What's Up Yukon, March 22, 2023

PHOTO: Dan Halen

S Smoke

Smoke & Vape

They get agitated by birds, try to capture mice, are fascinated by dangling objects, sleep all day and enjoy feasting on a variety of dairybased products.

As humans, we see cats for the small loveable-yet-moody creatures that they are. But in a cat’s mind, I’m sure they see themselves as rulers of “the jungle” (your household). Because of this huge diva attitude, cats tend to do as they please, and training them to do a specific task may require a lot of patience. I suppose there are many tasks that you could train your cat to do, such as how to shake paws or play fetch with little foam balls, and how to wake you up every morning at the same time. Although, personally, I feel it’s almost impossible to train a cat to do anything—because they have a mind of their own and think they are better than you.

Cat superiority complex aside, there is one task that piqued my interest: training a cat to use a toilet. Some cat owners have posted videos of their felines actually using the toilet, so this means it can be done. But the question of “How?” remains. Before attempting this with my own cat, I decided it best to do

some research. The best suggestion is to start by placing a litter box in the bathroom so your cat gets used to going in there to do their business. After they get used to this, you can start to gradually raise the litter box to the height of the toilet. Then you need to get a training pan. These can be easily found on Amazon. The training pan is plastic and oval-shaped and fits under the toilet seat. There is a small hole in the middle. The sides of the pan, you fill with litter. This will help them with associat-

When it came to my cat, I entertained the thought of toilet training her but decided not to bother because she is 19 years old and a super-extra diva. I already know that toilet training her would lead nowhere good.

While the idea of toilet training your cat may sound cool and save you some extra money on litter costs, it might not be the best idea. A cat’s poop is a good way to determine their health and notice any problems. If your cat is always using the toilet, it may be harder to notice if something is not right. Travelling with your toilettrained kitty could be an issue too. They may be comfortable using your toilet at home, but it is unlikely they will want to use an “unknown” toilet. Lastly, using a litter box is in tune with a cat’s natural instinct. Cats like to bury things. If they don’t have anything to bury, that could cause confusion with some cats and stress them out.

ing the toilet as a place to go to the bathroom. After they successfully use it, reward the cat with a treat. After six to eight weeks of practice, you can remove the training pan and the cat should be able to use the toilet. If you are feeling extra ambitious, you could take it one step further and train your cat to flush the toilet.

It is probably best to observe and see how your cat gravitates towards toilet training. If your cat doesn’t like sharing a bathroom, it’s most likely because they see themselves being better than you, because you are the “lowly slave” who cleans up their poop. Why on earth should they make your job easier by pooping in a toilet?

Remember, in ancient Egypt, cats used to be worshipped—they never forgot that. n

Angela Szymczuk is a Whitehorse-based writer and espresso-infused, newsconsuming “machine” who loves the gym, boxing and spin classes while still finding time to enjoy a Macanudo cigar, a glass of Glenfiddich 18-year-old scotch and pondering how she might teach her cat to scuba dive.

Freelance with Angela Szymczuk

PHOTO: Angela Szymczuk

The life of a cat is a rather interesting one

POOPS GONE WILD

An etiquette and safety guide from Parks Canada on how to leave a deposit with no toilets around

We all know that wilderness in the Yukon is plentiful, and many Yukoners enjoy disappearing off the grid for a weekend or more at pretty much any time of the year and any weather conditions, and tourists flock up from areas far and wide to experience the outdoors the Yukon has to offer. But do we always plan where to leave our “leavings” when we’re spending days and nights on end, deep in the forest, away from any semblance of civilization?

Believe it or not, there are health, safety and even etiquette procedures you should be following, to ensure that you remain a happy camper and stick to the Leave No Trace and do-moregood-than-harm methods. What’s

Up Yukon (WUY) was able to obtain a guide from Parks Canada (PC) that we’re happy to share with you here. Read on to find out how to poop in the woods properly and to try and incorporate these tips into the planning and execution of your next wilderness getaway. We asked the questions and received the following answers.

WUY: What are the current Parks Canada guidelines for urination and defecation in parks when there are no toilets available?

PC: Parks Canada administers one of the finest and most-extensive systems of natural and cultural heritage places in the world. The area protected by Parks Canada is vast, and the remote locations and terrain in some national historic sites, national parks and national marine-conservation areas limits the availability of running water, electricity and wastewater-management options.

Adequate waste management is important in order to protect the environment and the ecological integrity of these sites. Parks Canada invests a great deal of resources on proper management of human waste in visitor-experience settings, both in road-accessible frontcountry places and in moreremote backcountry places reachable only by human-powered or non-motorized access.

As every location is unique, each Parks Canada site uses its own local expertise and authority to implement and maintain backcountry human-waste-management systems, taking into account individual site requirements such as the number of visitors and intensity of visitor use (length of stay, typical group sizes, etc.), how visitors move through the landscape, where they stop to camp, the topography, substrate, elevation and unique or sensitive habitats. Health and safety, cost, environmental, archaeo-

logical and technical aspects are also considered.

The digging and use of temporary latrines, by backcountry visitors, is not the recommended method for disposal as it increases both the likelihood that feces will be discovered by other visitors and that pathogens will come in contact with groundwater.

Generally, Parks Canada operational teams place privies (or other waterless toilet systems) at the most-suitable places that backcountry visitors stop, camp or congregate, reducing the need for visitors to have to “go” on the landscape in-between facilities. Facilities may also be deliberately sited in backcountry campsites and privies, to concentrate human use away from particularly sensitive habitats, drinking-water sources or

cultural resources.

To get the most out of their backcountry experience, visitors are encouraged to plan their trip in advance, check the website of the Parks Canada place they plan to visit, and stop at the visitor centre upon arrival.

WUY: What are the Do’s and Don’ts of using the bathroom in the backcountry?

PC: In managing national parks, Parks Canada maintains and restores ecological integrity while providing Canadians with opportunities to discover and enjoy the great outdoors. To ensure the best-possible experience, visitors are encouraged to plan their visit

cont’d on page 4 ...

CORRECTION:

Two paragraphs from the Heritage Conversations: Breathing New Life Into A 1950s Mystery story were missing from the printed edition of What’s Up Yukon for March 8, 2023.

Please see the following paragraphs below:

Currently, Skymaster 2469 CAN/AM is reaching out to pilots and putting together computer simulations of possible shortcuts the Skymaster crew may have considered. They will use this information to plan ground and aerial searches over the summer of 2023. In the meantime, they want to make sure people know that the plane is out there.

“Nothing is insignificant,” said Clayson. “Just keep an eye open, but don’t remove anything, and take note of what you saw. If you see something … anything … contact the Yukon government reporting line.”

member speaks to visitors in the Kluane National Park and Reserve Visitor Centre

Manus Hopkins is a Whitehorse- and Toronto-based journalist, musician and lover of heavy metal and cats.

Freelance with Manus Hopkins

ahead of time and ensure they have the proper essentials for spending time in the backcountry. Follow the Parks Canada list of recommended Do’s and Don’ts when going to the bathroom in the backcountry:

u Use an outhouse or privy as your first choice. In Kluane National Park and Reserve and [at the] Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, privies are located at established backcountry campsites. Plan ahead and be aware of privy locations when route planning.

u Find an appropriate spot, away from the trail or campsite and at least 70 metres (70 long steps) away from a water source, to conduct your business.

u Refrain from peeing in small bodies of water such as ponds or streams. However, in larger rivers or lakes, peeing in the water is not as much of a concern as the large water volume will dilute it

u Pack out what you bring in. Packing out solid waste and toilet paper is strongly encouraged. When possible, avoid using toilet paper and consider other alternatives such as a reusable cloth. Human waste can spread harmful bacteria to the surrounding vegetation, and toilet paper does not disintegrate well. WAG [Waste Aggregation and Gelling] bags are used for packing out solid waste and are essentially “doggy poop” bags for humans and are punctureproof and contain odour-killing powder.

u Given the remoteness of Yukon sites, if packing out is not an option, burying human waste downgradient from a water course is still an acceptable practice. Do this properly by digging a hole four- to six-inches wide and sixto eight-inches deep, preferably in a sunny site, to aid in decomposition. When finished, cover the hole with the original dirt and pack it down. If possible, also cover it with a stick or rock to discourage animals or humans from digging there.

u It is best to find soft ground, if you are squatting to pee, to avoid splashing. However, in areas such as the alpine, where vegetation can be more sensitive, you should pee on rock or gravel surfaces, as some animals are attracted to the salt in urine and will disturb fragile vegetation while digging to reach the salt. And instead of burying solid waste, use the smear technique: Find a smooth rock to conduct your business on, and then use another rock or stick to spread it out thinly. The sun will dry it out and kill any bacteria, and the wind will eventually blow the flakes away.

u If toilet paper cannot be packed out, you can also burn it (but only when fire ratings are low and the paper can be fully and safely extinguished). Follow all safe campfire practices and be aware of the current fire danger ratings, fire ban status and conditions of the local environment.

Now Welcoming New and Emergency Patients!

Our dentists and team of dental hygienists have been proudly serving the Whitehorse community for many years. Come in for your first consultation and you’ll leave with something to smile about.

You can expect friendly and welcoming care in an environment that relaxes even the most anxious patients. We all love what we do, and look forward to welcoming you and your family to our practice.

WUY: Why is knowledge like this important for visitors?

PC: As cornerstones of Canada’s tourism industry, Parks Canada administered places are committed to providing visitors with safe, meaningful and enjoyable experiences.

Human waste and toilet paper have an impact on the land, water and wildlife. Packing out waste minimizes negative effects to the environment and shows respect for these special places. Plan ahead and, if outhouses are not an option, be prepared to pack out all solid human waste and toilet paper. Parks Canada supports the Leave No Trace principles.

Visitors who have a strong understanding of the options and choices available to them are more likely to choose approaches that minimize harm to the land.

WUY: What are some ways to encourage talking openly about this subject?

