News

Yukon College has been awarded an Industrial Research Chair in Northern Energy Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to solve issues unique to the electrical energy industry in Canada’s North.

Over the next five years, the Chair will work with the electrical energy industry in all three territories to develop independent applied research projects, while building the knowledge economy across the North through our northern colleges.

Learn more about how this position aims to achieve the highest level of efficiency, reliability, cost reduction, and enhanced environmental stewardship standards in the northern energy industry through applied research and innovation.

WHITEHORSE—Yukon College held a grand opening ceremony today for the new Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM) building at the Ayamdigut campus. The $8.3 million, 18,000 square foot building is eighty per cent larger than originally envisioned and has been completed a year ahead of schedule.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, Yukon Minister for Energy Mines and Resources Scott Kent, Yukon Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell and the CNIM governing council joined students, faculty and staff for the ribbon cutting and tour of the new building with interim President Janet Moodie and CNIM Executive Director Shelagh Rowles.

WHITEHORSE—The Yukon College Foundation has succeeded in tripling the amount of money available to students through donors from $14,000 to $43,000 per year. Established just one year ago, the Foundation was established to advance the institution through philanthropy.

“Students need to know that their community is really behind them as they work to complete their education,” said Wendy Tayler, Yukon College Foundation Board Chair. “Yukon requires a skilled workforce and our business community is motivated to grow this locally.”

The Foundation board has now set a goal to grow annual student awards by a further $27,000 to $70,000. Jacqueline Bedard, Executive Director, External and Government Relations at Yukon College believes this can be achieved.

Yukon College's Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) has won the 2016 Entrepreneur Support award with Startup Canada in the region of B.C. and the North. CCI will be presented with the award during a red carpet event in Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, October 24th.

The Entrepreneur Support award is given to government organizations, not-for-profits, academic institutions and private for-profit businesses that demonstrate excellence in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship through their leadership, innovation and impact.

“Our team at Cold Climate Innovation and Technology Innovation are honored to be nationally recognized for supporting Yukon entrepreneurs”, said Stephen Mooney, Director, Cold Climate Innovation. “We are here to move ideas from concept towards commercialization to benefit the lives of northerners.”

WHITEHORSE—Yukon College has launched a new app for mobile devices that will instantly connect students to campus safety and security options, campus maps, academic resources and orientation week activities. YC Mobile can be found on app stores for Apple and Android devices by searching for “Yukon College”.

While aimed at students, the app is also useful for staff and visitors to Ayamdigut campus. Those using the app can quickly connect to College safety and security officers or call 911, report suspicious behaviour or wildlife activity, use their device as a flashlight or panic alarm, access College emergency response plans, book a counselling appointment and access the College’s online learning management system. Users will also receive text message notification in the event of an emergency occuring on campus.

WHITEHORSE—Exhausted and hopeful, Tareef Jaamour arrived at Yukon College this week after a 36-hour flight from Amman, Jordan.

Jaamour has immigrated to Canada through the World University Service Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program. Students and staff and at Yukon College have raised $20,000 since November 2015 to help support Jaamour in his first year as a permanent resident.

“I am incredibly grateful for all the work it has taken to help me reach Canada,” said Jaamour. “Everyone has been amazing and I am excited to begin my studies and my new life here in Whitehorse.”

24-year-old Jaamour was born and has lived as a refugee all his life. His father was forced to flee Syria in the 1980’s and after spending time in Dubai, settled his family in Jordan where they lived peacefully in asylum for almost 20 years. Everything changed for the Jaamour family when the current Syrian civil war began in 2011.

WHITEHORSE- Just over ten percent of this fall’s students are on academic probation or are facing academic dismissal. For the first time, starting in September, those students have a support plan, helping them to get back on track academically.

Students will work with the Learning Assistance Centre (LAC) on the development of a personalized plan that fits their schedule and addresses the specific challenges they’re facing. This plan is executed through the duration of the fall semester.

REBOOT is a second chance, pass/fail personalized course of study. Students may take up to three additional courses at the same time as REBOOT.

WHITEHORSE—Gloria Johnston is challenging the tendency of health and education researchers to over-promise results to the marginalized people participating in an increasingly popular style of research called photovoice.

The University of New Brunswick sociology Ph.D. candidate’s position is outlined in a paper published in the latest issue of the international journal Global Public Health—Champions for social change: Photovoice ethics in practice and ‘false hopes’ for policy and social change.

Photovoice is a community-based participatory research method that asserts regular people, their personal experience and particular viewpoint are a legitimate and important source of expertise.

Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre, and Government of Yukon’s Economic Development have chosen a winner for the 2016 Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP). Maxime Dugre-Sasseville of Max Design Construction has won $60,000 to further develop a thermodynamic greenhouse that will significantly extend the growing season in cold climates.

Dugre-Sasseville has applied his engineering background in custom automation with his construction expertise to design a controlled thermodynamic greenhouse that will run eight to 12 months of the year whether you are in Old Crow or the mountains of Colorado.

Please join us as we announce the 2016 winner of the Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP).

Cold Climate Innovation, of the Yukon Research Centre, and Government of Yukon have chosen a winning innovation that will be moved towards commercialization with benefits to the local economy.

CARCROSS—Students in the Renewable Energy Installer program at Yukon College’s Carcross community campus have succeeded in installing four new energy systems in the community.

The systems consist of a two-panel solar-thermal and a 60-foot, 1.7 kilowatt grid-tied wind turbine providing electricity and hot water to the daycare, a 1.5 kilowatt grid-tied photovoltaic solar power system providing electricity to the Learning Centre, plus a 1.5 kilowatt off-grid photovoltaic system powering Skookie’s Cultural Camp, three kilometers outside Carcross.

“We chose the locations with the assistance of the Carcross/Tagish First Nations—considering where they would be the most useful and where they are the most visible for the community and visitors to learn how they operate,” said Laird Herbert, program coordinator.

WHITEHORSE—The Yukon College Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Dr. Karen Barnes will remain as the President of Yukon College until June 30, 2019.

Barnes had previously announced she would retire in 2017; however, the Board asked her to consider remaining with the College for a further two years.

“With a new degree and post-degree program about to be launched and the transition to a university underway, the Board would prefer to maintain continuity of leadership at this time,” said Paul Flaherty, Board of Governors chair. “We are pleased that Dr. Barnes has reconsidered her retirement plans.”

Barnes joined Yukon College from Lethbridge College in 2008 as vice president academic. She was appointed president and vice chancellor in 2011.