Whitehorse, Yukon
Encyclopedia
Whitehorse ˈ is Yukon
's capital
and largest city (population 26,418, estimated June 2010). It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1476 on the Alaska Highway
in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River
, which originates in British Columbia
and meets the Bering Sea
in Alaska. The city was named after the White Horse Rapids
for their resemblance to the mane of a white horse
, near Miles Canyon
, before the river was dammed. Because of the city's location in the Whitehorse valley, the climate is milder than other comparable northern communities. At this latitude winter days are short and summer days have 20 hours of daylight.
Whitehorse is located at kilometre 1,425 (Historic Mile 918) of the Alaska Highway
and is framed by three nearby mountains: Grey Mountain to the east, Haeckel Hill to the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain to the south. The rapids
which were the namesake of the city have disappeared under Schwatka Lake
, formed by the construction of a hydroelectric
dam
in 1958. Whitehorse is currently the 79th largest city in Canada by area. The city limits present a near rectangular shape orientated in a NW-SE direction.
core on the Yukon river
's west bank, two subdivisions sit at the same elevation as the Yukon river
(640 m). Crossing the bridge to the east bank of the river leads to Riverdale
, one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. From Riverdale, the road climbing up Grey Mountain leads to Grey Mountain Cemetery and the local FM radio antenna. North of downtown is the Marwell industrial subdivision which used to be separated from the downtown by a large marshland but the first decade of 2000 saw huge commercial transformations and these two neighbourhoods are now contiguous.
The rest of Whitehorse is generally located above 690 meters. Immediately after climbing "2-mile Hill", looking east, we find the old residential neighbourhoods of Takhini, Takhini North and Takhini East, where many homes are actually historical army barracks and military officers' residences. Yukon College
, Yukon Arts Centre
and Whitehorse Correctional Centre are situated in Takhini. Situated further north are Porter Creek and Crestview.
West of downtown we find Valleyview, Hillcrest (also largely constituted of old military lodgings) and the airport; and heading past the Canada Games Centre climbing Hamilton boulevard leads to the neighbourhoods of McIntyre (designated to replace expropriated lands and homes of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation ("The Village") previously located where the newly developed downtown commercial area is now), then Ingram, Arkell, Logan, Granger, and rapidly expanding Copper Ridge.
Whitehorse also has subdivisions designated "Country Residential" which can be subject to different municipal bylaws and are located farther out from the downtown. They consist of the rural Whitehorse subdivisions of Hidden Valley, MacPherson at Whitehorse's northern limits; and to the south McCrae, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek North, Mary Lake, Cowley Creek, Spruce Hill, Pineridge and Fox Haven Estates. Also located at the south end of the city is the newly designated Mt. Sima Service Industrial Subdivision.
Construction of Whistle Bend, Whitehorse's newest subdivision, began in 2010.
In 1999, the city approved the Area Development Scheme (ADS) which reallocated the area previously known as “Whitehorse Copper” to the following uses: Country Residential, Commercial, Service Industrial, and Heavy industrial.
Recent demands for growth have reignited urban planning debates in Whitehorse. In 1970 the Metropolitan Whitehorse development plan included park and greenbelt areas that were to be preserved to insure high quality of life even within city limits.
Like most of the Yukon, Whitehorse has a dry subarctic climate
. Whitehorse experiences an annual temperature average with daily highs of 21 °C (69.8 °F) in July and average daily lows of -22 C in January. The record high temperature was 34 °C (93.2 °F) in June 1969 and the lowest was -52 C in January 1947. Whitehorse has little precipitation with an average annual snowfall of 145 cm (57.09 in) and 163 mm (6.4 in) of rainfall.
According to Meteorological Service of Canada
, Whitehorse has the distinction of being Canada's driest city, mainly because it lies in the rain shadow
of the Coast Mountains
. Surprisingly, despite its relative cold, Whitehorse was ranked among Canadian cities with the most comfortable climate.
Whitehorse municipal elections occur every three years. In the 2009 election, incumbent Bev Buckway
was re-elected as mayor of Whitehorse for a second term. Whitehorse City Council has six councillors: Dave Austin (fourth term), Doug Graham (fourth term), Betty Irwin (first term), Ranj Pillai (first term), Florence Roberts (second consecutive term) and Dave Stockdale (tenth consecutive term). The voter turn out at the 2009 election was 4218 of 11446 (36.85 %), which is significantly lower than the 44% at the 2006 election, causing consternation among councillors. Municipal services provided by the city of Whitehorse include: water and sewer systems, road maintenance, snow and ice control, non-recyclable waste and composting, as well as a mosquito control program.
Whitehorse is represented by 9 of 18 MLAs in Yukon's Legislative Assembly
, as per the 2002 map of Yukon Electoral districts. In 2009 Yukon's electoral map was modified and at the next election Whitehorse will have 10 of 19 total MLAs. The Legislative Assembly Building is located in downtown Whitehorse and elections usually take place every three to five years. The last general election was held in 2006 and the last by-election for "Whitehorse Centre" was in 2010. Whitehorse residents have four local political parties from which to chose: Yukon Liberal Party
, Yukon New Democratic Party
, Yukon Party
, as well as the newly constituted Yukon Green Party
.
All of Yukon consists of a single Federal electoral district
and therefore there is only one MP
and 65% of Yukon's voters live in Whitehorse. Residents of the Yukon have been voting federally
since a byelection returned the first Yukon MP in January 1903 and, from 1984 onward, have had candidates from at least four federal political parties to choose from. In 2006, 2008 and 2011, the choices have been: Conservative
, Green
, Liberal
, and NDP
. Other parties that have contested the riding from 1984 onward include the Libertarian Party, the Rhinoceros Party, the three precursors of the Conservative Party (Reform Party, Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives), the National Party (1993) and the Christian Heritage Party.
Ryan Leef was elected as Yukon's new Conservative MP in 2011. Liberal Larry Bagnell
was Yukon's MP from 2000 to 2011, winning the 2006 election with 49% of the vote and voter turnout of 66%, on par with the total Canadian turnout of 65%, with Whitehorse districts turnout lower at 55%.
. The Court of Appeal, made up of justices from BC
, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut, sits in Whitehorse only one week of the year, so most appeals are heard in Vancouver
.
Located 20 km south of downtown Whitehorse, the Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre offers a variety of courses and activities, generally six weeks long, throughout the summer, mainly geared to leadership and adventure. The Centre is located on the property of the unused Wolf Creek Juvenile Corrections Centre which is leased by the Department of National Defence from the Yukon Government.
Historically, Whitehorse also was the location of units of the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force; the Canadian Army was the last to pull out in 1968, at the same time the armed forces were unified.
, has revealed evidence of use by First Nations for several thousand years. The surrounding area had seasonal fish camps and Frederick Schwatka
, in 1883, observed the presence of a portage trail used to bypass Miles Canyon
. Before the Gold Rush, several different tribes passed through the area seasonally and their territories overlapped.