PC: All bodies have biological processes and, when spending time in the backcountry, going to the bathroom is essential. Sharing helpful information on how to responsibly go to the bathroom in the woods promotes safety for all living beings in the national parks. This information is just as normal and necessary to learn, when planning a trip, as knowing what to pack and planning your route.

WUY: What are some misconceptions about backcountry waste management?

PC: One misconception is that toilet paper will dissolve or biodegrade. In many climates, it can linger for decades depending on the temperatures and humidity. Another misconception is that wildlife or soil will benefit from human waste or, at minimum, not be affected. Unfortunately, the heavily processed diets of humans and everything we ingest, from products to medications, make human feces an unhealthy contaminant in most ecosystems.

To learn more about Parks Canada and proper camping procedures, visit parks.canada.ca n

PHOTO: Parks Canada/Erin Jamieson

PROFILES:

Skills Canada Yukon promotes trades and technology careers as a top choice for Yukoners. If you are interested in learning more about the trades and technology sectors, or want to connect with our community, please call 867-332-7446 or send an email to yukoncommunications@skillscanada.com You can also find us on Facebook and on Instagram @skillscanadayukon.

Dan Scobie

Skills Yukon/Canada affiliation: National Technical Committee Skills Canada—Plumbing

Age: 65

Trade & Certifications: Journeyman Plumber, Gasfitter, Oil Burner Mechanic, Steamfitter, 4th Class

Building Engineer

Current workplace: Retired from Yukon University

How did you get involved in Skills Canada Yukon, and why?

Through the university trades, I was introduced to Skills and saw an opportunity to inspire youth to enter the trades.

How long have you been part of the National Technical Committee (NTC), and what prompted you to take the extra step to join?

I have been with the NTC for eight years. I was involved with the Territorial Skills Competitions for eleven years. It seemed only natural to join the NTC to help organize the National Skills Competitions.

What were the first steps you took in the trade?

I attended a pre-apprenticeship program, but I come from a long line of plumbers, including [my] grandfather, father, uncles and cousins. l guess I was born into the trade.

What motivates you to continue your trade, day to day?

The trade is so vast. With construction—residential, commercial and industrial—and building maintenance, you have the opportunity to perform many different tasks and to teach and inspire apprentices along the way.

How long did it take you to reach your level of certification?

I was a journeyman plumber and gasfitter, in four years, at the

age of twenty-two. As my level of experience increased, the other tickets followed.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who’s still in high school and wants to enter the trades, what would it be?

Stay in school and learn the English, math and science required for trades school.

What does a regular day on the job look like for you?

Every day is a different challenge, which keeps my mind and body healthy.

How has your trade made your life better?

Raising three beautiful daughters and being able to retire at sixty, so I can enjoy life the way I want.

What’s your favourite part of your job? Least favourite?

I love installing boilers and heating systems. My least favourite is that some people think you just deal with toilets all day.

Where did you take your training?

In Alberta, both SAIT and NAIT, and attended Oil Burner’s at Fort Smith, N.W.T.

What trade would you choose to do if you had to pick a new one, and why?

I would pick electrical, because it is a big part of the heating and controls systems I work with daily.

Do you have a favourite project you’ve worked on?

I knocked off two years of my apprenticeship on a thirty-storey high-rise apartment building where I was involved with the plumbing, heating and boilerroom piping installation.

Where do you see your career in five years?

Where I am now. On a beach in the Dominican Republic. And still involved with Skills Canada.

Is there something about your trade that you think not many people will know?

All the different aspects of the trade in which plumbers are involved. n

Dan Scobie is a journeyman plumber amongst other certifications

PHOTO: Courtesy of Erik Pinkerton Photography

Interview with Dan Scobie

column with Riley Olsen

SEASONAL RECIPES

ROASTED BEET AND CARROT SALAD With Pear and Hemp Heart Dressing

When I was asked to write a recipe for this issue of What’s Up Yukon, I decided to call in a real expert and asked local dietician and dreamboat Anna Ly (@fueled.by.Anna, www.fueledbyanna.com) for her advice on taking the world’s greatest poop. Topping fresh baby arugula with roasted beets and carrots, then drizzling them with a dressing made from a fibrefilled combination of pears and hemp hearts doubles down on nutritional value. Topping the salad, with nuts, adds some protein and crunch and makes this a “buttfriendly” salad that’s easy to take to work or serve alongside a piece of roasted meat or fish.

Serves 2.

Ingredients

❑ 2 carrots, cubed

❑ 2 beets, peeled and cubed

❑ 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp olive oil, divided

❑ 1 pear, chopped

❑ 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

❑ 1 Tbsp hemp hearts

❑ Salt and pepper, to taste

❑ Honey, to taste (optional)

❑ Baby arugula, to garnish

❑ 1 Tbsp chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Set oven at 425℉, toss beets and carrots in 1 tablespoon olive oil and season, to taste, with salt and pepper, then roast for 20 minutes or until soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

2. In a blender, combine remaining olive oil, chopped pear, apple cider vinegar and hemp hearts, and blend until smooth. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and honey, if desired.

3. Arrange arugula on a plate and top with roasted beets and carrots, drizzle with pear dressing and top with nuts.

Walnuts add crunch and protein

Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with Pear and Hemp Heart Dressing

column with Sydney Keddy

Sydney [Oland] Keddy is a

recipe developer who lives in Whitehorse. Her work can be found in The Boston Globe, Seriouseats.com as well as in other publications.

Roasted beets

Roasted carrots

Chopped pear

PHOTOS: Sydney Keddy

FIBRE, FIBRE, FIBRE

In January I

habit

We just didn’t feel like it anymore. We wanted hot food, soft in texture, comforting and easy to eat. Dinnertime conversations went like this:

“There are tomatoes and onions in the spaghetti sauce—we don’t need a salad, right?”

“Absolutely. No salad necessary.”

(And in the morning):

“Granola?”

“No thanks. Buttered toast. Marmalade.”

(Thus were two excellent sources of dietary fibre eliminated from our repertoires.)

But it’s March, now, and the light is coming back, and excitement for the spring sparkles in the air like snow diamonds. Good habits, such as eating fibre, are returning with the sun. Plus, there is a new local product on the shelves that speaks to my roommate’s Scottish heart and inspires me to experiment—Hinterland Flour Mill’s steel-cut oats.

Steel-cut oats are how the Scottish (and the Irish) eat porridge. In the dead of winter, my roommate occasionally cooked up a batch, using Bob’s Red Mill brand, and very good they were, too, fulfilling the winter requisites for warmth and comfort. However, there are so many more ways to use this lovely grain than simply cooked cereal—delicious ways that have the added benefit of bringing fibre back into our diets.

I started with bread. Typically, we make a couple of sourdough loaves, once every two weeks, blending 200 grams of barley flour from Hinterland into our favourite recipe. Not everyone has the time or patience for sourdough baking, though, so I set out to find a good recipe using active dry yeast, steel-cut oats and barley flour, while gathering tips and ideas from favourite online sources and that great old standby, Joy of Cooking

I mixed, matched and experimented and came up with a version that I think really works, rich and flavourful with a dense crumb and the soft, oily crunch of walnuts. Birch syrup adds umami and sweetness, giving this bread versatility—it can be paired with marmalade or nut butters, savoury flavours like pȃté or smoked cheese, and it makes excellent toast.

Right. The bread’s sorted, now, onto salads. Maybe barely cooked steel-cut oats, feta cheese, broccoli, purple onion and olives? Spring has arrived; bring on the fibre!

OAT, BARLEY, AND WALNUT BREAD

Ingredients

• 1 cup steel-cut oats (try Hinterland Flour Mill or Bob’s Red Mill)

• 1/4 cup birch syrup

• 2 Tbsp butter

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

• 1/4 cup warm water

• 1 1/2 cups Hinterland Flour Mill barley flour

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Combine oats, birch syrup, butter and salt in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over top, stir and let sit until the mixture cools to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

2. Sprinkle yeast over 1/4 cup warm water. When the yeast has fully dissolved, usually about 5 minutes, stir yeast and water into the cooled oat mixture.

3. Stir in barley flour and walnuts. When thoroughly combined, stir in all-purpose flour until you have a stiff but still sticky dough (you might not need all the flour). Dust a counter with flour, transfer dough to the counter and knead for 7 to 10 minutes, using more flour, as necessary, to keep dough from sticking.

4. Form dough into a round, coat with 1 tsp of olive oil and transfer to a clean bowl. Cover bowl with a tea towel and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

5. Cut dough in half with a bench scraper or a sharp knife. Dust the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Working with one piece at a time, roll dough into a rectangle, 8-inches wide

and 12-inches long. Starting from the short side, roll the dough tightly into a log and pinch the ends and seam shut. Place seam-side down in a parchment-paper-lined loaf pan and repeat with the other half of the dough.

6. Cover loaf pans with a tea towel and allow loaves to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375ȃ Place loaves on the middle rack and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a tester inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

7. Remove the loaves from the pans and cool on a rack, to room temperature, before slicing. Makes two dense loaves of about 1 lb 5 oz each. n

Miche Genest is a Whitehorse-based chef and writer. She is also somewhat of a gardener. Miche has also written two books: The Boreal Feast: A Culinary Journey Through The North and The Boreal Gourmet: Adventures In Northern Cooking.

stopped eating fresh vegetables, and my roommate quit his granola

PHOTOS: Miche Genest Oat, Barley, and Walnut Bread

POOPED OUT

A Long Goodbye To The Good Ol’ Diaper Daze

Every parent goes into the process of having a child while knowing that diapers are unavoidable. Those sweet and precious little babies rely on their caregivers for absolutely everything, and this includes keeping their little bums clean. Whether the idea of doing diapers brings on an immediate gag, or not, makes no difference. It’s gotta get done, and becoming a parent means accepting it as part of the job.

It starts on Day 1. (I’m on Day 995.)

