S.S. Keno 100th Birthday

Parks Canada Internet Content and New Media Officera

This feature is part of an ongoing series by Parks Canada of stories about the places and people in the Yukon.

S.S. KENO TURNS 100

Dawson celebrates its close ties to the Yukon River

On Saturday, August 27, the waterfront in Dawson City at the S.S. Keno National Historic Site was flooded with people. At 1 p.m., after over two years of silence, the big and very loud steam whistle let off its familiar and iconic cry and beckoned townsfolk and visitors, alike, to the river’s edge where the S.S. Keno has been drydocked since 1960. This August marked the 100th anniversary of the littlest paddlewheeler in the British Yukon Navigation Company fleet. Over 300 people visited the site during the celebration event. There was music, kids’ activities, tributes to the boat and a memory board where folks could share their own favourite stories about the Keno. Parks Canada interpreters were on hand to answer questions, as visitors meandered through the freight and passenger decks of the 100-year-old paddlewheeler.

Constructed in 1922, the S.S. Keno was a purpose-built vessel—made primarily to navigate the shallow waters, along the Stewart River, while hauling the silver, lead and zinc ore that was coming out of the Mayo district. The boat also made the Dawson to Whitehorse return trip often in its 30 years of service and was usually the first boat into Dawson in the spring—a cause for celebration for the locals who had braved the long, cold winter in the Klondike.

When it was decided that the S.S. Keno would live out its days as a national historic site in Dawson City, preparations were made for one last journey to the Klondike. In the years since the boat had been retired, a new bridge had been erected at Carmacks, as part of the North Klondike Highway construction. Even though the S.S. Keno was the smallest of the big paddlewheelers, there was nowhere near enough clearance to pass under the new structure without some ingenuity and hard work. In preparation for the trip, the wheelhouse (situated at the very top of the boat) was removed to a lower deck, and the smoke stack was hinged to allow it to drop while passing underneath. In August of 1960, piloted by expert river master Frank Slim, the Keno made it under the bridge, with little space to spare, and continued to its final resting place in Dawson.

Parks Canada has been working, since then, to restore and maintain the S.S. Keno. Interpretive programs are offered on-board during the summer, and the familiar steam whistle marks the day at noon and at 5 o’clock.

For the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin, and later on for the newcomers who came to Dawson City, life has always been intimately connected to the Yukon River. The S.S. Keno illustrates an example of technology that has changed and affected how the people in Dawson connect to the land.

It’s no wonder that so many gathered to mark the anniversary of the S.S. Keno. The feeling was festive at the site this weekend— reminiscent of the days when the whole community gathered on the waterfront, eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring’s first boat full of supplies and visitors.

It’s been said that you could smell oranges wafting down the river valley ahead of the first paddlewheeler. There were no oranges at the event on Saturday, but there were cupcakes and a lot of smiles. n

The S.S. Keno 100th Anniversary Event on Aug. 27, 2022, drew curious crowds to help celebrate

A historical photo of the S.S. Keno as it plied the waters of the Yukon River (R. Willis, Parks Canada Collection)

THE YUKON’S BEST MEMES

Each month, What’s Up Yukon will publish the best Meme as selected by TheYukonMemes Facebook Group. Your creative talent, your meme, could earn you BRAGGING RIGHTS!

Normal posting rules apply, Yukon-related themes required and your memes should be funny! The Yukon Memes will judge your submission based on likes and engagement. Share your meme with friends, the more likes you get, your posts will be pushed to the top!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

4th Annual VGCX Golf Tournament

On behalf of Victoria Gold, I extend our sincere appreciation to all the participants, sponsors, event organizers and volunteers who came together to help make the 4th Annual VGCX Golf Tournament on July 22 in Whitehorse a success.

Victoria Gold President & CEO John McConnell and Victoria Gold Yukon Student Encouragement Society President Tara Christie; hosts of the 4th Annual VGCX Golf Tournament.

Through their generous support and donations, over $51,000 was raised to benefi t the Victoria Gold

Student Encouragement Society’s Every Student, Every Day fund, to directly support projects which help increase student engagement and regular attendance in Yukon schools in the 2023-2024 academic year.

This year’s tournament was sold out with 87 players, the weather held and a great day was enjoyed by everyone who participated.

Since its establishment in 2012, Every Student, Every Day has raised over $1.5 million to directly fund over 180 increased attendance projects throughout the territory.

We greatly appreciate the commitment of Yukon individuals and businesses and are grateful for their generosity and support. Thank you!

Sincerely,

John McConnell President & CEO Victoria Gold Corp

PHOTOS: Crystal Schick

The Eagle Gold Mine is situated within Victoria Gold’s 100 per cent-owned Dublin Gulch Property located approximately 375 kilometres north of Whitehorse and 85 kilometres north, northeast of the Village of Mayo, within the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND). The company employs over 500 workers and contractors; half of which are Yukoners At Work and many are FNNND citizens. If you are a Yukoner with mining experience, Victoria Gold encourages you to become a Yukoner At Work. Visit the “Work For Us” page at vgcx.com/contact/work-for-us/ and send your resume to greatpeoplework@vgcx.com.