Yukon Denture Clinic is still advertising on the front page of What’s Up Yukon
Incredible.
It still fills my heart with joy, every week, when I see this.
But, 20 years ago, it meant something entirely different: faith. Faith when we needed it most.
You see, when Tammy Beese first launched this magazine, it was something no one had done successfully in the territory for 50 years.
She hired a graphic designer and me, her first editor. The office was a oneroom cabin in front of the Log Skyscraper. So I had a frontrow seat to her 80-hour work weeks filled with crushing responsibility, endless work and all of the stresses of running a new business AND caring for a young family.
Yukon would be a success.
Neither Tammy nor I knew. Heck, we had a rack that would only hold 24 piles of past issues in that little office.
But what does this say about Tammy? She could have waited for a couple of years and then auctioned off that valuable real estate on the front page for a lot more money.
But she hasn’t.
Loyalty is a two-way street in the Yukon.
Alas, I moved on after five years to Ontario to be closer to family.
But my wife, Daisy Lemphers, and I only lasted three years there. We came back to our beloved Yukon.
I tried my hand at freelance
my contributions. In its stead, there are new writers and new columns.
And don’t you just love the energy that Gary Atkins has brought to the paper? I do. It all makes me glad that I left. The magazine can grow organically as it should.
I am watching the 20th birthday of What’s Up Yukon from our new home on Vancouver Island. Daisy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and we found that Whitehorse is just one huge uneven slippery surface half of the year. For someone whose balance is compromised, it was too dangerous for her.
On other magazines, difficult decisions were made by the publisher, executive editor, various department heads and the board of directors. At What’s Up Yukon, it was just Tammy.
That is why the sight of Yukon Denture Clinic’s ad can bring a tear to my eye (and I only ever cry at the ending of The Iron Giant).
That ad on the front page was a sign of faith that the Yukon’s business community would welcome a new magazine. And Tammy. It was the cornerstone that proved that her dream was possible. It made the disappointments endurable; it made the hard work worth it.
What does that say about Yukon Denture Clinic’s owner, Chris Von Kafka? Yes, he is infused with grace. But it doesn’t necessarily mean he knew What’s Up
writing again, but it just felt like homework. I had been spoiled by the weekly rush of putting out a magazine that was “All Northern. All Fun.”
I helped write that, you know. It is still on the masthead. (Full disclosure: I lifted it from Tammy’s business plan.)
And I chose the typeface that is still used today: Trebuchet.
(Times New Roman was too stuffy; Ariel was too airy.)
But that is all that is left of
She had to stop working on her PhD, because of the associated memory difficulties, but she is otherwise happy and healthy and hitting the gym hard.
I took early retirement and we traded in our 2,800-squarefoot Whistle Bend home for a 1,100-square-foot condo … but with a 400-square-foot covered balcony overlooking Florence Lake. And no shovelling!
Meanwhile, I got myself a part-time job in a hardware store to satisfy my need for puttering. I volunteer at Daisy’s Parkinson’s program, and we are loving this new life.
But I will never forget that What’s Up Yukon gave me the chance to meet over a 100 new writers, learn the stories of so many passionate artists and performers, and offer my unfiltered thoughts long before social media came along.
And it gave me the first line in my obituary.
This is the first missive I have written in eight years. But I will end it with the sentiments of Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer: What’s Up Yukon, “you must’ve been a beautiful baby, ‘cause baby look at you now.” n
Darrell Hookey was What’s Up Yukon’s first editor, from February 2005 to September 2010.
with Darrell Hookey
Hookey and Daisy Lemphers moved to Vancouver Island
PHOTO: Kaitlin Day Photography
My lovely wife is so very proud of me, but I have some incredibly big boots to fill and traditions to continue
When this 20th Anniversary edition, issue #835, hits the stands, I’ll be well into my official fifth month as the most recent editor. Usually 5-plus months into a new job, I’m starting to feel a little ‘cocky’ and looking for ways that I can help (show) the company how to do things better, save some time and some money.
I’m a pretty smart guy and usually a few well-placed words
around the coffee machine or water cooler go a long way and have helped a lot of things over the years.
Not with What’s Up Yukon though!
No. Here I’ve learned that I have a heck of a lot to learn. That we have had 20 years of incredibly talented, intelligent and dedicated people, all pulling on the same rope to get this publication from its inception to where it is now.
20 years of amazing content.
20 years of Yukon history. 20 years of engaged and excited readers. 20 years of dedicated editors. 20 years of supportive and loyal advertisers. 20 years of evolution.
I’ve also learned a great deal about the technology that we use to create the publication. I’d never even opened Google Drive until I started here. Now it’s a staple that I use all day, every day. There are other websites that we use for certain things and all of that stuff was probably the biggest challenge for me at first –learning to use them.
Tammy and Mark Beese are incredibly supportive in helping me learn these things. I’m sure that they have always been this way over the previous 20 years, which is a testament to why the publication has lasted so long and done so well.
Our layout and design team is amazing! It seems like every issue they out-do themselves
even more! They are absolute rock stars! Sometimes I send them things and wonder, “Is this going to work? Will they be able to make this look good?” And after they’re through ‘doin’ their thang’ it’s absolutely perfect!
Sometimes they have to make last minute changes, or totally redo something, and it’s done immediately and professionally. The same is true for our support team: copy-edit, advertising, community events. All rock-solid people doing a fantastic job every week to get this into your hands.
What can I say about our writers? Who’s your favourite? I love them all! Their intelligence, their knowledge, their talent! I send out an Editorial Newsletter to them all after each issue and in every single one, I tell them “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” and I mean it.
Sometimes I don’t know where they come up with this content, but when I open my inbox and see their submissions, I am always blown away. I’m excited that I get a sneak peak and will be sharing this soon with you, our readers. And, as a blatant plug, if you think that you’d like to join our writing team, we’re always excited to bring new people on board. Send me an email and we’ll get the ball rolling.
And what about you, our readers? Hands down we wouldn’t still be here today if you weren’t pick-
ing up the latest issue. I know full well that you wouldn’t be picking up the latest issue if you weren’t enjoying it. We’ve got a bit of a mantra here at What’s Up Yukon to try to help better your lifestyle by sharing upcoming events, culture, traditions, recipes and things that are, as the logo says, ‘All Northern, All Fun!’
Thank you for continuing to pick up copies and enjoying our immense talents and knowledge here in the Yukon.
We’ve been joking for a while about this 20th Anniversary issue being a bit of an ‘All Our Exes’ issue, as we’ve asked previous editors to chip in again with some content. As that content has come through my inbox, it’s really opened my eyes to not only the amazing folks who have preceded me, but also a lot of the history of the last two decades that I may have never known about without these contributions.
As I said, I have some big boots to fill! It’s humbling beyond words.
I really hope that you enjoy this special anniversary edition, and every other issue moving forward. We live in such a wonderful place here in the Yukon and it’s my humble pleasure to ‘hook you up’ with these amazing stories! Heading into the next 20 years has never been so exciting!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Love Where You Live
PHOTO: Pamela Atkins
•
•
MY DOPPELGANGER
I WONDER IF HE LIKES SINGED BEAVER TAIL,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES DRYMEAT, I WONDER IF HE LIKES DRYFISH, I WONDER IF HE LIKES BONE JUICE, I WONDER IF HE LIKES MOOSE NOSE SOUP,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES ROAST MUSKRAT, I WONDER IF HE LIKES SINGED PROCUPINE,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED SEAGULL EGGS,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES FRIED RABBIT, I WONDER IF HE LIKES RHUBARB, I WONDER IF HE LIKES PEMMICAN, I WONDER IF HE LIKES CARIBOU LEG MARROW,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED BEAVER, I WONDER IF HE LIKES ROAST CARIBOU HEAD,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES DUCK SOUP, I WONDER IF HE LIKES ROAST BLACK BEAR RIBS, I WONDER IF HE LIKES INDIAN ICECREAM,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED CARIBOU GUTS,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES SALMON STRIPS, I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED MOOSE HOOVES,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES FRIED FISH EGGS,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES ROAST GROUSE,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES SINGED GOPHER, I WONDER IF HE LIKES FRIED LOCHE LIVER,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED LYNX, I WONDER IF HE LIKES BOILED GOOSE, I WONDER IF HE LIKES SPRUCE GUM, I WONDER IF HE LIKES ROAST SHEEP HEART,
I WONDER IF HE LIKES HUDSON BAY TEA.
When I was a kid, this Elder gave me a Gwich‛in name, CHIH AHAA. Translated, it means “walking ahead.” Allan Benjamin | CHIH AHAA
Allan Benjamin is a poet, a cartoonist, a fiddle player and a snowshoe racer from Old Crow, Yukon. Allan is a Vuntut Gwich’in artist who provides cartoons and poems to What’s Up Yukon. He introduces us to two sets of characters who represent Allan’s family and traditional Gwich’in life growing up in Old Crow.
You
CUTTING THE RUG, YUKON STYLE
Snowshoe Shufflers still tearing up the dance floor four decades on
You think you can dance? Try it wearing long underwear, crinolines and snowshoes.
The famously infamous (in a totally good way) Snowshoe Shufflers are a Yukon staple in the world of Northern show business, and can be found performing for locals and tourists alike all year long. Whether it’s conventions, festivals or anniversary celebrations, these amazing volunteers are a highlight wherever they go to dance.
The origins of the group date back to the mid-’80s when it was just a two-person skit, but it has since evolved into the “epitome of the Yukon spirit and flavour.”
Today, the group of dancers is 10 women strong, with some reservists to boot. In fact, there are dancers on the ‘waitlist’ who have been there for almost a decade.
Marj Eschak, aka ‘Lake Lebarge Marj’, was one of the founders of the Snowshoe Shufflers, along with the late ‘Rat River’ Mary Fitton. Eschak said she and Fitton conceived the idea of the Snowshoe Shufflers as a skit (about dealing with cabin fever from a long, dark, cold and lonely Yukon winter) during Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous – as it was called back then – and the Queen crowning event.
“The shtick was, we were a couple of gals who had spent a long, cold winter, back at the claim, and were now in town. We put on our cleanest long johns and our prettiest skirts, and put on our snowshoes, to snowshoe into Whitehorse and show the cancan girls – show the skinny girls – how to cancan on snowshoes.”
Eschak and Fitton, found themselves doing the skit year after year.
“We went all over the place with it,” she said. “Then it just grew. We had more girls. We had more invitations and we couldn’t keep up.”
The Snowshoe Shufflers will be performing for much of this year’s Rendezvous festival, so be sure to check them out as they dance and delight audience members
But the years of performing and the evolution of the group has only made it more special for Eschak and keeps her coming back for more.
“Oh I love it. I love it!” she said. “All the energy you pull from the crowd; it’s fun, you make people happy, you make them laugh and you can share that Yukon spirit! It’s wonderful and it keeps me going.”
The Snowshoes Shufflers have a long and impressive resume outside of the Yukon as well. Eschak said they have performed across Canada and parts of the United States and even attended the Expo 86 world’s fair in Vancouver and were featured on the CBC television series On The Road Again, with Wayne Rostad, and in numerous magazines.
Eschak pointed out that becoming a Snowshow Shuffler is all about years of volunteer experience in the Yukon (especially with Rendezvous), but an individual must also be a Yukon ambassador.
“You have to know the Yukon. You have to be able to field questions from people about whatever it is they’re interested in.” She added that all the dancers are professional women who have solid backgrounds and very strong sense of who they are in the Yukon, with a very broad knowledge base.
“We bring that with us.”
Troupe manager, choreographer and part-time dancer, Lorraine Heynen, who goes by the stage name ‘Gold Claim Lorraine’, has been with the group for 27 years. She first saw the Snowshoe Shufflers back when she was on the board of directors for the Rendezvous Festival, and was hooked on the idea of being a part of the team.
“One day I thought, ‘Why don’t I see if they need more dancers.?’” That was back in 1986. The rest, as they say, is history. She has been dancing with them ever since, although she admits the dancing side of things is more on an “as needed” basis these days.
Heynen echoes Eschak’s comments by pointing out the group is always watching for potential dancers to become part of the troupe (though no one can say when a spot will open up), based on their personality, confidence, dance skills and volunteer work.
She points out that a dancer needs to be prepared for long days when they perform, and how they handle the workload (in the past, the group might perform 40 weekends of the year). That endurance
and adaptability will be front and centre as Rendezvous gets underway and dancers can expect to be performing almost every day of the three-week festival. Heynen said.
But despite the long days and sometimes gruelling schedule, Heynen said there are many things that keep her going with the Snowshoe Shufflers.
“It’s the girls. It’s Marj. And it’s sharing what we call Northern Spirit with others, whether they’re tourists or locals. I would
say that’s why I do it.” She added it’s especially satisfying to experience the reactions of people who “really have no clue about what they’re about to see,” at things like conventions.
“That look on their faces, and getting them to let their hair down,” Heynen said.
It’s also the sisterhood between the dancers that keeps the desire to stick with the yearly schedules and the regular practices, she added.
The moral of the story? “Talk to each other. Be friendly to each other, you know? Let your hair down and have a good time.” And just having a chance to help people have fun and relax is where the magic really comes out during the Snowshoe Shufflers’ shows. n
PHOTOS: Manu Keggenhoff
column with Chris Colbourne
Cutting The Rug: Yukon Style
NORTHERN PICTURES
Yukon Artists at Work celebrate Yukon cinema with a group exhibition this month
Yukon Artists at Work’s (YAAW) new group exhibition, Reel Art: Celebrating Yukon Cinema, is inspired by two cultural milestones: the Yukon Theatre’s 70th anniversary and the Yukon Film Society’s (YFS) 40th.