What a journey it has been, too. I still remember the very first diaper I ever did. I don’t know how I managed to escape it before my son was born, but somehow I’d been lucky. I recall that I was alone in the hospital room with my newborn son in my arms. He had been born only 10 hours before this and I was still in awe of him (and a little afraid, too). I had sent my husband home to get some sleep and bring us back some breakfast while I was embracing the first few hours, as a new mom, with my bundle of joy … until a thought suddenly came to me.

I’m supposed to do his diaper.

Oh no! This realization, and the fact that it had to be a realization, felt like immediate failure. In the haziness of childbirth and meeting my son for the first time, diapers had not even occurred to me. The hospital’s wonderful nursing staff had put a diaper on when they first cleaned him up, and I had been so wrapped up in the snuggles, feedings and watching my baby sleep that I didn’t give it another thought.

Horrified at my blunder, I jumped into action. I laid my little guy down on the hospital bed and began to do his (and my) first diaper.

Luckily, I had been warned that the first poop would have the consistency of tar—and that it would require the application of Vaseline to remove it. I think, if I had not been expecting this, my momguilt would have skyrocketed as I wondered if my delay had caused something to go drastically wrong.

I remember being proud of myself as I finished up the process. And, while it did take some time to feel confident changing him

on my own, my little guy and I quickly got into a solid rhythm—a rhythm that has helped with the bounteous amount of diapers that we have gone through so far.

There have been hundreds (thousands) of diapers. So many that it’s difficult to remember a time when I wasn’t living in this daze of diaper duty. It’s a normalcy that is a little unsettling when you sit down and think about it. For example, I, like many parents, have developed an ability to not feel nauseated when I see my child’s fecal matter smeared up my arm or dolloped on my forehead after a change. Sure, it’s gross. But it certainly doesn’t ruin my day.

Now, is this because it’s my own child? Maybe. I mean, if being thrown up on and sucking my son’s snot out of his nose when he gets sick doesn’t get under my skin, why would cleaning up a messy diaper get me down?

To be fair, I’m sure if anyone else’s poop touched my skin, I’d revolt. Truly, bless the childcare workers who take care of our youngsters! They really don’t get the appreciation they deserve. So, perhaps doing diapers isn’t that bad. But, as I mentioned before, I’m on Day 995 of this poop (Wink!).

Enough already! I yearn for the moment when I can get rid of the change table in my son’s room. I look forward to not having to hunt through store after store for filters for the diaper genie. I want to leave the diaper daze behind and move on to new and better things. Cleaner things.

We’re getting there.

I’m happy to say that my little guy is finally reaching a point where he is seemingly ready to leave the diapers behind and begin using the toilet—just like a big kid. Although, I’ve heard many stories and warnings about the dangers of pushing your child into potty training too early. As excited as the prospect of no more diapers is, I do not want to rush things. Our first attempt, a few weeks ago, taught me that the most im-

portant thing is that we do what’s right for him and follow his pace.

Our first try showed that while my son was somewhat interested in the potty, he didn’t quite understand what he was supposed to do on it. So we took a step back, took this experience as a teachable moment and vowed to try again when he started to show more interest and knowledge on the topic.

Interest is key, so I’m told. Interest and an understanding that it will take patience and encouragement—especially when the accidents do happen. And I appreciate all of the amazing advice I have received from my son’s daycare teachers, family members and friends who have more experience with potty training toddlers than I do.

One such token of advice came from Brenda Pilatzke-Vanier, a super mom and dear friend of mine who assured me that the process of potty training (in her words) “can be so frustrating. So, try to make it fun.” Then she added, “We turned a real corner once our child discovered that even superheroes poop!”

I mean, if superheroes do it, then it’s got to be cool, right?

Rewards were another suggestion I have received for sparking interest and encouraging our kiddo to use the toilet. But it kind of felt like a backfire when it caused my darling boy to burst through the bathroom door and announce, “Mommy gets a special treat now, too!”

“Yes, buddy. Please, close the door.”

We’re getting there.

My family will soon get to bid farewell to the good ol’ diaper daze. I can see the light, and it brings me comfort to know that this does not need to be a stressful process. I know my little guy will have a full team of supporters rooting him on, along the way, as he leaves the diapers behind.

We’ll make it fun and build his confidence as he enters this new phase of growing up and finally goes diaper free. n

So long, diapers. It’s been nice knowing you (not!)

PHOTOS: Elsie Jordan

Freelance with Elsie Jordan

Elsie Jordan made the Yukon her home in 2014. She has a passion for storytelling, with a focus on family (mis)adventures featuring a unique Yukon feel to them.

It can be a huge relief to many parents when their little ones

become potty trained

APRIL 23 BOWL for Kid’s Sake 2023

CATEGORIES: Family, Friends, Corporate Team

HUNTING … IT’S A CRAPSHOOT

Using scat in the pursuit of wild animals

One of the most common questions we get asked by non-hunters, and those new to hunting, is, “How do you find and track the animals you’re pursuing?” It’s a valid question, and while the answer may seem obvious to those with some experience in the bush, it remains somewhat of a mystery to many others.

Simply put, finding wild animals involves an acute use of your five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and, to a lesser degree, taste. This fact applies equally to those looking to hunt, take wildlife photos or even just hope to view wildlife in their natural habitat. It rings true for those searching for birds, mammals and sometimes fish.

For hunting, the main sense we use is sight. In the Yukon, finding your quarry usually involves hours spent looking over open country and, occasionally, dense boreal forest. This usually involves tools to enhance our vision and aid in our efforts, such as binoculars and spotting scopes. However, the root of hunting goes back to using our powerful eyesight to seek out and understand much more subtle and nuanced clues.

We look for several identifiers that we, as hunters, commonly refer to as “sign.” This evidence of animal activity or presence can take on various forms ranging from things that are hard to ignore, to details that are extremely hard to spot—especially to the untrained eye. Some examples of these signs include game trails, rubs, wallows, scrapes, tracks, licks, beds, fur, feathers and, most importantly, scat or feces.

Now, you may be asking yourself, What use can animal droppings provide to a hunter? The

truth is that to an experienced outdoors person, animal poop is like a little story about an animal’s life. It can help us determine which species left it, the size and diet of the individual, whether it’s in a group or travelling alone, its patterns of behaviour or movement and sometimes even the state of its health. Most relevant to the hunter, scat informs whether their prey is in the area (if at all) and how or when they may be using the area in question.

When tracking an animal in rugged or heavily wooded terrain, looking for “fresh” scat that is soft, almost greasy in appearance, is often an indication that you’re hot on the animal’s trail. Or, at least it was recently in the area. Larger ungulates, such as the ones most pursued in the Yukon (moose, bison and caribou), can travel vast distances in relatively little time, so just because we find soft scat does not necessarily mean we will bump into Bullwinkle around the next corner.

For specific hunts, like, say, for bison, it’s essential to look for fresh scat. Because our hunting season is over the colder months, bison feces typically hardens pretty quickly. So, finding a pliable “patty” indicates you’re in the right area. Bison patties are shaped like soft-serve ice cream but spread out over the size of a dinner plate. You’re probably doing something right if you can shove a stick into one. As one of my mentors, Jim Welsh, says, “If it isn’t steaming, keep moving.” And he’s not wrong. Because these animals tend to move around so much, even if the patty is semiset, the animal has likely moved on. Although there’s always a chance that it is hiding nearby, and this leads me to my next point.

We always want to try to use scat in tandem with another piece of “sign,” like tracks. Together these signs can help us figure out

if we need to hold tight and look around a little closer, or keep moving. For example, if you find some moose scat but see tracks with a massive gait beside it, you know the animal likely ran away from that area. Maybe it heard or smelled you coming, or something else in the area caused it to flee.

So, how do we determine the type of animal poop we’re looking at? Well, the major giveaway will typically be the size and shape of the droppings. We can crudely lump Yukon’s big-game animal scat into logs, pellets and patties.

Bears and wolves almost always leave logs that look like human feces. If it looks human-like but seems small, it might be from a wolverine, lynx, coyote or fox. Groups of pellets are typically left by cervids (moose, elk, caribou and deer) and bovids (goats and sheep), with one notable exception being bison. Although bison are bovid, their dung forms a distinct patty, as I mentioned before. Some other ungulates (hooved animals) can have looser stools that form piles similar to that of a bison patty, when they change their diet or if they are ill, but it’s much less common.

The size of the droppings is usually a good indicator of the body size of the individual animal that left it. Bear poop is usually cylindrical or tubular but can also be in looser piles or even be watery depending on their diet. It often contains partially digested seeds, grass or berries but may also contain hair. Piles are often large, upwards of a pound, with grizzly scat being notably larger in diameter than that of black bears.

Ungulate pellets can take a while to become familiar with and distinguish. Briefly, moose droppings are two-centimetres long, resembling chocolate-covered almonds. Elk pellets are like moose but smaller (1–1.5 centimetres) and slightly rounder. Deer pellets

are among the smallest at around one centimetre. Interestingly, caribou scat seems unique in that it’s often faceted like dice and inbetween deer and elk in size. It tends to be hard in the winter and more clumped in the summer, due to the higher moisture content of summer food sources. Sheep scat looks a lot like chocolate-covered raisins. It’s about the same size as deer scat but more oval. During the winter months, goat poop is sort of the shape and size of an acorn and clumps together like caribou scat during the summer months.

Beyond that, you’re going to want to investigate the contents. Pry the scat apart with a stick and see what’s inside. Be warned, if you’re looking at sizable logshaped scat but you don’t see any obvious sign of berries, seeds, grass or bones, you may want to think twice about poking it because it might be human feces. This is when your sense of smell comes in handy. Wolf and lynx scat piles also tend to have a noticeable odour, especially when fresh, but bear scat is often odourless. Again, these general rules can vary due to the animal’s diet.

If you see high quantities of bone or hair, it’s from a predator like a bear or a wolf. If the log is whitish, the animal has been eat-

A wood-bison patty high in the alpine: while only a few hours old, it had already started to freeze up and become covered by windblown snow

ing a healthy amount of bone. Prying scat apart with a stick also helps determine freshness, giving you a bit of a timeline. Suppose you’re looking at pellets that are dry and weathered. In that case, chances are that the animal has long since moved on and may even occupy another range. Look closely for signs of debris that has blown on top of the scat pile, just like you would for a track. If snow, leaves, twigs or dirt are on top of the scat, it probably isn’t fresh. Time to move on!

