What's Up Yukon, June 26, 2024

PHOTO: Jessica Surber

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Freelance with Manus Hopkins

Manus Hopkins is a Toronto- and Whitehorse- based journalist, musician and lover of heavy metal and cats.

LARGER THAN LIFE

The Yukon has been known for many sports over the years. Disc golf may not be the first one that comes to mind for a lot of people when they think of northern sports, but the Yukon’s disc-golf community is on the rise, thanks in part to the organization Yukon Disc and its courses that take advantage of the territory’s incredible landscapes. When founder Ryan Norquay discovered the sport, he was puzzled he hadn’t found it sooner and was immediately swept up in it. He started playing casually while mountain biking in Vancouver, and when he returned to Whitehorse, he rounded up some friends and sought to revive the Yukon’s disc-golf club.

“We learned that there was a club and it had been defunct for a number of years since the baskets went in at Mount Mac,” he explained. “It was set-up to administer the funds when they needed to move money from the City to build that course.”

A

Having a disc-golf festival like the upcoming Larger Than Life Disc Golf Festival has been a dream for Norquay since the first disc-golf tournament he ever participated in. He said that worldclass disc golfers will be making their way to the Yukon for it and he’s excited to show the Yukon community the full realm of possibilities within the sport.

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PHOTOS: Courtesy of Yukon Disc

Golden Horn Disc Golf Course

“It will be lots of great fun, great times and great people,” he said. “It’s a week of it.”

Norquay was 30 years old when he discovered disc golf and is intent on making sure nobody else goes that long without having the

opportunity to try out the sport, as he wishes he had spent more of his early years playing.

“What I’ve come to realize is that to get this sport to the next level, it needs to be legitimized; and to legitimize it, you need

money,” he said. “You need to be putting this as a standard community upgrade. It is very lowimpact and low-cost compared to buildings and tennis courts and other facilities that really, by ratio, don’t come close to how many people can be rewarded at one time as on a disc-golf course.”

With Yukon Disc, Norquay has seen disc-golf courses put up around the territory in communities like Teslin, Dawson City, Carmacks and Watson Lake. He said he has irons in the fires for new courses around the territory and is always looking to expand, with his sights particularly set now on the tourism market.

Larger Than Life will take place at various venues across Whitehorse and surrounding areas from Judas Creek to the Pepsi Yukon Softball Centre. Multiple different activities and demonstrations will

Golden Horn Disc Golf Course is one place Yukoners can practice the sport

be offered throughout the week, which will cap off with an 18-hole tournament.

“We have potential for this in the Yukon,” said Norquay. “We host world-class stuff!”

To see the full Larger Than Life schedule, as well as for information about registration and to learn more about Yukon Disc, visit yukondisc.com n

A group of eager disc golfers receive a demonstration on the sport

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Yukon Disc

Mon-Fri:

Park

Monday June 24 North of Sexy

Tuesday June 25 Songwriter Circle: Country Josh, Caleb Tomlinson, Gordie Tentrees

Wednesday June 26

Yukon Theatre for Young People

Wednesday June 26 @ 5:00pm South of Town and Vanstones

Thursday June 27

Whitehorse Community Choir

Friday June 28 The Band She Plus! Visual art with Alaena Warner, creating silhouette art cutouts of a variety of creatures and characters!

Monday July 1 Alex MacNeil

I’LL NEVER HITCHHIKE AGAIN

Whitehorse to Fort Providence

Part Two

Hitching

rides in semi-trucks used to be my favourite way to travel.

After hitchhiking from Peace River to Whitehorse, Cindy and I were looking forward to a quiet week at my friend, Jessie’s, before continuing to Yellowknife.

We spent the first 3 days helping her chink her cabin. It was an abandoned, hand-hewed log cabin that she planned to spend the winter in. The squirrels had pulled out a lot of the original chinking, so we re-stuffed all the spaces between the logs with fresh moss. You could buy artificial chinking, in 1985, but Jessie wanted to play pioneer, so we played along. We gathered moss from the forest, mixing it with water and dirt and shoving it in between the logs. Jessie made bannock and oatmeal cookies on the woodstove and that

kept us working for many hours.

On Thursday, we ran into my friend, Rick, from Norman Wells. He was on his way to Dawson City and invited us to come. Cindy and I grabbed our tent and packs and headed for the Klondike! The campground at Dawson City was full, so we ended up camping in the bush beside the dump. We checked out all the bars, watched the can-can dancers at Diamond Tooth Gerties, and danced with locals at the Pit. It was a fun, unexpected side trip.

Rick drove us back to Whitehorse and a few days later we set out for Yellowknife. We were in front of the Airline Inn, with our thumbs in the air, when a guy stopped and offered us a ride as far as Watson Lake.

Our dentists and team of dental hygienists have been proudly serving the Whitehorse community for many years. Come in for your first consultation and you’ll leave with something to smile about.

“I’ll fly you there,” he said. We threw our backpacks in the back of his small truck and jumped in, hoping he wouldn’t speed too fast. About 500 metres down the Alaska Highway, he turned left towards the airport. Cindy and I looked at each other in puzzlement. When he pulled up to a little Cessna, we couldn’t believe our luck! Not only did we get to ride in a small plane, but we got to Watson in just over an hour!

As unbelievably good the start of this adventure was, the ending was even harder to imagine.

Over breakfast, in Watson Lake, we asked two truckers for a lift and they took us all the way

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You can expect friendly and welcoming care in an environment that relaxes even the most anxious patients. We all love what we do, and look forward to welcoming you and your family to our practice.

PHOTO: Pixabay

Donna Lawther is a long-time Yukoner, pour painting artist and author of Harry the Hug Monster.

Freelance with Donna Lawther

I was thrilled to add an airplane to my list of vehicles that I have hitched a ride in.

down the Alaska Highway to Mile Zero in Dawson Creek, B.C. It was Cindy’s first ride in a big rig with a sleeper. It was a new one, with all the bells and whistles, including 2 bunks, a fridge and a TV!

The truckers took turns sleeping so Cindy and I did as well, taking turns talking to the driver and helping him watch out for wild-

life on the road. I love riding in big trucks. You are so high up and can see way farther than in a car. They were continuing on down south but we had to head back up north on the Mackenzie Highway to Yellowknife.

It is 1880 km from Whitehorse to Yellowknife if you drive down to Fort Nelson and then up to

Yellowknife. But our truckers convinced us that we would have a better chance of connecting with other truckers if we went all the way to Dawson Creek before heading back up. This added 727 km to our trip, but it worked. Our truckers had a ride lined up for us, before we even got there. The new person drove us all the way to Hay River.

This trucker only had a small bunk in the back but since he drove the whole way, Cindy and I

still got to take turns sleeping and keeping him awake. We got to Hay River early enough to catch Cindy’s friends, Doug and Judy before they left for work. Their place was easy enough to find as they lived in the only high-rise in town!

We hung out there for a few days and didn’t get back on the road until Sunday at 3pm.

Since it only takes five hours to drive from Hay River to Yellowknife, we thought we had lots of

time. Doug drove us the half hour to Enterprise, to get us back on the Mackenzie Highway. We stood there for three hours, with barely a car going by. Finally, an elderly couple from Fort Providence picked us up and dropped us at the Big River truck stop, just after the ferry crossing over the Mackenzie River.