Running from Feb. 7 to March 1 during this year’s Available Light Film Festival (ALFF), the exhibition showcases artworks created to honour Yukon’s history in film by renowned local artists Neil Graham, Aimee Ellis, Susanne Hausermann, Donald C. Watt, Nicole Bauberger, Linda Leon, Janet Patterson, Leslie Leong, Pat Bragg and Marie-Hélène Comeau.
“The YAAW Gallery is surrounded by great neighbors and one of them is the Yukon Theatre,” says Comeau, who is also the exhibition curator. “So, I had the idea to create a collaboration with them (YFS, which operates the theatre) for the Available Light Film Festival, not knowing this year was an important year for the Yukon Film Society. Last summer I contacted the Yukon Film Society to see if such a collaboration could be possible and we started the project.”
Since YAAW is full of talented artists who were eager to share their experience, Comeau’s idea was met with enthusiasm
“For this collaboration I am acting as a curator and an artist,” she continues. “I invited members
of Yukon Artists at Work to participate by creating art pieces representing their experience with Yukon cinema. It is a great way
Understanding Taxes for Artists
Artbooks tax preparer Tova Epp will talk about what freelance artists should collect and track throughout the year, how to prepare for tax season, GST/HST, bookkeeping software and more.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20
6 PM TO 7:30 PM
ONLINE WORKSHOP
organizations.”
Comeau, who has been part of
Registration Required please register by emailing: Marie-Hélène Comeau at: chez_mh@yahoo.ca
YAAW since 2019, specializes in paintings and photos, and often teaches art workshops in Yukon schools. For this exhibition, she made two pieces.
as I was and I have everyone in the
theatre reacting in their own way. There are over 120 faces in the painting, each one different.”
Graham isn’t alone in having special memories surrounding Yukon cinema. For Patterson, a self-professed movie buff, this project tied together her love of film with her passion for collaborating with other artists.
“I particularly love monster films, so I knew very early on that I wanted to create a piece that paid homage to the golden era of the monster movie,” she says. “I had also just seen The Glenn Miller Story, which was the very first film that was shown at the Yukon Theatre 70 years ago. This inspired me to create the second piece that I have done for the exhibition.”
Patterson’s monster movie tribute “The Creature” is made from wood, plastic skulls, a broken toy dinosaur, various fabrics, acrylic paint, a picture frame, a pair of 3D glasses and air-dry clay.
With her particular affinity for the ’40s and ’50s, The Creature From the Black Lagoon is one of her favourites. Her other piece, “Opening Night” is made from an old film reel, film, broken jewelry, clay jug, a plastic model of a camera, a metal toy airplane, wire and acrylic paint. It commemorates the first movie ever shown in the Yukon Theatre in December, 1954.
Watt, a university-trained artist specializing in sculpture, took an interest in the theme and luckily, had the time on his hands to create something special.
“The Reel Art show struck accord with me for several reasons,” he explains. “First, I am a sculptor who designs and builds three dimensional pieces from small tabletop sculptures of clay or bronze to larger-than-life-size works.
“I also design and build theatre and movie set pieces for productions mounted in Yukon. My connection to both the art gallery work and movie work stirred my thought process to build a piece for the show.”
Watt built a piece centred around the audience experience. Using an actual chair from the Yukon Theatre and casting an audience member, he created “The Audience,” which he describes as, “sitting in an old Yukon Cinema Theatre chair, the lingering embodiment of generations of audience leave a lasting impression.”
The opening reception of Reel Art takes place Feb. 7, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at the YAAW Gallery, before the kickoff of the Available Light Film Festival that evening. Members of the public are invited to view the exhibition and engage with the artists present. The show will also be a part of the monthly First Friday art crawl that runs through downtown Whitehorse.
The exhibition will remain open until March 1, 2025, during the regular gallery hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more about YAAW, visit https:// yaaw.com n
to share stories with art and create bridges between two creative Yukon
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Yukon Artists at Work
Manus Hopkins is a journalist and musician hailing from Whitehorse.
Freelance with Manus Hopkins
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Susanne Hausermann; 41” x 20”; textiles and paper; 2025
“Watching Jurassic Park” by Neil Graham; 24” x 30”; oil on canvas; 2025
“The Creature” by Janet Patterson; 22” x 18” x 4”; assemblage; 2024
DANCING INTO THE NEW YEAR
Nourish your authentic self
Many of us like to think that January is a new beginning, a portal to a clean slate and a fresh start. And it can be, in many regards, especially if you can find a way to keep your motivation going past the first couple of weeks.
But there’s so much of the old year (and our old selves) that we inevitably drag with us into the new.
Our bodies tell the stories of every sleepless night, every joyfilled party, every heartbreak and fight, every little moment of stress and worry. It’s all stored inside of us, woven into our beings just as much as the homegrown vegetables you ate last summer or the Christmas cookies you devoured during the holidays.
You hold those experiences in the fibres of your muscles, the posture of your body and the lines on your face. Sometimes the weight of it all can feel absolutely suffocating. It can change us into versions of ourselves that can become hard to recognize and hard to escape, even if we wanted to.
If you’re anything like me, you may have spent most of your life unconsciously doing your best to be the way you think others want you to be. You walk on eggshells around some, try to be more outgoing with others, but it’s only when you’re by yourself that you can finally take a deep breath, exhale and just be What an exhausting way to go through life. I didn’t realize until I had my daughter how much I changed myself for other people and how much I try to please people. She’s the only one I am just my real self with: no pretences, no show.
Several years ago, I had the chance to take part in a weeklong 5Rhythms dance workshop
in California. Started in the 1970s by an American dancer named Gabrielle Roth, 5Rhythms is a dynamic movement meditation practice that asks the participant to completely let go in order to let energy and music flow through the body and release what’s trapped inside.
As Roth put it in one of her books, “Your body is the ground metaphor of your life, the expression of your existence…. So many of us are not in our bodies, really at home and vibrantly present there. Nor are we in touch with the basic rhythms that constitute our bodily life. We live outside ourselves – in our heads, our memories, our longings – absentee landlords of our own estate.”
The other people in that dance workshop comprised a large and varied bunch. Some were professional dancers who were obviously very comfortable moving their
bodies; others were just as obviously not.
Yet, by the end, of each day every single person seemed a bit lighter, a bit freer and a bit more like their true selves. At the end of the week, each of us had changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined possible. Dancing for 10 hours every day of our lives isn’t realistic for most of us, but remembering that experience got me thinking.
Instead of writing down a long list of new year’s resolutions and goals this year, I decided I would have just one: to dance every day for the length of one song.
I’ll admit, I’ve already missed a day. I’ll also admit that sometimes
my dancing happens in the shower because there’s no other free moment in the day to do it in.
I know it’s not the most earthshattering daily habit to pick up for the new year and I’ll probably still feel self conscious dancing around people (with the exception of my daughter) by the end of 2025, but it’s a start. It’s a step towards reconnecting to myself, to hopefully shake off parts of the old year that have been weighing on me and to just surrender for a few nourishing minutes each day.
In a study that came out about a year ago, a group of Australian researchers came to the conclusion that the best form of exercise
to treat depression is dancing and that it may even treat depression symptoms better than SSRIs. (independent.co.uk/life-style/ dance-best-exercise-depressionb2501113.html)
As Gabrielle Roth so eloquently wrote, “Put your body in motion and your psyche will heal itself.”
So often we don’t listen to the little voices inside ourselves that beg to be heard. As a society, we definitely don’t listen to our bodies. We say “yes” when we want to say “no”, we keep quiet when we want to scream out, and we deny ourselves the joy of moving freely simply because we’re too worried about looking foolish.
May this be the year you drum up the courage to do the things that feel supportive and nourishing to that pure and true self inside of you, no matter how foolish you may look. May it be the year you do the things that are authentic to you, that make you feel awake and embodied and fearless.
May it be the year you decide to share your gifts with the world and let yourself be seen.
v Inspirational Reading Materials:
• The poem Masks, by Shel Silverstein
• Giraffe’s Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae
• Maps to Ecstasy: The Healing Power of Movement, by Gabrielle Roth
• Sweat Your Prayers: Movement As Spiritual Practice, by Gabrielle Roth The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of
Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. n
PHOTO: Traveler stories photos
on pexels.com
“The dance is not where we lose ourselves. But where we find ourselves.” - Gabrielle Roth
ART SHOWS
Until Feb 20 The Land Speaks to Me by Jackie Olson YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery A rare glimpse at her collected works-in-process: Olson makes works that want to be returned to the land, and many of her works have already been curated back.
Until Feb 20 Land Mass by David Curtis YAC Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Dawson City-based artist David Curtis presents a compelling series of film and multimedia sculpture installations in his latest solo exhibition.
Until Mar 1 Maux & Merveilles by Association franco-yukonnaise Arts Underground Featured artists: Aurore Favier, Cécile Girard, Françoise La Roche, Joe La Jolie, Karen ÉloquinArseneau, Maryne Dumaine.
Until Mar 1 It’s Weird Down Here by Amy Kenny & Tedd Tucker Arts Underground Highlighting 10 of the 100 stories interpreted by the collection. A sort of exhibition-y amuse-bouche to give you a taste of the particular brand of shenanigans you’ll find in the pages of It’s Weird Up Here
Until March 1 Growing Up With the Yukon - The Van Bibber family Arts Underground Showcases selections from almost two thousand photographs taken by the Van Bibber family between 1919 and 1965
LIVE MUSIC
Fri Feb 14 Karaoke Get Down 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well Karaoke Get Down · A pro/ anti/apathetic Valentines karaoke night.
Sing duets, sing sad songs, sing ballads.
Sat Feb 15 12th Annual Yukon African Music Festival 6:00 PM The Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre Whitehorse Black history month displays, african crafts & art exhibitions, presentations, DJ Music demo, activities for kids, dancing and drumming, live music!
Sat Feb 15 Whitehorse Community
Dance 7:30 PM Church of the Northern Apostles Join Featuring musicians Rick Avery and Megan MacLeod - the caller will be Judy Greenhill. Dance a variety of contra, square and ceilidh dances. Email rickthecurler@gmail.com for more info.
Sun Feb 16 12th Annual Yukon
African Music Festival 5:00 PM St. Elias Convention Centre Black history month displays, african crafts & art, presentations, DJ Music demo, activities for kids, dancing and drumming, live music!
Sun Feb 16 Happy Time Radio Family
Band 8:00 PM 98 Hotel Traditional Fiddle Tunes & Honky Tonk!
Tue Feb 18 Jeremy Dutcher 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Classically trained tenor, Two-Spirit song carrier, polymuse, activist, ethnomusicologist, and member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in Eastern Canada. Jeremy’s music transcends boundaries. https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Thu Feb 20 Rendezvous Fiddle
Show 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre
Featuring headliner Ethan Harty, Samuel Corry, and the Fiddlehead. Ethan is an old-time fiddler from Lougheed, Alberta. https://yukonartscentre.com/
Fri Feb 21 Rendezvous Fiddle Show - Matinee Performance 2:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Featuring headliner Ethan Harty, Samuel Corry, and the Fiddlehead. Ethan is an old-time fiddler from Lougheed, Alberta. https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Fri Feb 21 - Sat Feb 22 Cabin Fever
Burlesque Festival - Drag Show 11:00 PM Lefty’s Well Kick ass late night event - see some amazing drag performers! Tipping is encouraged. http://bit. ly/40bxsrl
Sat Feb 22 The Still Spirits & The Damn Shames 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well Rendezvous weekend finale with Still Spirits (Vancouver) and The Damn Shames.
Monthly
Mondays
Gray Jay Café 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House.
Tuesdays
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Wednesdays
Intermediate Jam - Bluegrass & Old
Time 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion biweekly Hosted by the Yukon Bluegrass Society
Karaoke 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Whitewater Wednesday 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
Thursdays
Muster Point 6:30 PM Baked Cafe
Muster Point live and featuring a rotating lineup of local guest artists.
Ginger Jam 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Fridays
Live Music 6:00 PM Tony’s Pasta & Seafood House.
Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Saturdays
Live Music at Whiskey Jacks 7:00 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill. whiskeyjacks. ca/ Live Music 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well
Sundays
Open Jam 8:00 PM 98 Hotel
GENERAL EVENTS
Until Feb 16 Available Light Film
Festival 2025 Yukon Theatre 10 days of film, art, conversation, and community - 23rd annual festival will bring to Whitehorse 100+ films, ALFF LIVE, media art, and ALFF Industry panels + presentations. https://yukonfilmsociety. com
Mon Feb 10 Exploring Justice - Our Way 3:30 PM Kwanlin Dun First Nation Keynote Speakers - Debra Dzijuksuk O’Gara, Tami Truett Jerue and Myrna McCallum.
Tue Feb 11 Northwestel Community
TV Spotlight: Solace 12:00 PM Yukon
Theatre The premiere of a new short film produced by Northwestel Community Television. This event will be hosted by Manager, Mike Gravitis who will also introduce the screening with a 5-minute update on initiatives at Northwestel CTV.
Fri Feb 14 ALFF Shorts – Women of this Land 12:00 PM Yukon Theatre Featuring Mawtini (My Homeland, Silent Cries (Kiayunik Tuhanak), and Women of This Land: Jennie Williams. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/ Fri Feb 14 ALFF Shorts – Indigenous Land & Community Docs 6:00 PM Yukon Theatre Featuring films Journey to Our Homeland The Medzih Story: Restoring a Caribou Landscape, and Iniskim – Return of the Buffalo. https:// yukonfilmsociety.com/
Sat Feb 15 Shuffleboard Tournament - Everyone Welcome 11:00 AM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Sign up opens Jan 27 and closes when full or Feb 15 at 10:30am. Call 667-2800 for more information.
