Brad Beaumont retires from Yukon University Faro campus in January 2025
Brad Beaumont spent 12 years in Watson Lake teaching computer classes part-time at Yukon University (then Yukon College) before transferring to Faro in 2002. He hadn’t really thought about living in the small Yukon community, but after spending nearly 22 years in Faro, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. “I'm so glad I came to Faro,” he says. “I’m a part of this community, and people don't care what you know until they know that you care.”
When reflecting on his experience, Beaumont is proud of the mark he’s left on the community campus, which includes setting up a country kitchen where people can have coffee and visit. It’s how he builds relationships with the community – by visiting and talking – and based on these personal interactions, Beaumont finds out what people are interested in.
"The Board of Governors gives us $500 a year to buy local art, which is wonderful,” he says. “So, we put on art projects like these paintings on the wall – those are all donations from local artists who took our course. We now have bought local art, and we've also trained local people."
Building on those prideful projects, Beaumont points out the wooden map that hangs in the hallway just outside the kitchen. The map shows the town of Faro created by students from various courses, including carving and wood burning. “That's significant to me, because someone will ask where something is, I’ll say, right here-” Beaumont says, referencing the map. “It's part of my community. There's a sense of belonging and a sense of ownership.”
Even though he has fond memories of his time at the campus and takes great pride in what he’s built, Beaumont also knows the importance of allowing others to leave their mark on the community he has come to love. “Whoever comes is going to bring a flavour,” he says. “In every community, everyone brings something to the table of their own and adds to the community.”
Thinking ahead to his retirement years, Beaumont knows music will become a huge part of how he spends his time. He has a music room and Saturday night jam sessions with likeminded friends. They even play at local events, pubs and coffeehouses. “Music is important to me,” he says. “Music is as important as math, because it's another language and it develops your brain in different ways. I see a lot of music in my future.”
When asked what advice he has for someone thinking about moving to the small community, Beaumont had this to say, “Faro is a very community orientated environment. If you're of that mindset where you want to develop and grow with the community and be part of that network, it's a great place to live.
“I sit at my kitchen table, and I'm so blessed. I look out my window and I have this beautiful panoramic view of the mountains. I've been truly blessed to be here. I just love it. It's a beautiful place.”