We only had 300 km left to get to Yellowknife but had no idea how perilous it would be.

To be continued... n

PHOTO: Pixabay

AUSSIE GIRL IN THE YUKON

LEARNING TO GOLF

I’ve tried a lot of things as an adult, some have been more difficult than

relatively easy for me is golfing

My husband Ryan has recently become obsessed with the sport and takes every opportunity to head to the golf course. So one evening we thought we’d join him down at the driving range at Mountain View Golf Club to have a try at this sport.

It was around 4pm on a warm summer evening and the driving range was pretty much empty (which is great when you have a baby who runs around uncontrollably).

The first step is getting a beer. You can’t golf without a beer (in my opinion) and what’s great is you are able to drink and golf! I’m starting to see the appeal of the sport.

We gathered our bucket of golf balls and headed to the big patch of grass of the driving range. Ryan started hitting balls high and far. This looks easy I thought.

I got the golf club I wanted and went to swing. And swung again. And again. And again! Ok, how do I hit the ball?

I got some small pointers and finally hit the ball…along the ground and a very short distance.

I kept trying and eventually my shoulders and back started to hurt, so I gave up. Ryan went back to hitting balls while I ran around after Maverick. Eventually we decided to end our practice as the golf range started to fill up with more people. We ate our airport chalet food on the grass, enjoying the beautiful greenery and that amazing summer day.

Golf seems fun, maybe with practice I could enjoy it without aggravating old injuries.

But for now, I think I’ll just stick to the beer. n

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Kylie and Maverick at Mountain View Golf Club

But

PHOTOS: Kylie Campbell-Clarke

Aussie Girl columnist Kylie Campbell-Clarke is an Australian writer and photographer living in the Yukon.

Ryan keeps an eye on Maverick’s swing

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Maverick enjoying his short-game

Claire Ness, buskers, face painting, a bouncy house, sumo wrestling suits, human soccer balls, carnival games and gold panning. https:// atlinfest.ca/

Atlin Recreation Centre This is an unstructured hour for You and your Littles to get social and run wild. This IS NOT a drop off, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Call or email 993-4102 atlinarc.coordinator@gmail.com for more info.

Yukon Communities:

Wednesdays AA Yukon Unity (OM) 3:00

PM Online Yukon Health Centers, Live Video Meeting Beaver Creek, Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Destruction Bay, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Old Crow, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake. Online users’ sign in info: yukonbcdistrict52@gmail.com

CARCROSS

HOW ARE THINGS UNDER THE HOOD OF YOUR CAR?

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

Wed Jun 26 Carcross - New public lands legislation meeting 6:00 PM Haa Shagóon Hídi (Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre Modernize public lands legislation to balance the many interests of Yukoners, and enhance long-term planning. https://yukon.ca/engagements/new-public-landslegislation

Sat Jun 29 Carcross Dune Walk 10:00 AM Carcross Visitor Information Centre The sand along the shore of Bennett Lake is part of a landscape of shifting dunes that provides a home for plants and insects found nowhere else in the territory. Go on a short walk to learn about this interesting ecosystem. https://yukon.ca/en/ wild-discoveries

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

First Friday of the month Mother Goose Group 11:00 AM Haa Shagóon Hídi (Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish Learning Centre Learn stories, songs, and rhymes, lunch provided. Suitable for babies and children 5 and under. Please bring along a water bottle and blanket to sit on. To register, call 332-2389. https:// whatsupyukon.events/jwf Thursdays Yoga with Jess Ghùch Tlâ Community School Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. Drop-in, Free admission! For more info email yogajessyukon@gmail.com.

CARMACKS

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

Sunshine Restaurant Carmacks Rec Centre CDC / CIBC Bank Tatchun Center General Store

Thu Jun 27 Yukon River Quest Checkpoint 5:00 AM Coalmine Campground “Race to the Midnight Sun” 715 km / 444 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City, The Yukon River Quest Checkpoint is open in Carmacks Mon July 1 Canada Day Parade 11:00 AM Carmacks, Yukon

First & Third Tuesdays of Every

DAWSON CITY

Until Jul 28 The Land Speaks to me by Jackie Olson Odd Gallery SOVA This exhibit offers a rare glimpse at her collected works-in-process: Olson makes works that want to be returned to the land, and many of her works have already been curated back.

MONTHLY

1st Saturday of every month Coffee House & Open Mic Night Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 7:00 PM family-friendly open mic night at KIAC. Admission by donation with all funds raised donated to a different community group each month. Last coffee house of the season May 4 to resume in the fall of 2024.

WEEKLY

Mondays

Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in 6:30-9pm

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

Tuesdays

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

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

Mon Jul 1 Canada Day Celebrations Dawson City TBA Celebrate Canada Day Dawson City style with a day packed full of fun community events! Watch as a colourful parade through town, a BBQ, cake, live music, and so much more! https://dawsoncity.ca/event/ canadadaycelebrations/

Thur Jul 4-Jul 7 Tennis Camp with Tennis Yukon Minto Park Register online.

Fri Jul 5 Dawson City Summer Concert Series - Kim Beggs 12:00 PM Waterfront Park A free lunch-time music series that takes place each Friday on the lunch hour, at the gazebo. https://dawsoncity.ca/

championships-2/

Hand-Building Pottery Drop-In 6:30 PM

Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC)

Self-guided group studio time for those with some experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, little instruction is provided. Summer Volleyball 7:30 PM Victory Gardens Outdoor Volleyball 18+ Free, drop-in - check both Victory Garden and Minto Park will take place at Minto Park until the grass is in at Victory Garden.

Wednesdays

St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning Prayer

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

and craft demonstrations, sales and provides an

for amateur talented artists and musicians.

QYS Drop-in 1:00 PM DCMF Office

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

Welcome Wednesday Supper and Games 6:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Screen Printing Drop-in 6:00 PM Klondike

Institute of Art & Culture KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing.

CFYT Trivia Night The Drunken Goat Fun filled night of Trivia. Every other Wednesday. A variety of trivia categories! Come with your team or join a team when you arrive!

Thursdays

CDC Toddler Program 10:00 AM Klondike

Institute of Arts & Culture KIAC Free drop-In for kids 5 & under with parent/guardian Story time & free play!

Fridays Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/dawson-legion-8336c3 Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM Klondike

Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Enjoy KIAC’s bright, air-conditioned space to create and focus on your artistic practice. Even better- we’ve waived the drop-in fee this day.

Saturdays Open Studio – Drop In 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Space to create and focus on your artistic practice.

AA North Star Group Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-9935095 or 867-993-3734 for more information

Sundays Anglican Church Service 10:30 Anglican Church Service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City. Corner of Front and Church Streets at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City

ROSS RIVER

Tuesdays Sewing Night 7:00 PM The Hope Centre

Wednesdays

Family Bible Study 8:00 PM The Hope Centre

Fridays Family Game Night- Coffee House 9:00 PM The Hope Centre

Sundays Church Service 12:00 PM The Hope Centre

SKAGWAY Alaska

Mondays Live Music Red Onion Saloon 6:30 PM Live music every Monday

Wednesdays

Lorne Community Centre Improve your balance, flexibility, strength and endurance in this indoor class led by Colleen Ennis. Drop in, admission by donation. Suitable for mature youth & adults. https://whatsupyukon.events/fhm

Thursdays

Drop In 11:00 AM Mount Lorne

Community Centre

Run Club 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre

OLD CROW

Mondays

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

Tuesdays

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

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

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

Wednesdays

Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 966-3015 for more info.