The discovery of gold in the Klondike
in August, 1896, by Skookum Jim, Tagish Charlie and George Washington Carmack set off a major change in the historical patterns of the region. Early prospectors used the Chilkoot Pass
, but by July 1897, crowds of neophyte stampede
rs had arrived via steamship and were camping at "White Horse". By June 1898, there was a bottleneck of stampeders at Canyon City, many boats had been lost to the rapids as well as five people. Samuel Steele of the North-West Mounted Police said: "why more casualties have not occurred is a mystery to me."
On their way to find gold, stampeders also found copper in the "copper belt
" in the hills west of Whitehorse. The first copper claims were staked by Jack McIntyre
on July 6, 1898, and Sam McGee
on July 16, 1899. Two tram lines were built, one 8 km stretch on the east bank of the river
from Canyon City to the rapids, just across from the present day downtown, the other was built on the west bank of the river. A small settlement was developing at Canyon City but the completion of the railway to Whitehorse in 1900 put a halt to it.
The White Pass and Yukon Route
narrow-gauge railway linking Skagway to Whitehorse had begun construction in May 1898, by May 1899 construction had arrived at the south end of Bennett lake. Construction began again at the north end of Bennett lake to Whitehorse. It was only in June–July 1890 that construction finished the difficult Bennett lake section itself, completing the entire route.
By 1901, the Whitehorse Star
was already reporting on daily freight volumes. That summer there were four trains per day. Even though traders and prospectors were all calling the city Whitehorse (White Horse), there was an attempt the railway people to change the name to Closeleigh (British Close brothers provided funding for the railway), this was refused by William Ogilvie
, the territory's Commissioner. Whitehorse was booming.
In 1920 the first planes landed in Whitehorse and the first air mail was sent in November 1927. Until 1942, river and air were the only way to get to Whitehorse but in 1942 the US military decided an interior road would be safer to transfer troops and provisions between Alaska and the US mainland and began construction of the Alaska Highway
. The entire 2500 km project was accomplished between March and November 1942. The Canadian portion of the highway was only returned to Canadian sovereignty after the war.
In 1950 the city was incorporated and by 1951, the population had doubled from its 1941 numbers. On April 1, 1953, the city was designated the capital of the Yukon territory when the seat was moved from Dawson City
after the construction of the Klondike Highway
. On March 21, 1957, the name was officially changed from White Horse to Whitehorse.
, Calgary
, Edmonton
, Fort Simpson, Yellowknife as well as Fairbanks
, Alaska
and Frankfurt
, Germany
during the summer months. The airport was developed as part of the Northwest Staging Route in 1941-42 and has two long paved runways. A wartime-era hangar served as terminal building from about 1960, and was replaced in December 1985 with a modern terminal.
In 1998 work was completed on a 340 meter runway extension and other improvements (concrete turn button, installation of storm and sanitary mains, lighting upgrades, tower access road and blast pad). Expansion of the terminal itself was completed in 2010.
connecting the Yukon with the Alaska
, British Columbia
, and Alberta
highway networks.
Whitehorse has been described as "pearls on a string", with its residential, industrial, and service subdivisions located along the main thoroughfares that carry traffic within city limits, with large gaps of undeveloped (often hilly) land between them. The Alaska Highway
is the primary roadway, with branch roads reaching additional subdivisions. One such branch road, signed as "Highway 1A" and following Two Mile Hill Road, 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and Robert Service Way, is the main access to downtown, Riverdale, and the Marwell Industrial Area. Other branch roads (Range Road, Hamilton Boulevard, Mayo Road
) access smaller residential areas and recreational facilities.
The city road
network is adequate, although it is congested during rush hours and discussions occasionally occur as to how it might better be managed, such as designating one-way streets.
is essentially navigable, but no passenger or freight services use the river at Whitehorse.
, of which only a small portion are currently maintained to run a small trolley service in the summer. The last scheduled service to Whitehorse occurred in October 1982. The White Pass Railway started scheduled service from Skagway, Alaska
to Carcross
, 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) south of Whitehorse, in the spring of 2007, but this was disrupted by high lake water levels in August 2007. Speculation of a transcontinental rail link to Alaska includes one possible route option through Whitehorse; a report has recommended a hub at Carmacks
, with a spur line to Whitehorse and on to the Inside Passage of Alaska.
provides bus service on weekdays from morning until early evening and Saturdays during business hours. There is a waterfront tram, known as the "trolley"
, which provides transport along a short rail section along the Yukon River; it is chiefly tourist-oriented and is not yet integrated into the municipal transit system. It runs from the Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre, up to the north end of the city centre at Spook Creek Station.
, across from its previous location, but decision making was still based in Ottawa
(National Health and Welfare, Medical Services Branch).
In 1990, the Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) was created in order to prepare the transfer of powers regarding the hospital from the Federal Government to the Yukon Territorial Government. In April 1993 management of WGH was officially transferred to the YHC following a collaboration with the Yukon government and Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN, then CYI). Construction of the present building lasted from 1994 through 1997. Today Whitehorse General hospital counts 49 in-patient beds, 10 day-surgery beds, an ER department, OR suites and several medical imaging technologies.
The downtown area has several private medical, dental, and optometry clinics.
, with the main police station on 4th avenue in the city centre.
Whitehorse has its own fire service, known as City of Whitehorse Fire Department with two fire halls. The first in the city centre with only space for two trucks, and the second atop "2-mile Hill" on the west side with room for 3 trucks which was rebuilt in 2010 to become a public safety building. The original fire hall located along on the waterfront has been preserved as a historic building and cultural centre. The Fire Department runs with 20 full time staff and approximately 30 volunteers.
Whitehorse's ambulance service are run by Yukon Government's Emergency Medical Services and is staffed by full-time Primary Care Paramedics (PCP).
Whitehorse's Search and Rescue (SAR) is ensured by a partnership between the RCMP, YG's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) and volunteer SAR teams.
Primary education (K-3):
Elementary education (K-7):
Secondary education:
French First Language school (K-12):
Specialized programs:
Post-secondary education:
offers all varieties of shows and artists and includes an art gallery. Plays are also performed at the Guild Hall in Porter Creek, and downtown Whitehorse's Wood Street Centre offers smaller local productions. Whitehorse's arts and entertainment schedule is non-stop throughout the year, not only with local events and celebrations but Whitehorse also plays host to several major festivals which attract artists from all over Canada and internationally, including the Sourdough Rendezvous'
Ice Sculpture
contest, the Frostbite Music Festival, the Yukon International Storytelling Festival
, and the Available Light Film Festival.
Print
Whitehorse's two major English language newspapers are the Whitehorse Daily Star
(founded as a weekly in 1900, it now publishes five times per week since 1986) and the Yukon News
(founded as a weekly in 1960 by Ken Shortt, published five days a week from 1967 to 1999, and currently prints twice weekly). Other local newspapers include What's Up Yukon (a local free music, arts, culture, events, weekly founded in 2005) and a French language newspaper L'Aurore boréale
(founded in 1983, and published bi-weekly).
