News

HAINES JUNCTION—The Mayor and Council of the village of Haines Junction have become the first municipality in Yukon to complete the Yukon First Nations 101 program.

Earlier this month, village resident Kari Johnston challenged the council to meet number 57 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action. They could do this by completing the six-hour online program by September 30, which is recognized as Orange Shirt Day—an annual residential school commemoration event.

At the council meeting this week, on Wednesday September 28th, Mayor Michael Riseborough announced that he and all four Councillors had done so. All five of them sported an orange shirt to mark the occasion.

OLD CROW—Yesterday evening over 70 people gathered at the Alice Frost Yukon College community campus in Old Crow. They were there to pay tribute to the Gwitchin leader the building is named after and celebrate the campus’s 30th anniversary.

Randall Kendi opened the gathering with a prayer. Sophia Flather read a short biography of Frost in English that she researched and wrote this summer. Brandon Kyikavichik read the biography in Gwitchin. This was followed by a campus open house where friends and family shared their favourite memories of the late Chief.

Flather’s biography of Frost will be preserved on a plaque that will hang on the campus building in the community. Flather spent a month interviewing 13 people who grew up with, worked alongside, or knew Frost very well. She also reviewed newspaper articles, community records, oral history transcripts, and Berger Inquiry transcripts.

WHITEHORSE—Yukon College released a socio-economic profile today which determines that the College represents an estimated $38.4 million impact to Yukon’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is a leader in northern issues.

The profile states that with $22.8 million in 2014-15 core funding, the College generated a further $23 million in third party funded programs, projects and contracts for a total of $46 million in revenues.  $43.8 million of this was spent on personnel and the purchase of goods and services, generating a further estimated $18.4 million in indirect and induced economic activity. This represents a total estimated Yukon College-related economic output of $62.2 million. The total employment impact of Yukon College is 542 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

WHITEHORSE—The Yukon College Board of Governors is pleased to announce Piers McDonald as the new College Chancellor. McDonald takes over the role from Geraldine Van Bibber, who has held the post since 2012.

“My daughters attended Yukon College before completing their degrees in B. C. It was a positive entry into post-secondary education for both of them as they could remain in Whitehorse, in familiar surroundings,” said McDonald.

“The College opens up the world to our students and community. It has grown and remained relevant to our evolving community. When Ayamdigut campus was first opened, many felt it was too large a space, but now it is bursting at the seams. I appreciate this opportunity to support Yukon College,” added McDonald.

WHITEHORSE—An exhibit by emerging Yukon artist Meghann Meadowcroft will open Tuesday, September 27 in the Hilltop Bistro at Yukon College. The opening is from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with the artist in attendance. There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

The exhibit features a selection of Meadowcroft’s paintings inspired by the Yukon’s natural landscape—from colourful fireweed to blossoming trees and dynamic northern lights. Meadowcroft began painting as a personal therapeutic process and never expected to find a market for her work. Since 2012 she has sold over 300 of her paintings.

“Art is a wonderful opportunity for self-regulation and discovery. I find therapy, healing and peace when I paint. It is very humbling to have so many people enjoy what I create,” said Meadowcroft.

Yukon College has been awarded an Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Northern Energy Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This position is supported by electricity companies in all three Canadian territories to solve challenges faced by the northern energy industry.

The Northern Energy Innovation Chair, Dr. Michael Ross will work closely with a pan-territorial consortium comprised of ATCO Electric, Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Qulliq Energy Corporation Nunavut, and Yukon Energy Corporation. These companies have matched NSERC’s one million dollar contribution by each committing $50,000 per year over the next five years.

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.