WHITEHORSE�The governments of Yukon and Alaska, along with Yukon College and the University of Alaska, signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today in Juneau to promote mutual cooperation in industrial and mine training.

�There is mutual benefit for Yukon and Alaska to share mining-related educational programming and information,� Yukon Education Minister Scott Kent said. �This Memorandum of Agreement provides an opportunity for further cooperation in the pursuit of our similar needs and interests.�

Hard rock mines � both surface and underground � in addition to placer mines, operate in Yukon and Alaska. The need for common training and expertise is just one aspect of the expanding relationship between Yukon and Alaska.

WHITEHORSE - The Canadian Mental Health Association, Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, Yukon College Counseling Services and Mental Health Services have joined forces to sponsor Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Education and Screening Day.  This event, held during Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 1st - 5th) will raise awareness of depression, anxiety and risky drinking.

�We learned last year that Beyond the Blues is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the symptoms of some mental health problems,� says Marie Fast, Clinical Manager for Mental Health Services. 

�The beauty of this program is that anyone can come � whether you are concerned about your own health or someone you love, or are just plain curious.�

WHITEHORSE�The School of Visual Arts (SOVA) in Dawson City has been awarded $1.42 million to continue its fine arts curriculum for the next three years Education Minister Scott Kent announced today.

The Government of Yukon is pleased to continue supporting Yukon College and the School Of Visual Arts with funding that will cover the costs of program delivery, personnel and administration,� Kent said. 

�SOVA has a strong presence that contributes to Dawson City�s arts and culture community, attracting students from near and far to study in the Klondike region.�

SOVA is an art college accredited through Yukon College and located in Dawson City. Students who successfully complete its Foundation Year Program receive a visual arts certificate from Yukon College and may block transfer this certificate into a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at any of the five Canadian art colleges and institutions partnered with Yukon College.

WHITEHORSE - Valerie Royle knows the value of tackling grief in the workplace head on. This past year the outgoing President and CEO of the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board and her team experienced the loss of two employees – Kathy Fedorak and Frank Fry.

"My team is much stronger now than if we had muddled through and didn’t have any supports in place. Both Kathy and Frank were very beloved and everyone here was devastated," said Royle.

"Right away, we set up a quiet room for people to go sit if they were feeling overwhelmed. They could have a cry or speak with an on-site EAP counselor."

Royle is a strong advocate of creating a more compassionate workplace. At the end of the month she will be sharing her experiences at a workshop designed to create a more compassionate work environment.

WHITEHORSE – Students heading back to class this week at Yukon College will learn that "You Matter Here".

The statement, featured on posters and postcards around campus, is part of efforts to ensure a welcoming atmosphere for the College’s diverse student population.

The campaign is spearheaded by Mitch Miyagawa, coordinator of the College’s Yukon Cultures Connect project. Miyagawa hopes the campaign will spark discussion among students and staff and help them appreciate each other’s differences.

"I’ve been spending a lot of time building bridges between Yukon’s cultural groups and saw a way to do this inside the College also,” said Miyagawa. “I would really like to help the College continue to grow as a leader and role model in the community, promoting and celebrating our diverse community here."

Michelle McHardy, Residence Mentor at the College, worked with Miyagawa to develop the campaign.

WHITEHORSE - A Japanese machine that vaporizes plastic and converts it to synthetic diesel is now up and running at P & M Recycling in Whitehorse.

Cold Climate Innovation (CCI), part of the Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College, will be testing the machine over the next year in the hopes that it will prove cost-effective and robust enough to take on the road to Yukon communities.

“We are incredibly pleased to have the first continuous-feed plastics to oil machine in North America, here in Yukon,” said Stephen Mooney, CCI director.

The machine can process 10 kilograms of plastic per hour to create 10 litres of synthetic diesel.

Pat McInroy, owner of P & M Recycling plans to use the diesel as heating oil for his 600 square foot operation over the winter.

"We will definitely create way more fuel than we need, so the next job is to find customers that are willing to try something new."

WHITEHORSE – Volunteers are the life-blood of many community organizations and non-profit groups in Yukon. On Thursday September 13th over 20 of these community groups will be at Yukon College to share their work with students and members of the public.

The Opportunities Exchange Fair takes place in The Pit and upstairs lobby between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is a joint event created by Volunteer Yukon and Yukon College.

"It’s an opportunity for our students, many of whom are new to Whitehorse, to connect with and participate in their community," said Ann Bowen, event organizer for Yukon College.

"Volunteering with a non-profit or community group provides people with a chance to develop their confidence and skills, and build their resume."

WHITEHORSE – Keith Halliday and his wife, Stacy Lewis, are both knowledge workers. They live in Whitehorse, yet work globally.

"We love the Yukon and felt it was a great place to raise our four kids," said Halliday.

The Yukon-born management consultant provides strategic and organizational advice to corporate, government and non-profit clients as far away as Asia and Europe. Lewis, an intellectual property lawyer, works long-distance with a US law firm.

Halliday and Lewis moved back to Whitehorse 12 years ago. Their reasoning is shared by many of the 60 knowledge workers interviewed by Stefan Voswinkel and Rhiannon Klein.

Last spring, Voswinkel was tasked by the Yukon Research Centre, at Yukon College, with preparing the first-ever comprehensive survey of Yukon’s growing knowledge sector.

A knowledge worker himself, even Voswinkel was surprised by what he found.

BURWASH LANDING - Residents in three Yukon communities are eager to be done with diesel and shift to renewable energy sources to heat and power their lives.

This is the major finding of researchers from the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) at Yukon College and Kluane First Nation (KFN) after conducting an extensive energy and emissions inventory in Burwash Landing, Destruction Bay and Silver City.

"We had fantastic participation from the communities. People really wanted to talk about this," said Lisa Christensen, researcher at the YRC.

"This has enabled us to create a strong report that reflects their energy values and concerns as well as comprehensive data on their energy consumption that will support energy-related decision making and future projects."

Christensen and Janice Dickson from KFN interviewed two thirds of residential households, most commercial operators and all government operators between January and April 2012.

WHITEHORSE – Over 540 new and returning students starting classes next week can look forward to 10 days of music, food, games, and competitions during orientation activities at Yukon College.

This will be capped off with a live concert, “Fallin’ Back” at the College Gym on September 14th. The concert will feature one of Canada’s best live independent bands, Wassabi Collective, local acts, Old Cabin and Wrong Track Freight Train, and hosted by Claire Ness.

“College is more than just class schedules, lectures and exams,” said Lauren Tuck, Orientation Activities Coordinator. “Engaging students in everything college life has to offer is what orientation is all about.”

“It’s also an important way to provide students with opportunities to have fun, make friends, and ease the transition from high school, or wherever they’re coming from in life.”