, CKRW
, CHON-FM
, CJUC-FM
, CIAY-FM
, VF2356
), and NorthwesTel
hosts three local television channels (Community Cable 9, an advertisement slide-show channel and a public service channel). CBC television
established a TV transmitter in Whitehorse in 1968, using the Frontier Coverage Package until Anik (satellite)
satellite broadcasts became available early in 1973.
. These trails are used for a variety of non-motorized and/or motorized activities. The Yukon River in and around Whitehorse provides many opportunities for kayaking
and canoeing
.
sled dog race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks
, Alaska
, is considered one of the toughest in the world. The race alternates its starting and finishing points each year.
The city has hosted several large sporting events including the 2007 Canada Winter Games, for which a CA$45 million sport multiplex was built; the Canadian Junior Freestyle Championships in 2006, the Arctic Winter Games
(2000, 1992, 1986, 1980, 1972), the annual International Curling Bonspiel, and the Dustball International Slowitch Tournament.
, and Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre. Private interests run Mount Sima (350 m, downhill skiing), three golf courses (Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club, Mountain View Golf Course, Wolf Creek), a bowling alley, and gyms (Peak Fitness, Curves, Better Bodies).
, basketball
, broomball
, hockey
, soccer and ultimate disk
. High school teams are very active and partake in competitions with schools in neighbouring Alaska, and a few local athletes have flourished on the Canadian sports scene.
Christians make up 54% of the population, while 39% has no religious affiliation. There are also 110 Buddhists, 105 Sikhs, 60 Muslims
, and 30 Jews.
, Brazil
Ushiku, Japan
, since 1985.
Historical sister partnerships:
, the first woman to lead a represented political party (NDP
) in Canadian federal politics, who has resided in Whitehorse since 1979, Robert W. Service
, author of "The Cremation of Sam McGee
", who lived in Whitehorse from 1904 to 1908, and Pierre Berton
, an author and television host, born in Whitehorse.
Other notable artists from Whitehorse are the actors Tahmoh Penikett
of Battlestar Galactica
and Dollhouse
; Amy Sloan
who has done many television shows,(Molly Lang) Dancer, Singer, Northern Icon, the storyteller Ivan Coyote
, punk rock bassist Jonas Smith
of JJS3, and the creator of Scrooge McDuck
occasional resident Carl Barks
.
Notable athletes are Whitehorse born hockey players Bryon Baltimore
, who made it to the Los Angeles Kings in 1974, and Peter Sturgeon
who played for the Colorado Rockies in 1974, Whitehorse born olympic cyclist Zachary Bell
, Whitehorse raised olympic weightlifter Jeane Lassen who won medals in several world competitions, Whitehorse born basketball players Aaron Olson
, and 1984 Olympics centre for Team Canada Greg Wiltjer
.
Notable politicians include the first female mayor of Whitehorse, in 1975, Ione Christensen
whose family had moved to Whitehorse in 1949, and Yukon's first senator, in 1975, Paul Lucier
, who stayed in office until his death in 1999.
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
's capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
and largest city (population 26,418, estimated June 2010). It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1476 on the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, which originates in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and meets the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
in Alaska. The city was named after the White Horse Rapids
White Horse rapids
The White Horse rapids were rapids on the Yukon River in Canada's Yukon Territory, named for their supposed resemblance to the mane of a charging white horse...
for their resemblance to the mane of a white horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, near Miles Canyon
Miles Canyon Basalts
The Miles Canyon Basalts is a cluster of basaltic lava flows and cones in south-central Yukon. The lava flows are in the Alligator Lake volcanic complex close to Whitehorse and were thought to be Pleistocene age.-See also:*Volcanism in Canada...
, before the river was dammed. Because of the city's location in the Whitehorse valley, the climate is milder than other comparable northern communities. At this latitude winter days are short and summer days have 20 hours of daylight.
Geography
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
and is framed by three nearby mountains: Grey Mountain to the east, Haeckel Hill to the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain to the south. The rapids
White Horse rapids
The White Horse rapids were rapids on the Yukon River in Canada's Yukon Territory, named for their supposed resemblance to the mane of a charging white horse...
which were the namesake of the city have disappeared under Schwatka Lake
Schwatka Lake
Schwatka Lake is a reservoir created by the damming of the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon, completed in 1958. The dam provides electrical power generation and is operated by the Yukon Energy Corporation. The White Horse Rapids, which gave the city its name, are now under the lake...
, formed by the construction of a hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
in 1958. Whitehorse is currently the 79th largest city in Canada by area. The city limits present a near rectangular shape orientated in a NW-SE direction.
Subdivisions
Due to Whitehorse's unique urban development objectives and varied topography, neighbourhoods are usually separated from each other by large geographical features, which is a reason of why they were called subdivisions. In addition to the city's downtownDowntown Whitehorse, Yukon
Downtown Whitehorse is a neighbourhood in Whitehorse, Yukon. It is the commercial centre of the city. The Yukon Legislative Building is located in the neighbourhood....
core on the Yukon river
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
's west bank, two subdivisions sit at the same elevation as the Yukon river
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
(640 m). Crossing the bridge to the east bank of the river leads to Riverdale
Riverdale, Yukon
Riverdale is a neighbourhood within the city of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The community is separated from Whitehorse City Centre by the Yukon River, and is linked to Whitehorse via Lewes Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in the community....
, one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. From Riverdale, the road climbing up Grey Mountain leads to Grey Mountain Cemetery and the local FM radio antenna. North of downtown is the Marwell industrial subdivision which used to be separated from the downtown by a large marshland but the first decade of 2000 saw huge commercial transformations and these two neighbourhoods are now contiguous.
The rest of Whitehorse is generally located above 690 meters. Immediately after climbing "2-mile Hill", looking east, we find the old residential neighbourhoods of Takhini, Takhini North and Takhini East, where many homes are actually historical army barracks and military officers' residences. Yukon College
Yukon College
Yukon College is a community college in the Canadian territory of Yukon. Its main campus is in Whitehorse, Yukon. The college was founded in 1983, replacing the Yukon Vocational and Technical Training Centre, which had been in operation since the 1960s...
, Yukon Arts Centre
Yukon Arts Centre
The Yukon Arts Centre is a non-profit corporation in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. It presents works of territorial, national and international importance....
and Whitehorse Correctional Centre are situated in Takhini. Situated further north are Porter Creek and Crestview.
West of downtown we find Valleyview, Hillcrest (also largely constituted of old military lodgings) and the airport; and heading past the Canada Games Centre climbing Hamilton boulevard leads to the neighbourhoods of McIntyre (designated to replace expropriated lands and homes of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation ("The Village") previously located where the newly developed downtown commercial area is now), then Ingram, Arkell, Logan, Granger, and rapidly expanding Copper Ridge.
Whitehorse also has subdivisions designated "Country Residential" which can be subject to different municipal bylaws and are located farther out from the downtown. They consist of the rural Whitehorse subdivisions of Hidden Valley, MacPherson at Whitehorse's northern limits; and to the south McCrae, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek North, Mary Lake, Cowley Creek, Spruce Hill, Pineridge and Fox Haven Estates. Also located at the south end of the city is the newly designated Mt. Sima Service Industrial Subdivision.
