DAWSON CITY – Yukon College is pleased to welcome Dr. Curtis Collins as the new program director and chair of the Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA) in Dawson City.

Collins is a well-respected curator and gallery director who has successfully revitalised a number of public art galleries in cities across Canada – most recently the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Alongside his curatorial and managerial experience, Collins has instructed at a number of universities and colleges including the First Nations University in Regina, Sault College, Trent University, University of Lethbridge, and McGill University.

WHITEHORSE – Stefan Voswinkel wants to help people with making their dreams become reality.

“Starting your own business is incredibly exciting, but there are many elements that budding entrepreneurs often overlook. Number one being - is this right for me?” said Voswinkel.

Voswinkel operates Ylynx Management Consulting Inc. and is the instructor for the eight-class Introduction to Entrepreneurship course which begins February 12 at Yukon College. This is a credit course and funded by Yukon Economic Development over two years. It has already been offered twice; this will be the third opportunity for students to take the course.

DAWSON CITY - Two visual artists, Jin-me Yoon from Vancouver and Steven Loft from Toronto, recently spent part of January working with students at Yukon School of Visual Art in Dawson City, Yukon. Both artists were accommodated at the Macaulay House Residence, provided with the generous support of the Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture.

Jin-me Yoon

For the past two decades, Yoon’s lens-based work in photography, video, performance, and installation, has explored questions concerning history and place, supported by her underlying interest in the formation of the subject and subjectivities. Her current work on Hornby Island, British Columbia further opens this dialogue about displacement, emplacement and place.

Whitehorse – This year Yukon College turns 50. It all began on June 11, 1963, with the opening of the Yukon Vocational and Technical Training Centre on the banks of the Yukon River (now the Yukon Education building), then came university-level courses and campuses in the communities, until increasing public demand for post-secondary education led to the creation of a territorial college in 1983.

“To celebrate our 50-year milestone we have activities planned throughout the year,” said Jacqueline Bedard, director of College Relations, “Starting with launch of our Amazing Alumni campaign and wrapping up with a big 50th Birthday Bash and YC Student Reunion on November 29th.”

To kick off the year, Yukon College has become a Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous partner. The corporate challenge is rebranded the Yukon College Community Challenge and is expected to be a lively event with competitions to be announced in the coming weeks. 

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College is pleased to welcome Dr. Amelie Janin as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Mining Life Cycle at Yukon College.

The NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges grant is for an initial term of 5 years. As the new Chair, Dr. Janin will work with the Yukon mining industry to develop a business-focused applied research program on reclamation activities throughout the mining lifecycle. The program will investigate the applicability to the north of innovative technologies for both water and soil treatment.

WHITEHORSE – Yukon College is joining forces with Alexco Resource, Yukon Zinc and Capstone Mining (collectively “the Producers”) and the Advanced Education Branch of Yukon Education to place more local workers in jobs at the territory’s three working mines.

The College is currently accepting applications to the new, forty-four day Introduction to Mining Operations program. It has been designed to give students a clear pathway to employment upon completion.

The program will give students a unique opportunity to experience a two-week shift rotation. It follows an overview of the entire mining process, an orientation to the working environment in an underground and surface mine, heavy equipment training, and essential certifications in safety awareness.

This new approach to job-skills training comes from collaboration with industry partners to address specific skills gaps in Yukon workers.

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon College Board of Governors is pleased to announce Geraldine Van Bibber as the new college chancellor. Van Bibber takes over the role from veteran businessman, Rolf Hougen, who has held the post since 2008.

“My son and daughter have both attended Yukon College and my husband Pat achieved his Red Seal in automotive mechanics in the early days of the College, so I know first-hand the positive impact the College has on the lives of Yukoners,” said Van Bibber.

“I appreciate this opportunity to support Yukon College with my best advice and opinion over the next two years.”

“From her previous role as commissioner and her lifetime of experience Geraldine has a solid reputation as a positive advocate for many issues of importance to Yukoners,” said Paul Flaherty, chair, Yukon College Board of Governors. “The College will certainly benefit from her advice and counsel.”

Whitehorse – The Yukon/Stikine Regional Science Fair (Grades 4-12) takes place at Yukon College on Saturday December 1, 2012. For the first time in ten years, students from Chief Zzeh Gittlit School in Old Crow will participate in the annual event.

“We are very much looking forward to seeing what our budding scientists will investigate this year. The variety and quality of the research questions asked never fail to impress the judges,” said Heather Dundas, Chair of the Yukon/Stikine Regional.

Ten schools are participating in the science fair program this year: Atlin, Chief Zzeh Gittlit, Christ the King, Emilie Tremblay, FH Collins, Hidden Valley, Holy Family, Jack Hulland, Porter Creek and Teslin.

Select winners of the Science Fair (Grades 7-12) will have an opportunity to compete in Lethbridge, Alberta at the Canada-Wide Science fair in May 2013.

WHITEHORSE – Students across Yukon are learning new practical skills that will provide opportunities for them to find employment and make a difference in their community.

Yukon College has created a number of new courses unique to each community. The courses cover a range of skills from outdoor power equipment maintenance to trades exploration to cultural arts.

The programs are funded by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) Northern Adult Basic Education (NABE) program announced earlier this year.

“This new funding has helped us address a desire in our communities to try different approaches to education and skills training,” said Dr. Karen Barnes, Yukon College president. “As a result, our community campus staff has been able to move very fast to implement these new training opportunities.”

WHITEHORSE – The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) announced a new student award of $1,000 this week.

The PDAC bursary will be awarded at the end of the academic year to a Mineral Resources student who has excelled in the program and will be pursuing a second year.

“It is great to see this level of support offered to students,” said Chad Bustin, a first year student in the program.

Bustin intends to enter the second year and continue onto a Bachelor of Science in Geology before entering the mineral resource industry.

As well as the full-time course load, the 24-year-old also works two jobs to cover rent and tuition – Banquet Supervisor with the High Country Inn/Gold Rush Inn and on-call Security Officer at Yukon College.

“This could mean the difference between working a job until midnight with class in the morning and getting a good night’s sleep and going to class rested and focused,” he added.