Beyond that, making mental notes of where and when you see scat is helpful. This is especially helpful for new hunters, as it will help you to subconsciously document where these animals are spending time and when they may be there. Look for other signs or clues to determine if they’re bedding down nearby, feeding in the area or simply moving through. Learn what each animal is eating and then hunt the appropriate habitat for the species you hope to find. You’re very likely going to start seeing more animals! n

PHOTO: Steve Hossack

Yukon Unguided is a grassroots educational platform that aims to inspire an ethical and passionate community of DIY hunters and anglers.

MATTERS

‘BRATSKY’

Part Two

Sami is very, very, very food motivated, and that is both a help and a hindrance. She will do almost anything for even a single piece of kibble. She has a feeding ball with the pieces of kibble inside. She must push it around with

puppy

She joined our household of three seniors—two humans and a 10-year-old black Lab, Sula. Well, the puppy, Sami, turned one on February 23. We have nicknamed her “Bratsky.”

One day in January, we were out of the house for a couple of hours. She ate one mechanical pencil (mine) and one black pen (my husband’s); she spread the ink on the doormat, one Paw Patrol puzzle (granddaughter’s), several envelopes, a newspaper and a piece of kindling. I guess she was bored. Her tally of destruction also includes two pairs of sandals, one pair of crocs, a pair of handknit socks, cushions, numerous stuffies and other things too numerous to name. She sneaks up under the table when I am eating, grabs my napkin and runs!

Fuzzy pom poms on toques are a favourite of hers. A toque adorned with a coyote-fur pompom seems to be a special attraction. It needs to be attacked, shaken vigorously and removed from the toque. Yesterday, I had just finished sewing it back on when I unthinkingly left the room briefly. Sami roused herself from what appeared to be a sound nap, retrieved it from my knitting basket and again removed the pompom, turning it into a soggy mess. Senior Sula lies on the couch and watches the action with a bored look. I wonder if she remembers all the things she chewed in her first year (for example, a pair of thousand-dollar trifocal glasses!).

her nose until a piece of kibble falls out of a hole. She does this at a frantic pace and if the piece of kibble should end up under a piece of furniture, she scratches the floor, whines and goes with me to the cupboard where the metre stick is kept. When I manage to get down on the floor to rake out a dust- and dog-hair encrusted kibble for her, she enthusiastically gobbles it as if it were a whole meal.

A vet from B.C. reported to us that she read an article in one of her journals speculating that some dogs, perhaps especially Labs, lack a gene for satiety: they never feel full. That certainly seems as

if it could apply to our Labs. Their continuous search for food brings me to the “Poopsicle Problem.” Yes, the many frozen poops deposited along the wooded trails are a special attraction for Labs. Their sensitive noses seem to pick up the scent from a distance and even under deep snow. When they decide to “go for it,” my mid-seventies strength and balance is severely tested as they drag me off the trail into the deep snow. Sometimes I am foolishly zealous about trying to prevent it. That means throwing myself onto the offending canine and attempting to wrest a large iceencrusted brown lump from her mouth (usually unsuccessfully). My brother-in-law vet has assured us that these tasty “treats” are, in general, not harmful. I try not to think about them when Sami is being very affectionate!

Sami’s morning wake-up calls have moved to around 6 o’clock, an improvement over those first months when it was 4:30 or 5 a.m. I would still prefer 7:30 or 8. Our senior household used to be a rather quiet and orderly place. Sami has shaken it up. She loves it when our granddaughters come over and chase her around, throw balls and make lots of noise and action. After months of trying, Sami has finally persuaded Sula to play with her for short periods. When she does, the house (a very small house) is filled with snarling, growling and the sound of furniture being shoved around. This tug of war also involves lots of biting each other’s necks and ears and pulling a toy in opposite directions.

Puppy Mayhem has shaken up our quiet lifestyle and tested our patience. BUT, the puppy love makes up for it, even when I know where that friendly nose and tongue have been. She’s definitely a Bratsky! n

Several months ago, I described the joys and struggles of a couple of seniors who adopted a

Sami looking very innocent!

PHOTO: Susan Clark

Susan Clark has always been an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys canoeing, camping, biking and cross-country skiing. Her other passions include spinning wool, knitting, reading and writing. Since coming to the Yukon she has taken two sessions of Creative Writing at Yukon University and belongs to two different writing groups.

MANURE AND THE PATH TO BETTERING YOUR SOIL

fresh is not better. Almost all manure is best when composted (left to decompose and mature) before use, because high levels of concentrated nutrients, especially nitrogen, in fresh “hot” manure, can burn your plants. You can easily age manure by itself, in a corner of your property, or you can add it to your existing compost pile. Keep in mind that fresh manure and compost may attract wildlife, large and small.

you really want to do a deep dive into what your particular soil needs, you can get your soil tested. The Agriculture Branch of the Yukon government offers one soil test per year, for Yukon gardeners, and can also do a more complete analysis for local farmers. You can get more information by emailing agriculture@yukon.ca or calling 867-667-5838 and asking to speak to the agrologist about your soil nutrient needs.

The extremely cold winters, the late (and early) frosts and the often poor soil quality can make a gardener’s work a lot more difficult in the North.

While we can’t do much about the first two hurdles, the last mentioned has a solution that may be found much closer than you might expect; in fact, it might be just lying around a friend’s yard.

One of the best ways to recharge and re-energize your soil is by adding animal manure. Manure adds nutrients and organic matter back to the soil and can do wonders for your garden. It’s a way to support your flowers and vegetables in a natural way and give them an extra boost. Adding manure to your garden beds improves the soil’s water retention, structure and level of micro-organisms. It also accelerates plant growth and can help them be more disease-resistant.

When it comes to manure,

You’ll know that it’s ready to be used because it will start to look more like soil and will no longer have the same intense manure smell. Turning it over, every once in a while, will help with decomposition. Keep in mind that, because of our colder climate, manure and compost decompose at a slightly slower rate here than what might be the case in warmer parts of the world. Letting your manure age will also help in reducing weed growth since any weed seeds present in the manure will eventually die with time and the heat generated in the decomposition process.

You can add manure to your garden in the fall, to give it time to break down a bit more, letting its nutrients become more available. Or, if it’s been well-aged and composted, you can add it in the spring as well. Each type of manure has a different nutrient profile (mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is referred to in a ratio called NPK), and if

Before you call up your neighbour to ask them if you can stop by, with a shovel and a bucket, to clean out their chicken coop, or you visit your local farm to see if they’d be interested in selling some of their livestock’s manure, here are some things to keep in mind about the different kinds of manure that exist— because while all will make improvements to your soil, they are not all created equal.

Chicken manure, for example, is very high in nitrogen (which all plants need), but be careful because if used fresh, it will burn your plants’ roots. Let it age before using it. Chicken manure is also generally more alkaline than other manures and shouldn’t be used for plants that prefer slightly acidic soil, such as blueberries.

Horse manure is wonderful and very common but may contain more weed seeds than other kinds of manure. You’ll want to wait for these to be killed by the heat produced during composting; otherwise, you’ll have all sorts of new and uninvited weeds popping up in your garden next year.

Sheep manure composts faster than some other manure because of its small pellet size, but it should also be aged for at least a few months. Aged cow and goat manure are abundantly found and great for your plants, whereas pig manure can be a possible carrier of pathogens that could contaminate your food-producing garden.

Alpaca manure might be harder to come by but can be added

to your garden with very little wait time. You can even apply it directly to your plants without composting it, if you want. It has lower levels of nitrogen, so you don’t have to worry about it burning your plants. It also doesn’t have the same strong odour that some other manures do and it’s said that, thanks to the alpaca’s highly developed digestive system, most seeds don’t survive digestion and therefore won’t add unwanted weeds to your garden. Llama manure can be used in a similar fashion.

Likewise, rabbit manure is considered a “cool” manure and can be used fresh. If your kids have a pet rabbit or two, you can easily save the poop cleaned from their cages and add it to your compost or your garden. Even a little will add up in the long run, and your plants will thank you. These tiny time-release capsules of nutrients might be exactly what your soil needs. Poop from your pet guinea pig can likewise be added to your compost pile, and since, like alpaca and llama manure, it doesn’t have a veryintense smell, it can even be used in your potted house plants without causing your family to complain about the odour. Cat and dog poop should always be avoided because they are likely to carry parasites that could pass to humans through the soil.

All types of livestock manure can also be used to make a manure “tea.” Ratios vary, but the basic idea is that you add manure and water to a bucket and let it steep for a few days or up to sev-

eral weeks. If you like, you can put the manure in an improvised “tea bag,” such as a burlap sack or an old pillow case, so it will be easier to take out once done. Then pour off the liquid into another container and add the remaining sludge to your compost pile. Dilute the “tea,” so that it doesn’t burn the leaves or the roots, and use it either at the base of your plants or as a foliar feed (on the leaves). To be safe, don’t spray the manure tea onto plants that you’ll be eating in the near future, and be extra careful if you’re making your tea with fresh manure.

If growing your vegetables organically is something that is important to you, make sure you’re sourcing your manure from a place that feeds their animals herbicideand pesticide-free hay/feed. Here in the Yukon we’re lucky to not have any large commercial farms, so most likely you’ll be able to get a pretty good sense of what passed through the animals and could potentially pass into your soil.