Construction of Whistle Bend, Whitehorse's newest subdivision, began in 2010.
Urban planning
Whitehorse Bylaw 426 (1975) restricts the operation of motor vehicles to designated roadways in certain "Protected Areas" to ensure maximum conservation of the environmental quality. Most are near the downtown core (downtown and Yukon river escarpments, Mt. Mac ski trails, Riverdale, Valleyview, Hillcrest, Granger, Portcreek, and Mountainview ) and one, Pineridge, is south of downtown.In 1999, the city approved the Area Development Scheme (ADS) which reallocated the area previously known as “Whitehorse Copper” to the following uses: Country Residential, Commercial, Service Industrial, and Heavy industrial.
Recent demands for growth have reignited urban planning debates in Whitehorse. In 1970 the Metropolitan Whitehorse development plan included park and greenbelt areas that were to be preserved to insure high quality of life even within city limits.
Ecology and climate
Whitehorse is in the Cordilleran climate region, the Complex Soils of Mountain Areas soil region, the Cordilleran vegetation region, and the Boreal Cordillera ecozone.Like most of the Yukon, Whitehorse has a dry subarctic climate
Subarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
. Whitehorse experiences an annual temperature average with daily highs of 21 °C (69.8 °F) in July and average daily lows of -22 C in January. The record high temperature was 34 °C (93.2 °F) in June 1969 and the lowest was -52 C in January 1947. Whitehorse has little precipitation with an average annual snowfall of 145 cm (57.09 in) and 163 mm (6.4 in) of rainfall.
According to Meteorological Service of Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada
The Meteorological Service of Canada , also known as "The Canadian Weather Service", is a division of Environment Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards...
, Whitehorse has the distinction of being Canada's driest city, mainly because it lies in the rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
of the Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
. Surprisingly, despite its relative cold, Whitehorse was ranked among Canadian cities with the most comfortable climate.
Municipal
Whitehorse municipal elections occur every three years. In the 2009 election, incumbent Bev Buckway
Bev Buckway
Bev Buckway is a Canadian politician, currently serving as the mayor of Whitehorse, Yukon. A former professional curler, she has represented the Yukon at both the Canada Winter Games and the Scott Tournament of Hearts....
was re-elected as mayor of Whitehorse for a second term. Whitehorse City Council has six councillors: Dave Austin (fourth term), Doug Graham (fourth term), Betty Irwin (first term), Ranj Pillai (first term), Florence Roberts (second consecutive term) and Dave Stockdale (tenth consecutive term). The voter turn out at the 2009 election was 4218 of 11446 (36.85 %), which is significantly lower than the 44% at the 2006 election, causing consternation among councillors. Municipal services provided by the city of Whitehorse include: water and sewer systems, road maintenance, snow and ice control, non-recyclable waste and composting, as well as a mosquito control program.
Territorial
Whitehorse is represented by 9 of 18 MLAs in Yukon's Legislative Assembly
Yukon Legislative Assembly
-History:From 1900 to 1978, the elected legislative body in the Yukon was the Yukon Territorial Council, a ten-member body which did not act as the primary government, but was a non-partisan advisory body to the Commissioner of the Yukon...
, as per the 2002 map of Yukon Electoral districts. In 2009 Yukon's electoral map was modified and at the next election Whitehorse will have 10 of 19 total MLAs. The Legislative Assembly Building is located in downtown Whitehorse and elections usually take place every three to five years. The last general election was held in 2006 and the last by-election for "Whitehorse Centre" was in 2010. Whitehorse residents have four local political parties from which to chose: Yukon Liberal Party
Yukon Liberal Party
The Yukon Liberal Party is a political party in the Yukon Territory in Canada.Arthur Mitchell is the Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party.-History:...
, Yukon New Democratic Party
Yukon New Democratic Party
The Yukon New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Yukon territory of Canada.The Yukon NDP first formed the government of the territory under the leadership of Tony Penikett from 1985 to 1992, and under the leadership of Piers McDonald from 1996 to 2000. The party's...
, Yukon Party
Yukon Party
The Yukon Party , is a conservative political party in the Yukon Territory of Canada. It was previously known as the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party.-Declining fortunes:...
, as well as the newly constituted Yukon Green Party
Yukon Green Party
Yukon Green Party is a territorial green political party in Yukon, Canada. It was inspired by the Green Party of Canada. Its leader is Kristina Calhoun, a stay at home mom, who has lived in Yukon since 2006. The party started out at a meeting in November 2010, and was officially registered in...
.
Federal
All of Yukon consists of a single Federal electoral district
Yukon (electoral district)
Yukon is the only federal electoral district in Yukon Territory, Canada. It has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1902 to 1949 and since 1953....
and therefore there is only one MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and 65% of Yukon's voters live in Whitehorse. Residents of the Yukon have been voting federally
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
since a byelection returned the first Yukon MP in January 1903 and, from 1984 onward, have had candidates from at least four federal political parties to choose from. In 2006, 2008 and 2011, the choices have been: Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, Green
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
, Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, and NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. Other parties that have contested the riding from 1984 onward include the Libertarian Party, the Rhinoceros Party, the three precursors of the Conservative Party (Reform Party, Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives), the National Party (1993) and the Christian Heritage Party.
Ryan Leef was elected as Yukon's new Conservative MP in 2011. Liberal Larry Bagnell
Larry Bagnell
Lawrence "Larry" Bagnell, PC, MP is a former Canadian politician. He served as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons from 2000 until 2011 sitting with the Liberal caucus in both government and opposition.-Politicial career:...
was Yukon's MP from 2000 to 2011, winning the 2006 election with 49% of the vote and voter turnout of 66%, on par with the total Canadian turnout of 65%, with Whitehorse districts turnout lower at 55%.
Judicial
All court matters are handled in Whitehorse at the Andrew Philipsen Law Building which also houses a law library. Yukon's Territorial Court (three judges) handles most adult criminal prosecutions under the criminal code and other federal statutes. The Supreme Court of Yukon has two resident judges and nine judges from NWT and NunavutNunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
. The Court of Appeal, made up of justices from BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut, sits in Whitehorse only one week of the year, so most appeals are heard in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Military
Historically, Whitehorse also was the location of units of the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force; the Canadian Army was the last to pull out in 1968, at the same time the armed forces were unified.
History
Before 1896. Archeological research south of the downtown area, at a location known as Canyon CityCanyon City, Yukon
Canyon City is a Klondike Gold Rush ghost town and a Yukon Government Heritage Site. It is located about 7KM fromdowntown Whitehorse, Yukon at the upstream end of Miles Canyon on the Yukon River. Summer tours are encouraged....
, has revealed evidence of use by First Nations for several thousand years. The surrounding area had seasonal fish camps and Frederick Schwatka
Frederick Schwatka
Frederick Gustavus Schwatka was a United States Army lieutenant with degrees in medicine and law and a noted explorer of northern Canada and Alaska.-Early life and career:...
