Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) of the Yukon Research Centre, and Government of Yukon’s Economic Development have chosen a winner for the Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP). Adam Greetham of GroundTrax Environmental Inc. has won $60,000 to further develop an efficient radon mitigation system.

Greetham’s innovation manages radon mitigation in northern homes and buildings through a centralized control system; reducing the health risks of radon in a user friendly, and energy efficient manner. This unique system will now be moved towards commercialization with benefits to both the local economy and the environment.

Scientists at the Yukon Research Centre have proven that heavy metals can be removed from contaminated mine water with northern constructed wetlands. These results offer a sustainable and cost effective option for mining companies operating in the North. This research was funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Casino Mining Corporation (Casino).

Eight laboratory-scale wetlands were constructed in partnership with Casino to determine whether this passive water treatment system is feasible in a northern climate. Researchers took a multi-disciplinary approach by combining the expertise of soil scientist and plant ecologist, Dr. Katherine Stewart, and aquatic biochemist, Dr. Amelie Janin. The wetlands were able to remove 96% of cadmium, 99% of copper, 79% of selenium, and 97% of zinc concentrations from simulated mine water.

WHITEHORSE – Yukon Education Minister Doug Graham unveiled the Yukon College Ayamdigut Campus Master Plan today at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse.  The plan outlines a vision for the future development of the 97 hectare land reserve surrounding Yukon College’s Ayamdigut Campus.

“I am very pleased to unveil the Ayamdigut Campus Master Plan for Yukon College,” said Minister of Education Doug Graham. “The plan, which is based on the input of students, faculty, First Nations, community organizations and the general public, is the next step in the consultation process and will act as a blueprint for the future growth of the campus.”

BEAVER CREEK – One Yukon artist will have an opportunity to experience anthropology and archeology first-hand as part of a new artist-in-residence position on White River First Nation traditional lands.

Yukon College is accepting applications from Yukon resident artists up to Monday June 22, 2015. The successful artist must be available between July 7-22, 2015, to participate in all aspects of the Little John Field Camp located in the Mirror Creek and Scottie Creek valleys of the upper Tanana River watershed near Beaver Creek, Yukon.

Working under the leadership of Yukon College anthropologist and project director, Norm Easton, field camp activities will include archaeological excavation and survey, oral history presentations and interviews with Elders and Cultural Specialists, local language training, and participation in village and subsistence activities.

Permafrost researchers at the Northern Climate ExChange, of the Yukon Research Centre, have completed a study on the state of the permafrost under the North Alaska Highway. They have found that over eighty percent of the permafrost that lies beneath the highway between Burwash Landing and Beaver Creek is moderately or highly vulnerable to thaw in a changing climate. This research, conducted in partnership with Government of Yukon’s Highways and Public Works (HPW), will support highway maintenance and planning.

DAWSON CITY – The soil has been turned and seeds planted for the first growing season at the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (TH) Teaching and Working Farm.

Five TH citizens have been hired as farmhands. Nancy-Jane Taylor, Jen Titus, Joshua Moses, Nick Rear, and Adam Farr are working with Dexter MacRae, TH Human Resources, Education and Training Director, in cleaning the site and preparing an initial 150-by-75-foot plot. Beginning this week, the team will plant the initial crop of potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, lettuce and edible flowers.

“Being able to plant in our first year, and distribute food to the community in a few months, puts us well ahead of where we expected to be,” said MacRae.
MacRae credits the “phenomenal support” the farm project has received from TH citizens and the Dawson City community, as well as the Yukon Agriculture Branch, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Yukon College, in helping the project quickly reach this milestone.

The Yukon Research Centre has received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to do northern restoration research with Kaminak Gold Corporation.

The $25,000 will be used to determine how native plant species and techniques can be used to restore mine impacted sites. Not only will this research help Kaminak develop restoration protocols and capacity for the Coffee Gold site, it is also a component of the Northern Terrestrial Restoration course offered to Tr’ondek Hwech’in (TH) citizens through Yukon College’s Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining.

WINNIPEG - Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) presented Yukon College with the first Indigenous Education Excellence Gold Award at a ceremony in Winnipeg last night.

The award criterion looks at institutional commitment, respect of intellectual and cultural traditions, increased understanding and reciprocity among indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, learning environments, and relationship building. It is one of eight awards of excellence presented during the annual CICan conference.

“At Yukon College the importance placed on First Nations Initiatives comes right from the Board of Governors and goes right through the entire College. This has allowed us to make effective, real partnerships and relationships with our community and First Nation partners,” said Tosh Southwick, Director of First Nations Initiatives and Academic and Skill Development.

Technology Innovation (TI) is kicking off the mountain biking season with the release of the Montana Mountain Biking App for the Carcross area. This application is unique to all other North American trail apps and its innovative technology will revolutionize destination marketing for the tourism industry in Yukon and around the globe.

The Montana Mountain Biking App was created by Carcross Tagish First Nation (CTFN) and Yukon software developer, Stephan Bardubitzki. They have designed innovative software that has taken tourism destination marketing to a new level. Their innovative data compression technology allows the user to access high resolution maps within the app itself, offline, avoiding real-time exorbitant data roaming charges.

WHITEHORSE – Sci-Tech Girl is a new event being launched at Yukon College to encourage young women to seek out careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Young women in grades 10, 11, 12 and first year post-secondary are invited to meet and learn from the experience of women who are leaders in their fields. Valuable networking that will support young girls in exploring options in the sciences, according to 17-year-old Saba Javed.

“At elementary school a lot more girls were into these subjects, but I’ve seen that once you reach high school it becomes that math, science, trades, are considered more of a guy thing,” said the grade 11 F.H. Collins student. “In subjects like math and computers the guy versus girl ratio is so big, that it puts many girls off persevering and building on their earlier experience.”