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

Sundays

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

Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 2:00 PM Tagish Community LIbrary Targeted literacy programming by Yukon Learn at the Tagish Library. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon. Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM Tagish Community Centre

Thursdays Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish Community Centre

Tagish

Saturdays

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

Mondays AA: Teslin Group (O) 7:00 PM

Women’s Morning Worship 7:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway All are welcome. Part of the Alaska Presbytery and the PC U.S.A.

Windy Valley Babies 10:30 AM Skagway Public Library Stories, Songs, and Fun with Ms. Anna! Designed for ages 0-3.

Fridays Skagway Teen Night 6:30 PM Skagway Public Library

Sundays

Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway\ Sunday School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

TAGISH

First Monday of every

Wednesdays

CAMPING SNACKS

It’s road trip, car-camping, paddling and hiking time, everyone!

Time to rev up the snacks

Abig fat breakfast cookie will fuel you through those early mornings on Atlin Lake when you wake at 7, pack up camp and paddle halfway to your destination before stopping for coffee and a real breakfast in a sheltered cove. And you know those sesame snacks that come in packs of four, sold at checkout counters in gas stations across the country? You can make them. They’re easy. Add in sunflower seeds, peanuts, whatever you like; just make sure the bulk of your seeds are sesame. Bring on the snacks, bring on summer!

BEST BREAKFAST COOKIES

After multiple experiments with disappointing results, I went back to the drawing board, started with a basic peanut-butter oatmeal cookie and came up with a winner.

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds

• 1/2 cup raisins

• 1/2 cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds

• 1/2 cup low-bush cranberries

• 1/2 cup ribbon or flaked coconut

• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

• 1/3 cup wildflower honey

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients together until combined. Stir in raisins, seeds and cranberries.

2. In a large bowl, whisk wet ingredients together until smooth. Add dry ingredients and stir until combined, using your hands if necessary.

3. Press dough into balls of about 1/3 cup and flatten into 3-inch cookies. Place on a parchmentlined baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, just until tops are beginning to brown.

4. Cool on a rack and store in a cookie tin. Will keep for 10 days.

Makes about 12 cookies.

GREEK SESAME SUNFLOWER BARS

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raw honey

• 1 cup sesame seeds

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

• 1/2 tsp (kosher salt)

Method

1. Butter an 8 x 8-inch baking pan, line it with parchment paper

and butter the paper.

2. In a cast-iron frying pan over medium heat, toast sesame seeds until lightly browned.

3. While sesame seeds are toasting, heat honey in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 260 F or until a drop of honey forms a softball when dropped into a cup of cold water, then pinched with the fingers.

4. Stir in toasted sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Cook for another 2 or 3 minutes, remove from heat and pour into the prepared pan, spreading the

Best Breakfast Cookies and Greek Sesame Sunflower

mixture with a spoon. Place a piece of parchment paper overtop and smooth out with your hands, wearing oven mitts.

5. Cool for 20 minutes, then cool in fridge for another 20 minutes. Remove from pan, parchment and all, flip over and peel the parchment off the bottom. Cut into eight 4 x 2-inch or 16 2 x 2-inch pieces. (Smaller pieces work best on hikes.)

6. Store in a resealable bag in the fridge, separated by pieces of parchment paper.

Makes one 8 x 8-inch pan. n

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE AND PROMOTE?

Let Mallory’s Postering help spread your messaging and showcase your high-quality posters and brochures to help get your message out there!

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

Bars

PHOTO: Miche Genest

HOLE IN A BAGEL

Eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Add a salad if you want. Serves 1

Ingredients

❑ 1 bagel, halved

❑ 2 eggs

❑ 2 Tbsp butter

❑ Salt to taste

❑ Chopped chives to serve

Instructions

1. Set a non-stick pan over medium high heat, add half the butter and when melted place the bagel cut side down in the pan. Divide remaining butter between the two bagel holes, then break one egg onto the butter in each bagel hole.

2. Cook until whites are set (you may want to cover it with a lid). About 6 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and chives and serve. n

PHOTOS: Sydney Keddy

Bagel, eggs, butter Melt the butter

Break the eggs into the hole Cook until the eggs are set

Hole in a bagel

JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

Local Whitehorse photographer, Nicola Williamson, and her partner Sam Meier are embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure

Our plan is to drive from the Yukon all the way down to the southernmost point of South America in our rusty but trusty van, affectionately named “Mo.” This epic journey, expected to span up to two years, will take us along the Pan-American Highway, the longest highway in the world, covering a diverse array of landscapes, cultures, and experiences.

The Dream Begins

Me (Nicola) and Sam, are originally from the UK and Switzerland respectively and discovered a shared love for adventure when we met while travelling in British Columbia in the not-too-distantpast. Following moving to the Yukon together in 2021, our shared dream of traversing the Americas began to take shape while sitting around the campfire in the Yukon wilderness. Being a local landscape photographer, I have been able to capture the stunning beauty of the Yukon through my lens for several years and have always dreamt of photographing

Patagonia. Sam, who is a skilled carpenter with a love for adventure, has long dreamed of undertaking an extensive road trip.

The Route

The Pan-American Highway is more than just a road; it’s a journey through the heart of the Americas. Spanning approximately 19,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, it traverses a myriad of environments from the frozen tundra of the north to the lush rainforests of Central America and the arid deserts of the south. We spent 3 months touring Alaska in 2022 where we made the trip up the Dalton Highway and dipped our toes in the Arctic Ocean before returning to Whitehorse to build up our savings.

We plan to take our time, stopping frequently to explore and document our shared experiences. We’ve always been drawn to the idea of slow travel. There’s something incredibly enriching about taking the time to truly immerse yourself in different places, cultures, and ways of life.

The Pan-American Highway offers the perfect route to do just that. We’re not in a rush.

Preparing Mo for the Journey

Mo, our 1999 Ford E350, has been a steadfast companion on many shorter trips around the Yukon. Converted and upgraded (by Sam) over many hours of hard work, he is a tiny home on wheels and fully equipped with everything required for off-grid living.

Mo has a lot of character. He truly feels like a comfortable home on wheels and Sam has poured a lot of time and energy into making him just right and ready for the journey.

Challenges

Expectationsand

While the journey promises incredible experiences, it is not without its potential challenges. We anticipate encountering a range of obstacles from mechanical issues with Mo to navigating border crossings and adapting to different cultures and languages. We have some concerns about the toll the road will take on our old van, but we’ll figure out whatever comes our way.

We know it won’t always be easy, but overcoming these challenges is part of what makes the journey worthwhile and adds to the adventure. In my experience of travel, the best stories come from when things go wrong.

Our friends and family have expressed concerns about safety along the route but we’re not overly worried. Of course we need to be mindful about safety but many people travel in the Americas without issue. As long as we’re careful, make wise decisions and stay prepared, I’m confident we’ll be safe.