YukonGrow, a local online business, started in summer 2020 and is another place where you can get locally sourced manure. They also sell compost, biochar and other soil amendments and can help with soil profiling, to provide you with personalized science-based guidance on what your garden and your soil might need. You can, of course, also find composted and sterilized manure that’s ready to use at Canadian Tire and at our wonderful local garden centres and nurseries. n

Gardening in the Yukon can sometimes feel like a perennial struggle when in other parts of the country it might appear almost effortless

Different kinds of manure

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

with Jessica Surber

Yukon vegetables grown with the help of local manure

MORE THAN JUST WASTE

The many uses of human and animal poop

Let’s be honest, for most of us, poop is normally seen as something to be quickly flushed down the toilet. We call it “waste” and do our best to destroy it or get rid of it as quickly as possible. We don’t really like talking about it and I would guess that the majority of us don’t really care what happens to it, as long as we don’t have to come into contact with it again. What if poop was actually a lot more useful than what conventional knowledge has led us to believe?

What if our thinking, up until now, hasn’t been very sustainable and is actually causing lots of problems?

Maybe it’s time to rethink our relationship with poop.

Human waste generally goes to wastewater plants, and from there, a large part of the human biosolids produced around the world are landfilled, stockpiled or discharged into the ocean, and all of this is causing many environmental problems, including toxic algae blooms, an uneven redistribution of nutrients, on a global level, overuse of water, and destroyed coastal marshes (just to name a few).

Even though the disposal of our waste matter has, up until this point, been badly managed, there actually exist many ingenious uses for the waste that we (and the animals that we share this Earth with) produce each day. Some uses have been around for thousands of years and others are new and innovative ideas of how to reuse and upcycle waste. It turns out that this “thing,” which in our society seems so taboo and “gross,” can actually be used as heating and cooking fuel to make construction materials, grow food, fuel vehicles and even to generate electricity.

Using dry animal dung, as fuel, has been practised for hundreds, if not thousands, of years around the world. Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes; and so, if you live in the High Andes, for example, where very

few trees grow, you have to come up with an alternative to the normal sources of fuel in order to cook and heat your home.

Alpacas are native to the mountains of South America and are surprisingly organized poopers. They naturally poop in communal dung piles, in a handful of spots around their pastures, which makes it easy to gather their excrement. These dry pellets burn

researchers in Australia have started to make bricks from human biosolids. This seems like a natural evolution from the construction materials that have been made from cow dung mixed with mud, sand and clay and used in places, such as Africa and Asia, for a long time. These green building materials are an innovative way to recycle the overwhelming stockpiles of treated sewage sludge

ways to convert pig manure into a bio-asphalt that could be used in making new roads.

The fact that animal manure is a superb natural fertilizer is wellknown, but a growing interest in an idea, referred to by some as circular sanitation, is beginning to include human waste in the lineup of possible plant fertilizers. Circular sanitation can be as simple as a composting toilet, but in gen-

several years now. In 2016, for example, Grand Junction, Colorado, became the first U.S. city to produce renewable natural gas from human waste, which they then used to replace the city’s garbage trucks and buses with natural-gas vehicles. Two years before that, Britain’s first Bio-Bus hit the road, powered entirely with human and food waste. Similar buses have also started to operate in Norway. It’s not only solid waste that has been found to be useful recently. Scientists in the UK have managed to develop a fuel cell that can be powered by urine, and the University of West England is planning on commercializing this technology, which uses microbial fuel cells to create clean and sustainable energy. Urine has, historically, also been used to soften and tan animal hides, to wash your hair, to keep deer out of your garden, as a mordant in dyeing garments (to set and bind the dye to the cloth), to speed up the decomposition process in a slow compost pile, and it’s even been ingested for supposed health benefits.

very well and are still used, to this day, instead of firewood or the more-modern propane gas. Dry cow pies and even dry horse manure can also be used to make a fire. It might not be so surprising, then, that in recent years a social enterprise in Kenya has found a way to turn human waste into fuel, as well. Kenya has been facing problems with deforestation, for a long time, and this new way of treating human waste with high temperatures, to kill bacteria, and then mixing it with sawdust to form briquettes, to cook with, has so many advantages and so many environmental benefits.

On the other side of the globe,

around the world. Apparently, feces acts as a great insulator because of its porous nature. And it’s not just scientists in labs that are making these innovations: a group of eighth-grade students in the Philippines are turning dog poop into “bio-bricks” by mixing equal parts of dried canine feces with regular cement, as a way to deal with their community’s overpopulation of stray dogs and the resulting dog poop contaminating their streets. The possibilities seem endless. Malaysian researchers have figured out a way to convert human waste to concrete, and a team of researchers in the United States is even studying

eral it refers to a waste system where the poop we produce can be transformed into a new product that can be used again (such as fertilizer). A scientist in Ontario has developed a way to “purée” and process biosolids into a liquid that can then be applied to farmlands as a fertilizer. Recycling human waste into “humanure” is still controversial in some circles and, as with all innovations, there will be problems that will need to be solved or ironed out.

On the high-tech end of the spectrum, methane-rich gas is being extracted from processed human feces and has been used to power buses around the world, for

Whales, being some of the world’s largest animals, eat a lot and, as can be imagined, also produce very large quantities of poop. Now, some might think that all this “waste” filling the ocean would be a bad thing, but it turns out that it’s actually a very, very good thing. Whales are natural recyclers and have been referred to as “marine ecosystem engineers.” Basically, whales feed on clusters of small fish and lots of krill, and they recycle those nutrients, including iron, back into the ocean. These nutrients are then consumed by smaller ocean life forms such as phytoplankton, and phytoplankton are key players in the global carbon cycle, as well as the foundation of the aquatic food web. It’s estimated that phytoplankton sequesters approximately twobillion tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean each year and is responsible for producing 50 per cent (or more) of the oxygen we breathe.

So, you see, poop isn’t something bad. Whether from a whale or even from humans, it can actually be something very useful. n

Horse dung compressed into bricks

PHOTOS: Jessica Surber

with Jessica Surber

Dried cow poop is a great alternative to firewood

Klondike Institute of Art and Culture Dawson City, YT

The Best Things in Life are… Rescued!

Meet CARROTS!

Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, Carrots is still available for adoption.

He is a 4-year-old male Siberian Husky mix. Carrots is a funny little guy with lots to say! He definitely lives up to the husky name and would spend all his time singing if he could. Though he may be vocal, he quiets right down once he’s given any attention. With the right amount of training, he could definitely be taught some alternative ways to ask for pets. He’s fairly small, and has got plenty of energy, and as a former working sled dog, he would benefit from some healthy outlets for it like cani-cross, bike-jouring, or similar activities! He used to be a bit awkward when it comes to other dogs and would freeze up when they get close, but he has since become a real social butterfly and gets along well with other dogs. He would do well in a home with kids, but we don’t know how he is with cats.

If you are interested in adopting Carrots, please fill out an online application at humanesocietyyukon.ca. If you already have a pre-approved application with us within the last year, call 633-6019 to put your application towards him.

Shelter Hours:

Tuesdays - Fridays 12pm-6pm

Saturdays - 10am-6pm

126 Tlingit St, Whitehorse, YT

Y1A 6J2 | Tel: 867 633 6019

FOSTER FAMILIES NEEDED

As most adoptions happen in the city, YARN relies heavily on foster homes in the city when pups are ready for adoption. We look after all the vet appointments and adoption applications.

YARN cannot continue accepting litters, unless it has foster homes to care for them in the city, while they find their homes. We are in need of some great Fosters Families to help our little fur-babies when they arrive in Whitehorse.

If you are interested and able to help in fostering please get in contact with us via our page @YukonAnimalRescueNetwork or send us a message via Facebook messenger or email: cheryl@YukonAnimalRescue.net

Julian Forrest | In Isolation

Feb 24 – April 1, 2023

WYRD, A Musical UnFairytale

Fri March 31 & Sat April 1 at 8pm Tickets on sale at kiac.eventbrite.ca

Dawson City International Short Film Festival

April 6 - 9, 2023

www.dawsonfilmfest.com

Declan O’Donovan album release with Shannon O’Donovan

Friday April 14, 7:30pm

Yukon Riverside Arts Festival

June 1 - 4, 2023

Tel: (867) 993-5005

Email: kiac@kiac.ca

Website: www.kiac.ca

Youth Drop-In Centre

Recreational program for teen-years youth

When: Tuesday to Friday 3pm to 9 pm & Sat 1-9 pm

Ages: 12-18 years old

For more info: See Facebook page for schedule & activities, or email Oliver: obulpitt@bcgyukon.com

AllStars After School Program An affordable, quality after school program

When: Monday to Friday 3-5:00 pm following the school calendar.

Ages: Ages 6-11 years old

Cost: Tuition fees as follows: $315/month allstars@bgcyukon.com for inquiries

Location: Downtown/Takhini Elementary Learning Tree Early Years Centre An affordable, quality, licensed childcare program

When: Monday to Friday 7:30am-5:15pm

Ages: 18 months - 5 years of age

Cost: Tuition fees as follows:

Toddler: $160/month, Preschool: $150/month Emily Howard at 393-2824 ext 206 or eypd@bgcyukon.com

Location: Riverdale

formation-cnv

.afy.ca

EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

fri, 8 pm $10 all tickets!

MATINEE SPECIALS MUMMIES fri-thurs, 6 pm fri, sat & sun, 3 pm matinee

Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, 132 MINS

Juan Jesus Garcia Galocha, 88 MINS

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

fri-thurs, 6:30 pm & sat & sun, 4 pm

David F. Sandberg, 130 MINS

opening march 31

65

fri-thurs, 7 pm

Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, 93 MINS

Do you have a fear of PUBLIC SPEAKING?

Would you like to improve your public speaking skills, build confidence and hone your listening skills?

ü Feel free to attend with no obligation, any Toastmaster (TM) meeting.

ü You can attend 3 meetings as a guest while deciding to join.

ü You can just show up at a meeting before we begin (11:55am).

Actually, great value for the benefit, private public speaking professionals charge hundreds of dollars for courses, TM is much more affordable.

