your home or building’s energy use.

You can get up to $50,000 to reduce your home’s energy consumption.

Property owners can get up to $100,000 to reduce the carbon emissions of their commercial and institutional buildings.

Find out how to qualify for Better Buildings funding at yukon.ca/better-buildings.

Contact Energy Branch energy@yukon.ca 867-393-7063 or 1-800-661-0408 and ask to be transferred.

Tue Nov 8 Hatha Yoga 5:30 PM Art &

Margaret Fry Rec Centre Improve your posture flexibility and strength. Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca

Tue Nov 8 English Conversation Club

7:00 PM YukonU A weekly English Conversation Club for immigrants in Dawson City.

Tue Nov 8 Magic The Gathering 7:00 PM

Minto Park Concession Building FREE Event. Format is commander – Bring your own cards / decks

FARO

Wednesdays & Friday’s Games & Walks

1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre Walk or play cards, engage in healthy living.

Wednesdays Basketball (Open Court)

4:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre Shoot some hoops, practice your skills on the open court. Call 994-2375 or email recreation@faroyukon.ca for more info.

Fridays Badminton 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Saturdays Open Gym 4:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre Unstructured activity time where the gymnasium is available to students, families, and/or community members to play pick-up sports. Call 9942375 or email recreation@faroyukon.ca for more info.

Tuesdays & Thursdays Parent & Tot 10:00

AM Faro Recreation Centre

Tuesday & Thursdays Carpet Bowling 1:00

PM Faro Recreation Centre

Tuesdays & Thursdays Kids Club 3:30

PM Faro Recreation Centre – Must be preregistered, for more info call 994-2375

Tuesdays Adult Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre

HAINES JUNCTION

Wed Nov 2 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]

Wed Nov 2 Boxing Classes Bill Brewster Arena 5:30 PM Reach your fitness goals by joining this boxing program! Participants must complete out a waiver provided. Call 634-2012 or email dgraham@cafn.ca for more info. https://bit.ly/3mGYALy

Wed Nov 2 Adult Volleyball 16+ 7:00 PM

St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym

Thu Nov 3 Kids Art Journals (Grades 4-6) 4:30 PM Bill Brewster Arena Register online https://bit.ly/3TuhUtU

Thu Nov 3 Step It Up with Shelby 7:00 PM

Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Fri Nov 4 HJL Story Time 10:00AM Haines

Junction Library Registration is required but the program is still run as a drop in. There is no commitment to come each week. https:// bit.ly/3KmBdBC.l

Sat Nov 5 Step It Up with Shelby 7:00 PM

Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Mon Nov 7 Step It Up with Shelby 7:00

PM Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Mon Nov 7 Smart Recovery Meetings 8:00 PM Munku Hall Everyone welcome, call 334-5688 for more info.

Tue Nov 8 Kids Art Journals (Grades 2 & 3) 3:30 PM Recreation Centre Register online https://bit.ly/3TuhUtU

MARSH LAKE

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays Jackalope Open for drinks and snacks 5:00 PM

Marsh Lake Community Centre

Thursdays North of 60 Seniors Coffee and Chat 2:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre

Thursdays Shuffleboard Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM

Saturdays Knitting Circle 11:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre Everyone wielding a hook, needle or pin is welcome.

Saturdays Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 12:30 PM

Saturdays Family Playtime and Open Gym 3:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre

MAYO

Weekdays Lunchtime Lengths 12:00 PM

Mayo Recreation Centre

Weekdays Mayo Mornings Parent and Tot Time 10:00 AM Mayo Recreation Centre

Mondays Video Yoga Classes 5:15 PM

Mayo Curling Arena Yoga Videos are used for leading each class. Bring your own Yoga mat or borrow ours. Drop-ins are welcome. For more info call 996-2043 8979962043

Mondays Dinner and Movie Night 5:00 PM Mayo Community Hall And Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Drop-in Art Night 7:00 PM Mayo Curling Lounge If you can bring a photo that you would like to work from that would be great. No experience necessary.

Sundays St. Mary’s Church Service 11:00 AM St Mary’s Church (867)667-7746

Sundays Communion Service St. Mary with St. Mark Anglican Church 11:00 AM where village members come together to worship and offer service to their community and the world.

Wed Nov 2 Wednesday Night Craft Night 7:00 PM Yukon University Mayo Campus Dust off your craft bin and bring any unfinished projects or start something new!

MOUNT LORNE

Wed Nov 2 Wilderness Wellness Wednesdays 2:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Come for a walk and snack!

Thu Nov 3 Parents and Tots Playtime Group 1:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre

Thu Nov 3 Community Drop-In 1:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Play games, craft, chat walk, snacks, coffee & tea provided.