A Journey of Discovery

I am particularly excited about the photographic opportunities that lie ahead. The diversity of landscapes along the Pan-American Highway is astounding. From the glaciers of Patagonia to the volcanoes of Central America, the possibilities for capturing unique images are endless. I can’t wait to share these moments with others.

As we set off on our journey, we are filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and a healthy dose of nervousness. It’s a big leap into the unknown. But it’s also an incredible opportunity.

Alongside her partner, Sam and their rusty but trusty van named Mo, she is currently on a two year journey to reach Ushuaia in Argentina by road.

PHOTOS: Nicola Williamson Photography

Journey of a lifetime cont’d from page 12

We’re ready to embrace whatever comes our way.

Connecting with the World

Throughout our journey, we plan to maintain a blog and social media presence to document our adventures and photography. I hope to inspire others to pursue their own dreams of exploration and to foster a deeper apprecia-

tion for the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Americas.

I want to bring people along with us on this journey by sharing my stories and photos. There’s so much beauty in the world, and I want to showcase that.

You can follow our journey at nicolawilliamsonphotography. com or via social media at linktr. ee/nicolawilliamsonphotography and watch for more updates in the pages of What’s Up Yukon. n

Nicola and Sam standing on the frozen Arctic Ocean, Deadhorse, Alaska 

GOLD NUGGET GOLD NUGGET

Join us as we embark on our 7th year racing in the Yukon River Quest! Since 2016, Stix Together, our team of 8 women voyageur paddlers, has proudly raised over $100,000 for the Yukoners Cancer Care Fund.

This vital fund o ers nancial assistance to Yukoners, as well as individuals from Atlin and Lower Post, BC, facing a cancer diagnosis. In 2023 alone, the fund assisted more than 40 individuals.

We're grateful for the ongoing support from Schmidt Mining of Dawson City, who have generously donated a gold nugget to aid our fundraising e orts once again this year.

Enter your name in the draw and consider making a donation to the Yukoners Cancer Care Fund. Every contribution, no ma er the size, makes a meaningful di erence.

 Death Valley

PHOTOS: Nicola Williamson

Photography

 Kluane Lake

 Dalton Highway

Nicola’s social media QR code

YUKON ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

Road trip season is back!

School is out, the snow is long gone and summer is finally here. Some of my favourite travel memories are from road trips that I went on with my parents and later on that I took by myself. There’s an undeniable sense of adventure and freedom that comes with hitting the open road. Yes, driving leaves a rather large carbon footprint (although if you’re driving with more than two people in the car it’s still less than flying terrapass.com/blog/ carbon-footprint-of-driving-vsflying-whats-best-for-the-earth/) but here in northern Canada there

really aren’t many other travel options, unless you’d like to set out on your bicycle or charter a bush plane.

Whether you’re heading out in your car with your family for the weekend, taking an around the world trip on your motorcycle or enjoying the Land Of The Midnight Sun from the comforts of an RV, the following are a few things you’ll need in order to have a truly fantastic Yukon road trip.

Map

Call me old fashioned but I still consider a road atlas or a map a road trip essential.

Pick up a copy of the 2024 edition of The Milepost (a mile by mile guide to northern roads) at

Mac’s Fireweed Books. Even a simple foldable paper map from the visitor information centre can be of great help on the long stretches of Yukon roads where you don’t have cell service and you can’t ask Google how far the next gas station or campground is.

If you’re going off the beaten path or travelling in the north for the first time and feeling a bit anxious, consider renting a satellite phone. Check out Total North in Whitehorse if that’s something you’re thinking about.

Music

Podcasts, audio books and playlists of nostalgic hits from when you were in high school are all perfect for road trips. How-

ever, in my opinion there’s nothing better than singing along to the radio at the top of your lungs when your favourite song unexpectedly comes on. Support local radio by tuning into CJUC-FM

92.5, CHON-FM 98.1 or CKRW-FM 96.1. Not only will you be able to enjoy great music but you also get to hear local news, road reports and weather updates. Listening to community radio stations, especially when you’re on a long road trip, can give you a glimpse into the local way of life and all the idiosyncratic quirks of a new place.

Gear

Going on a drive here in the north is a little bit different than

if you were traveling on highways down south. Towns are much smaller, everything is a bit farther apart, road conditions can change rapidly and there’s a lot more wilderness around. A multitool or Swiss Army knife can always come in handy. Along with having a first aid kit and a spare blanket in your trunk, it’s also a good idea to bring along extra bug spray, a car phone charger and maybe some duct tape (you never know!).

To take full advantage of the Yukon summer, don’t forget your fishing rod and fishing license, a plastic pail for collecting some roadside berries to snack on, a

cont’d on page 15 ...

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

Jessica Surber is a writer who loves being in the mountains and working with plants. She divides her time between Peru and the Yukon.

with Jessica Surber

Enjoying the scenery on the way to Haines, Alaska

cooler and some matches or a lighter to make a campfire to cook your fish on (always in a designated campsite and only if there isn’t a fire ban). If you’re up for

even more adventure, throw your kayak or stand up paddle board on your car’s roof rack or bring along your bike.

A Well Rested Body

Summer days are long in the north and nights are bright. Understandably, it can be tempting to draw out your driving into the late hours of the evening. Maybe you want to make it to the next town to look for a hotel or are trying to get home after a few awesome days away and you convince yourself that you’re not really that tired. Even though there are many long straight sections, not a lot of traffic and roads are much better maintained than years ago, the Alaska Highway can be surprisingly draining to drive and even just the shortest moment of drowsiness can have terrible consequences. Wildlife activity is especially high during the hours of dawn and dusk. If you’re feeling tired, stop at the next rest stop or a gravel pull out and maybe take a bit of a break. Have a nap, eat a snack or walk around outside and stretch your body a bit with some roadside yoga. Also, sunglasses can be very helpful for those early mornings or late evenings when the sun is low on the horizon.

Road trips are a must during the

Food

Stop to stretch your legs at Silver City, near Kluane Lake

Good snacks are a quintessential road trip “must”. Yes, sometimes it’s fun to indulge on your favourite junk food staples while filling up on gas but those can get boring fast. Almost all Yukon communities have a local coffee shop or bakery as well as a few restaurants and a general store but there may not be many options or they may have very limited business hours, so you might want to stock up in Whitehorse if you’re passing through.

Along with all the big brands that you might expect to find in a larger city, there are also many delicious local options to try out. Fill up your travel mug with some locally roasted coffee at Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters, The Claim Café, Baked Cafe & Bakery, Java Connection or at Bean North out on the Takhini Hot Springs Road. To go along with your coffee, pick up some Daddy’s Donuts (available at The Coffee Shop in Whitehorse, Caribou Crossing Coffee in Carcross and at the Fireweed Community Market on Thursday afternoons in Whitehorse).

Did you know that the Yukon

also has locally made potato chips?

A whole plethora of flavours from Cold Snap Chippery can be found at Wykes’ Your Independent Grocer and at Riverdale Super A Foods as well as some other local retailers. Many of their products are made with locally grown potatoes and all are made using 100% locally grown and pressed canola oil.