, in 1883, observed the presence of a portage trail used to bypass Miles Canyon
Miles Canyon Basalts
The Miles Canyon Basalts is a cluster of basaltic lava flows and cones in south-central Yukon. The lava flows are in the Alligator Lake volcanic complex close to Whitehorse and were thought to be Pleistocene age.-See also:*Volcanism in Canada...
. Before the Gold Rush, several different tribes passed through the area seasonally and their territories overlapped.
The discovery of gold in the Klondike
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
in August, 1896, by Skookum Jim, Tagish Charlie and George Washington Carmack set off a major change in the historical patterns of the region. Early prospectors used the Chilkoot Pass
Chilkoot Pass
Chilkoot Pass is a high mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska and British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point along the Chilkoot Trail that leads from Dyea, Alaska to Bennett Lake, British Columbia...
, but by July 1897, crowds of neophyte stampede
Stampede
A stampede is an act of mass impulse among herd animals or a crowd of people in which the herd collectively begins running with no clear direction or purpose....
rs had arrived via steamship and were camping at "White Horse". By June 1898, there was a bottleneck of stampeders at Canyon City, many boats had been lost to the rapids as well as five people. Samuel Steele of the North-West Mounted Police said: "why more casualties have not occurred is a mystery to me."
On their way to find gold, stampeders also found copper in the "copper belt
Copper Belt
The Copper Belt or Copperbelt is the copper mining area of Central Africa which runs in Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo . This area gave name to the Copperbelt Province, around the towns of Ndola, Kitwe, Chingola, Luanshya and Mufulira...
" in the hills west of Whitehorse. The first copper claims were staked by Jack McIntyre
Jack McIntyre
John Archibald "Jack" McIntyre was a professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
on July 6, 1898, and Sam McGee
The Cremation of Sam McGee
"The Cremation of Sam McGee" is among the most famous of Robert W. Service's poems. It was published in 1907 in The Songs of a Sourdough...
on July 16, 1899. Two tram lines were built, one 8 km stretch on the east bank of the river
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
from Canyon City to the rapids, just across from the present day downtown, the other was built on the west bank of the river. A small settlement was developing at Canyon City but the completion of the railway to Whitehorse in 1900 put a halt to it.
The White Pass and Yukon Route
White Pass and Yukon Route
The White Pass and Yukon Route is a Canadian and U.S. Class II narrow gauge railroad linking the port of Skagway, Alaska, with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. An isolated system, it has no direct connection to any other railroad. Equipment, freight and passengers are ferried by ship through the...
narrow-gauge railway linking Skagway to Whitehorse had begun construction in May 1898, by May 1899 construction had arrived at the south end of Bennett lake. Construction began again at the north end of Bennett lake to Whitehorse. It was only in June–July 1890 that construction finished the difficult Bennett lake section itself, completing the entire route.
By 1901, the Whitehorse Star
Whitehorse Star
The Whitehorse Star is one of two newspapers in Whitehorse, Yukon. The Whitehorse Star was founded in 1900 and progressed from a weekly to twice-weekly, three-times weekly during the 1960s, to five times per week briefly around 1980-1983....
was already reporting on daily freight volumes. That summer there were four trains per day. Even though traders and prospectors were all calling the city Whitehorse (White Horse), there was an attempt the railway people to change the name to Closeleigh (British Close brothers provided funding for the railway), this was refused by William Ogilvie
William Ogilvie (surveyor)
William Ogilvie FRGS was a Canadian Dominion land surveyor, explorer and Commissioner of the Yukon Territory....
, the territory's Commissioner. Whitehorse was booming.
In 1920 the first planes landed in Whitehorse and the first air mail was sent in November 1927. Until 1942, river and air were the only way to get to Whitehorse but in 1942 the US military decided an interior road would be safer to transfer troops and provisions between Alaska and the US mainland and began construction of the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
. The entire 2500 km project was accomplished between March and November 1942. The Canadian portion of the highway was only returned to Canadian sovereignty after the war.
In 1950 the city was incorporated and by 1951, the population had doubled from its 1941 numbers. On April 1, 1953, the city was designated the capital of the Yukon territory when the seat was moved from Dawson City
Dawson City, Yukon
The Town of the City of Dawson or Dawson City is a town in the Yukon, Canada.The population was 1,327 at the 2006 census. The area draws some 60,000 visitors each year...
after the construction of the Klondike Highway
Klondike Highway
The Klondike Highway links the Alaskan coastal town of Skagway to Yukon's Dawson City and its route somewhat parallels that used by prospectors in the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush....
. On March 21, 1957, the name was officially changed from White Horse to Whitehorse.
Air
Whitehorse is served by the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport and has scheduled service to VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Fort Simpson, Yellowknife as well as Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the summer months. The airport was developed as part of the Northwest Staging Route in 1941-42 and has two long paved runways. A wartime-era hangar served as terminal building from about 1960, and was replaced in December 1985 with a modern terminal.
In 1998 work was completed on a 340 meter runway extension and other improvements (concrete turn button, installation of storm and sanitary mains, lighting upgrades, tower access road and blast pad). Expansion of the terminal itself was completed in 2010.
Roads
Surface access to Whitehorse is provided by a network of highways, including the international Alaska HighwayAlaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
connecting the Yukon with the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
highway networks.
Whitehorse has been described as "pearls on a string", with its residential, industrial, and service subdivisions located along the main thoroughfares that carry traffic within city limits, with large gaps of undeveloped (often hilly) land between them. The Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
is the primary roadway, with branch roads reaching additional subdivisions. One such branch road, signed as "Highway 1A" and following Two Mile Hill Road, 4th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, and Robert Service Way, is the main access to downtown, Riverdale, and the Marwell Industrial Area. Other branch roads (Range Road, Hamilton Boulevard, Mayo Road
Klondike Highway
The Klondike Highway links the Alaskan coastal town of Skagway to Yukon's Dawson City and its route somewhat parallels that used by prospectors in the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush....
) access smaller residential areas and recreational facilities.
The city road
Arterial roads in Whitehorse, Yukon
-2nd Avenue:2nd Avenue is the main arterial, north-south route that roughly parallels the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The downtown core of Whitehorse is developed partially along the route. 2nd Avenue is numbered as such as the second roadway from the Yukon River...
network is adequate, although it is congested during rush hours and discussions occasionally occur as to how it might better be managed, such as designating one-way streets.
Water
The Yukon RiverYukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
is essentially navigable, but no passenger or freight services use the river at Whitehorse.
Rail
Whitehorse presently has no active railway service. The city is reached by the tracks of the White Pass and Yukon RouteWhite Pass and Yukon Route
The White Pass and Yukon Route is a Canadian and U.S. Class II narrow gauge railroad linking the port of Skagway, Alaska, with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. An isolated system, it has no direct connection to any other railroad. Equipment, freight and passengers are ferried by ship through the...
, of which only a small portion are currently maintained to run a small trolley service in the summer. The last scheduled service to Whitehorse occurred in October 1982. The White Pass Railway started scheduled service from Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a city first incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862...
to Carcross
Carcross, Yukon
Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing, is an unincorporated community in the Territory of Yukon, Canada on Bennett Lake and Nares Lake. It has a population of 431 and is home to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation....