WHEN: Thursdays noon to 1pm (meet at 11:50 to noon at door)

WHERE : Northwestel bldg, Lambert St & 3rd Ave (blue coloured door around back side) QUESTIONS: herbeeking(at)hotmail.com

PORCUPINE SQUAD

MORNING PROGRAMS 10-11am

Monday: Baby Sign 0-24 months

Tuesday: Power of Painting All Ages

Wednesday: Construction Zone All Ages

Thursday: Reserved for group use Closed to the public

Friday: Hooked on Stories All Ages

AFTERNOONS & SATURDAYS

Mon/Tues/Wed & Fri: 9am-12pm,12:30pm-3pm Thurs: 12:30pm-3pm Sat:

A weekly, action-focused circle of fire + fellowship for those who identify as male. A safe + brave space for men to share their wins and challenges, dig deeper into what’s really holding you back, have honest conversations, set goals and be accountable.

Call/text Michael at 867-332-4722 or email: mjvernon@gmail.com arkabrotherhood.com

SPECIES AND THEIR FECES

Defining and dealing with droppings while hiking

Size, shape, texture, colour, smell—scat (or poo, poop, doo-doo … whatever you prefer)—comes in as many variations as there are animal species, with even more possibilities once you account for the diet and health of each creature.

If you have visited Kluane National Park and Reserve, you’ve probably come across many delightful bouquets of scat along the trails. Moose tend to leave behind droppings reminiscent of chocolate-covered almonds, while Dall sheep mark their passing with smaller, more-delicate pellets that resemble chocolate-covered raisins. It’s the bears, both grizzly and black, who like to mark their passing in vivid detail, so make sure to watch your step. There’s a Southern Tutchone teaching that says to step respectfully around a bear’s scat, so that they know to step around you too!

A crowd favourite on guided hikes is identifying what’s in the

scat. Whose fur might be visible in the dropping that nà-däy (lynx, in Southern Tutchone) left behind? Which berry has shar shäw (grizzly bear) been feasting on

Yukoners Living with Wildlife

recently? For instance, soapberry meals are easy to spot as they are always goopy, bright red and halfdigested.

It’s as natural as a bowel move-

ment to get curious about what’s been left behind by an animal passing along the same path that you’re on. It’s also natural to want to ask an expert about what

you’re looking at if you’re not sure who it came from. The visitor-experience team works hard to be as knowledgeable as they can about the creatures pooping in the woods, and the team will happily answer all of your burning questions. Our only ask, for your health and ours, is that you send us only photos of the pile in question, and otherwise leave it where it lies.

While the moose, sheep, lynx, bears and their many neighbours are expected to leave their waste where it plops—you, our human visitors, are expected to pack out any nuggets that you and your canine companions might drop. The practice of packing out human and dog waste from the backcountry prevents harmful bacteria from entering the groundwater and impacting wildlife and vegetation. Since your dog is always on a leash in the park, it’s easy to keep track of where they drop their load, and being prepared with waste bags, for both animals and humans, is a breeze since they are light and easy to pack.

As you spend more time outside in the coming months, we wish you the best of luck in the stinky game of matching wild feces to their species! n

Hiking along Burwash Creek while keeping the canine companion on a leash

PHOTO: Courtesy of Parks Canada/D. Bergen

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

COMMUNITY EVENTS WHITEHORSE EVENTS

ART SHOWS

Until April 2023 Dis Orientation: New Acquisitions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection Jim Smith Building There are more than 500 works by 275 artists in the collection.

Until Apr 1 Between the Color and Me by Franco-Yukonnaise Association Arts Underground

As part of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, we invite you to discover the works of ten FrancoYukon artists created under the inspiration of the theme Between color and me .

Until May 27 Springtime

Premonitions by Rosemary Scanlon Yukon Arts Centre Gallery A new body of work by the Whitehorse based artist. Working primarily in watercolour, she attempts to locate the tension between fantasy and reality of northern life.

Until May 27 Trailing by Alia Shahab and Michel Gignac Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Viewers/participants are invited to wade through the sculpture and immerse themselves in aquagreen light emitted from the strands as they move.

LIVE MUSIC

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Whitewater

Wednesday Night Jam 7:00 PM The Local Bar a open mic kinda show and all you have to do is bring in your instrument, find Jack and/or Peggy and we’ll set you up! No need to be shy.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 VVinyl

VVednesdays 7:00 PM Lefty’s Well

Every Wednesday a local record junkie will be showcasing their collections for you, and maybe sometimes trade or buy.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Live Music

Thursdays 7:00 PM 98 Hotel

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Well Played - Open Mic 7:00 PM Old fashioned drop in Open Mic - Every Thursday - Hosted by Jon Eastlander! - Show up and write down your name, players will be called up in order.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Live DJs - Thursday

Throwdown 9:00 PM The Local Bar

Fri Mar 24 Karaoke for Members and Signed in Guests 7:30 Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come practise your high and low notes! Or just watch!

Fri Mar 24 Unicorn Parts, Compassion Pills, and Jagermeister

9:30 PM Leftys Well Unicorn Parts, Compassion Pills and Jagermeister teaming up for a magical show - listen to live local music! Cover charge at the door! https://bit.ly/404jxBX

Fri Mar 24 Kim Rogers & Gemini Fire 9:30 PM Local Bar Local musicians, cover charge at the door.

Sat Mar 25 Bria Rose ‘n Thorns with Mobb Diggity & Q 8:00 PM Lefty’s Well Local musicians, cover charge at the door.

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Jam Session with Country Josh 6:00 PM 98 Hotel Sun Mar 26 Jazz on the Wing cabaret featuring Mike Allen Quartet 7:30 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre

Celebrated B.C. saxophonist and composer Mike Allen Quartet featuring legendary NYC drummer Carl Allen. Presented by Jazz Yukon jazzyukon.ca

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Live Music

Mondays at Whiskey Jacks 7:00 PM Whiskey Jacks Pub & Grill Patrick Jacobson at Whiskey Jack’s every Monday with a weekly “feature performer” for the last set. https://www.whiskeyjacks.ca/

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Open Mic Night with Patrick Jacobson 7:00 PM Best Western Gold Pan Saloon Performers are encouraged to bring their own instrument and mic. All are welcome. No cover.

Sat Apr 1 A’Court, Spiegel & Vinnick

7:00 PM Yukon Arts Centre Multiaward-winning artists, Canadians Suzie Vinnick and Charlie A’Court, and Australian Lloyd Spiegel, for a dynamic evening filled with songs, stories and laughs as they take their roots ‘n’ blues kitchen party from coast-to-coast. Yukontickets.com

Sun Apr 2 Whitehorse Concerts

Gallery Recital 1:30 PM YAC Yukon Arts Centre Featuring Yukon classical musicians in an inviting accoustic setting. Aurora Horns will be performing a mix of exciting classical music after the musical stylings of Nicholas Mah on guitar. Admission by donation. https://bit.ly/3GsX4HC

GENERAL EVENTS

Wed Mar 22 Managing Change

Successfully Workshop 9:30 AM

Yukonstruct Makespace Courseware and training materials are designed for everyone in the workplace who needs a two-day course that teaches how to manage and cope with change. Register online. https://bit.ly/3SaIf0y

Wed Mar 22 4th Annual First Nation

Education Conference 10:00 AM

Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre Our language, our culture, our way, an evening gala, exciting guest speakers, and a trade show. Email adrianna. wondga@yfned.ca. for more info.

https://bit.ly/3WYxJeh

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Anglican Holy

Communion – Whitehorse 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd Wednesday of the month

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Spanish

Conversation Group 12:00 PM Whitehorse United Church For more info Louise 867-687-7238 or Michele 867333-6081

Wed Mar 22 Shazam! Fury of the Gods 3:00 PM Yukon Theatre Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.ly/3JexJS5

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Texas Hold’ Em 6:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 For signed in members and guests. Bragging rights!

Wed Mar 22 I Like Movies 7:00 PM Yukon Theatre Socially inept 17-year old cinephile, Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen), who gets a job at a video store where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.

ly/3Jchc0S

Wed Mar 22 So You Want to Start a Bath and Body Care Business 7:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace Learn the ABC’s of running a business in Bath and Body Care. Register online. https://bit. ly/3ZlelK3

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Public Speaking Training - Toastmasters 12:00 PM Northwestel Building Guests are always welcome. There are many roles to learn at Toastmasters. Practice 2 minute table topics to help you with presentations and speaking in front of people.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Anglican Thursday at the Cathedral 12:10 PM Christ the Church Cathedral Bring a lunch (Book of Alternative Services)

Thu Mar 23 Corsage 4:00 PM Yukon Theatre Empress Elizabeth of Austria is idolized for her beauty and renowned for inspiring fashion trends. Matinee pricing – tickets online or at the door. https://bit. ly/3JGP9rQ

Thu Mar 23 Yukon Science Institute

AGM Whitehorse Public Library 5:00 PM Call 333-1600 for more info.

Thu Mar 23 Entrepreneur Meet-UpBreaking the Burnout Cycle 5:00 PM NorthLight Innovation Gain insight how moving towards being burnt out could impact your business while networking with other entrepreneurs. Register Online. http://bit.ly/3ZDZ1YF

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Prayer 7:00 PM Mountainview Church We take some time to connect with one another to praise God and pray for our church, our leadership, our city, and anything else in our hearts..

Thu Mar 23 Paint Like Ted - Date Night 7:00 PM MacBride Museum An evening of painting and cocktails under the northern lights. Learn more about Ted’s iconic art style and how he captured the North through his art. Register online. https://brushfire.com/macbrid.../ PaintLikeTed/549229/tickets

Thu Mar 23 Banff Mountain Film Festival 7:30 PM Yukon Arts Centre Featuring the Aspen Program, international short films such as Colors of Mexico, Eco-Hack!, Balkan Express and many more. Tickets online.

Thu Mar 23 Thuramukham (The Harbour) 8:00 PM Yukon Theatre Set in the backdrop of workers’ struggles, and protests against the infamous ‘Chappa’ system of casual labour allocation and primitive “work guarantee” scheme. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit. ly/3JGP9rQ

Fri Mar 24 thru Thu Mar 30 Mummies

6:00 PM Yukon Theatre The fun adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.ly/3JIggD6

Fri Mar 24 TGIF Dinner 6:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Tickets for sale the week leading up to TGIF (not on sale at the door) for members and signed in guests.