Sun Nov 6 Rabbit Skin Tanning Workshop 2:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre participants will be taught the hands-on process of tanning and transforming a raw hid into a soft rabbit pelt they can take home. https://bit.ly/3SxF0j7

Mon Nov 7 Drop-In Yoga Mount Lorne Community Centre 7:00 PM By donation all levels welcome

OLD CROW

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

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

Wed Nov 2 Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal

Wed Nov 2 Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Mon Nov 7 Men’s Night At The Rec Centre 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Tue Nov 8 Kids Gym 3:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Tue Nov 8 Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Tue Nov 8 Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

SKAGWAY

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.

Wednesdays 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 School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

Sundays Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

TAGISH

Wed Nov 2 Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 1:00 PM Tagish Community LIbrary Targeted literacy programming by Yukon Learn at the Tagish Library. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon.

Wed Nov 2 Tagish Library 12:00 PM

Tagish Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon

Wed Nov 2 Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM

Tagish Community Centre

Thu Nov 3 Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon

Thu Nov 3 Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM

Tagish Community Centre

Thu Nov 3 Tagish Local Advisory Council Meeting Tagish Community Centre 7:00 PM .

Mon Nov 7 Line Dancing Lessons Tagish Community Centre 7:00 PM Music, Dancing and FUN! For more info or to reserve your spot email recreation@tagishyukon.org

TESLIN

Wed Nov 2 Pickleball 7:00 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Thu Nov 2 Seniors Lunch 12:00 PM Teslin

Lake Recreation Complex If you are 55+, join us for lunch and discussion on what your social and recreational interests are. https://bit.ly/3M6YFUW

Thu Nov 3 Art Afternoon 3:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Thu Nov 3 Adult Fitness 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Thu Nov 3 Youth Club 7:00 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Fri Nov 4 Young Explorers 3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre For those who like outdoor adventure.

Fri Nov 4 Basketball Drop-in Teslin Lake Recreation Complex 7:00 PM

Mon Nov 7 Group Fitness 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Tue Nov 8 3D Archery 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Tue Nov 8 Adult Fitness 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

WATSON LAKE

Sundays St. John’s Church Service 10:00

AM St. John’s Church Service (867) 5362932

Wed Nov 2 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.

Fri Nov 4 Friday Night Lanes 7:00 PM Call 335-7979 to register

Sat Nov 5 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.

Sun Nov 6 Sunday Nite Volleyball 11:00

AM Watson Lake Secondary School

Tue Nov 8 Pickleball & Badminton Watson Lake Secondary School 7:00 PM

Talking Tough (Topics): The

and Prac ce of Naviga ng Di cult  Conversa ons

Nov 10, Thur 10am - 11:30am

CODE: JUST CE112 FREE

CRN: 90585

Instructors: Erin Legault and Megan Grudeski

Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Nov 3

Loss and Grief in the Workplace

Nov 16, Wed 8:30am - 12pm

CODE:JUST CE105, $100 + GST

CRN: 90598

Instructors: Hospice Yukon Delivered in-person: L’AFY 302 Strickland St. Registra on deadline Nov 9

Understanding Legisla on Nov 22 and 24, Tue/Thur 9am - 12pm

CODE: JUST 019, $175 + GST

CRN: 90603

Instructor: Bruce Willis Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Nov 15

Yukon First Na ons 101

Jan 11-12, Wed-Thur 1:00 pm - 4:30pm

CODE: YFN 001 $325 + GST

CRN: 90034

Instructors: Yukon U’s First Na ons  In a ves Dept.

Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Jan 4

Sit in My Puddle – the art of Empathy and Holding Space

Jan 12, Thur 10:00 am - 11:30 am

CODE: JUST CE111 FREE

CRN: 90042

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault

Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Jan 5

Caregiving Through Loss and  Grief - for Frontline Professionals and Family Caregivers

Jan 25-Feb 22, Weds 9:30 am - 11:00 am

CODE: JUST CE106  $200 + GST

CRN 90036

Instructors: Hospice Yukon Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Jan 18

Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training

Jan 26-27, Thur - Fri 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

CODE: ASIS 002 $200 + GST  CRN: 90043

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault Delivered in-person:  Yukon Univers Ayamdigut Campus RmC1530 Registra on deadline: Jan 19

Responding with Resilience   Feb 7, Tue 10 am  - 11:30 am

CODE: JUST CE114 FREE CRN: 90044

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Jan 31

Working with Trauma     Feb 9 - 10, Thur - Fri 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

CODE: JUST CE70 $250 + GST CRN: 90045

Instructors: Liza Manolis and Brenda Jenner Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Feb 2

Coping During Crisis        Mar 1, Wed  9:00 am - 10:00 am     CODE:: JUST CE103 FREE    CRN::90046