, 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) south of Whitehorse, in the spring of 2007, but this was disrupted by high lake water levels in August 2007. Speculation of a transcontinental rail link to Alaska includes one possible route option through Whitehorse; a report has recommended a hub at Carmacks
Carmacks, Yukon
-History:The community consists of the Village of Carmacks and the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and was named after George Washington Carmack, who found coal near Tantalus Butte in 1893. Carmack built a trading post and traded with locals near the present site of Carmacks and also started a...
, with a spur line to Whitehorse and on to the Inside Passage of Alaska.
Public transit
Whitehorse TransitWhitehorse Transit
Whitehorse Transit is a city owned transit company serving Whitehorse, Yukon. It operates Monday to Saturday. There is no service on Sundays and holidays, and except for Fridays, service ends at 7 p.m....
provides bus service on weekdays from morning until early evening and Saturdays during business hours. There is a waterfront tram, known as the "trolley"
Whitehorse trolley
The Whitehorse trolley is a heritage streetcar service in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.It uses a single reconditioned trolley which carries tourists along Whitehorse's waterfront along the Yukon River. It runs from the Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre, up to the north...
, which provides transport along a short rail section along the Yukon River; it is chiefly tourist-oriented and is not yet integrated into the municipal transit system. It runs from the Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre, up to the north end of the city centre at Spook Creek Station.
Health care
The first "White Horse General Hospital" (WGH) was built in the downtown area in 1902 with a 10 bed capacity. During WWI beds increased to 30, 10 beds were added in 1943, then 20 beds in 1949, and an operating wing was added in 1951. In 1959 the hospital was rebuilt in on the other bank of the Yukon RiverYukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, across from its previous location, but decision making was still based in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(National Health and Welfare, Medical Services Branch).
In 1990, the Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) was created in order to prepare the transfer of powers regarding the hospital from the Federal Government to the Yukon Territorial Government. In April 1993 management of WGH was officially transferred to the YHC following a collaboration with the Yukon government and Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN, then CYI). Construction of the present building lasted from 1994 through 1997. Today Whitehorse General hospital counts 49 in-patient beds, 10 day-surgery beds, an ER department, OR suites and several medical imaging technologies.
The downtown area has several private medical, dental, and optometry clinics.
Police, fire, emergency services
Whitehorse contracts out its police service to the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
, with the main police station on 4th avenue in the city centre.
Whitehorse has its own fire service, known as City of Whitehorse Fire Department with two fire halls. The first in the city centre with only space for two trucks, and the second atop "2-mile Hill" on the west side with room for 3 trucks which was rebuilt in 2010 to become a public safety building. The original fire hall located along on the waterfront has been preserved as a historic building and cultural centre. The Fire Department runs with 20 full time staff and approximately 30 volunteers.
Whitehorse's ambulance service are run by Yukon Government's Emergency Medical Services and is staffed by full-time Primary Care Paramedics (PCP).
Whitehorse's Search and Rescue (SAR) is ensured by a partnership between the RCMP, YG's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) and volunteer SAR teams.
Economy
The Whitehorse economy still relies in part on the state of Yukon mining, and many of the businesses that provide services to the mining industry are headquartered in the city. When mining is in the doldrums, as it has been in the past few years, the Whitehorse economy shows signs of malaise, with increased unemployment and some population loss.Education
Whitehorse has several schools as part of a Yukon Government operated public school system. Except for École Émilie-Tremblay Yukon does not have school boards, however each school has a council composed of three to seven elected positions for 2-year terms, consisting of (and elected by) citizens residing in the school's assigned area and parents of students attending the school. All teachers are employed directly by the Department of Education and there are no tuition fees to be paid to attend elementary and secondary institutions.Primary education (K-3):
- Grey Mountain Primary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/greymountain/index.htm
Elementary education (K-7):
- Christ the King Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/ckes/index.html (Catholic)
- Elijah Smith Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/elijahsmith/index.html
- Golden Horn Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/goldenhorn/index.html
- Hidden Valley Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/hiddenvalley/index.html
- Holy Family Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/holyfamily/index.html (Catholic)
- Jack Hulland Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/jackhulland/
- Selkirk Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/selkirk/
- Takhini Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/takhini/index.html
- École Whitehorse Elementary http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/index.html (English and French Immersion)
Secondary education:
- Vanier Catholic Secondary School http://www.vcss.ca/ (Catholic)
- F.H. Collins Secondary School http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/fhcollins/index.html (English and French Immersion)
- Porter Creek Secondary School http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/pcss/
French First Language school (K-12):
- École Émilie-Tremblayhttp://eet.csfy.ca/fr/
Specialized programs:
- Wood St. School http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/woodst/index.html (programs are attended by students drawn from the high schools)
- Individual Learning Centre http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/individual_lc/index.html (for students who have had trouble in the regular school program and are not attending school)
Post-secondary education:
- Yukon CollegeYukon CollegeYukon College is a community college in the Canadian territory of Yukon. Its main campus is in Whitehorse, Yukon. The college was founded in 1983, replacing the Yukon Vocational and Technical Training Centre, which had been in operation since the 1960s...
, offering mostly college diplomas and some university degrees through ties with various universities (Northern British ColumbiaUniversity of Northern British ColumbiaThe University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
, Alaska SoutheastUniversity of Alaska SoutheastThe University of Alaska Southeast is a regional university in the University of Alaska System. Its main campus is located in Juneau and it has extended campuses in Sitka and Ketchikan....
, UArcticUniversity of the ArcticThe University of the Arctic is an international cooperative network based in the circumpolar region, consisting of universities, colleges and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the North...
, ReginaUniversity of ReginaThe University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
, AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
)
Historic sites
sternwheelerRiverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
- Yukon Beringia Interpretive CentreYukon Beringia Interpretive CentreThe Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre is a research and exhibition facility located at km 1423 on the Alaska Hwy in Whitehorse, Yukon, which opened in 1997....
- Whitehorse trolleyWhitehorse trolleyThe Whitehorse trolley is a heritage streetcar service in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.It uses a single reconditioned trolley which carries tourists along Whitehorse's waterfront along the Yukon River. It runs from the Rotary Peace Park, located on the south end of the city centre, up to the north...
- Miles CanyonMiles Canyon BasaltsThe Miles Canyon Basalts is a cluster of basaltic lava flows and cones in south-central Yukon. The lava flows are in the Alligator Lake volcanic complex close to Whitehorse and were thought to be Pleistocene age.-See also:*Volcanism in Canada...
- Copperbelt Railway & Mining MuseumCopperbelt Railway & Mining MuseumThe Copperbelt Railway & Mining Museum is run by the Miles Canyon Historic Railway Society , which consists of a board of six members...
- Yukon Transportation Museum
- MacBride Museum of Yukon History
- Old Log Church Museum
- Yukon visitor centre
Outdoor attractions and natural history
- Whitehorse Fish ladder and Dam, longest wooden Fish ladderFish ladderA fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
in the world - Yukon Gardens
- "Log Skyscrapers" designated an official municipal historic site in 2000.