Wed Feb 12 Reverse Trade Show and Funders Meet and Greet 9:00 AM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre The Reverse Trade Show provides an opportunity for businesses and contractors to learn about the Government of Yukon’s procurement process. https://yukon.ca/en/events/ reverse-trade-show-and-funders-meetand-greet
Wed Feb 12 ALFF Shorts – The Wild North 12:00 PM Yukon Theatre Featuring films, The Internet of Everything, Fistful of Vodka, Organza’s Revenge, Lupe Q and the Galactic Corn Cake, Inkwo For When the Starving Return and Credit to the Crow.
Thu Feb 13 ALFF Shorts – Indigenous Fiction Films 12:00 PM Yukon Theatre Featuring films Vess, Uasheshkun, and Ohskennón:ten Owí:ra (Little Deer). https://yukonfilmsociety.com/
Thu Feb 13 Trades Meet Up 5:00 PM Best Western Gold Rush Inn This gathering welcomes folks of all genders who work in, want to work in, or supports folks who work in the skilled trades.
Thu Feb 13 Sister City Exchange Program with Ushiku, Japan - Info Sessions 7:00 PM Canada Games Centre Yukon The City is looking for host families to welcome students and adult chaperones visiting Whitehorse from Ushiku between July 24 and August 3, 2025.
Thu Feb 13 Winter Rosehips in Watercolour 6:30 PM Arts Underground Join botanical artist, Misha Donohoe, and create a painting from life with your own rose hip specimen. https://www. artsunderground.ca/
Thu Feb 13 Yukon International Conference on Diversity & Inclusion 2025 The Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre Whitehorse Insightful discussions , workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and musical performances!
Fri Feb 14 Essential Administrative
Professional (1 Day Course) 9:00 AM Yukon University Learn the core skills that will help you use resources efficiently, manage time wisely, communicate effectively and collaborate with others skillfully. https://www.yukonu.ca/ programs/courses/admn-008
Sat Feb 15 Yukon Rendezvous - Quest for the Crown Tea & Social 2:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Join us for a lovely afternoon of tea, snacks and delicious desserts in the company of the lovely Quest for the Crown contestants. https://www.yukonrendezvous.com/ Sat Feb 15 All-City Band - Dessert & Dance 7:00 PM Porter Creek Secondary School Delicious desserts, dance lessons, lots of opportunities to dance and a silent auction. Contact allcitybandwhitehorse@gmail.com for more details.
Sat Feb 15 Karaoke Competition Qualifier - Everyone Welcome 7:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come sing to win! Qualifiers! Not a singer?? Come watch the great show! Sign up by Jan 27 to Friday, Feb 14 at 6pm. Call 667-2800 for more info.
Sun Feb 16 Thrummed Mitten Workshop 11:00 AM Itsy-Bitsy Yarn Store Learn to make the warmest, softest mitt you have ever put your hand into! https:// itsybitsyyarnstore.ca/
Sun Feb 16 Call for the Cup Burlesque ‘N Boot 8:30 PM Kopper King & Neighbours Pub If their style didn’t work to win over the ladies, maybe a striptease will? Come out and watch the 2025 Sam contestants get bare ‘n their boots. $10.00 admission at the door. Mon Feb 17 Classic Crochet Granny Square Workshop 6:00 PM Itsy-Bitsy Yarn Store Learn the skills required to crochet a classic Granny Square, building on the basic crochet stitches. https:// itsybitsyyarnstore.ca/
Tue Feb 18 Leading with Purpose: Tools for New Supervisors (2 Day Course) 9:00 AM Yukon University An engaging two-day course is ideal for new or aspiring supervisors, team leads, and managers eager to enhance their leadership skills. https://www.yukonu.ca/ programs/courses/supr-ce14
Wed Feb 19 Yukon RendezvousQuest for the Crown Royal Feast 6:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Join the Quest for the crown candidates for an elegant evening of fine dining and entertainment. https://www. yukonrendezvous.com/
ROBOT MANIA AND STEAM KIDS CAMPS 2025
March 17th to 21st: yk.st/marchcamp
June 16th to 20th: yk.st/junecamp
July 21st to 25th: yk.st/robotmania HOUGEN GROUP OF COMPANIES: MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCH for Emerging Entrepreneurs Visit yk.st/mentorship to learn more cont’d on page 9 ...
Wed Feb 19 Words Out LoudFebruary 6:45 PM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon Open mic event series for writers and readers alike. February featuring Jennifer England & Kim Hudson.
Thu Feb 20 - Sun Feb 23 Yukon Rendezvous 2025 Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre An opportunity for everyone in the community to get out of their cabins, have a few laughs and visit with their fellow “sourdoughs” – the others who were toughing out the cold, dark winter. https:// www.yukonrendezvous.com/
Thu Feb 20 Writing with Confidence in the Workplace 9:00 AM NorthLight Innovation Learn how to tailor their writing to suit their audience, enhancing their ability to connect and engage with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. https://whitehorsechamber.ca/Training
Thu Feb 20 Understanding Taxes for Artists 6:00 PM Online Tova Epp will talk about what freelance artists should collect and track throughout the year, how to prepare for tax season, GST/HST, bookkeeping software and more.
Thu Feb 20 Braggin’ Rights Texas
Hold em’ Poker Tourney - Everyone Welcome 6:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Test your skills and luck! Will you get the bragging rights?? Sign up Jan 27 to Feb 20 at 6pm
Thu Feb 20 Cabin Fever Burlesque Festival - Floor Show 9:00 PM Woodcutters Blanket A night of sultry fun! Expect performances from beautiful burlesque artists throughout the evening weaving through the space while you enjoy a signature cocktail or snack. Tipping is encouraged! http://bit.
ly/40bxsrl
Fri Feb 21 TGIF Dinner - Everyone
Welcome 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254
Fri Feb 21 Yukon Rendezvous - Western Wonderland A Drag Extravaganza 6:30 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Meet the exceptionally talented Queens who all are from Canada’s Drag Race. VIP tickets available. https://www.yukonrendezvous. com/
Fri Feb 21 Karaoke Finals - Everyone
Welcome 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come watch the finalists sing it out to win it! Finalists will have been chosen from the Qualifiers on Feb 15.
Fri Feb 21 - Sat Feb 22 Cabin Fever Burlesque Festival - Cabin Fever Cabaret 8:00 PM MacBride Museum Main stage event, annual cabaret has our local VA Company performers and dazzling out of town headliners. http://bit. ly/40bxsrl
Sat Feb 22 Horseshoe Tournament 10:00 AM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come out and try your hand at Horseshoes!! Sign up starts Jan 27 and ends when full or Friday Feb 21 at 6pm. Call 667-280 for more info.
Sat Feb 22 Rendezvous BreakfastEveryone Welcome 8:30 AM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254
Sat Feb 22 Found Object Art Workshop with David Curtis 1:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Open to all skill levels, free workshop that will explore a variety of ways found objects, both natural and human made, can be integrated into the making of art.
Sat Feb 22 Rendezvous BBQ 12:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Call 667280 for more info.
Sat Feb 22 Rendezvous Dinner 5:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Chilli and beef dip for dinner - stick around for the Dance with the live band!
Sat Feb 22 Rendezvous Dance with Yukon Jack 8:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Yukon Jack will get you dancing the night away!
Sat Feb 22 Yukon Rendezvous 2025 - Wild West Steampunk Ball 8:00
PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre An evening of decadent revelry, where adventure, mystery, and creativity come alive - this ball promises a night full of surprises, live entertainment. https://www. yukonrendezvous.com/
Sat Feb 22 Cabin Fever Burlesque
Festival - Burlesque Competition 8:00
PM MacBride Museum Acts from all styles and walks of life with local and out of town performers and an amazing panel of judges. http://bit.ly/40bxsrl
Sun Feb 23 Cabin Fever Burlesque Festival - Burlesque Brunch 10:00 AM Cabin Fever Chop House Rise and Shine!
Featuring stunning burlesque performers ready to wake you up! A signature brunch menu! Tipping is encouraged! http://bit. ly/40bxsrl
Sun Feb 23 Rendezvous Crib
Tournament 2:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Sign up from Jan 27 until full or Sun Feb 23 at 1:30pm Call 667-2800 for more info.
Monthly
2nd Monday Ukulele Group 6:00 PM
Golden Age Society salvin@northwestel.
net
2nd Monday Whitehorse Slow Jam 7:00
PM Golden Age Society
2nd & 4th Mondays Service Officer 7:00
AM Royal Canadian Legion Whitehorse
An invite to all Veterans, Police and First responders for the service hour at the Legion, socialise and find out what is going on. https://bit.ly/3Lm40ZG
2nd & 4th Wednesdays Whitehorse
Photography Club - Meetup 7:00 PM Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Held in Rm A2204. Discuss photography, share your work, learn new tips and tricks. http://whitehorsephotoclub.ca/
First Thursdays QYS Craft Night 7:00
PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache This is a great place to gather and meet other queer crafters. And there will be tea of course. Regular drop-in is still available.
2nd Thursday QYS Movie Nights 5:00
PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache
Last Thursdays Repair Cafe 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters, and other tools. This easy introduction to electronics and small home appliance repair is a useful evening of DIY learning that you can take home.
2nd Thursday Music Trivia 7:00 PM
Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come on out and test your music knowledge! Teams of no more than 6 people.
Last Friday Pioneer Women of Yukon
12:00 PM Golden Age Society
3rd Sundays Messy Church 3:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. Crafts, singing and food will be the focus.
2nd & 4th Sundays Grade 8 – 12
High School Youth Group 6:00 PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth
Monthly
Weekly
Mondays
Mtg: Competitive Commander 6:00 PM
Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Women’s Bible Study 6:00 PM Women’s Bible Study. Refreshments are served followed by the study. For more info check out www.mountainview.church or email rachel@mountainview.church.
Ukulele Group 6:00 PM Golden Age
Society
Euchre - For Members and Signed in Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Euchre a trick-taking card game for four players, two on each team, As a member you
Tuesdays
Bridge 12:00 PM Golden Age Society Café de l’amitié 2:00 PM Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) Le Café de l’amitié est un rendez-vous hebdomadaire et une occasion de rassemblement pour les francophones de 50 ans et plus.
QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache
Language Skills for Ukrainians 5:15
PM Yukon Learn A discussion group workshop provides a relaxed and friendly environment where learners can practise and learn English conversation skills.
Weekly Shuffleboard Tournament 6:00
PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For members and signed in guests. A double knockout style competition and games are limited to 6 ends or 15 minutes
Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!
SuperSmash Bros, Mtg: Commander 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles 10 Card Crib - Members & Signed In Guests 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Whether you are a seasoned crib player or a beginner, come play! Learn tips and tricks and have some fun! https://bit.ly/3KP0B5s
Wednesdays
Multicultural Connection Group 11:00
AM Multicultural Centre of the Yukon –MCY Connect with other parents and caregivers, learn about parenting in different cultures. A free lunch program for immigrants and refugee families. Lunch and transportation provided. Call 3321803 for more info.
Spanish Conversation 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church Call 333-6081 for more info.
Anglican Holy Communion –
Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church
Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month
Sew & Tell All – Elders Hangout 1:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
Facilitated by Kwanlin Dün Elder-inResidence Shirley Smith, everyone welcome. Feel free to join and start a beading project or work on something that you’ve already started! For more info email culturalprograms@kdcc.ca
QYS Drop-in 2:00 PM Queer Yukon
Society The Cache
Texas Hold’ Em 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and guests. Bragging rights!
Mtg: Modern, Warhammer Age of Sigmar 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Thursdays
Public Speaking TrainingToastmasters 12:00 PM Decora Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics
Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Find out what role playing games are all about! Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are always welcome.
Mtg: casual Commander, Warhammer 40k & Kill Team 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Mountainview Church Community Group 7:00 PM 16 years or older?
Mountainview Church Community Group! We’ll share some snacks and talk about what the bible has to say about discipleship.
Fridays
Coffee & Chat 11:00 AM Golden Age Society Coffee and chat is a way to connect with your community, develop friendships, and have fun.
Mtg: Pioneer, YuGiOh Casual 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles
Saturdays
Yukon Amateur Radio Association
Coffee Discussion Group 8:45 AM A&W
Restaurant Hams from outside the Yukon and those interested are welcome to join us in this casual event.
Cribbage - Members and Signed in Guests 2:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Masks are mandatory. Members must have a valid 2021 membership and they may sign in 2 guests MAX.
9:30 AM Church In The Building 9:30 AM, 11AM or Church At Home 7 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM Mountainviewwhitehorse.ca/Watch
Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone
Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM A caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth
Secondhand Clothing Bizarre 2:00
PM Whitehorse Seventh-Day Adventist Church Clean clothes needed and donations accepted if in good condition. Please call before dropping clothes off and for more info 633-3463.
Sunday Gatherings 3:00 PM The Northern Collective Church
KIDS & FAMILIES
Fri Feb 14 Dog Man Matinees & Nightly Yukon Theatre When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born.
Sat Feb 15 Kids Night Out 5:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club Sign up your kids for “Kid’s Night Out. “ They’ll have fun, get fed, and wind down with a movie on our “big screen”
Sat Feb 15 Hoops for Youth 11:00 AM Yukon University Challenge yourself to sink hoops and help raise money for BGC Yukon’s youth programming! Call 3325750 for more info and or your pledge form.
Sat Feb 15 ALFF Shorts – Shorts for Young People 11:00 PM Yukon Theatre Free Screening! Featuring Into a World of Ice, River Revelations, The Human Under the Bed, Find Me Outside, Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past and Weather Report. https://yukonfilmsociety.com/
Wed Feb 19 Music in Motion with Babies 10:00 AM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Please join us for a free, drop-in 30 minute session of music and movement designed for parents and babies led by Lianne Cranfield.