Instructors: Liza Manolis and Brenda Jenner Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Feb 22

Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training

Naviga ng Di cult Client Rela onships

Apr 5, Wed 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

CODE: JUST CE120  $279 + GST CRN: 90048

Early Bird Registra on deadline: Mar 1 $249 + GST

Instructors: CTRI – Natashaa Cha erton Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Mar 22

Talking Tough (Topics) – the Skill  and Prac ce of Naviga ng Di cult  Conversa ons

Apr 6, Thur 10 am - 11:30 am

CODE: JUST CE112 FREE    CRN: 90049

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault

Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Mar 30

Mental Health First Aid Canada for Northern Peoples

Apr 10-12, Mon-Wed 8:30 am - 4:30 pm CODE: JUST 034 $245 + GST    CRN: 90050

Instructors: Joanne Green & Laura Anderson Delivered in-person:  Yukon Univers Ayamdigut Campus Rm C1530

Registra on deadline: Apr 3

Sit in My Puddle – the art of Empathy and Holding Space

Apr 18, Tue 10:00 am - 11:30 am

CODE: JUST CE111 FREE CRN: 90051

Mar 8-9, Wed-Thur 8:30 am  - 4:00 pm

CODE: ASIS 002 $200 + GST CRN: 90047

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault Delivered in-person:  Yukon Univers Ayamdigut Campus Rm C1530 Registra on deadline: Mar 1

Instructors: Megan Grudeski & Erin Legault Delivered: Remotely via Zoom Registra on deadline: Apr 11

Yukon First Na ons 101  June 14, Wed 8:30am - 4:00pm    CODE: YFN 001 $325 + GST CRN: 90034

Instructors: Yukon U’s First Na ons  In a ves Dept. Delivered in-person:  Yukon Univers Ayamdigut Campus Rm C1530

Registra on deadline: Jun 7

t has, for the past twenty-plus years, been one of my favour ite songs since that first time I heard her sing it. A favourite, in part, because of the range of her voice, but also because of the piano accompaniment and intro in spired by “Jingle Bells.”

Skating on a river sounds like a dream, but it would make me nerv

ous (I’m not that brave) and may even be a nightmare.

I have fond memories of strap ping on skates to glide over the deep-blue, almost-black pond ice on our Saskatchewan farm, about eight miles south of Bengough.

That windblown ice was a little bumpy, as young skaters, but skat ing was exhilarating all the same. My brother and I learned, with that first winter on the farm, that the colour of the ice, as well as the time of year (mid to late winter), would inform our judgment when it came to ice safety. Deeper-blue ice was safe, but opaque or “snow ice” meant that the ice was likely not ready/not safe. And grey-col oured ice heralded the most-dan gerous ice of all, as that indicated the presence of water. Then, of

course, there was thickness (four inches or more and the ice was safe). My brother and I never meas ured the ice of that small pond. We trusted my step-father who knew these things having grown up on the farm, himself, with eight sis ters. He was the youngest of his siblings, so my guess is that eight older sisters had taught him a thing or two about the pond. His parents had come to Saskatchewan from Edinburgh, Scotland, and were homesteaders on the piece of land that my mother affectionately named “Poverty Valley.”

Those winters now seem like a lifetime ago and a million miles away (or at least a four-day drive) now that we are living in the Yukon.

In the Yukon, ice tells the same story … and, of course, any fast-

flowing body of water, such as the Yukon River, should be avoided. There is an old saying you may have heard: “Thick and blue, tried and true; white and crispy, way too risky.”

The not-so-exhilarating point of this column, though, involves an idiom that is heard often, skating on thin ice (one moment … I need to turn Joni’s song on).

I’ve used this idiom count less times in my lifetime, but the wisdom of it, which used to just glide right by me, has finally taken hold. Often I was referring to some situation or circumstance in my own life, when I said it, though occasionally as a friendly warning to someone who was looking for insight into their own situation or predicament.

I think you may be skating on thin ice!

You’ve figured out by now, I’m sure, that skating on thin ice is the equivalent of saying that someone may, by chance or by choice, be in a “place” they would rather not be, perhaps should not be. Or they may want to be but have found themselves facing a degree of risk or even danger by being there.

But occasionally, as is the case with so many idioms, skating on thin ice may be said with humour, perhaps after establishing or re-es tablishing a personal boundary or just jovially commenting on some one’s daring endeavours.

Finally, a word of caution: tell ing someone they are skating on thin ice may be a kind and even wise thing to do, but it can often feel as though you, yourself, are “skating on thin ice” when you say it. But it can, quite literally, “save someone’s bacon.” (Curious, isn’t it, how one idiom follows another.)