- Yukon Wildlife Preserve
- Takhini Hot Springs
Arts and entertainment
Whitehorse's Yukon Arts CentreYukon Arts Centre
The Yukon Arts Centre is a non-profit corporation in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. It presents works of territorial, national and international importance....
offers all varieties of shows and artists and includes an art gallery. Plays are also performed at the Guild Hall in Porter Creek, and downtown Whitehorse's Wood Street Centre offers smaller local productions. Whitehorse's arts and entertainment schedule is non-stop throughout the year, not only with local events and celebrations but Whitehorse also plays host to several major festivals which attract artists from all over Canada and internationally, including the Sourdough Rendezvous'
Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous
The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival is an annual tradition that happens in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada in February. In 2014, the festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary....
Ice Sculpture
Ice sculpture
Ice sculpture is a form of sculpture that uses ice as the raw material. Sculptures from ice can be abstract or realistic and can be functional or purely decorative...
contest, the Frostbite Music Festival, the Yukon International Storytelling Festival
Yukon International Storytelling Festival
The Yukon International Storytelling Festival is held every Summer in Whitehorse, Yukon, generally in an outdoor setting. The storytelling festival was conceived in the mid 1980s when one the Yukon's last Tagish speakers found herself going to the to disseminate her peoples' stories to a world...
, and the Available Light Film Festival.
Whitehorse Star
The Whitehorse Star is one of two newspapers in Whitehorse, Yukon. The Whitehorse Star was founded in 1900 and progressed from a weekly to twice-weekly, three-times weekly during the 1960s, to five times per week briefly around 1980-1983....
(founded as a weekly in 1900, it now publishes five times per week since 1986) and the Yukon News
Yukon News
Yukon News is one of two independently-ownednewspapers published in Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada. Itwas founded in 1960, as a weekly until the late 1970s. Itcurrently prints two times a week. Its Monday edition is online-only...
(founded as a weekly in 1960 by Ken Shortt, published five days a week from 1967 to 1999, and currently prints twice weekly). Other local newspapers include What's Up Yukon (a local free music, arts, culture, events, weekly founded in 2005) and a French language newspaper L'Aurore boréale
L'Aurore boréale
L'Aurore boréale is a Canadian bi-weekly newspaper, published in Whitehorse, Yukon. Established in 1983, the newspaper serves the Franco-Yukonnais community.-External links:*...
(founded in 1983, and published bi-weekly).
Radio and television
Whitehorse has several local radio stations (CBC NorthCBC North
CBC North is the name for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio and television service in the Canadian Arctic. Originally known as the CBC Northern Service, its first operations began in 1958 with radio broadcasts including the takeover of CFYK, originally a Royal Canadian Signal...
, CKRW
CKRW-FM
CKRW-FM, also branded The Rush, is a hot adult contemporary radio station in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.-History:Its first transmission was in 1969; it began simulcasting on AM and FM in 2004 at 610 kHz and 96.1 MHz...
, CHON-FM
CHON-FM
CHON-FM is a Canadian radio station, owned by Northern Native Broadcasting which broadcasts at 98.1 FM in Whitehorse, Yukon. A community radio station with a variety of music and information programs for the First Nations population, the radio station serves much of the Yukon, as well as several...
, CJUC-FM
CJUC-FM
CJUC-FM is Canadian radio station that broadcasts community radio programming on the frequency 92.5 FM in Whitehorse, Yukon. The station received approval on February 20, 2003....
, CIAY-FM
CIAY-FM
CIAY-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 100.7 FM in Whitehorse, Yukon. Branded as New Life 100.7, the station airs a Contemporary Christian music format. The station is licensed to Bethany Pentecostal Tabernacle, but involvement is inclusive of the larger Christian community...
, VF2356
VF2356
VF2356 is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts tourist information on the frequency 100.3 FM in Whitehorse, Yukon.Owned by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, the station received approval on May 16, 1996....
), and NorthwesTel
Northwestel
Northwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications.-Modern corporate history:...
hosts three local television channels (Community Cable 9, an advertisement slide-show channel and a public service channel). CBC television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
established a TV transmitter in Whitehorse in 1968, using the Frontier Coverage Package until Anik (satellite)
Anik (satellite)
The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. In Inuktitut, Anik means "little brother".-The Satellites:-Anik A:...
satellite broadcasts became available early in 1973.
Sports
Whitehorse's proximity to the wilderness and the northern range of the Rockies allows its residents to enjoy a very active lifestyle. The city has an extensive trail network within its limits, estimated at 850 km (528 mi) in 2007, including sections of the Trans Canada TrailTrans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
. These trails are used for a variety of non-motorized and/or motorized activities. The Yukon River in and around Whitehorse provides many opportunities for kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
.
Events
The annual 1,000 mile Yukon QuestYukon Quest
The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile International Sled Dog Race, or simply Yukon Quest, is a sled dog race run every February between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon...
sled dog race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, is considered one of the toughest in the world. The race alternates its starting and finishing points each year.
The city has hosted several large sporting events including the 2007 Canada Winter Games, for which a CA$45 million sport multiplex was built; the Canadian Junior Freestyle Championships in 2006, the Arctic Winter Games
Arctic Winter Games
The Arctic Winter Games is an international biennial celebration of circumpolar sports and culture.-Background:The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon...
(2000, 1992, 1986, 1980, 1972), the annual International Curling Bonspiel, and the Dustball International Slowitch Tournament.
Facilities
The city is responsible for the maintenance of numerous sports and recreation fields including two dozen grass/sand/soil/ice sports surfaces, 3 ball diamonds, the Canada Games Centre Multiplex (pools, ice rinks, fieldhouse, fitness centre, walking/running track, physiotherapy), the Takhini ArenaTakhini Arena
The Takhini Arena is a 1,535-seat multi-purpose arena in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. It is home to the Yukon Claim Jumpers ice hockey team and the Whitehorse Huskies Triple A men’s hockey team....
, and Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre. Private interests run Mount Sima (350 m, downhill skiing), three golf courses (Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club, Mountain View Golf Course, Wolf Creek), a bowling alley, and gyms (Peak Fitness, Curves, Better Bodies).
Teams
Although there are no territorial junior league teams, the business community sponsors a number of local teams of baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, broomball
Broomball
Broomball is a recreational ice game originating in Canada and played around the world. It is played in a hockey rink, either indoors or outdoors, depending on climate and location. Broomball is popular in the Canadian province of Manitoba, where Glenella is the Broomball Capital of the World...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, soccer and ultimate disk
Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
. High school teams are very active and partake in competitions with schools in neighbouring Alaska, and a few local athletes have flourished on the Canadian sports scene.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1941 | 754 |
| 1951 | 2,594 |
| 1961 | 5,031 |
| 1971 | 11,217 |
| 1981 | 14,814 |
| 1991 | 17,925 |
| 2001 | 19,058 |
| 2006 | 20,461 |
Christians make up 54% of the population, while 39% has no religious affiliation. There are also 110 Buddhists, 105 Sikhs, 60 Muslims
Islam in Canada
According to Canada's 2001 census, there were 579,740 Muslims in Canada, just under 2% of the population. In 2006, the Muslim population was estimated to be 0.8 million or about 2.6%. In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimates there were about 0.9 million Muslims in Canada. About 65% were Sunni,...
