WHITEHORSE—Yukon College student Alex Therriault is challenging northerners to take a 24-hour fossil fuel diet. The 19-year-old Renewable Resources Management student completed his own diet last month as part of the Climate Change and the Circumpolar World course and it prompted him to switch his main vehicle and eat more local food.

“Our behaviour drives the visible effects of climate change we are seeing all around us in the Yukon right now. I get frustrated and feel helpless, but focusing on my fossil fuel consumption for just one-day really opened my eyes to the fairly basic lifestyle changes we can make to reduce our impact on the world.”

The Renewable Resources Management program student focused on transportation and food during the diet, which encourages participants to both reduce fossil fuel consumption and be more mindful of all the ways fossil fuels are necessary to their lives.

Minister Navdeep Bains today announced an investment of $202,258 to support the creation of an online Atlas of Arctic Resource Development, the first of its kind in the Canadian North and scheduled to launch April 2016.

Developed through the Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic network (ReSDA), located at Yukon College, the online Atlas is a sharing tool will make resource development in Yukon more transparent, enabling public access to relevant environmental, scientific, and socio-economic information on major resource development projects in the North. 

WHITEHORSE—The Government of Yukon announced today that it will be extending funding for the Practical Nurse (PN) program at Yukon College to continue for another four years in order to help meet demand for Licenced Practical Nurses (LPNs).

“Continuing our support for locally trained practical nurses reflects our government’s commitment to make Yukon a great place to live, work, play and raise a family,” Minister of Education Doug Graham said. “This funding reflects our commitment to improving Yukoners’ access to health care, preparing Yukoners for jobs, and improving Yukoners’ access to education.”

Starting in the 2016/17 budget, subject to legislative approval, the Yukon government will provide more than $1,950,000 over four years to the College to operate the program from July 4, 2016, to May 29, 2020.

Whitehorse – Yukoners can add up to 3 months to the growing season thanks to a greenhouse design supported by Yukon Research Centre’s Cold Climate Innovation (CCI). Bob Sharp has created a greenhouse kit that makes food production more reliable and economical for Yukoners.

The Solar Growing greenhouse kit has been designed to handle the challenges of northern growing conditions. Sharp created a system that automatically controls extremes in temperature thereby optimizing plant growth. This eight piece kit made of durable materials can be readily assembled.

Four Yukon innovators have been short-listed for the 2016 Yukon Innovation Prize. These finalists will each receive $10,000 to further develop their idea and compete for the grand prize of $60,000.

Cold Climate Innovation at the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) and Government of Yukon’s Economic Development created this prize to support Yukon innovators whose ideas have an environmental or economic benefit to the Yukon.

The selection committee reviewed 28 proposals and chose four finalists whose ideas have high market and commercialization potential in food security and agriculture.

Whitehorse – 343 bridge builders have registered for the 23rd Annual Bridge Building contest to be held this Saturday April 9, at the Porter Creek Secondary School gym. This is up from 222 builders last year and is the highest number in the past decade.

The event, organised by Science Adventures at Yukon College and the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, will feature a total of 165 bridges created by students from 14 Yukon schools, home educators, plus adults in the All-Can category.

The organizing committee relaxed the rules in the All-Can category this year, although they are attributing the jump in competitors to three schools re-joining the contest this year - Hidden Valley and Takhini Elementary in Whitehorse, and Tantalus Community School in Carmacks. The All-Can category has seven entries registered.

WHITEHORSE – The presidents of the three Canadian territorial colleges welcome the $3.9 million funding extension for Northern Adult Basic Education (NABE) that was announced in the federal budget on March 22.

Since 2011/12, the Government of Canada has invested $27 million over five years to expand adult basic education in the territories. Adult Basic Education includes activities that assist adults in achieving sufficient levels of literacy, numeracy and other essential skills to obtain a job or enter vocational training.

WHITEHORSE – Organizers of the 23rd Annual Bridge Building Contest have shaken up the rules for 2016. Grade 3-12 students remain limited to teams of four people, have to create bridges using only wooden stir sticks, dental floss and white glue, and keep within strict height and anchoring restrictions Whereas those entering the popular ALL-CAN category will have much greater freedom.

ALL-CAN teams can have unlimited members, of any age, working at any level. They can use power tools, their bridges have almost no restriction on overall height, and each end of their bridge can be anchored to the testing station with up to 1000 milimeters of masking tape.

“The ALL-CAN team must still use only wooden sticks, glue and dental floss, but we are hoping that by relaxing the rules in this one category judges will see a greater diversity of bridge designs entered this year,” said Heather Dundas, coordinator, Science Adventures at Yukon College.

ROSS RIVER – Eight students at Yukon College’s Dena Cho Kê’endi campus in Ross River are learning carpentry, plumbing, electrical and heating system home maintenance skills by renovating a 40-year-old house donated by the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC). When complete, the rehabilitated Pyrite Street building will be given back to RRDC to help meet housing needs in the community.

WHITEHORSE-The BC Association of Institutes and Universities (BCAIU) has welcomed Yukon College as its newest member. Through joining the association of four universities and three institutes, the future Yukon University will obtain valuable guidance and experience of other institutions that have recently evolved to university status.