Fri Mar 24 Banff Mountain Film Festival 7:30 PM Yukon Arts Centre

Featuring the Willow Program, international short films such as Flow, Wild Waters, Free to Run and many more. Tickets online. Yukontickets.com

Fri Mar 24 Everything Everywhere

All at Once 8:00 PM Yukon Theatre Winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture! A hilarious, trippy and bighearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.

ly/3JFocF3

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 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.

Sat Mar 25 Ceramics Level 1 with Annie Broadhurst 9:00 AM Arts

Underground Learn to wedge and centre clay, throwing basic shapes and vessels, and basic dip glazing in this 7 week beginners course. Register online.

https://bit.ly/3Lq9YJc

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 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.

Sat Mar 25 F.A.N.S. Challenge 7:00 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 Come down and test your knowledge. Open to non members and members. The trivia is done by using your electronic device.

https://bit.ly/3yiLSZ6

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Mountainview Church Sunday Service 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

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Clothing Room 10:00 AM Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene Free of charge to anyone and everyone

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Whitehorse United Church Worship Service 10:30 AM a caring community of faith, based on a foundation of Biblical teaching and spiritual truth

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 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.

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Sunday Gatherings

3:00 PM The Northern Collective Church Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 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 Tue Mar 28 New Member Orientation 5:00 PM New Member Orientation for new members of Yukonstruct Makespace. Register online https://bit.ly/3Z6kVnq

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 Men’s Community Group Mountainview Church 5:30 PM We start with a meal and fellowship, then work through a biblical study, and take time to pray for one another, and for shared requests.

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 10 Card Crib 6:30 PM Whitehorse Legion Branch 254 https://bit.ly/3oWjB5W

SME Training and Development Program

Are you ready to take your career development to new heights?

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 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

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 Chess Club 6:00 PM Titan Gaming and Collectibles Love Chess? Want to learn? Looking for Competition? Join us!

Tue Mar 28 Woodshop Orientation 6:30 PM New Member Orientation for new members of Yukonstruct Makespace. Register online https://bit. ly/3Y2RdhK

Tue Mar 28 Trivia Night 7:00 PM The Guild Hall Bring your theatre and trivia enthusiast friends; 5 people per team. Admission will be $5-20 sliding scale at the door. Support the Guild, play some trivia, and maybe even WIN some cash prizes!!

Thu Mar 30 thru Sun Apr 2 Spruce Bog Easter Boutique 2023 10:00 AM The Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre Whitehorse Spring makers market featuring over 40 makers/crafters from across the Yukon and Atlin. A Boutique style event, meaning there will be a central cashier. https://www.sprucebog. com/

Thu Mar 30 Repair Cafe 6:00 PM

Yukonstruct Makespace Broken toaster, vacuum cleaner, or other small home appliance? Bring it in and see if it is fixable using soldering irons, multimeters, and other tools.

Thu Mar 30 Prophecy Fog 7:00 PM

Yukon Arts Centre A new work by awardwinning artist, Jani Lauzon, Prophecy Fog begins with a journey into the Mojave Desert in search of Giant Rock, armed with the question: can a site still be sacred if it has been desecrated? Yukontickets.com

Fri Mar 31 thru Thu Apr 6 65 7:00 PM

Yukon Theatre After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit. ly/3yCzW4C

Fri Mar 31 Yukon Film SocietySpecial General Meeting 12:00 PM Yukon Theatre The Yukon Film Society has rewritten its bylaws to be in compliance with the new Societies Act. Review the new bylaws, and pass a resolution. https://bit.ly/3LhfPR7

Fri Mar 31 Ceramics Level 1 with Lisa Moore 9:30 AM Arts Underground Learn to wedge and centre clay, throwing basic shapes and vessels, and basic dip glazing in this 7 week beginners course. Register online. https://bit.ly/3FjyAQh

Fri Mar 31 Accessibility Olympics

11:00 AM Whitehorse Main Street An Event to bring people together from different walks of life, to have a friendly competition, that will bring awareness to some of the issues Differently Abled people face in winter time. https://bit. ly/3IcW8YG

Fri Mar 31 Prophecy Fog 7:00 PM

Yukon Arts Centre A new work by awardwinning artist, Jani Lauzon, Prophecy Fog begins with a journey into the Mojave Desert in search of Giant Rock, armed with the question: can a site still be sacred if it has been desecrated? Yukontickets.com can sign in 2 guests MAX

Sat Apr 1 Comedy Night - Connor Boyle 8:00 PM The Guild Hall Packed full of knee slapping, laugh till you cry, local talent, headliner Connor Boyle, host Brenda Barns, and featured Reid Vanier. Tickets online. www. yukontickets.com

Mon Apr 3 DIW - Make And Wire A

Lamp 6:00 PM Yukonstruct Makespace

Learn basic woodworking techniques as you build a wooden lamp. Then you will learn how to wire your lamp so you have a working light! https://bit.ly/3VKkb4J

Mon Apr 3 The Quiet Girl (An Cailín

Ciúin) 8:00 PM Yukon Arts Centre

Nominated for Best International Feature Film, 2023 Academy Awards. Set in 1981, this film tells the story of a young girl, Cáit, who is sent away for the summer from her dysfunctional family to live with “her mother’s people”. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit. ly/406crwz

Mon Apr 3 All That Breaths 5:30 PM

Yukon Arts Centre Amidst the darkening backdrop of Delhi’s apocalyptic air and escalating violence, two brothers devote their lives to protect one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the Black Kite. Tickets online or at the door.

https://bit.ly/3ZR7A2I

Tue Apr 4 Aircraft Underwater Egress

Training 9:00 AM Canada Games

Centre Yukon This workshop prepares crews and passengers of small fixed wings and helicopters for in-flight emergencies over water. Register online.

https://bit.ly/3SOXFrI

Tues April 4 Yukon Residential

Landlord Association Agm 5:45 to 7:45pm at Whitehorse Public Library Meeting Room (Virtual by request)

Important CASA 2023 information & Presentation on Navigating through RTO system & collecting money owed. Landlord & Property Managers only by Membership as required- Sales/ Renewals at door. Details on YRLA Website & Facebook or contact yukonRLA@gmail.com. ALL Landlords and property managers welcome.

KIDS & FAMILIES

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays LAB

Drop-In 12:00 AM Heart Of Riverdale For grades 8+, make beats, write, eat food.

Mondays Family Drop-In 9:00 AM

Polarettes Gymnastics Gym Open to all ages – Children, youth, and teens must be accompanied by an adult.

Mondays Craft & Activities Drop in Partners for Children 10:00 AM Drop in with optional activity and craft. Guest visitors from local organisations

Mondays Whitehorse Go Club 6:00 PM

A&W

Tuesdays Craft & Activities Drop in Partners for Children 10:00 AM Drop in with optional activity and craft. Guest visitors from local organisations

Tuesdays Baby Story Time 10:30 AM

Whitehorse Public Library Rhymes, music, stories, movement, art & outside time. Ages 6 - 24 months & caregiver, Whitehorse Public Library meeting room. Free drop-in..

Tuesdays Toddler Story Time 10:30 AM Whitehorse Public Library Rhymes, music, stories, movement, art & outside time.

Ages 2 - 4 yrs. & caregiver, Whitehorse Public Library meeting room. Free drop-in.

Tuesdays Free Super Smash Bros. 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe All skill levels welcome! Please bring your own controller, and if you have a Nintendo Switch and/or Gamecube controller adapter please bring them so that we can have multiple setups.

Wednesdays Polarettes Preschool/ Family Drop In 11:00 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club enjoy the gym as a giant indoor play space. A great place to practise skills or just play and explore! Open gym is for members only.

Wednesdays Warhammer Wednesdays - Age of Sigmar 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe

Thursdays Head, Heart and Hands Drop in Partners for Children 10:00 AM

Join us for songs, stories, rhymes, share and learn practical parenting tips for lifes challenges.

Thursdays Family Drop-In 11:00 AM

Polarettes Gymnastics Club Open to all ages – Children, youth, and teens must be accompanied by an adult.

Thursdays Drop-in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game 3:30 PM Whitehorse Public Library Open to ages 11-17 to our free drop-in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game program! No experience necessary, supplies and snacks provided.

Thursdays Kill Team Thursdays 5:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe 668-5750 Units can be drawn from both the core book, elite book, Kill team annual and white dwarf.

Fridays Family Drop-In 10:00 AM Polarettes Gymnastics Club Open to all ages – Children, youth, and teens must be accompanied by an adult.

Fridays Standard Format - Magic: The Gathering 6:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe Legal sets = Ixalan, Rivals of Ixalan, Dominaria, Core Set 2019, Guilds of Ravnica, Ravnica Allegiance.Banned Cards = Rampaging Ferocidon

Saturdays Pokemon Saturdays 12:00 PM Titan Gaming Cafe Call 668-5750 for more info.

Saturdays Family Drop In 3:00 PM Polarettes Gymnastics Club enjoy the gym as a giant indoor play space. A great place to practise skills or just play and explore! Open gym is for members only.

Wed Mar 22 Free Baseball Skills Clinic 10:00 AM Canada Games Centre Yukon

A special FREE baseball skills clinic for kids aged 11-16, we will be holding a drop in meet and greet at the same time. Kiddos should have gloves and good indoor shoes. For more info email yukonlittleleague@gmail.com. https://bit.

ly/3YMJ3KF

Thu Mar 23 Intro to the Guzheng & Shadow Puppets with musician Erica Mah 1:00 PM Whitehorse Public Library A free drop-in event for all ages, families welcome. Watch a performance of traditional Chinese songs spanning centuries, and learn about the characteristics of the guzheng that make it unique then make shadow puppets to take home. Email YPLevents@yukon. ca or call 867-667-5239 to register or for more info.

