Understanding food insecurity in Yukon communities 

YukonU researchers are assessing food security in the Yukon by looking at the effects of food hamper distributions to communities during the pandemic. 

The Whitehorse Food Bank started delivering emergency food hampers to Yukon communities during the pandemic as Yukoners were advised to avoid intercommunity travel. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Instructor Sara McPhee-Knowles and 4th year BBA student David Gatensby interviewed community members who access this service about their experiences with food insecurity and the Whitehorse Food Bank.  

Food insecurity is a multifaceted issue. The early stages of Sara and David’s research show that many community members rely on these emergency food hampers. The COVID-19 pandemic affected food security through such outcomes as community dinners being canceled, difficulties traveling to Whitehorse and increased food costs throughout the pandemic. Study participants noted difficulty balancing high housing, transportation and food costs, particularly on a fixed income.

Thanks to funding from Mitacs and the YukonU Scholarly Activity Grant, Sara and David are getting valuable insight from those with lived experiences. 

Written by student communications assistant Naomi Dedon.