Trade in your convenience store beef jerky for a Birch Stick or some Pfefferknacker from Tum Tum’s Black Gilt Meats or maybe a bit of chili jerky or a Landjager from Takhini Valley Meats. When in doubt, stock up on a few bags of Klondike Kettle Corn. All these can be found at Shipyards Park in Whitehorse on Thursdays at the outdoor Fireweed Community Market from 3pm to 7pm.

A Reliable and Well Maintained Vehicle

Gravel roads, long distances and dusty conditions can be hard on a vehicle. There aren’t that many auto repair centres and mechanics in the territory and tow trucks are expensive. Check your oil and coolant, top up your windshield wiper fluid and make sure your battery, brake lights, turn signals and headlights are all in good working order. Double check that you have a jack, jumper cables and your car manual with you and get your tires checked (including your spare tire) before heading out.

You might also want to invest in new wipers to clean off all the dead bugs you’ll inevitably have splattered on your windshield within the first few kilometres and a DIY windshield repair kit can help stop a crack from expanding if you get hit with a flying rock on a section of loose gravel.

Time

One of the best things about traveling by car (or motorcycle or RV) is that you can set your own pace. You can slow down, talk to locals and take the time to enjoy the scenery and explore hidden gems. You can be spontaneous. And even if you’re more of a planner and want to stick to a strict schedule, traveling in the north can be unpredictable and you may be forced to become a bit more flexible.

Check on road construction and road conditions at 511yukon. ca/ and get information about local wildfires at wildfires.service. yukon.ca/

If you need some inspiration on where to go, check out Travel Yukon’s “Top 7 Yukon Road Trips” travelyukon.com/en/getinspired/ top-7-yukon-road-trips

Safe travels! n

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

Yukon summer

RIDE WORRY FREE

TALES OF NAHGANNE

Red Grossinger is a sasquatch enthusiast, investigator and a published author living in the Yukon.

DISTINGUISHED SASQUATCH ENTHUSIASTS

The giant, bipedal, forest-dwelling, hirsute hominid known as Sasquatch has been the subject of active investigation by people such as scientists, professors, academics, amateur researchers and enthusiasts alike

Sasquatch research has been reported and recorded for nearly a century and the following articles highlight some of the Sasquatch investigators. Their resolve is notable especially when faced by those who think these reports are “just stories”.

Dr. Jeff Meldrum, is a professor of Anatomy and Anthropology and scientist who refutes the “just stories” assumption. He is the author of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science (2006), which was even praised by British Primatologist and Anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall DBE.

Dr. Meldrum has replied to the “just stories” comment by pointing out these stories leave tracks, shed hair, deposit scat, vocalize, and are observed and described by reliable experienced witnesses. Hardly just stories.

Let me introduce some of those people deserving recognition in Sasquatch research and investigation in the following three articles.

John W. Burns (1888-1962) was a British Columbia school teacher and a government agent in from the 1920s to 1940s, who worked at the Chehalis First Nation Reserve. In his spare time, he wrote about regional news for a local newspaper. The preferred subject of his writing were the wild giant entities he had heard of from peoples of the Sts’ailes First

Nation, located near Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.

In their Halq’emeylem dialect, these entities were called Sásq’ets and described as a shapeshifting creature that could walk in both the physical and spiritual realm.

Burns referred to the shapeshifter as Sasquatch in his writings.

One of his articles; titled Introducing BC’s Hairy Giants: A collection of strange tales about British Columbia’s wild men as told by those who say they have seen them, captured such interest that it was published in the Macleans Magazine in 1929.

He authored the book; The Hairy Giants of British Columbia (1940).

Burns was more of a writer and a storyteller, than a classic researcher. He, however, was the first person to introduce and write about Sasquatch for the Canadian public.

John W. Green (1927-2016)

was a journalist, a published author and a Sasquatch researcher from Agassiz, B.C.

After graduating from UBC, he achieved a master in journalism from Columbia University in New York, in 1947, then joined the Canadian Navy for a few years.

Once he concluded his military career in 1950, he worked in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria as a journalist, then moved to the Agassiz-Harrison region where he wrote and published a local newspaper for many years. In 1954, he purchased the Agassiz-Harrison Advance newspaper.

A chance meeting with Rene Dahinden in 1957 got Green interested in investigating the Sasquatch phenomena, and he wrote

two books on the subject with Dahinden: On the Track of the Sasquatch (1968) and Year of the Sasquatch (1970).

Green sold his newspaper in 1972, with the intention of spending more time researching and writing about Sasquatch. Through the following years he wrote four more books about Sasquatch: The Sasquatch File (1973), Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us (1978), Encounters with Bigfoot (1980) and The Best of Sasquatch Bigfoot (2004).

Rene Dahinden (1930-2001) was born in Switzerland, and moved to Canada in 1953 to take a serious stab at searching for Sasquatch.

He teamed up with John Green in 1957 and spent his entire life researching Sasquatch through the Pacific Northwest in Canada and the United States.

He was one of the strongest advocates and supporters of Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin’s film about Sasquatch, dubbed Patty, which was filmed in California by Patterson in 1967.

Still to this day, that film, which was analyzed hundreds of times, provides clear undeniable evidence of the existence of Sasquatch.

Dahinden co-wrote a book with Don Hunter entitled Sasquatch, which was originally published in 1973, revised and renamed Sasquatch/Bigfoot: The Search for North America’s Incredible Creature (1993).

The 1987 film, Harry and the Hendersons, filmed by the Montreal film director David Suchet, was based on the life of Rene Dahinden.

Dahinden also appeared in Kokanee beer commercials for a few years too.

Along with Dahinden, there were three more colleagues, John Green, Peter Byrne and Dr. Grover Krantz, where this group of Sasquatch researchers were dubbed the “Four Horsemen of Sasquatchery” in recognition of their work on the still unclassified entity called Sasquatch.

• Excavators (Cat 315 to Cat 330)

• Telehandlers

• Loaders (Cat 950H)

• Skid Steers (262C to 289D3)

• Single Drum Packer (XCMG CV123)

• Frost fighters 350K BTU

• Heat Trailers, Ice fighter 700K BTU

• Enclosed Trailers

• Car Hauler Trailers

Stay tuned for further Sasquatch researchers and enthusiasts in the next two articles. n

• Gooseneck/5th Wheel Trailer with winch

• Generators, 30KW to 500KW, Propane and Diesel

• Transformers 750 Kva 480:4160V, 750 Kva 480:600V, 600/480 300Kva

• Load Bank (100KW @ 120/208)

John Green

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Red Grossinger

column with Red Grossinger

Rene Dahinden

COMMUNITY EVENTS WHITEHORSE EVENTS

ART SHOWS

Until Jun 27 Solo Exhibition by Lisa Bachli Northern Front Studios Many of her drawings repeat words and phrases over and over on paper and her work also includes abstracted representational imagery.

Until Jun 29 Flora & Fauna by Yukon Art Society Members Arts Underground Flowers are in bloom, migrating birds have returned, and our green spaces are green once again. Inspired art by this time of year, for our June 2024 exhibition.

Until Jun 29 MacBride Museum’s Collection – Yukon Erotica Arts Underground Yukon Erotica takes viewers on a trip back in time where brazen women toed the line by pushing out their chests and baring their ankles.