, and 30 Jews.
Sister cities
Patos de MinasPatos de Minas
Patos de Minas is a city and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, located some 400 km from Belo Horizonte on the Paranaíba River. The city had 133,054 in 2007 while the area of the municipality is 3,189 km²...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Ushiku, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, since 1985.
Historical sister partnerships:
- EchucaEchuca, VictoriaEchuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia. The Border town Moama is on the northern side of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Nov. 1977 - Sept. 2008
Notable residents
Notable residents of Whitehorse include Audrey McLaughlinAudrey McLaughlin
Audrey McLaughlin, PC, OC was leader of Canada's New Democratic Party from 1989 to 1995. She was the first female leader of a political party with representation in the Canadian House of Commons, as well as the first federal political party leader to represent an electoral district in a Canadian...
, the first woman to lead a represented political party (NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
) in Canadian federal politics, who has resided in Whitehorse since 1979, Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service
Robert William Service was a poet and writer who has often been called "the Bard of the Yukon".Service is best known for his poems "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", from his first book, Songs of a Sourdough...
, author of "The Cremation of Sam McGee
The Cremation of Sam McGee
"The Cremation of Sam McGee" is among the most famous of Robert W. Service's poems. It was published in 1907 in The Songs of a Sourdough...
", who lived in Whitehorse from 1904 to 1908, and Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
, an author and television host, born in Whitehorse.
Other notable artists from Whitehorse are the actors Tahmoh Penikett
Tahmoh Penikett
Tahmoh Penikett is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles as Karl "Helo" Agathon on the Sci Fi Channel's television series Battlestar Galactica and as Paul Ballard in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse'.-Early life:...
of Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
and Dollhouse
Dollhouse (TV series)
Dollhouse is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was officially cancelled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010...
; Amy Sloan
Amy Sloan
Amy Kathleen Sloan is a Canadian actress. She was born in Gladstone, Manitoba and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon. Her mother is actress Mary Sloan....
who has done many television shows,(Molly Lang) Dancer, Singer, Northern Icon, the storyteller Ivan Coyote
Ivan Coyote
Ivan Elizabeth Coyote is a Canadian spoken word performer and writer.-Career:Coyote began performing spoken word in 1992. She joined Arsenal Pulp Press in 2000 and has since had seven books published with them...
, punk rock bassist Jonas Smith
Field Day (band)
Field Day was a Canadian pop-punk band from Calgary, Alberta. The bands original lineup consisted of guitarist and singer John Hiebert, drummer Jay Kreway along with bassist Jonas Smith .After a number of local cassette and EP releases, the band released their first full length album...
of JJS3, and the creator of Scrooge McDuck
Scrooge McDuck
Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon character created in 1947 by Carl Barks and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Scrooge is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a red or blue frock coat, top hat, pince-nez glasses, and spats...
occasional resident Carl Barks
Carl Barks
Carl Barks was an American Disney Studio illustrator and comic book creator, who invented Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck , Gladstone Gander , the Beagle Boys , The Junior Woodchucks , Gyro Gearloose , Cornelius Coot , Flintheart Glomgold , John D...
.
Notable athletes are Whitehorse born hockey players Bryon Baltimore
Bryon Baltimore
Bryon Donald Baltimore is a former NHL and WHA player.Baltimore started his hockey career playing for the University of Alberta for 2 seasons. He then headed to the AHL's Springfield Kings. He was called up by the Los Angeles Kings for the 1974 playoffs but he didn't see any ice time. In 1974, he...
, who made it to the Los Angeles Kings in 1974, and Peter Sturgeon
Peter Sturgeon
Peter Sturgeon is a retired NHL player. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins with the 36 overall pick in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play in 6 NHL games, all with the Colorado Rockies.-External links:*...
who played for the Colorado Rockies in 1974, Whitehorse born olympic cyclist Zachary Bell
Zachary Bell
Zachary "Zach" Bell is a Canadian professional racing cyclist from Watson Lake, Yukon. He finished in 7th place at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the men's point race and 12th in the men's madison...
, Whitehorse raised olympic weightlifter Jeane Lassen who won medals in several world competitions, Whitehorse born basketball players Aaron Olson
Aaron Olson
Aaron Duane Olson is a former professional basketball player who played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australasian National Basketball League...
, and 1984 Olympics centre for Team Canada Greg Wiltjer
Greg Wiltjer
Greg Wiltjer is a retired Canadian professional basketball center. He played in several important tournaments for the Canadian national basketball team, including the 1984 Summer Olympics, as well as the European Cup Winner's Cup championship with FC Barcelona.- Amateur career :Six foot, eleven...
.
Notable politicians include the first female mayor of Whitehorse, in 1975, Ione Christensen
Ione Christensen
Ione Jean Christensen, is a former Canadian Senator.The daughter of former North-West Mounted Police constable Gordon Irwin Cameron, and Dawson City born Martha Ballentine Cameron, her family moved to Whitehorse in 1949. Christensen graduated from high school in 1953...
whose family had moved to Whitehorse in 1949, and Yukon's first senator, in 1975, Paul Lucier
Paul Lucier
Paul Lucier was a Canadian businessman and Senator.Born in LaSalle, Ontario, the son of Adolph Lucier and Clare Laframboise, he was appointed by Pierre Trudeau the first Senator representing the senatorial division of Yukon in 1975...
, who stayed in office until his death in 1999.
See also
- Bob Smart's DreamBob Smart's Dream"Bob Smart's Dream" is a poem written by Robert W. Service while he lived in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. He presented it on March 19, 1906 at a banquet held to honour J.P. Rogers, the superintendent of the White Pass and Yukon Route...
, a 1906 poem by Robert ServiceRobert W. ServiceRobert William Service was a poet and writer who has often been called "the Bard of the Yukon".Service is best known for his poems "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", from his first book, Songs of a Sourdough...
that speculates about the Whitehorse of the future. - This Dollar Saved My Life at WhitehorseThis Dollar Saved My Life at WhitehorseThis Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse is the first studio album by Swedish/German band Lucyfire. It was released in 2001 on Steamhammer/SPV.-Track listing:#"Baby Come On"#"Thousand Million Dollars in the Fire"#"Mistress of the Night"#"Over & Out"...
, a 2001 album by LucyfireLucyfireLucyfire is a musical project of Johan Edlund, the main member and vocalist of the band Tiamat. The original Tiamat band, as Edlund points out, will go on, and Lucyfire is the place for all the tracks that don't suit Tiamat....
External links
- City of Whitehorse
- Yukon Government Fact Page
- Community Profile
- History Project: NWT and Yukon Radio System, large collection of archival photos