Wed Feb 19 An Evening of Magic 7:00 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Familyfriendly evening of magic features not one, but two magic acts! Yukon’s own Magic Ben is back, joined by comedy magic duo Trevor & Lorena! https:// yukonartscentre.com/
Fri Feb 21 Rendezvous Carnival & Market 11:00 AM Selkirk Elementary School Draw prizes, carnival games, concession – A Yukon Rendezvous affiliated event.
Fri Feb 21 Yukon Artist Showcase 7:00 PM The Guild Hall Formerly known as the Battle of the Bands, local youth musicians, performers and visual artists perform. https://www.yukonyouth.com/ resources/workbooks/
Monthly
1st & 3rd Saturdays Grades 5 - 7 Junior Youth Group 7:00 PM Mountainview Church Passionate about giving kids opportunities to have fun & make new friends, while teaching them about Jesus & His great love for our world https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth
2nd and 4th Saturdays Grade 8 - 12 High School Youth Group 7:00 PM Mountainview Church A positive place for your teen to hang out on the weekend. Take part in games and activities, learn about the Bible, and deepen faith. https:// mountainview.church/connect/youth
Weekly
Tuesdays
Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Join us for stories, songs & rhymes! A free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 and caregivers at Whitehorse Public Library
Parent-Child Mother Goose 10:30 AM The Child Development Centre Celebrates the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Bonding time with your little one or to learn for later.
Wednesdays
Community Connections 1:30 PM Yukon Family Literacy Centre An intergenerational story time and craft program. Meet local elders, have a coffee, do some crafts, and make a friend!
Thursdays
Transformations Along The Chu Nikwän 1:30 PM Yukon Visitor Information Centre Join Amber for a free walking tour every Thursday along the Whitehorse waterfront to learn about the Yukon First Nations people and the history of the Yukon.
Pathfinder Role-Playing Game for Youth 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Youth 11-17 are invited to join, no experience necessary.
MEETINGS
Weekly
Tuesdays Rendezvous Rotary 6:30 PM Tony’s Pasta and Seafood House Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at Tony’s Pasta and Seafood. Come and join us for fun, and fellowship.
Thursdays Toastmasters Decora 12:00 PM Sundogs Toastmasters Club. Club is open to all interested parties and we provide constructive feedback to help develop public speaking skills.
Monthly
First Monday Klondike Snowmobile Association Board Meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon https://ksa.yk.ca/comingevents/
First Monday Yukon Amateur Radio Association Monthly Meeting 7:00 PM EMO Building Discussion of club business. Prospective hams are welcome.
Third Thursday Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Monthly Meeting 5:00 PM ZOOM Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition for regular meeting. Everyone is welcome. Call Kathy 334-9317 or info@yapc.ca for a zoom link or join us in person. https:// yapc.ca/actions/detail/yapcs-monthlymeetings
Third Thursday ASAY board monthly meeting 7:00 PM Sport Yukon
ONLINE EVENTS
Fridays AA Yukon Unity Group 1:30 PM Online For Zoom Room address Contact 334-7693
Saturdays AA Detox Meeting (OM, NS) 1:00 PM Online For Zoom Room address call 334-7693.
Tuesdays Restorative Online Healing Circles 7:30 PM Online Check-in, Q&A, connect and feel the results. No experience necessary. Register online, or call 335-0078 or email alison@ alisonzeidler.com for more info.
whatsupyukon.events/entry
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Cynthia is a clinical and administrative dietitian with 18 years of experience with the Government of Yukon.
What makes for a good day at work?
First of all, I work with a wonderful team! I also enjoy the residents and their families. I’m a social person, so I enjoy meeting them. I love it when a resident has a smile on their face or when they say, “that was a really good meal,” and I hear they enjoyed their Christmas dinner or New Year’s dinner. Or even just a fruit plate they got for a snack!
Find a healthy workplace in Yukon health care
Clinical and administrative dietitians ensure clients in continuing care enjoy the right foods.
Dietitians account for people’s nutritional needs, their ability to chew or process solid food, any allergies and more. They also make sure what’s served is culturally appropriate.
Read interviews and learn more: yukoncareerpaths.ca
to places
THERE ARE MORE MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB
X-country event challenges skills and assumptions
Humans reach their physical peak, generally, as young adults. Most Olympians and professional athletes are of this vintage, and it is during these years that records, be they world titles or personal bests, will likely be achieved.
Once we’ve planted the flag atop our personal Everest, however, the view can be decidedly disheartening. Our bodies begin an inexorable decline. And too often, our diminishing resilience and reflexes are accompanied by another loss; one that is not inevitable. Motivation.
Stuart Hamilton wants to change that. He is the Chief of Competition for a national crosscountry ski event coming to Whitehorse this month.
“The idea that you stop striving, stop competing, needs to be re-thought. A lot of people think once you’ve met your peak, then every direction is down. Then you quit.”
The Bill Gairdner Masters National XC Ski Championship is designed to keep the competitive juices flowing throughout the lifespan. Hamilton says people need to seek out new mountains to challenge.
“You can still work on your skills at any age. You can still seek
an increase in performance; if that is even staying the same, or getting better. The idea is competition is for life.”
The event is named for Bill Gairdner, who represented Canada internationally in the 400-metre race and the decathlon, including at the 1964 Olympics. He went on to become a businessman and author, known for his conservative and libertarian views. A life-long commitment to fitness resulted in his founding both the national and world Masters XC Ski Associations; which are open to people over 30.
The event consists of four races, and prizes are awarded using age-based categories, which Hamilton says levels the skiingfield. But it is a balancing act. While the event strives to inspire the competitive spirit, it also tries to encourage participation regardless of the skiers’ skill level.
“Some people think if you’re not competing for a podium position, then what are you doing there? And we do celebrate the podium positions, but the smiles are just as big for everyone coming back in. Everyone has a role to play; you’re inspiring someone or being inspired by someone, maybe even yourself.”
The Whitehorse Nordic Centre is hosting the event, from February 19 -23. As of the beginning of February there were over 120 skiers registered, most from outside the territory.
“We did want it to be a na-
Skiers during Nordic Centre’s recent challenge race u
tional competition. We did a lot of promotion and marketing to clubs all across the country. We set up the program, and built the schedule around people having time to go to the hot springs, or see a dog sled race, to see the Yukon in the winter. We fully expect a lot of people will bring their friends next time.”
Hamilton says more than 50 volunteers have come forward to handle everything from grooming the trails, to manning the checkpoints, to preparing the food. In return, Yukoners are getting a boost to the local economy during a slow period, and the opportunity to showcase the territory’s facilities and natural beauty.
Another benefit is creating more capacity for the future; adding to the pool of volunteers needed for events such as the Arc-
tic Winter Games.
Because, after all, there’s always one more river to cross, and one more mountain to …
ski! n
PHOTOS: Michael McCann
Mike Linder is a writer whose heart remains in the Yukon, but whose feet keep carrying him off
unknown.
Freelance with Mike Linder
Taking up the challenge to face the track and oneself q
Matthias Purdon faces the trail with spirited determination q
Kate White volunteering at Nordic Centre’s memorial race in January q
A LITTLE OFF THE TOP
I ADMIT: I WAS SO, SO WRONG
Care to join me in a plate of crow, with a nice Canadian merlot?
When a stack of What’s Up Yukon magazines mysteriously appeared at the Yukon Government cafeteria one February day in 2005, I immediately picked one up and started to browse.
“Interesting. Colourful. Local arts and entertainment. Definitely different. And free,” I mused. “Too bad it won’t last more than six months.”
Having owned (and lost) two weekly publications of my own in Eastern Canada, I knew about these things. Surely, there wasn’t enough revenue base for a niche publication like this in a small place like Whitehorse.
Twenty years later, this is me, with a delicious plate of crow meat in front of me.
In my defence, I didn’t know Tammy Beese back then, and I just knew Darrell Hookey as an amiable appliance salesman who lived on our block and loved to chat.
I found out later that he had actually studied journalism (what a notion). I also learned that Tammy had a clear vision, which she pursued with the tenacity of a Rottweiler with lockjaw.
In 2009, after I had backed away from the public trough, I persuaded Darrell to run a column called Dear Mister Ed, written by my alter ego, Rodney Dougherty, from Dingwell’s Pond, P.E.I. A year later, I was living in Armstrong, B.C., when Tammy and Mark Beese phoned to offer me the editor’s position.
What an opportunity! Filling the giant sandals of Darrell Hookey (with or without socks, I can’t remember which). Not all
The copy editor in me says this needs an apostrophe; the writer in me says it’s perfect as is
by myself, admittedly. The Beeses wanted to try having co-editors; one male, one female; one in Whitehorse, one in Dawson City. It’s an experiment that hasn’t been replicated since.
My first weeks on the job nearly made my head implode. I had basic computer skills, but no idea about WUY’s elaborate protocols, how and where things got filed and moved throughout a digital landscape in which I might never actually meet most of my colleagues.
On top of that, the advertising department was building up for a big special to mark WUY’s first 200 issues, although it wouldn’t actually emerge until Issue 206. It was a whopping 40 pages. My co-editor hadn’t started yet, so I was alone and flailing.
In those days, the maga zine had three distinct sec tions, with separate “covers” to reflect the section themes. Certain things, such as food and beverage stories, had to be in certain locations. Thank good ness our designer, Omar Reyna, actually knew what he was doing.
While I scrambled to find enough copy to feed the beast, Omar quietly worked countless hours putting together three appropriately-themed “covers” consisting of collages from the front pages of the mag’s first 190 issues. Surprisingly, we hit our press deadline and lived to tell the tale.
When I launched a new column called A Little Off the Top, I was proud of the four-way word play. It appeared on Page 2, at the top of that week’s editorial menu; it emanated from the Big Chair, the top of the editorial food chain; it reflected what was top of mind for me that week; and the accompanying photo made it clear that my barber (or Time) was regularly taking a little off the top.
I have many precious memories of the two years I spent wearing Darrell’s footwear, in addition to several stints filling in during transitions between editors.
Most of those memories revolve around a common commitment from many, many unique contributors, such as Old Crow poet-philosopher Allan Benjamin and an energetic young photographer named Rick Massie, who provided scores of first-class cover photos, often on very short notice, not to mention excellent and dedicated design, advertising and marketing teams.
WUY has always had an unspoken sense of family that included our thousands of faithful readers, our advertisers and distributors. But the core of the family was always the Beeses.
Countless happy memories are still imprinted from time spent with Tammy and Mark, not just on the job, but especially around the Beese fire pit on Friday evenings,
when Tammy and I would butt heads over some obscure disagreement, while Mark smiled benignly and poured more wine.
And how could I forget that time three of us tried (almost successfully) to lose Mark after dark during an ill-fated hunting trip on the Mayo River?
For some time after I officially “left” What’s Up Yukon to chase a different dream back East, I contributed a column of meandering nonsense called Wasting Away in Geezerville, that effort has since been laid to rest, but very (very) soon, I’ll be launching its successor, Beyond Geezerville.
My hope is to offer something light, but nutritious … something that doesn’t shy away from some of the darker realities of growing old, but does it with a touch of humour. I hope you’ll join me.
Meanwhile, I’ll sit here and enjoy a nice meal of fricasseed crow and a soothing glass of (Canadian) merlot, for having doubted the viability of this great publication 20 years ago. Cheers! n
Omar Reyna’s front page collage to celebrate WUY’s first 200 issues – one of three big collages he compiled that week
PHOTO: Supplied by WUY
column with Ken Bolton
Ken Bolton is What’s Up Yukon’s copy editor and a prolific freelance contributor who lives somewhere southeast of Whitehorse.
PHOTO: Ken Bolton
PHOTO: Supplied by Ken Bolton
There’s always a good reason to celebrate something about WUY
LDAY’S (ALMOST) SECRET AGENDA
others do.
our daily lives.
On the other hand, someone with a neurodivergent brain may learn or behave differently from what is considered typical. Those
Last year, LDAY Centre for Learning – aka the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon – quietly celebrated 50 years of supporting Yukon
You may be familiar with LDAY because of our tutoring program, Camp Raven, in Whitehorse and Dawson City, or our many workshop offerings. If your family has used our services, you may even be familiar with our slogan: Learn your way
One spring a few years ago, I heard someone ranting about how long it was taking to get fresh traffic lanes painted on Two Mile Hill. Someone else chimed in, “I know exactly where the lanes are whether they are painted or not. If you can’t tell where you’re supposed to be, you shouldn’t be driving!”
This person’s argument assumes everyone experiences spatial awareness the same way they do. With the lens of neurodiversity, we can guess that this simply isn’t true. (Not to mention, shouldn’t we also take care of beginner drivers and visitors, who won’t automatically sense how many lanes there are?)
That slogan, Learn your way, has multiple meanings. It can mean learning your way to a particular goal. It can also mean learning in a way that most suits your brain. Either way, it points to our not-so-secret agenda: spreading the “gospel” of neurodiversity. What is neurodiversity? In a nutshell, it means human brains work in many different ways. No two brains are alike, and the way I experience the world could be very different from how you do.
The idea of neurodiversity was conceived in the late ’90s by social scientist Judy Singer. Her ground-breaking work helped shift the view of autism from a medical disorder to a form of natural human variation. Since then, the term has expanded to include other neurological differences, such as ADHD, dyslexia, FASD, intellectual disability, and more.
differences could be subtle – outwardly invisible – or could make that person stand out in terms of how they interact with others, with learning, or with work.
So we’ve established that brains are as diverse as fingerprints, and there’s no one right way to think or learn. What does it mean in everyday life?