Mon Jun 24 -28 Arts in the Park 2024 - Visual art with Alaena Warne 12:00 PM LePage Creating silhouette art cutouts of a variety of creatures and characters!

Mon Jul 1-5 Arts in the Park 2024Visual art with Nakai Theatre 12:00 PM LePage Painting and decorating puppets!

Fri Jul 5 & Jul 6 Created at the Canyon 2024 1:00 PM Miles Canyon

A variety of Yukon artists and creatives will be showcasing their skills at Kwanlin (Miles Canyon), educational stations and interactive activities themed around Salmon Runs & River Reflections! https:// docs.google.com/forms/

Until Aug 30 CAMP by Couzyn Van Heuvelen YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Couzyn van Heuvelen’s sculptural installations in this exhibition build from van Heuvelen’s earlier investigations into hunting and fishing practices by shifting focus to the chores and communal spaces that take shape around the harvesting and preparation of food.

Until Aug 30 Stories within by Yukon First Nations Artists 5:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery This exhibit brings together Yukon First Nations artists to delve into the rich traditions of storytelling embedded within their practices.

LIVE MUSIC

Mon Jun 24 Arts in the Park 2024 – North of Sexy 12:00 PM LePage Park12:00 PM LePage Park Free LIVE performances & interactive visual art experiencesShowtimes: Monday to Friday, 12 to 1:00pm, Special KID-FOCUSED performances Wednesdays at noon + Wednesdays evenings at 5pm! https://musicyukon.com/ artsinthepark/

Tue Jun 25 Arts in the Park 2024 –Songwriter Circle – County Josh, Caleb Tomlinson, Gordie Tentrees

12:00 PM LePage Park

Wed Jun 26 Arts in the Park 2024

– Yukon Theatre for Young People

12:00 PM LePage Park

Wed Jun 26 Arts in the Park 2024

– South of Town & Vanstones 5:00

PM LePage Park

Wed Jun 26 Lazy Syrup Orchestra

7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre

Lazy Syrup is a melting pot of musical styles, bridging the gap between live and electronicunique, fun, nostalgic and full of surprises. Tickets online. https:// yukonartscentre.com/whats-on/lazysyrup-orchestra/

Thu Jun 27 Arts in the Park 2024 – Whitehorse Community Choir 12:00 PM LePage Park

Fri Jun 28 Arts in the Park 2024 –The Band She 12:00 PM LePage Park

Mon Jul 1 Arts in the Park 2024 – Alex MacNeil 12:00 PM LePage Park

Tue Jul 2 Arts in the Park 2024Toots 12:00 PM LePage Park

Wed Jul 3 Arts in the Park 2024Remy Rodden 12:00 PM LePage Park

Wed Jul 3 Arts in the Park 2024 –Crawlspace 5:00 PM LePage Park

Thu Jul 4 Arts in the Park 2024Glenn Chatten 12:00 PM LePage Park

Fri Jul 5 Arts in the Park 2024 –Dakhká Khwáan Dancers 12:00 PM LePage Park

Fri Jul 5 Franklin with HEDKSBaby Ronka & the Boyfriends 8:00

PM Leftys Well Franklin (Whse) The low and slow, green riff machine with HEDKS (Vancouver- Off 6 year Hiatus) and Baby Ronka and the Boyfriends (Dawson CIty). Doors 8 pm and music 9:30 pm - cover charge at the door.

Fri Jul 5 Unicorn Parts EP Release with Peggy Hanifan 8:00 PM 98 Hotel Unicorn Parts is releasing their debut EP - Featuring your friend and ours, the Fabulous Peggy Hanifan! Music at 8 pm, no cover. Bring your dancing shoes.

Monthly

Tuesdays

Acoustic Jam 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Wednesdays

Karaoke 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Whitewater Wednesday 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

Thursdays

Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Saturdays

Live Music at Whiskey Jacks 7:00

PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill At Whiskey Jack’s every Saturday. whiskeyjacks.ca/

Sundays

Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel

GENERAL EVENTS

Mon Jun 24 Eagle Plains 8:00 PM Yukon Theatre An observational nonfiction film about the remote Eagle Plains Hotel and service station, in Yukon Territory, Canada. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/eagle-plains2

Tue Jun 25 Plastic People - Film & Panel Q&A 7:30 PM Yukon Theatre A ground-breaking feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/ plastic-people

Thu Jun 27 Wilfred Buck 8:00 PM Yukon Theatre A feature documentary follows the extraordinary life of Wilfred Buck, a charismatic and irreverent Cree Elder who overcame a harrowing yet familiar history of displacement, racism and addiction. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/wilfred-buck

Fri Jun 28 Thelma 6:30 PM Yukon Theatre A story exploring ageing, family and autonomy , based on a real-life experience of writer/director Josh Margolin’s grandmother, and marks Squibb’s first leading film role of her 70+ year career. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/ thelma

Fri Jun 28 In a Violent Nature Nightly Yukon Theatre The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer after a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower that entombed its rotting corpse. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/schedule/in-aviolent-nature

Sat Jun 29-Jul 1 2024 Adäka Cultural Festival Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre The festival features a vibrant schedule of events that includes traditional and contemporary music, dance, drumming, storytelling, daily artist demonstrations, cultural presentations, an art gallery and more. https://indigenousyukon.ca/ things-to-do/events/adaka-culturalfestival

Sat Jun 29 2024 Indigenous Summer Play Readings 3:30

PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre

In celebration of generational excellence, we are proud to be presenting two works written by Yukon First Nations playwrights: Constellation by Tyra Ashauntie and Justice by Leonard Linkater. gwaandaktheatre.ca/indigenoussummer-play-readings-2024

Sun Jun 30 Adäka Cultural Festival

- Aunties Under the Midnight Sun 6:30 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre

A night of entertaining performances bringing a unique blend of traditional drumming, singing and comedy. Performances by: Remmi Elin Group, Fawn Wood, Teagyn Vallevand and IndigE-girl Comedy - Tickets online. https://adakafestival.ca/news

Mon Jul 1 Canada Day Celebrations

8:00 AM Shipyards Park Watch as a colourful parade through town, local food vendors, a big Canada Day cake, live music, and so much more! Wed Jul 3 Introductory Fused Glass Workshops – Sun Catchers 6:00 PM YAAW Yukon Artists at Work Introductory fused glass workshops this summer. No experience necessary. All supplies and tools included. Email tintinaglass@gmail. com for more info or to register. https://tintinaglassworks.ca/ workshops/

Monthly

2nd & 4th Mondays Service Officer

7:00 AM Royal Canadian Legion Whitehorse An invite to all Veterans, Police and First responders for the service hour at the Legion, socialise and find out what is going on. https:// bit.ly/3Lm40ZG

2nd & 4th Wednesdays Whitehorse Photography Club - Meetup 7:00

PM Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Held in Rm A2204. Discuss photography, share your work, learn new tips and tricks. http:// whitehorsephotoclub.ca/ First Thursdays QYS Craft Night 7:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache This is a great place to gather and meet other queer crafters. And there will be tea of course. Regular drop-in is still available.

2nd Thursday QYS Movie Nights 5:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache Last Thursdays Repair Cafe 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters, and other tools. This easy introduction to electronics and small home appliance repair is a useful evening of DIY learning that you can take home.