I haven’t strapped on a pair of skates since, well, I can’t remem ber when … since those southern Saskatchewan pond days.

Writing about it, though, feels like a safe activity, and the “ice” looks deep blue here—indeed, safe enough to venture out on. n

Skating on thin ice (or, rather, how to avoid that)

Here is a wonderful site about skating on pond ice and all of the important details about safety in determining when to and when not to.

Enjoy:

how-to-survive-on-ice

Never have I wanted to skate, again, as much as when I am listening to Joni Mitchell’s “River” I

Thin Ice

PHOTO: Pixabay

column with Josephine Holmes

Josephine Holmes is a freelance writer and the copy editor at What’s Up Yukon. She is a prairie girl, at heart, but loves the Yukon and has been a sourdough since 1994. The other thing she loves, aside from spending time with family, is being called “Grammy.”

Words I hear from Elders

I don’t know what they mean by election.

I don’t know what they mean by voting.

I don’t know what they mean by quorum.

I don’t know what they mean by nomination.

I don’t know what they mean by leadership.

I don’t know what they mean by acclaimed.

I don’t know what they mean by campaign.

I don’t know what they mean by recount.

I don’t know what they mean by proxy.

I don’t know what they mean by resignation.

I don’t know what they mean by candidate.

I don’t know what they mean by constitution.

I don’t know what they mean by appoint.

I don’t know what they mean by majority.

I don’t know what they mean by democracy.

I don’t know what they mean by referendum.

I don’t know what they mean by petition.

They even talk about sworn in.

Gee! Elders even mention “party!”

But when they use the word “running”

I think they’re talking about senior games.

by Allan Benjamin

Allan Benjamin is a poet, a cartoonist, a fiddle player and a snowshoe racer from Old Crow, Yukon. Allan is a Vuntut Gwich’in artist who provides cartoons and poems to What’s Up Yukon. He introduces us to two sets of characters who represent Allan’s family and traditional Gwich’in life growing up in Old Crow.

COMMUNITY

Victoria and Every Student, Every Day Support for Compassionate Parenting

The teams at Victoria Gold and Every Student, Every Day; an initiative of the Victoria Gold Yukon Student Encouragement Society to help increase student engagement and attendance in Yukon schools, are thrilled to be part of a new, locally-produced resource to help support families with parenting.

Titled Compassionate Parenting: Lessons Learned from our Forest Friends by Yukon Educational Psychologist, parent coach and Cloudberry Wellness Co-Owner Stace Burnard, the book is a collaboration with the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED) and is proudly sponsored by Victoria Gold and Every Student, Every Day

“Parenting is di cult. No one is born a parent,” writes Burnard. “Learning to parent comes from trusting yourself, connecting with the wisdom of others, and repeatedly learning from your own children.”

“In our work over the past decade to help support Yukon learners attend school regularly, we know that attaining this goal is a family a air,” says Victoria Gold Yukon Student Encouragement Society President Tara Christie. “We sincerely thank Stace Burnard for sharing her experience and her insights within this beautifully written and illustrated family-friendly resource as we all work together to invest in our community’s most precious resource; our children.”

“On behalf of Victoria Gold, it was a pleasure to sponsor this important book so that it is available to all Yukoners at no cost to them,” says Victoria Gold President & CEO John McConnell. “Like the author, we believe that parents are the best teachers for their children and we hope that our support of the book’s publication can create lasting benefits within a collective vision for healthy families and strengthened communities.”

“Just as the relationship with your children ebbs and flows, so too will the hard times and the beautiful rewards,” continues Burnard in the book’s forward. “I hope that the words and attitudes within this book will add to your strength and understanding along your parenting journey.”

The Eagle Gold Mine is situated within Victoria Gold’s 100 per cent-owned Dublin Gulch Property located approximately 375 kilometres north of Whitehorse and 85 kilometres north, northeast of the Village of Mayo, within the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND). The company employs over 500 workers and contractors; half of which are Yukoners At Work and many are FNNND citizens.

If you are a Yukoner with mining experience, Victoria Gold encourages you to become a Yukoner At Work. Visit the “Work For Us” page at vgcx.com/contact/work-for-us/ and send your resume to greatpeoplework@vgcx.com

The books are widely available in Whitehorse including at the Klondyke paediatrician o ce, Child Development Centre, YFNED, Autism Yukon, FASSY, Canadian Mental Health Association-Yukon, Early Childhood Studies at Yukon University and clinicians’ o ces, as well as at CloudberryWellness.com. They have also been requested by mental health teams and social workers at Yukon Health & Social Services. Further copies will be delivered to teachers/counsellors upon request.

For

Forest

CloudberryWellness.com