For one thing, it means sometimes our assumptions about behaviour are just plain wrong. Take
Embracing neurodiversity may be as simple as accepting seemingly unusual behaviours. Or it may mean putting accommodations in place at school or at work. Some work examples may include using noise-cancelling headphones, allowing flexible schedules, or embracing non-traditional work practices like standing desks and walking meetings.
Brain differences can certainly create misunderstanding, but it’s important to realize that neurodiversity improves the world. Just as biodiversity is vital for healthy ecosystems, neurodiversity brings fresh perspectives and innovation to our communities.
“Brain differences can certainly create misunderstanding, but it’s important to realize that neurodiversity improves the world.”
- Fawn Fritzen
doodling, for example. Your elementary school teacher or boss may have frowned on your doodles as evidence that you weren’t paying attention.
Some related terms are “neurotypical” and “neurodivergent”.
While every brain is different, a person with a neurotypical brain likely met their developmental milestones at expected times. They will probably never wonder if their brain functions the way
However, research shows just the opposite. Doodling actually helps doodlers regulate attention so they can focus better. But because your teacher or boss didn’t need to doodle to pay attention, they assumed no one did.
Here’s a real life example of how neurodiversity can show up in
Many business articles tout neurodiversity as good for the bottom line because neurodivergent brains often come with unique strengths. But it’s not just about dollars and cents. Embracing neurodiversity fosters inclusion, reduces judgment and frustration, and ultimately makes our lives richer in many ways.
Reflection questions: Where in my life do I encounter many different types of brains? Could neurodiversity help me understand someone’s challenging communication or behaviour? n
Continuing Studies
Northern Institute of Social Justice
WINTER TRAINING COURSES and WEBINARS
Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training (ASIST)
Feb 26-27, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm
CRN: 90067
$225 + GST
Registra on deadline: Feb 19, 2025
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530
Mental Health First Aid For Northern Peoples
Mar 5-7, 2025, 9am-4:30pm
CRN 90069
$260 + GST
Registra on deadline: Feb 26
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room T1023 Mo va onal Interviewing (MI)
Mar 6, 2025, 9am-4:30pm
CRN 90110
$329 + GST
$299 + GST Early bird registra on by Feb 13
Registra on deadline: Feb 20.
Late registra on un l Mar 5, by emailing sam@ ctrins te.com
*NEW* Transforma onal Leadership: Segment BThe Resilient Organiza on
Mar 12, 2025, 1pm- 4 pm
CRN 90097
$125 + GST
Registra on deadline: Mar 5
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530
In mate Partner Violence and Family Law: Part 2
March 27, 2025, 10am-12pm
CRN 90060
FREE
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Delivered: Livestreamed via Zoom
*NEW* Neurodivers At Work
Apr 3, 2025, 9am – 12pm
CRN 90111
$169 + GST
$149 + GST Early bird registra on by Mar 13
Registra on deadline: Mar 20.
Late registra on un l Apr 2, by emailing sam@ ctrins te.com
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440. Responding With Resilience
Apr 10, 2025, 10 – 11:30am
CRN 90072
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Delivered: Live streamed via Zoom
Administra ve Jus ce: Prac ce And Procedure For Decision-Makers
Apr 9-10, 2025, 9am – 4:30pm
Apr 11, 2025, 9am – 12:00pm
CRN 90073
$600 + GST
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Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440.
NOTE: This course is a pre-requisite for Administra ve Jus ce - Advanced DecisionWr ng.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
Administra ve Jus ce: Advanced Decision-Wr ng For Decision-Makers
Apr 14 – 15, 2025, 9am – 4:30pm
CRN 90074
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NOTE: Administra ve Jus ce: Prac ce and Procedures for Decision-makers is the prerequisite for this course.
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530
13 Factors of Psychological Health and Safe
May 2, 2025, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
CRN 90080
$175 + GST
Registra on Deadline: Apr 25, 2025
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1530
*NEW* Narra ve Therapy
May 7, 2025, 9am – 4:30pm
CRN 90112
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Registra on deadline: Apr 23
Late registra on un l May 6, by emailing sam@ ctrins te.com
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May 7, 2025, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
CRN: 90100
$50 + GST
Registra on Deadline: Apr 30, 2025
Delivered: In-person at YukonU in room C1440
Grief And Frontline Professions
May 21-22, 2025, 9am – 4:30pm
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Registra on deadline: May 14
Delivered: This course is run In-person at McClintock Bay Resort, 62 Swan Haven Dr, Marsh Lake, YT
• Contact Registrations & Records at 867-668-8710 EXT 2 and quote the CRN;
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Please note that if you wish to withdraw
Nicole Bauberger is a multi-disciplinary visual artist as well as a writer and performer living in Whitehorse. She has contributed to What’s Up Yukon since our first issue, February 9, 2005.
SLOW FOOD FOR THE DARK TIME
Black walnuts. Even the name shrouds itself in darkness. I love them.
My family doesn’t. They think I’m a bit crazy, and they claim the walnuts don’t taste good. I think they’re wrong. All the more for me.
I love the kind of walnuts we’re more familiar with, too – English, or Persian walnuts. Living in the Yukon, there is no such thing as having a walnut tree in my backyard.
One October, I was visiting my sister in Ontario, where we both grew up. She has moved to Grimsby, in the Niagara region. Grapes and peaches grow there. I was so excited when we saw a sign for someone selling walnuts from their own backyard.
From Grimsby I went to our old hometown of Peterborough, Ontario. I visited some old friends, vegetarians. I brought some of these local walnuts with me, thinking they would be delighted too.
Their younger son, at the time around 18 and an avid artist and horticulturalist, was not so impressed. He introduced me to black walnuts.
Black walnuts are indigenous to North America. Growing up there, I had no idea that they were edible. They fall from the trees like heavy tennis balls, clad in a similar colour of green. But as they age and bruise, get run over by cars and so on, the darkness inside them stains sidewalks, roads and driveways.
The following October I was in Peterborough again. I saw black walnuts on the road. I picked them up. As chance would have it, I had time to process them during the partial solar eclipse. I shucked them of their green husks, and kept the husks in ziplock bags. I scrubbed the nuts and let them dry. I had heard that they would stain my hands but I didn’t pay attention. In later research, I have learned that the husks can irritate your skin badly. It’s better to wear gloves.
But I am not sorry that, for the first processing, I let them stain my hands. It didn’t do me any harm. I washed my hands, and at first the foam was pink. All through the day my hands darkened, as the sky had during the eclipse. My fingernails were particularly stained, and long after my hands had faded back to their usual colour, a crescent that looked like the crescent of sun created during the eclipse brought me back to the time I spent cleaning them.
The husks I brought home to my friend Cheryl McLean, who wanted to use them to dye fish skins. As a dye, black walnut does not require that you use mordant first. We dyed skins dark brown with the boiled husks, and added some iron to another dye bath to create a rich black. You can make ink with the husks as well, dye wool, and so on.
This past Thanksgiving, a friend in Grimsby brought me quite a load of black walnuts from her neighbour’s lawn. The neighbour was glad to get rid of them. There’s a compound in the husks that discourages the growth of other plants. But receiving wild food as a gift – well, that’s an obligation to look after it. I’ve learned at least that much from my contact with Indigenous culture here in the Yukon.
This time I wore gloves and worked in my sister’s backyard by the fire. My sister watched me, surprised by how long it took. “I would never do that,” she said, as she sipped one of the espresso martinis my niece was mixing. Working on the walnuts helped me drink fewer of those martinis, which was a health benefit in itself. Going home, it was as if a squirrel had helped pack my suitcase, all those little nuts nestled in among my clothes.
Even after the nuts are cleaned and have dried for about six weeks, merely eating them remains a project. The shells are much more robust than the walnuts you’re probably used to. At first, I used a lonely sock from the lonely sock pile, and a hammer, on a scrap piece of wood. It’s possible that my family found the sock association off-putting.
Now I use a vice. It would probably be easier if it were bolted down to something. My partner likes to call it a “kitchen vice.” I wear glasses normally, but it might not be a bad idea to wear goggles against the flying shards of hardwood released in the breaking of the nuts.
It takes me about eight minutes to break the walnut, eat what I can reach, then break the other pieces to access the rest of the nut. I like to pair these wal-
nuts with a crispy apple or a cup of tea. I read that black walnuts are a great source of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as protein.
I think they’re delicious. And after a modest number of nuts, I’m satisfied with the process and move on.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am also addicted to chocolate. This is the season for Quality Street, and don’t even get me started on Purdy’s. But when I get a tin of Quality Street chocolates – and I do – I notice that I don’t feel that great after indulging my desires. The sugar leaves me feeling a bit off, and then there are all those plastic wrappers in lovely colours, which I should probably find some way to reuse, but which wind up in the garbage.
My final moment of satisfaction with black walnuts comes when I put the shells into my wood stove. We don’t get to burn much hardwood up here in the Yukon. Those shells pack a lot of btu’s, which I can use. Zero waste packaging. A pleasure in itself.
I wish more treats were as satisfying as black walnuts. They take time. But I think it’s a sign of our culture that in places where many people are going hungry, such high-quality fat and protein lies in the street, disregarded as a
nuisance. Is time spent processing food something to see as a cost, or as a pleasure in itself?
I know, I took an airplane. But I was going to visit my family anyway. As I said in the first article, these are the musings of a mediocre environmentalist. Do you have any stories like this? Send them to me at materialreculturing@yahoo.com and I’ll do my best to weave them into a column. n
PHOTOS: Nicole Bauberger
column with Nicole Bauberger
Black walnuts with Emerson the cat for scale
Broken black walnut with glimpses of the creamy-coloured meat
Processing black walnuts by the fire at my sister’s
Freelance with The Unknown Chef
The Unknown Chef has fed you at many local restaurants for years, and has decided to share some recipes he has developed, and others he stole from other chefs.
TERIYAKI MARINATED PORK TENDERLOIN
Sliced for presentation and plating
This marinated pork tenderloin is quick and easy
As I was wandering the meat aisle of my favourite grocer’s looking for a deal, I happened to notice that they had double packs of pork tenderloin on sale for $9.99. That’s right, two tenderloins for $10! That’s when I decided that I was going to do a special recipe on this.
Usually when I make a tenderloin, I roast them like any other roast for about 35 minutes at 350F and then do up a gravy. I thought, why not try a marinade and see how it turns out? It turned out to be a great idea! This one took me, all-told, about 15 minutes of hands-on prep time and came out at less than $5 a plate, more like $3 a plate!
I’ve never done a lot of marinating in the past so I turned to some Google recipes and watched a couple of videos. After what seemed like endless suggestions from volumes of people all professing to have ‘The Best’ style of marinating, I got fed up. Not a single one of them was appealing to me. You’re the Unknown Chef aren’t you? Create a fantastic recipe! What goes great with pork? Apple sauce!, I said to myself, and am very proud to present to you my Marinated AppleTeriyaki Pork Tenderloin Roast.
Ingredients:
• Pork tenderloin
• Teriyaki 1/4 cup
• Dijon 1 tbsp
• Apple sauce 1/3 cup
• Brown Sugar 3 tbsp
• Olive oil 3 tbsp
• Soy sauce
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire
• Salt
• Pepper
• Red wine
• Frank’s RedHot
• Garlic powder
Method:
1. Mix the teriyaki, apple sauce, olive oil, Dijon and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir or whisk until you have a nice even consistency and it tastes good. You may have to adjust or add more of the brown sugar, Dijon, apple sauce or teriyaki to
get the right mix. I would not add any more oil though.
2. Once you have the desired taste and consistency for the marinade base, add the other ingredients to taste. Stir or whisk well and transfer the mixture to a large ziplock-style freezer bag.
3. Rinse your tenderloin well under cold water and put it into the marinade bag. Gently massage the meat and distribute the marinade evenly into cracks or crevices. Roll up the bag, removing all of the air and seal tightly. Put it into the fridge.
4. While you could get away with only marinating for 4-5 hours, the longer the better for a fuller infusion of tastes. Whatever
the best before date on the original packaging for the pork tells you, is the longest that you can safely leave it in the fridge until you cook it. I marinated this one for 3 days.
5. When you are ready, preheat the oven to 350F. Place the tenderloin in a roasting pan and pour the marinade over the roast. Add about a 1/4 cup of water and a 1/4 cup of red wine. Roast covered for 25 minutes and then remove the lid for the last 10-15 minutes. Pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145F when tested with a food thermometer.
6. Prepare your choice of sides to be ready at the same time as
Uncover for the last 10-15 minutes while you make your side dishes
the roast will be done. I was in a hurry, so I made rice and microwaved some Green Giant brussels sprouts.
It’s nice to let the meat rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing. I like good thick slices at almost a 45-degree angle to the tenderloin for a nice presentation. Use some of the pan drippings to drizzle on the meat once you have it plated. A side pot of apple sauce really rounds out this moist and delicious meal. This is best served with a nice light red wine and shared with family or friends. n
Plated and looking delicious
Ready for the fridge in the marinade
PHOTOS: Unknown Chef
WHAT’S
February 22 | 1:00-4:00PM
This hands-on workshop that will explore a variety of ways found objects, both natural and human made, can be integrated into the making of art. Open to all skill levels. No prior art making experience required. Participants need only bring an open mind and a handful of curious objects they’d like to work with. There is a 15-person limit to this free workshop.
Freelance with Selene Vakharia
Selene Vakharia is a Whitehorse-based contributor who writes freelance stories on a variety of subjects.
SPOTLIGHT ON SHORTS
The 2025 Available Light Film Festival is about to unreel
With the 23rd Available Light Film Festival almost here, I chatted with three of the Yukoners behind the festival programming about movies, what makes the festival special, and their top must-see picks.
PAIGE GALETTE
Paige is a community organizer and an anti-racism and anti-oppression educator. She has been a part of the festival’s programming committee for several years, and this year worked with the ALFF Shorts programming team to curate five short film programs.