2nd Thursday Music Trivia 7:00

PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come on out and test your music knowledge! Teams of no more than 6 people.

3rd Sundays Messy Church 3:00

PM Christ Church Cathedral church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. Crafts, singing and food will be the focus.

2nd & 4th Sundays Grade 8 – 12

High School Youth Group 6:00

PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https://mountainview. church/connect/youth Monthly

Weekly

Mondays

Play Pool 1:00 PM Golden Age Society Becoming more limber and agile in your movements through playing billiards is a great benefit.

Play Whist 1:30 PM Golden Age Society Classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played

in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the rules are simple, there is scope for strategic play

Mtg: Competitive Commander 6:00

PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Women’s Bible Study 6:00pm Women’s Bible Study. Refreshments are served followed by the study. For more info check out www. mountainview.church or email rachel@mountainview.church.

Euchre - For Members and Signed in Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Euchre a tricktaking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member you Industry Night Lefty’s Well 8:00 PM All are welcome - 20% off everything for our industry family - hot dogs, tunes, games and happy hour all night! https://bit.ly/3L0J3Ce

Tuesdays

Café de l’amitié 2:00 PM Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) Le Café de l’amitié est un rendez-vous hebdomadaire et une occasion de rassemblement pour les francophones de 50 ans et plus.

QYS Drop-in Queer Yukon Society The Cache 2:00 PM Tarot Tuesdays 5:00 PM Caribou RV Park Insightful and fun readings with Aimee (Bow & Arrow Tarot & Astrology) every Tuesday in Joe’s Cozy Cabin! Walk-in from 5-6pm or pre-book online. https://www. bowandarrowtarotandastrology.com/ Language Skills for Ukrainians 5:15 PM Yukon Learn A discussion group workshop provides a relaxed and friendly environment where learners can practise and learn English conversation skills.

Weekly Shuffleboard Tournament 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For members and signed in guests. A double knockout style competition and games are limited to 6 ends or 15 minutes

Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!

SuperSmash Bros, Mtg: Commander 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

10 Card Crib - Members & Signed In Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Whether you are a seasoned crib player or a beginner, come play! Learn tips and tricks and have some fun! https://bit.ly/3KP0B5s

Wednesdays

Multicultural Connection Group 11:00 AM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon – MCY Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn about parenting in different cultures. A free lunch program for immigrants and refugee families. Lunch and transportation provided. Call 3321803 for more info.

QYS Drop-in Queer Yukon Society

The Cache 2:00 PM

Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM

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

Spanish Conversation 12:00 PM

Whitehorse United Church Call 3336081 for more info.

Anglican Holy Communion –

Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month

Mtg: Modern, Warhammer Age of Sigmar 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Thursdays

Public Speaking Training -

Toastmasters 12:00 PM Decora

Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics

Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)

QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon Society & The Cache

Fireweed Community Market

3:00 PM Shipyards Park Wonderful aromas, delicious fresh foods, and unique artisans from our approximately 70 weekly vendors. Grab a picnic dinner and get that special gift. Enjoy local live music and other amusements from buskers.

Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Find out what role playing games are all about! Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are always welcome.

Mtg: casual Commander, Warhammer 40k & Kill Team 6:00

PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Mountainview Church Community Group 7:00 PM 16 years or older?

Mountainview Church Community Group! We’ll share some snacks and talk about what the bible has to say about discipleship.

Fridays

Yukon Amateur Radio Association

Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM A&W

Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.

Tarot Card Readings with Sari

Horvath Baked Cafe 9:15 AM Sari uses her wisdom and guidance through tarot cards to help answer your life questions! Please use email to book appointments treasurebooksyxy@gmail.com

Coffee & Chat 11:00 AM Golden Age Society Coffee and chat is a way to connect with your community, develop friendships, and have fun.

Crib 1:00 PM Golden Age Society

Cribbage is an easy game to learn but hard to master. For more info call 668-5538.

QYS Drop-in Queer Yukon Society The Cache 2:00 PM

Mtg: Pioneer, YuGiOh Casual 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Saturdays

Cribbage - Members and Signed in Guests 2:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Masks are mandatory. Members must have a valid 2021 membership and they may sign in 2 guests MAX.

Pokemon, Mtg: Youth Magic, Lorcana 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles

Sundays

Mountainview Church Sunday Service 9:30 AM Church In The Building 9:30 AM, 11AM or Church At Home 7 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM Mountainviewwhitehorse.ca/Watch

Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone

Whitehorse United Church

Worship Service 10:30 AM A caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth

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

Sunday Gatherings 3:00 PM The Northern Collective Church

KIDS & FAMILIES

Until July 4 Inside Out 2 Nightly

+ Matinees Yukon Theatre Long awaited animated sequel by Pixar. Follow Riley, in her teenage years, encountering new emotions. Tickets online or in-person at the box office. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/ schedule/inside-out-2

Fri Jun 28 Recreation Pop-Ups 11:00 AM Shipyards Park Free family focused games, activities, music and fun! Various locations throughout the summer for fun and games! https:// www.whitehorse.ca/

Monthly

1st & 3rd Saturdays Grades 5 - 7

Junior Youth Group 7:00 PM

Mountainview Church Passionate about giving kids opportunities to have fun & make new friends, while teaching them about Jesus & His great love for our world https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth

2nd and 4th Saturdays Grade 8 - 12

High School Youth Group 7:00

PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https://mountainview. church/connect/youth

Weekly

Mondays

Drop-In 9:00 AM Polarettes

Gymnastics Gym Open to all ages –Children, youth, and teens must be accompanied by an adult.

Yukon Family Literacy CentreSummer Drop-In 9:00 & 12:30 PM Pioneer Hotel at Shipyards Park Summer drop-in, read, activities, learn and explore! If you are sick, please stay home. For more info call 3368577

Tuesdays

Yukon Family Literacy Centre -

Summer Drop-In 9:00 & 12:30 PM

Pioneer Hotel at Shipyards Park Summer drop-in, read, activities, learn and explore! If you are sick, please stay home. For more info call 3368577

Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse

Public Library Join us for stories, songs & rhymes! A free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 and caregivers at Whitehorse Public Library

Parent-Child Mother Goose 10:30 AM The Child Development Centre Celebrates the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Bonding time with your little one or to learn for later. Register online. https:// whatsupyukon.events/lj5

Let’s Create - Crafting Together 5:30 PM The Child Development Centre A fun crafting group for families with children aged 2 and up, light dinner will be served, transportation available. For more info call 332-4997 or email donna.light@yukon.ca

Wednesdays

Yukon Family Literacy CentreSummer Drop-In 9:00 & 12:30 PM Pioneer Hotel at Shipyards Park Summer drop-in, read, activities, learn and explore! If you are sick, please stay home. For more info call 3368577

Community Connections 1:30 PM

Yukon Family Literacy Centre An intergenerational story time and craft program. Meet local elders, have a coffee, do some crafts, and make a friend!

Thursdays

Yukon Family Literacy CentreSummer Drop-In 1:00 PM Pioneer Hotel at Shipyards Park Summer drop-in, read, activities, learn and explore! If you are sick, please stay home. For more info call 336-8577

Transformations Along The Chu Nikwän 1:30 PM Yukon Visitor Information Centre Join Amber for a free walking tour every Thursday along the Whitehorse waterfront to learn about the Yukon First Nations people and the history of the Yukon.

Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Youth 11-17 are invited to join, no experience necessary.

Fridays

Yukon Family Literacy CentreSummer Drop-In 9:00 AM Pioneer Hotel at Shipyards Park Summer drop-in, read, activities, learn and explore! If you are sick, please stay home. For more info call 336-8577

Saturdays

Drop-In 3:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club enjoy the gym as a giant indoor play space. A great place to practise skills or just play and explore! Open gym is for members only

MEETINGS

Mon Jun 24 Sport Yukon AGM 5:30 PM Sport Yukon Member organisations are welcomed to attend and participate. https://www. sportyukon.com/

Mon Jun 24 NGO Hub Annual General Meeting 6:00 PM NorthLight Innovation Yukon NGO Hub Society welcomes YOU to our AGM! Come view one of our new training videos for NGOs. We welcome your ideas on the HUB.

Tue Jun 25 Cross Country Yukon AGM 6:30 PM Whitehorse Nordic

Centre Come and celebrate last winter’s successes and hear what’s planned for the upcoming ski season! Email crosscountryyukonfinance@ gmail.com for more info. https:// crosscountryyukon.com/

Tue Jun 25 CPAWS Yukon AGM 4:30 PM CPAWS Yukon Learn about the projects we worked on over the past year, and our goals for the upcoming one. All members and non-members are welcome. Snacks and refreshments provided. https:// donate.cpaws.org/

Wed Jun 26 42nd Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) AGM 5:00 PM Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) New and current members welcome, board positions to be elected, reception and buffet, AGM to follow, door prizes will be drawn during the evening. https://www.afy. ca/evenement/aga

Thu Jun 27 Yukon Art Society AGM 6:00 PM Arts Underground Hear what we’ve been up to this past year, followed by a Mug Night Social and Fundraiser for the Yukon Art Society. Enjoy light refreshments, listen to the DJ, mingle in the gallery and check out the June Members show - “Flora and Fauna”.

Thu Jul 4 Recreation & Parks Association of the Yukon AGM 7:00 PM RPAY & Recreation & Parks Assoc of the Yukon Held in person or online, new members and current members welcome, to register email anne@rpay.ca or call 668-2389. https://rpay.ca/

Monthly

First Monday Klondike Snowmobile Association Board Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents/

Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting Sport Yukon 10:00 PM Third Thursday Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Monthly Meeting 5:00 PM ZOOM Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition for regular meeting. Everyone is welcome. Call Kathy 334-9317 or info@yapc.ca for a zoom link or join us in person. https://yapc.ca/actions/ detail/yapcs-monthly-meetings

ONLINE EVENTS

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.

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.

DISPATCHES

Elke Reinauer is a writer, based in Germany, with strong ties to the Yukon. Please email comments about her articles to editor@whatsupyukon.com.farm in the countryside and sharing stories from Europe!

DEALING WITH DYING NEWSPAPERS

I am suffering from a fading

The paper that you are holding in your hands is about to die. I don’t mean this paper. It’s the newspaper industry that is dying. Slowly here and there, you might not notice it. Or you notice it and don`t care. But I do. I am affected by it. That’s why I am writing this article.

I am currently an editor and journalist for a local newspaper here in Germany and it’s been four years now for me in these roles. Before that, I worked as a freelancer for different newspapers and magazines. When the opportunity arose to work as a fulltime editor I was thrilled. And I still am. This is the job of my dreams. This was the job of my dreams, I should say. Our newspaper still exists, it has the same name it’s had for the last 143 years: Neckarquelle (named after the river Neckar which has its source Quelle (spring) in Schwenningen, the town where the paper is published). Everything changed when the small family-owned publishing house that runs the newspaper decided to sell it to a larger publishing company.

In March we were informed that we had been sold. By July 1, 2024 we are closing out the editorial department. How fast it went! When I say we I mean the ten editors and journalists who are my colleagues. Some of them have been working for Neckarquelle for 30 years. I am the youngest; 40 years old and ten years of experience as a journalist.

I never wanted to be a journalist. I got into it while living in Whitehorse. Well, What’s Up Yukon is the reason I became a journalist. While living in White-

Germany (and the Yukon) became a home for my stories.

Working at Neckarquelle felt like home. Years ago, a sculpture was placed in a local park in Schwenningen to honor the town and its newspaper. It shows a boy reading Neckarquelle close to the real Neckarquelle; the source of the river.

We are not the only dying newspapers in the world. In a town on another river, the same is happening: The Whitehorse Star has just closed its business after 124 years.

Fewer people read newspapers: According to Statista (German Statistics Website), newspaper sales are going down: 18.8 million newspapers were sold every day in 2011 in Germany. In 2023 it was 11 million issues per day. Sales went down at Neckar-

horse I was invited to a barbecue organized by the staff at What’s Up Yukon and I was asked to write for them. It was as easy as that.

• Bakery Goods & Bread

• Bar Supplies

• Beef / Chicken / Pork / Seafood

• Cappuccino / Slushie Machines

• Co ee Makers

• Compostable products

• Containers & Bags

• Convection Oven / Roller Grills

• Co on Candy Machine

• Cutlery & Utensils

• Dairy / Eggs / Ice Cream

• Deli Meats

• Fridges & Coolers

• Frozen & Fresh Food

• Frying & Baking Pans

• Plates / Wraps / Tinfoil

• Popcorn Machine

• Sandwich Tables

• Slicers / Mixers / Toasters

• Stoves - Propane & Electric • Toilet Paper / Tissue / Napkins

From there I started working for papers in Germany. Since I was a child, I have loved to write stories. I found that the newspaper in

The newsroom, which will soon have fewer people in it

quelle too: our edition went down to 4,000 (we used to have 20,000 back in the 90s). During the pandemic, our publisher sold fewer classified ads and the business was suffering financially. We knew that the newspaper was not doing alright. But we still got paid very well with union wages and benefits. So, we stayed in our newspaper bubble while the rest of the publishing world was changing. I have to admit: We were rather old-fashioned. Our main focus lies on print and long stories. We were writing for our community. The new owners of Neckarquelle – a large publishing company that bought several small local newspapers in the past years – shook their heads in disbelief about our online paper. They have a different approach which is all about getting clicks and rankings online. Now it is all about writing shorter articles. According to the new publisher, readers don’t read long stories anymore.

By July 1, all the editors (except three) have to leave. I can stay, writing paid content for companies which are advertising in the newspaper with special issues. Not exactly what I wanted to do, but I am thankful that I can stay. At the same time, I am concerned for my colleagues: Will they get severance pay? They have been there for 20 to 30 years, have experienced the various changes in newspapers over the years and now all their work is worth…what?

When it comes to the newspaper industry the last word isn’t written or spoken yet. But one can sense where it is heading. Will there still be print issues in 10 years? Or even in 20 or 30 or even 50 years? Will there still be journalists researching and writing? For me the case is clear: I will keep writing. I am grateful that I got the chance to do it for newspapers for some time. n

A sculpture was placed in a local park in Schwenningen to honor the town and its newspaper

A close up of the Neckarquelle sculpture

PHOTOS: Elke Reinauer