Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) and Government of Yukon’s Economic Development have launched the second annual Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP). Yukoners can win up to $70,000 for their innovative ideas on food security and agriculture.

Innovators are invited to compete for one of four $10,000 prizes which they can then use to further develop their idea and provide evidence of its technical and economic viability. These four finalists will then submit their refined plans to compete for the grand prize of $60,000, to be used to bring their innovative idea towards commercialization.

The future looks brighter for Yukon babies thanks to a new phone Application (App) released this week in both the Apple and Android App stores. The Yukon Baby App provides information to expectant mothers and fathers to improve the health outcomes of newborn babies.

The Yukon Baby App was conceived at the Hacking Health event in spring of 2014 by a team of health-care providers, programmers and a designer. They then pitched their idea to Technology Innovation (TI) of the Yukon Research Centre, whose support led to Yukon Baby Inc. developing the App with funding support from both TI and Government of Yukon.

“This Yukon-made App has been developed to benefit Yukoners and their families”, said Dr. Karen Barnes, President & Vice Chancellor, Yukon College. “Our Technology Innovation team is here to support Yukon innovations from idea to product development and to improve the lives of Northerners.”

A new and comprehensive report documenting climate change in Yukon has been released by the Northern Climate ExChange of the Yukon Research Centre (YRC).

Yukon Climate Change Indicators and Key Findings 2015 lists climate change indicators which confirm that Yukon’s climate is warming rapidly and more change is projected.

Whitehorse – Yukoners will soon have a better understanding of what solar technologies could work best in the North. Cold Climate Innovation, of the Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College has partnered with Solvest Inc. and Triniti Technology to study solar technology performance in the North.

The Whitehorse Solar Study will explore what solar technologies work best under northern solar conditions. This study will examine four different solar technologies in the Yukon’s solar climate, with a focus on winter performance.

“We are filling a large research gap to better understand how solar can work for the North”, said Stephen Mooney, Director, Cold Climate Innovation, Yukon College. “This data could support Yukoners in deciding whether solar power could be an effective alternative energy for their home or business."

WHITEHORSE - The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and Yukon College today unveiled Yukon First Nations 101, an online course built in partnership with the 14 Yukon First Nations with the focus on Yukon business, service providers, government, and non-government organizations to provide education on the history and culture of Yukon First Nations.

Northwestel is the first corporate partner to participate in the course, which was developed by CYFN and the Yukon College First Nations Initiatives department, and will be delivered by the College’s Northern Institute for Social Justice (NISJ). All Northwestel executives and people leaders will complete this program, with the goal of understanding and creating stronger partnerships, better serving our customers of the North.

Whitehorse – Opening Doors: From Yukon to Côte d’Azur, an exhibit by Yukon artist Deanna Bailey, will open Thursday, January 28 in the Hilltop Bistro at Yukon College. The opening is from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the artist in attendance. There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

The exhibit features Bailey’s intricate modelling clay paintings, which here explore the visual richness of comparing and contrasting doorways in Yukon and the South of France. The images in ‘Opening Doors’ represent nature intertwined in harmony with communities as well as new opportunities and paths.

“One of my primary goals as an artist has been to interest viewers in nature in hopes that more people will consider and respect what we have around us. I also enjoy depicting everyday beauty that one might forget to notice during a busy day,” said Bailey in her artist statement.

WHITEHORSE - Yukon College’s Ayamdigut campus has created five gender-neutral washrooms in the main campus building. One multi-use male, one multi-use female, and three single-use washrooms have been given the gender-neutral designation.

The washrooms were re-designated this month following a student request in September. The entire project cost $3132.00 for new signage, increased privacy for multi-use washroom stalls, and the removal of urinals and installation of counters and mirrors in the previously male-only washroom.

A gender-neutral washroom is where persons of any gender can use the facility and signage is not gender-specific. The space is beneficial for transgender persons and those who identify as agender (not aligning with any gender), gender non-conforming, gender fluid and anyone who requires a multi-gender washroom, such as a parent and child or a support worker and their client.

WHITEHORSE–This week Northern Tutchone artist, Dr. Ukjese van Kampen, will unveil seven paintings and mixed-media works, three sketches and several photographs that were inspired by ten days spent at an archaeological camp on the Yukon/Alaska border last summer.

van Kampen was the first ever participant in the Little John Archaeological Site Artist-in-Residence program, which was sponsored by the Yukon Arts Center’s Culture Quest program, Yukon College, and White River First Nation.

“Rather than go in with any specific ideas, I approached this opportunity with an open mind and in turn found myself influenced by a number of sources,” said Dr. van Kampen.

WHITEHORSE-Yukon College is not renewing a contract with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to host the Enhanced Language Training program. The program is an initiative offered free to help newcomers to Canada who have work experience, settle in their new community and connect with job opportunities.

“In most other jurisdictions across the country the Enhanced Language Training program is hosted by community organizations not post-secondary institutions and we believe such an arrangement would be a better fit for our community as well,” said Margaret Dumkee, Dean of Applied Science and Management at Yukon College.

“The costs to deliver the program have increased and the funding the College receives to run the program has not always covered the expenses involved in delivering it,” added Dumkee.

Yukon College has created a new position to support the research needs of Yukon First Nations. David Silas, a Yukon College student and a Yukon First Nation citizen, is the newly appointed First Nations Engagement Advisor.  

This position will act as a liaison between researchers at the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) and the 14 Yukon First Nations and the bordering First Nations. Silas will begin by exploring the research priorities of First Nations and strengthening the capacity of the Yukon Research Centre to support these priorities.