SV – What do you love about films?
I love everything about films. I love the way they’re produced, the way they’re created, their conception, and then you get to see it on screen. Whether it’s a big or small screen. It’s an art form that isn’t going to die, but keeps getting [more] creative and innovative as time goes and as access to different media helps us see different ideas and conceptions come to life.
SV – What is special about ALFF as a festival in the North?
I moved from Toronto where there are big, big, big film festivals – TIFF, Hot Docs – and it’s so nice to see which films get to go through the festival circuit, [which are] brought up to the North. It’s even better to see films that are created for the North by the North. I think that’s a perspective that the big film festivals don’t necessarily get to see. It’s really exciting to have a film festival that can feature the big films that are doing the festival circuits, but also the little films that really mean a lot to us here in the North.
SV – Which films are you most excited about?
Lucky Baby. I think it’s really exciting to see films that go from ALFF Pitch to now being an official film. The other one is Mawtini (My Homeland). There is a beautiful conception around what it means to have homelands ripped from you. There are continuous conversations around who gets to protect their homelands and who gets to declare the indigeneity on their lands. And how do we as folks who are not from those homelands get to react and get to support and show solidarity. It’s a beautiful short film. It’s very relevant to the times.
ROBERT JOE
Robert is a filmmaker who grew up in Pelly Crossing, Yukon and graduated from Capilano University’s Motion Picture Arts program in North Vancouver. In 2023, his first fiction film, Fistful of Vodka, won the ALFF Pitch Prize and will be screened at this year’s festival. As a member of the festival’s programming advisory committee, he worked with the team to curate this year’s films.
SV – What do you love about films?
The simple, easy answer is I love movies because they move me. They frighten me. They give me a reason to exist. They excite me. I love old movies. I love new movies. I love masterpieces, and even the odd disaster piece. It’s cool to be a part of the conversation of films that are coming into the Yukon that I never would have got to see.
SV
– What is special about ALFF as a festival in the North?
Where else are most people going to see these movies? Even if you’re a big film aficionado, you’re going to have to go out of your way to find some of these. To have all these films from all these people playing in the theatre is a communal experience. It’s not sentenced to death in the little streaming service where you just play those [as] background noise, get your cell phones out.
SV – Which films are you most excited about?
[Oshkennón:ten Owí:ra] (Little Deer) and Inkwo For When the Starving Return
Inkwo, I just feel like more films should be like it. Especially in mainstream movie theatres. You got stop motion, you got indigenous folk horror … Stop motion in general always has that uncanny element to it, so things just look weird and unnatural all the time, and then you combine it with gritty, indigenous, mythical, supernatural horror, then you got something unique and really hard to look away from.
Little Deer – it’s a pretty ambitious historical drama. A pair of girls run away from residential school. And it’s just refreshing to see that someone’s doing historical dramas with natives and it’s not overly depressing.
DARA MOATS
Dara is a Dawson City-based filmmaker whose chilling shorts have haunted festival screens across the country, earning her accolades like ‘Best Short Film’ and ‘Best Blood Bath’. Her cinematic journey includes roles as Associate Producer at the National Film Board of Canada and contributions to the Fantasia International Film Festival. She has been part of the programming teams for the Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival, Blood in the Snow, Calgary Underground,
Robert Joe is a filmmaker from Pelly Crossing who now lives in Whitehorse
Cucalorus, and this year’s ALFF.
SV – What do you love about films?
There is so much to love! The ability to be transported to another place or time strengthens our ability to empathize with others, which is something that is especially important now. My favourite types of films are genre/ horror films because of their ability to entertain, but with razor sharp social critics.
SV – What is special about ALFF as a festival in the North?
ALFF is the biggest film festival North of 60 and I absolutely love their programming. I think a lot of people erroneously think that you have to live in a metropolitan city to be exposed to culture or work in film, but festivals like ALFF gather the community here and showcase the amazing things the Yukon has to offer.
SV – Which films are you most excited about?
I saw some amazing films from emerging filmmakers this year, which is so exciting. I really love puppets, and The Human Under the Bed showcased an emerging filmmaker with amazing puppet character creation. It’s also one of the most charming films I saw. n
The Available Light Film Festival runs from February 7-16 in Whitehorse. Visit yukonfilmsociety. com/alff for the full festival program.
PHOTO: Provided by Paige Galette
Dara Moats is a Dawson City-based filmmaker
Paige Galette is a member of the ALFF Shorts Programming Team
PHOTO: Provided by Robert Joe
PHOTO: Provided by Dara Moats
SELL TICKETS?
Locally online with
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Fri Feb 14 Juniors-only tournament 5:00 AM Better Bodies
Tuesdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM
Jacob Zimmer and guests. Drop in, by donation. Sign Up Appreciated - Upstairs at the Guild Hall https://whatsupyukon. events/51584e
WH TSUP YUKON
All Northern. All Fun.
is your best resource for events across the Yukon!
Sat Feb 15 Sportsman’s Bonspiel Whitehorse Curling Club BBQ steak dinner, lots of prizes, mens teams - all skill levels welcome.
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days
Martial Arts
Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon
Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Ladies Lift 7:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Elderactive Pilates level 1 9:30
Sat Feb 15 2025 First Mate Babe Southwick Memorial Race 11:30 AM Yukon Dog Mushers Association Ibex dog track Annual historical race on the only sprint track in the Yukon! 2 days of racing followed by an award banquet. https://yukondogmushers.org/the-babesouthwick-memorial-race
Flow and Fly – Vinyasa Yoga 8:30
AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!
EVENTS PROMOTERS
What’s Up Yukon is now a local option to sell your tickets on-line!
Email us: events@whatsupyukon.com
Sun Feb 16 Muaythai Canada Student Seminar 10:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts A Student Seminar taught by the two highest ranking Muay Thai and MMA Coaches in Canada - Kru Alin Halmagean and Ajahn Suchart! Email muaythaiyukon@gmail.com to register! https://www.facebook.com/ MuaythaiYukon/
Sun Feb 16 DPSAY Ibex Excursion 2 race 11:00 AM Ibex Valley https://dpsay. org/race-schedule-2024-2025/
Wed Feb 19 Canadian Masters XC Championships 5:00 AM Whitehorse
Cross Country Ski Club
Thu Feb 20 Snowshoe Strolls
Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre A knowledgeable guide will be on-hand for each walk, sharing facts about local plants and wildlife. All ages are welcome. Snowshoes will be provided for free on a first served basis. For more info email parks@whitehorse.ca.
Mondays
Judo For Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days
Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM
Northern Strength Academy
Elderactive CGC Flexihall 9:00
AM Canada Games Centre Yukon
Elderactive has the Flexihall is Booked for you! Some activities get your heart pumping, while others get your mind engaged
Tai Chi Kung Form (Seniors) 10:00 AM Golden Age Society
Babynastics with Coach Libby 10:30
AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Noon Strength & Conditioning 12:00
PM Northern Strength Academy
Indoor Cycling 12:05 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days
Martial Arts 12:05 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days
Martial Arts KIDS MUAY THAI a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. Open to ages 8 - 12.
Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM
Northern Strength Academy
Ladies Kickboxing 6:00 PM Eight Days
Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Tai Chi Qigong / Meditation 7:00 PM
Jack Hulland Elementary School
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days
Martial Arts
AM Grace Space This dynamic and invigorating practice is designed to awaken your inner strength and leave you feeling revitalized and empowered.
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Specifically designed for the retired population, but open to anyone.
Yoga with Richard Mueller 10:00 AM Guild Hall Free for everyone some fitness required. https://www.elderactive.
ca/
Babynastics with Coach Libby 11:15
AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM
Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 1:00PM
Northern Strength Academy
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Indoor Cycling 5:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM
Northern Strength Academy
Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 2A 6:30 PM Jack Hulland Elementary School
Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini
Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a nonprofit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www.whitehorsearchery. com/schedule
Stretch & Stabilize - Functional Conditioning 7:00 PM Grace Space Purposeful movement with our Functional Conditioning non-yoga movement class. http://amitieyoga.ca
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Wednesdays
Muay Thai Kickboxing 6:00 AM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/ Midweek Morning Warm-ups 9:00
AM The Guild Hall Start your day with gentle, and energizing warm up. Led by
Tai Chi Essential Form continued 10:00 AM Heart of Riverdale
Elderactive Pilates level 2 10:40
AM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!. http://cuts2.com/jiacg
Noon Strength & Conditioning 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Elderactive Pilates level 1 12:00
PM Northern Lights School of Dance Energizing Level 2 Pilates tailored for seniors. Elevate wellness with gentle movement!
Ladies Kickboxing 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Move & Meditate - Slow Vinyasa Yoga 12:10 PM Grace Space Movement and mindfulness with our Moving MeditationSlow Vinyasa Yoga. http://amitieyoga.ca
Line Dancing - Beginners 1:00 PM Golden Age Society
Elderactive Intermediate Hiking 1:00
PM ElderActive Recreation Association
Leisure Walking is similar to Nordic walking but is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more relaxed pace
Line Dancing - Experienced 2:00 PM Golden Age Society
Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM
Northern Strength Academy Functional strength class teaches compound multi-joint lifts that improve athleticism, strength, coordination, power and more. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Introduction to Tai Chi 6:00 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 1 refinements 7:00 PM Grey Mountain Primary School
Tai Chi Traditional Form, Section 3 continued 7:15 PM Elijah Smith Elementary School.
Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Thursdays
Strength for Endurance 6:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique,
Lifting for Longevity 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels.
Lunchtime Fitness Classes 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy Tuesdays classes are more resistance and strength focused and Thursday classes more HIIT cardio. Drop in & passes are available. bit.ly/3oiTBVz
Strength for Endurance 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy Join our supportive running community and hone your technique, speed and pace with the Yukon’s top endurance coach. Inclusive for all levels
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM
Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 1:00 PM Northern Strength Academy
Babynastics with Coach Naomi 3:30
PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club A stimulating environment tailored to your child’s developmental needs. www. polarettes.org/babynastics
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Ladies Lift 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Whitehorse Archery 6:30 PM Takhini
Elementary Whitehorse Archery is a nonprofit club for the recreational shooter, hunters, and those who just want to work on their skills. www.whitehorsearchery. com/schedule
Tai Chi Essential Form continued 6:30
PM Hidden Valley School
Tai Chi Yang Hand Forms refinements 7:45 PM Hidden Valley School
Fridays
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 AM Eight Days
Martial Arts
Indoor Cycling 6:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Morning Strength & Conditioning 7:30 AM Northern Strength Academy northernstrength.ca/
Strength & Conditioning 12:00 PM Northern Strength Academy
Thursdays Noon Hatha Yoga
12:00 PM Grace Space Energizing blend of Hatha and Kundalini with Pranayama (breathwork), Friendly and Community oriented space! http://www. gracespaceyukon.com
Muay Thai Kickboxing 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Strength & Conditioning 5:30 PM Northern Strength Academy
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - teen classes 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Muay Thai Kickboxing 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing full body workout.
Saturdays
Flow & Fly – Vinyasa Yoga 8:30 AM
Grace Space A dynamic and invigorating practice to awaken your inner strength. http://amitieyoga.ca
Ladies Lift 9:00 AM Northern Strength Academy opportunities for women to find community, learn to lift, improve performance, and build strength.
Strength & Conditioning 10:00 AM Northern Strength Academy
Saturday Morning Strength and Conditioning 10:15 AM Northern Strength Academy Full-body movements to improve functional strength. Suitable for all levels and aligns with NSA’s strength programming. northernstrength. ca/
No-Gi Jiu Jitsu - drilling 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Open Mat 12:05 PM Eight Days Martial Arts
Sundays
Circus Sundays 10:00 AM Avalanche
Athletics We will have equipment for people to try out, including stilts, juggling stuff, aerial silks, aerial hoop, static trapeze, spinny things, balance things…
NSA Spin Classes 10:00 AM Northern
Strength Academy NSA offers Indoor Cycling classes with certified instructors
Adrienne Marsh and Maria Wise.
Improve your conditioning and strength on the bike! northernstrength.ca/ Free drop-in Tai Chi practice 10:00 AM
Takhini Elementary
Tai Chi Sword Form 10:30 AM Whistle Bend Elementary School
WELLNESS LISTINGS
Wed Feb 19 Lunch & Learn -
Continuous Glucose Monitors & Insulin Pumps 12:00 PM Chronic Conditions Support Program (CCSP)
Explore how CGMs and insulin pumps work, outline current available options for use, and provide an opportunity to see a CGM. For more info call 667-8733
Thu Feb 27 Living with Loss - free workshop 6:00 PM Online Free online workshop to help you support yourself and others in times of grief. Learn about the nature of grief https://hospiceyukon. net/en/2022/04/05/livingwithloss/
Elder and Counselor available
Emotional and Spiritual support, free to Indigenous women, girls, 2 spirited in Yukon, Northern BC: Phone, video appointments or in person. Call Toll Free 866 667 6162 or visit www.yawc.ca for info.
Monthly
1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month The Prenatal Lunch Network 12:00 PM NVD Place (Old Canadian Tire Building) A free prenatal lunch network. Each week will feature a different activity. Call 332-5054 or 332-6476 for more info.
1st Wednesday QYS 2SLGBTQIA+ Parent & Guardian Peer Support Nights 6:00 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache We want to provide a space where parents and guardians of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth can find connection and support from their peers.
2nd Wednesday Blood Collection and Lab Work 9:00 AM Queer Yukon Society The Cache Blood Work and Lab Collection Clinic! We will provide regular clinics for blood collection & lab requisitions
1st Thursday of every month Men’s Gathering 5:00 PM A safe place for men to connect with each other and learn traditional teachings. For more info contact Rob at 332-5708 or Rob. McLean@kdfn.net
Every other Tuesday Sharing Circle 12:00 PM Old Justice Building KDFN Every other Tuesday for recovery focused sharing circles. Connect, share challenges and gains, and access support and wisdom. Snacks and refreshments served. whatsupyukon. events/4en
Last Monday Blood Collection and Lab
Work 9:00 AM Queer Yukon Society The Cache Blood Work and Lab Collection Clinic! We will provide regular clinics for blood collection & lab requisitions
Last Sunday Spoonie Support Circle 2:30 PM Queer Yukon Society The Cache A low-key community hangs, engaging in peer support in facilitated conversations on topics brought forth by participants, and meet other spoonies! For details and to register islairhysrathlin@gmail.com
Mondays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM Yukon
Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
AA Life Ahead (O, A) 7:00 PM 509 Hanson St. Held in person or by zoom –ID 251-363-5766, call 778-907-2701 for more info.
AA New Beginnings Group (O, A) 8:00
PM Christ Church Cathedral (Hellaby Hall)
AA New Beginnings Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral
Tuesdays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM Yukon
Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 6:00
PM 100 25 Firth Rd Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Join us!
Every Wednesday morning. Call or text 867-334-1725 for more details
ARKA Brotherhood Men’s Circle: Porcupine Squad 6:30 PM Whitehorse
A confidential, structured space that empowers men to transform themselves into self-aware, self-disciplined, empowered and trustworthy leaders. Email mjvernon@gmail.com for more info. http://www.arkabrotherhood.com
AA UglyDuckling Group (C/M, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral New members always welcome, this is a non smoking group.
Ugly Ducklings Group (O,A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Held in person or by zoom – ID 251-363-5766, call 778907-2701 for more info.
Wednesdays
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly)
8:00 AM Closeleigh Manor Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Call or text 867-3341725 for more details
Community Kitchen 11:30 AM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin House
Al-Anon 12:00 PM Sport Yukon
Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00
PM Inclusion Yukon
AA No Puffin Big Book Study (C, A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral (Hellaby Hall)
Porter Creek Step Meeting (C) 8:00
PM Our Lady of Victory
Thursdays
Sally and Sisters 11:00 AM Yukon
Aboriginal Women’s Council A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin
House
Polar Group (O, A) 7:30 PM 311 Elliott St. & 4th Ave. Held in person or on zoom, Zoom ID 251-363-5766, call 778907-2701 for more info.
Fridays
AA “Joy of Living Group” (O) 12:00
PM 305 Wood St. Captain Martin
House
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:30 PM Online Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 call 778-907-2971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! DropIn. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower.
Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria
Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00
PM Yukon Employees Union
Al-Anon 7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran
Church Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.
AA Whitehorse Group (C, A) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral
Saturdays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A) 1:00 PM 609
Steele St.1:00 PM
AA Yukon Unity Group (O) 1:00 PM Online Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 call 778-907-2971 for more info.
VFWC – Drop-In 1:30 PM Victoria
Faulkner Women’s Centre FREE! DropIn. A safe welcoming space. Drop-in includes laundry and shower.
Community Kitchen 5:00 PM Victoria
Faulkner Women’s Centre Hot nutritious meals to-go, a free, low-barrier, program for women identifying individuals and children. Call 667-2693 for more info.
AA Hospital Meeting 7:00 PM #5 Hospital Rd. Room 1212
Sundays
AA Detox Meeting (O, A)1:00 PM 609
Steele St.
AA Yukon Unity Group 1:00 PM Online
By zoom – Zoom ID 482-518-9588 PC 334796 For more info call 778-907-2971
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 7:00
PM Inclusion Yukon
AAHospital Meeting (O, A) 7:00 PM #5
Hospital Rd. Room 1212
ATLIN
Fri Feb 21 - Sat Feb 22 Atlin Ladies Bonspiel 5:00 AM Atlin
Sat Mar 1 Atlin Frosty Frolic 5:00 AM Atlin
Sat Mar 1 DPSAY Frosty Frolics (Atlin Rendezvous) Race Atlin https://dpsay. org/race-schedule-2024-2025/
Sundays
St. Martins Anglican Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM St. Martins Anglican Church 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome.
Atlin Christian Assembly 11:00 AM St. Atlin Christian Centre 10:00 AM Everyone is welcome.
Mondays Caregiver & Tot Drop-in 10:00 AM
Atlin Recreation Centre This is an unstructured hour for You and your Littles to get social and run wild. This IS NOT a drop off, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Call or email 993-4102 atlinarc.coordinator@gmail. com for more info.
Yukon Communities:
Wednesdays AA Yukon Unity (OM) 3:00
PM Online Yukon Health Centers, Live Video Meeting Beaver Creek, Carcross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Destruction Bay, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Old Crow, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake. Online users’ sign in info: yukonbcdistrict52@gmail.com
CARCROSS
Second Sunday of Every Month St. Saviour’s Church Services 2:00 pm St. Saviour Church 867-668-3129
First Friday of the month Mother Goose Group 11:00 AM Haa Shagóon Hídi (Our Ancestors House) Carcross/Tagish
Learning Centre Learn stories, songs, and rhymes, lunch provided. Suitable for babies and children 5 and under. Please bring along a water bottle and blanket to sit on. To register, call 332-2389. https:// whatsupyukon.events/jwf
Wednesdays Yoga with Richard Mueller 12:00 PM Carcross Firehall Free for everyone some fitness required.
Thursdays Yoga with Jess Ghùch Tlâ Community School Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. Dropin, Free admission! For more info email yogajessyukon@gmail.com.
CARMACKS
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:
• Sunshine Restaurant
• Carmacks Rec Centre
• CDC / CIBC Bank
• Tatchun Center General Store
First & Third Tuesdays of Every Month
Carmacks Regular Council Meeting 7:00 PM Carmacks Municipal Building
Mondays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Learn To Curl (All Ages) 4:00 PM Carmacks Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Floor Hockey 5:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Bakers & Makers 6:00 PM Carmacks
School
Drop In Curling 6:00 PM Carmacks School 14+ Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Tuesdays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
Open Court 1:00 PM Carmacks Rec
Centre
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec
Centre
Adult Social 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Carmacks Minor Hockey
Association 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Drop-in Basketball 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Public Skate 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Volleyball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Wednesdays
Family Play Group (Ages 0-5) 10:00
AM Carmacks Rec Centre
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Public Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Archery 6:00 PM Carmacks School
Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Thursdays
Carmacks Library 1:00 PM
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Carmacks Minor Hockey
Association 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
FARO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up
Yukon at:
• Discovery Store
• Van Gorda
First and Third Tuesday of every month
Faro Council Meeting 7:00 PM Town of Faro
Tuesdays
Parent & Tot 10:00 AM Faro Recreation Centre
Open Gym 1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Adult Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Wednesdays
Seniors Games & Walks 1:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre. The gym is open for seniors who would like to improve their fitness goals.
Fitness Fun for Seniors 2:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
Pickleball 2:30 PM Faro Recreation
Centre
Volleyball 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Basketball 7:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Thursdays
Parent & Tot 10:00 AM Faro Recreation
Centre
Open Gym 1:00 PM Faro Recreation
Centre
Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Youth Group 7:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Fridays
Pickleball 1:00 PM Faro Recreation
Centre
Seniors Yoga 2:00 PM Faro Recreation
Centre
Open Gym 2:30 PM Faro Recreation
Centre Chair Yoga & Deep Relaxation for Seniors
Basketball 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Saturdays
Pickleball 2:30 PM Faro Recreation
Centre
Open Court Basketball 3:00 PM Faro
BGC Game Night 3:30 PM St. Elias
Community School Play, have fun, build skills and challenge your friends
Wednesdays
Seniors and Elders Refreshments and Games 2:00 PM Haines Junction Seniors Residence
AA: “Yukon Unity Group” (O) 3:00
PM Haines Junction Health Centre
Girls Club 3:20 PM St. Elias Community School Held in the art room, open to Girls and identifying as Girls from Grade 8 to 12.
BGC Rec in the Gym 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School
Art Journaling Group 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Bring your own creative supplies that you like to use. This can be scraps of paper, magazines, glue, paint, pen, markers, stamps, ink etc. and a book or journal to create
Thursdays
Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/ caregivers.
Seniors Activities 2:00 PM St. Elias Community Centre Floor curling, carpet bowling and indoor walking group. Haines Junction Thrift Shop 2:00
PM St. St. Christopher’s Thrift Shop is a great place to pick up items. Prices are low and numerous adult items are available for $2, and most items for children are $1.
Adult Volleyball 7:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Fridays
Stories and STEM Activities 10:00 AM Haines Junction Library
AA: “Yukon Unity Group”
Clayton’s CAR CARE Tips
BATTERY
Batteries store energy that is needed to start your vehicle, there are a few things to remember about batteries.
Regular maintenance #1 is making sure the battery is secured properly so it doesn’t vibrate, keeping connections clean and tight at the terminal, with loose connections you may run into problems like vehicles won’t start, alternator not charging properly and could cause battery and alternator failure.
Making sure your battery is ready for the colder weather we see in the Yukon like adding a battery pad or battery blanket to keep it warm when the vehicle is not in use; by keeping the battery warm in colder weather you will get the most power out of the battery on start up.
Here is a side tip: if you don’t drive your vehicle on a regular basis and are experiencing battery problems, you could ask you local mechanic to install a low amp battery maintainer; this will keep your battery fully charged even when the vehicle is parked for a long time.
Pickleball 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Badminton 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Public Skate 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Basketball 7:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Fridays
After School Club 3:30 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Public Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks Rec
Cent
Adult Skate 4:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Open Court 5:00 PM Carmacks Rec
Centre
Teen Night 6:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Volleyball 6:30 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Adult Skate (19+) 7:00 PM Carmacks
Rec Cent
Ping Pong + Foosball Night
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Saturdays Learn To Skate Ages 5-12 10:00 AM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Learn To Skate Ages 13-18 11:00 AM
Carmacks Recreation Centre
Tiny Toes Tea Time 1:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Open Court 3:00 PM Carmacks Rec Centre
Family Skate 5:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Shinny Night 14+ 7:00 PM Carmacks
Recreation Centre
Recreation Centre
Open Gym 4:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre
Sundays
Open Court Basketball 3:00 PM Faro
Recreation Centre
HAINES JUNCTION
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:
• Little Green Apple
Fri Mar 7- Sat Mar 8 Glacier Nights
Snow Festival 5:00 AM St. Elias Convention Centre Glacier Nights Snow Festival, a community-focused snow sculpting event in Haines Junction, YT. A family-friendly event.
Second and fourth Wednesday of every month Village Council meetings 7:00
PM St. Elias Convention Centre Village Council meetings are also held the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. [Remote attendance only]
Mondays
Fun with Food 3:30 PM St. Elias Community School Learn new skills, share recipes and take food home! Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM St. Elias Community School Meet in the school gym
Tuesdays
Romp & Run 11:30 AM Bill Brewster Arena Drop in. Programming is for kids 4 and under and their parents/caregivers.
Tea & Bannock – Haines Junction 1:00
PM https://whatsupyukon.events/teabannock-68ab07
Men’s and women’s sewing group 1:00
PM Mun kų
MARSH LAKE
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at:
• Dawson City General Store
Fri Feb 14 U11 Hockey Yukon Championships Dawson City, YT
Sat Feb 15 Khari Wendell McClelland
7:30 PM KIAC Dënäkär Zho DCMF’s 10th Songwriter-in-Residence (2015): A contemporary soul concert, co-presented by KIAC + DCMF
Thu Feb 20 – Sun Feb 23 Dawson City International Curling Bonspiel A Northern mixed tournament from near and far to Dawson City to enjoy great prizes, a prime rib dinner, and our incredibly warm and welcoming northern hospitality.
Fri Feb 21 Opera Residency
Presentation: Karim Al-Zand’s The Book of Tales & Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle 7:00 PM KIAC Dënäkär Zho Ballroom An extraordinary evening of music, and a pre-show reception, that blends innovative new work with a new spin on an opera classic.
MONTHLY
1st Saturday of every month Coffee House & Open Mic Night Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) 7:00
PM family-friendly open mic night at KIAC. Admission by donation with all funds raised donated to a different community group each month. Last coffee house of the season May 4 to resume in the fall of 2024.
Weekly
Mondays
Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in 6:30-9
PM Self-guided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, though little instruction is provided. KIAC Classroom, back door
Drop-In Pickleball 5:30 PM Robert Service School
Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:45 PM
DAWSON CITY 9 9 n
Robert Service School Ages 16+ - FreeCall 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
Sundays
Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 11:00 AM MAYO
Pick up your copies of What’s Up Yukon at: Haldane Services
Sat Feb 15 Yukon North Stars Hockey 9:00 AM Mayo Recreation Centre Power skating skills, puck skills, small area games for all ages. Email youth.coord@ nndfn.com for more info.
MOUNT LORNE
Sat Feb 15 Conifer Portraits: A
Botanical Exploration 1:00 PM Herbal Hearth An immersive afternoon to study 4 conifers of the Yukon. For more info about the workshop, email harvester@ nomadicharvests.com. https:// nomadicharvests.com/product/coniferportraits/
Feb 29 - Mar 2 Whitehorse Oldtimers’ Hockey Tournament Mount Lorne Community Centre Teams guaranteed 3 games, catered BBQ supper Saturday night, beer gardens and concession. Call 689-6232 for more info.
1st Tuesday Monthly LAC Meeting Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Mondays
Run Club 6:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre
Yoga with Jess 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Beginners welcome, all equipment provided. To register or for more info email yogajessyukon@gmail. com.
Drop-In Yoga 7:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre By donation all levels welcome
Tuesdays
St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning
Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican
Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening
Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican
Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
Hand-Building Pottery Drop-In 6:30
PM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Self-guided group studio time for those with some experience with pottery. Newcomers are welcome, little instruction is provided.
Wednesdays
St Paul’s Anglican Church Morning
Prayer 9:00 AM St Paul’s Anglican
Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening
Prayer 5:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican
Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live)
Welcome Wednesday Supper and Games 6:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church
QYS Drop-in 1:00 PM DCMF Office
Screen Printing Drop-in 6:00 PM
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC
Classroom (enter via backdoor) Selfguided group studio time for those who have some knowledge and experience with screen printing.
DCMF Film Selections 7:00 PM
Dënäkär Zho The best committee ever!
Just watch movies! Help us select the films for the 2025 film festival. Come once, twice, or all the time! To get on our mailing list, email: filmfest@kiac.ca
CFYT Trivia Night The Drunken Goat Fun filled night of Trivia. Every other Wednesday. A variety of trivia categories! Come with your team or join a team when you arrive!
Tuesdays
Active Fun Fitness Class - Drop In 6:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre
Improve your balance, flexibility, strength and endurance in this indoor class led by Colleen Ennis. Drop in, admission by donation. Suitable for mature youth & adults. https://whatsupyukon.events/fhm
Thursdays
Community Drop In 11:00 AM Mount Lorne Community Centre
Run Club 6:00 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre
OLD CROW
Mondays
Men’s Night At The Rec Centre 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Tuesdays
Kids Gym 3:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Wednesdays
Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal
Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 966-3015 for more info.
Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre
Sundays
St. Luke’s Church Service 11:00 AM St. Luke’s Church 867-993-5381
Thursdays
CDC Toddler Program 10:00 AM
Klondike Institute of Arts & Culture KIAC Free drop-In for kids 5 & under with parent/guardian Story time & free play!
Drop-in Volleyball 7:30 PM Robert Service School Ages 13+ - Free
Fridays
Cards & Conversation 1:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. whatsupyukon.events/dawson-legion8336c3
Open Studio Drop-in 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) Enjoy KIAC’s bright, air-conditioned space to create and focus on your artistic practice. Even better- we’ve waived the drop-in fee this day.
Drop-in Bouldering 6:00 PM Robert Service School Free - drop-in - all ages
Saturdays
Youth Parkour Tumbling 12:30 PM Robert Service School All Ages - Free –Drop-In. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Open Studio – Drop In 1:00 PM Klondike Institute of Art & Culture KIAC Classroom (enter via backdoor) Space to create and focus on your artistic practice.
AA North Star Group Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-993-5095 or 867-9933734 for more information
Sundays
Anglican Church Service 10:30
Anglican Church Service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City. Corner of Front and Church Streets at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Dawson City
Adult Drop-In Basketball 6:00 PM
Robert Service School Ages 16+ - FreeCall 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.
ROSS RIVER
Tuesdays
Sewing Night 7:00 PM The Hope Centre
Wednesdays
Family Bible Study 8:00 PM The Hope Centre
Fridays
Family Game Night- Coffee House 9:00 PM The Hope Centre
Sundays
Church Service 12:00 PM The Hope Centre
SKAGWAY Alaska
Wednesdays
Women’s Morning Worship 7:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway All are welcome. Part of the Alaska Presbytery and the PC U.S.A.
Windy Valley Babies 10:30 AM Skagway Public Library Stories, Songs, and Fun with Ms. Anna! Designed for ages 0-3.
Fridays
Skagway Teen Night 6:30 PM Skagway Public Library
Sundays
Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First
Presbyterian Church of Skagway\
Sunday School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway
TAGISH
First Monday of every month Carcross Tagish Renewable Resources Council 1:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
First Monday of every month Tagish
Advisory Council 8:00 AM Tagish
Community Centre
First Tuesday of every month Tagish
Community Association 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Second Thursday of every month Tagish Local Advisory Council 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Wednesdays
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 2:00 PM Tagish Community LIbrary Targeted literacy programming by Yukon Learn at the Tagish Library. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon.
Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM Tagish Community Centre
Thursdays
Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish
Community Centre
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
Tagish Local Advisory Council
Meeting 7:00 PM Tagish Community Centre .
Saturdays
Tagish Library 12:00 PM Tagish
Community LIbrary Tagish Library is an active and bright addition to our community. What’s Up Yukon, discover what’s happening around the Yukon
TESLIN
Mondays
Teslin Tigers Cross Country Ski Club
3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre
AA: Teslin Group (O) 7:00 PM Catholic Church Rectory
Co-Ed Curling League 6:30 & 8:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Wednesdays
Pickleball 12:00 PM & 7:00 PM Teslin
Lake Recreation Complex
Youth Pickleball 3:15 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Thursdays
Dominos 1:00 PM Teslin Recreation Centre Drop in seniors
Fridays
Open Arena 7:00 PM Teslin Lake
Recreation Complex
Saturdays
Parent & Tots 2:00 PM Teslin Lake Recreation Complex
Tue Feb 18 Kaska Language Gathering 9:00 AM Watson Lake 3 days of Kaska language and cultural learning activities, discussions, and sharing stories. Let’s honour and celebrate our speakers, teachers, learners, and community knowledge holders.
Thu Feb 20 & Fri Feb 21 43rd Annual Watson Lake Outdoor Bonspiel Watson Lake Another epic Bonspiel event! Get out your walkers and canes because this year’s theme is: Still Alive in 2025 - Brought to you by the Geriatric Curling Club
Daily Northern Lights Space & Science Centre Shows 11:00 AM The spectacular dancing Northern Lights are showcased, a video that is broadcast in the NLC’s domed 100-seat theatre daily throughout the summer season. Plays daily on the hour starting at 11:00
whatsupyukon.events/entry
IDIOMATIC ORIGINS
Josephine Holmes is a freelance writer and former copy editor of What’s Up Yukon. She is a prairie girl at heart, but loves the Yukon and has been a sourdough since 1994. The other thing she loves, apart from spending time with family, is being called “Grammy”.
WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS
The author enjoying the calm before the storm in Saskatchewan, 2017
Lightning never strikes twice
What are the chances of being struck by lightning? And who has lain awake thinking of the possibility of being struck by lightning?
(Am I the only one who put up their hand?)
Yes, I have lain awake wondering, and the saying “Lightning never strikes twice” was cold comfort to a 12-year-old on a southern-Saskatchewan farm just eight miles south of Bengough and
20 minutes north of the Big Muddy Valley.
My friends, at the time, had no inkling of the struggle I endured. It was paradoxical: I was in awe of how an electrical storm could light the prairie sky, and I was fascinated by what I considered to be God’s greatest performance as I dared to watch the show through the picture window of our home on Poverty Valley (the name my mother had affectionately bestowed on our homestead).
I would lie in bed, waiting for the opening act, that first flash of light, after which I would slip into the living room to watch the show
and to listen for the thunderous “applause” that followed. Sheet lightning was my favourite, as it lit the sky and revealed everything the darkness tried to hide.
Fork lightning, on the other hand, would streak from the clouds to the earth and I soon learned the Flash to Bang method for determining how many miles away it was. Think one-one thousand, two-one thousand … until a thunderclap would stop the count and the seconds would be divided by five and I would know if it was safe to resume watching. If a flash was followed quickly by a thunderclap, in five seconds or less (which meant a mile away), it was time to move away from the window.
I was at once fascinated and unsettled by the sheer power of those storms, and I began to anticipate them following hours of relentless summer heat. Dead heat that sent you in search of shade by day or that kept you flinging aside a crisp cotton sheet at night as you waited for some slight movement of air through a bedroom window; and for the rustling as a breeze began to dance with the leaves until it was cool enough, once more, to tuck the sheet beneath your chin, which felt safer somehow.
I held onto the promise that lightning would never strike twice but I wondered, Wouldn’t once be enough? And it was all well and good until the day I was reminded that even when lightning flashed, the show (the real show … life and chores) must go on. You see, I was the leading lady of a series that featured 25 or so laying hens who needed my attention, lightning or no lightning.
Then, one night, during a particularly loud electrical storm, fear took aim and hit its mark. Beads of perspiration formed on my neck as I clung onto my cotton sheet, for protection, and
lay motionless at the edge of my mattress, thinking I could just roll off the bed if I felt even a tingle of electricity (you see, I had read somewhere that you would know if you were going to be hit by lightning if the hair on your arms began to tingle).
Uncertainty took the place of safety and relief came when the wind and the sky settled, once again, into stillness and darkness. Then I would wait for that sound … the first tap, tap, tap on the window and the eaves. The blessed sound of rain. How I loved it and loved the freshness of the air afterwards.
I once met a man who had been struck by lightning and consequently was endowed with an impressive left hook (not the MMA kind). It shone and I was filled with childish wonder as I contemplated that hook’s capabilities and complexities.
Turns out, though, according to one U.S. government site, that there is less than a one-in-amillion chance of being struck by lightning once, never mind twice, and that there is a 90 per cent survival rate (well, you may end up with a hook or some other form of accommodation).
Wouldn’t it, I muse, even now, as I think about being struck by
lightning, be the equivalent of being struck by a meteorite? Surely as devastating. This thought was prompted by a July-2024 news story about a meteorite that struck close to the doorway of a P.E.I. home and was captured by a security camera. After watching the footage, I decided that a lightning strike may be less devastating.
I am no longer afraid of watching lightning, from a safe location and at a safe distance, and it’s one of the things I look forward to when visiting Saskatchewan. Storms still awaken a sense of wonder; and now, oddly enough, a sense of comfort.
“Lightning never strikes twice” is one of those idioms that is intended to offer comfort, so I’ll close with this wish for you, that you take good care of yourself in the storms of life: If you find yourself in the middle of a storm, remember to breathe deeply, to do whatever is helpful and to take care of yourself in it or take cover from it.
One-one thousand, two-one thousand … n
Waiting for the storm to pass, at Shipyards Park
PHOTOS: Josephine Holmes
column with Josephine Holmes
ONE LAST BLOOD ORANGE AND CRANBERRY FLING
How do you feel about purple food? Can you stand one more blood orange recipe?
One of my favourite desserts is lemon curd. Smooth, creamy, tangy, and sweet, it hits all the right notes for a comforting yet still exciting dessert. Kids love it, and the elderly too.
With the abundance of blood oranges still happening in the supermarket, and the plenitude of low bush cranberries still hanging out in the freezer, I thought I’d turn my favourite winter fruits into one of my favourite desserts.
Voilà: Blood orange and cranberry curd. Served on its own or spooned into baked pastry shells and topped with whipped cream, it provides another bright moment in the brightening days of February.
BLOOD ORANGE AND CRANBERRY CURD
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp finely grated blood orange zest
• 1/2 cup blood orange juice (about 2 1/2 oranges)
• 6 Tbsp butter cut into 6 pieces
• 1/2 cup frozen low bush cranberries
1. In a small pot, beat eggs thoroughly until a uniform lemon yellow in colour.
2. Beat in sugar, zest, and blood orange juice.
3. Place pot over medium heat and stir constantly until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Add the butter in, piece by piece, stirring the whole time, removing the pot from the heat if the mixture starts to curdle and whisking vigorously before returning it to the heat.
5. When all the butter has been incorporated and the mixture is thick, remove it from the heat and whisk vigorously several times to cool it down. Add frozen cranberries.
6. Transfer to a bowl and cover with a piece of parchment or plastic on the surface of the curd. Cool at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, then refrigerate for two hours before serving.
7. Serve in individual ramekins with shortbreads on the side for dipping, or make tarts. (Recipe follows)
•
•
•
half and form each half into a disc.
5. Wrap each disc in plastic or parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling out for pie or tarts.
Makes 2 pie crusts.
Tarts
• 1 disc pastry
• 3/4 to 1 cup blood orange cranberry curd
• Whipped cream for serving (optional)
• Orange zest and cranberry for garnish (optional)
1. Roll out dough and cut into circles about 1-inch larger in diameter than a muffin cup.
2. Press each circle into a muffin cup, making 12 in all. Prick base of each pastry shell with a fork. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
BLOOD ORANGE AND CRANBERRY CURD TARTS
Pastry
You will never need another pastry recipe. This is my new goto for pies and tarts of all kinds, sweet or savoury. I found it when I was searching for a tarte Tatin recipe. It’s flaky, crisp, and buttery-rich. Note that the dough can be crumbly at first; just persevere with the rolling pin and it will all come together. With many thanks to Chef John (John Mitzewich), a regular contributor to the All Recipes website.
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 7 Tbsp ice water
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1. Combine flour, butter, and salt in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand with many pea-sized pieces of butter.
2. Combine water and vinegar. Pour half into the flour and butter mixture and pulse to combine, 3 or 4 pulses of 1-second each.
3. Add remaining water and vinegar, and pulse 8-10 times, until the mixtures begins to come together.
4. Turn dough out onto a counter or a large piece of parchment paper dusted with flour and form into one large disc, pressing it into shape with your hands. Cut disc in
3. Preheat oven to 375F, with a rack on the bottom and in the middle.
4. Place muffin tin on the bottom shelf of the preheated oven. Bake for 10 minutes.
5. Check bottoms of pastry shells – if they’ve puffed up, prick again with a fork.
6. Place tin on the middle rack and bake for another 15 minutes, until golden brown.
7. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove pastry shells from the tin and cool to room temperature before filling.
8. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons of filling into each pastry shell. Chill for 30 minutes.
9. Garnish with whipped cream, zest, and cranberry, and serve.
Makes 12 tarts. n
column with Michele Genest
Michele Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She is also somewhat of a gardener. Michele has also written two books: The Boreal Feast: A Culinary Journey Through The North and The Boreal Gourmet: Adventures In Northern Cooking.
Blood orange cranberry tarts
PHOTO: Michele Genest
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