Fri Mar 24 thru Sun Mar 26 Mummies 3:00 PM Yukon Theatre The fun adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. Tickets online or at the door. https://bit.ly/3JIggD6

Sun Mar 26 Drag Storytime 1:00 PM

The Guild Hall Fun, family-friendly event, 3 local drag artists will read from a selection of inclusive children’s books aimed at kids ages 3-7 years old. Light snacks will be provided! Admission is by donation, but please reserve your spot by email guildhall@northwestel.net https:// bit.ly/3vudxFn

ONLINE EVENTS

Wednesdays Live And Online Kundalini

Yoga 8:00 AM Online Kriya, mudra, and mantra awaken your body and focus the mind. We will follow one sequence until you are able to find yourself in the flow, before moving on. Unfold to your own nature: do what feels good, soak in the good vibes, and watch this beautiful practice transform you. Kundalini has a powerful effect on the endocrine system, improving lymph drainage, hormonal balance, and mood.

Wednesdays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https:// www.rootedtreemassage.com/bookonline.

Fridays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila

7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community

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.you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https:// www.rootedtreemassage.com/book-online

Mondays Yoga Wake up Flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help

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.

Tuesdays Mental Health Awareness and Support Online it is essential that people build capacity to support those with mental health concerns. https://bit. ly/3GTz6T5 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ RegistertZIpdmvrTwpHNUG1Hqq0c V87HVTRByHff5U

Mon Apr 3 Supporting the Grieving Child 3:30 PM Online A free, online workshop for teachers and caregivers. Children grieve differently than adults. Knowing what to say and how to support children during this time can be challenging. https://hospiceyukon.net/ en/2021/10/01/supporting-the-grievingchild/

Mon Apr 3 Care of Metals in Museum Collections Webinar 10:00 AM Online This webinar is open to everyone! Whether you are an artist working with metals, or a collections pro. Contact collections@kdcc.ca to register. Webinar is free and completely online.

INCLUDES: 8 cleaning products available in 1L RTU or 4L concentrate format.

These products are cost-effective and the program is very simple to implement.

All products come with MSDS and proper dilution information.

PLUS there is also a Bleach substitute called UNITAB. It’s a Food safe disinfectant and sanitizing tablet. It is safer and easier to use.

FOR

TIME TO TALK POOP, TURDS AND ‘SHITE’

Whose scat is it?

As a trapper and hunter, you learn to identify wildlife excrement rather fast, as you’d want to. Why? To determine what kind of critters are in your area; for instance, seeing marten poop and tracks, after having closed all traps for the season, means that the marten will still be here come next trapping season. Everyone needs to be a good judge when seeing big piles of bear scat (maybe go back to where you came from when it’s still steamingly fresh).

When you see “dog poop” but you know there’s no dog around for 200 miles, then it’s wolf poop. When this excrement contains hair, only then will you know that the wolf has eaten his scat, once more—maybe because there was no critter to hunt down for a while (there are other theories around about coprophagia). One theory is that your dog is trying to correct its malnourishment or pancreatic insufficiencies, or attempting to rebalance its gastrointestinal system.

When out trapping, you want to make sure your pet follows orders and knows not to go near traps (alas, one trapper told me he had his little mutt walk under-

neath snares)—that way a wolf might not notice the snare right in front of him.

One year, I was just outside the cabin, staring up at an owl perched on top of the tree, when I saw a shadow cross my vision. Turns out it was a big wolf. He wasn’t making a sound. Our dog was relaxing between two snowbanks, also more or less just outside the cabin (that’s when we put him inside). So this wolf proceeded to bound onto deep snow and ended up down at the lake. He would run, then stop where a bullet couldn’t reach him … How did he know?

Then, later on, when checking the trail, we saw that another wolf went down to the lake before coming into camp. This sure told us that these wolves were very hungry—to strut into camp while humans were present! We were pretty sure they were after our dog, as males (our dog was a male) would pee everywhere and sniff and, of course, leave tracks. Dog poop is also an incentive for a wolf to come and investigate, due to their territories and especially if hunger is prevalent. So, if you are a trapper without a dog, assemble some fresh scat, if possible, from meat-fed dogs, then freeze it and use it next winter in appropriate areas … or maybe not?

As cute as they are, you won’t want squirrels “setting up shop”

in your shop or cabin. Their droppings look like brown or black rice pellets. Squirrels eat your foamies (designed to be your mattresses) and bring in tree cones, eat them in the building and manufacture lovely nests out of them and your foamies. Therefore, the moment you notice squirrel poop (or mouse droppings), you’ll want to make your cabin squirrel-proof— especially if you’re not going to stay at the cabin, as happens with line cabins used for breaking trail or for overnight stays, here and there, while trapping.

When lynx have surplus food, they put it on a lump of grass and cover it with their droppings. There is a lynx lure that uses lynx droppings. It goes as follows:

LYNX LURE

1. Take some lynx livers and let them rot in a jar all summer.

2. Add some valerian, a small bit of powdered catnip and six drops of lynx urine.

3. Throw in about five tablespoons of powdered lynx droppings and one finely chopped beaver castor, then mix well.

It’s always good to have disposable gloves, masks and garbage bags with you when coming up to fur-bearing wildlife, be it out in the bush or along the highway. Tapeworm larvae, found in wolf or

dog poo, can’t cause sickness, but they can become living, harmful parasites within two days after a dump is dropped; therefore, the wolf might eat his poop to make sure to eliminate the larvae before they become a threat. Scientists describe this as an “evolved parasite defense strategy.” This supports the idea that some evolutionary cue is telling them to eat their number two before the larvae hatch. Even though presentday dog poo is usually parasitefree, it might just be your dog’s innate impulse left over from his ancestors’ “wolf days.” Or it could be that they learned it from their mom: nursing females lick their puppies in the perineal region, under the tail, which stimulates small secretions of urine and feces. These are immediately cleaned up by the mother. Mom won’t get sick, as puppy feces contain friendly bacteria. Hence, the mystery of your dog eating poop is solved (more or less)!

Humans are infected by inhaling or ingesting hydatid tapeworm eggs, which are usually passed on from the feces of dogs or wolves. It is advisable to have your dog’s parasites removed with medication, annually. Adult tapeworms produce eggs that are passed from the intestine of an infected carnivore. Deer, moose and caribou accidentally eat the eggs when

consuming vegetation. Infected herbivore meat (moose meat, etc.) should be well-cooked. The cysts are most prevalent in the moose’s organs.

Through direct contact or when inhaling dust that has been contaminated with the feces of diseased wildlife that carry tularemia, pseudotuberculosis or listeriosis, symptoms may start as flu-like and end with blood poisoning. One can only find out when butchering, if one of the three diseases is present, the liver and spleen will look enlarged and will be covered with white spots. Those white spots are areas of dead cells killed by bacteria. The kidneys and lymph nodes in the back of the abdominal cavity, lungs and stomach might also show signs of spotting. The protozoan parasite Giardia are cysts that are deposited in water along with the feces of aquatic mammals such as the beaver and muskrat. Infection can also go the other way: aquatic mammals may be infected by human fecal matter that finds its way into the water.

Oh yeah, and when you go to Paradise Alley on Main Street, in Whitehorse, and are buying yourself some moose droppings, let me know how they taste!

Carry on and stay safe,

n

Sonja Seeber, Yukon Trapper

Where a moose slept for the night and then left a dump

Squirrel and mouse den

Bear scat (it’s berry season)

Moose cow and calf feeding on water plants

Grizzly bear marking his territory

column with Sonja Seeber

Sonja Seeber and her husband, Paul, are Yukon trappers who live in the Pelly Mountains and have developed a lifelong passion for the trapping lifestyle in the North.

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Zumba 6:00 PM 7th Ray Studio A fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Register online

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Intro to Ice Climbing Equinox Ice Towers 6:00 PM A friendly space to try ice climbing. This session provides everything you need to try this exhilarating winter activity. https://bit. ly/3m7u8xf

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Insanity Live –Beginner 6:00 PM The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre 8 week series, drop-in or register online https://bit.ly/3SyoqAL

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Kids BJJ 4:45 & 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Children’s classes are focused on self defense Jiu Jitsu. A typical class starts with a warm up game, stretching, technique/ drilling, and ends with more fun games! For kids 4 - 12 years old.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Sass Class – Drop in 6:15 PM Velvet Antler Productions Some super sassy dance cardio and across the floor progressions, along with tantalizing floorwork and sexy choreography. https:// bit.ly/3QqUMMz

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Spirit Bear Karate

The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre 6:30 PM & 7:30 PM Traditional Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate Do. Adult Class (16 y/o and up) http:// spiritbearkaratekobudo.ca

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Badminton Adult Dropin Takhini Elementary 7:30 PM Open to everyone 18 years old and older and all skill levels

Wed Mar 22 & 29 NO-GI JIU JITSU Eight Days Martial Arts 7:30 PM This class is very similar to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, only the students typically practice in shorts and a rash guard t-shirt, rather than a Gi. There is also typically a little more wrestling and leg locks due to the rules in tournaments being less restrictive.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Zumba 6:00 PM 7th Ray Studio A fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Register online

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Total Body HIIT 12:15 PM

Habit Health and Wellness A 30 minute total bodyweight cardio class. Drop In

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Intro to No Bun Ballet –Drop In 6:00 PM Velvet Antler Productions A low impact, medium/ high energy class. We will strip it all down to the basics while you tighten your core, increase your strength and build on the fundamentals for all VA classes and performances. Register online https://bit.

ly/3CucusG

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Tahitian Dance Class

6:15 PM The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre Dance and explore the Tahitian culture with Maeva Esteva. learn the basic step and gestural of this dance, on the beautiful rhythm of the Polynesian music. https://bit.ly/3Z1vPLi

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Women’s Brazilian JIU

JITSU Eight Days Martial Arts 6:00 AM a grappling based art that utilizes takedowns, sweeps, joint locks and strangle holds to subdue your opponent or attacker. BJJ emphasizes a lot of drilling and live sparring also know as “rolling”

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Muay Thai Kickboxing

Eight Days Martial Arts 12:00 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Insanity Live – Beginner 6:00 PM The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre 8 week series, drop-in or register online https://bit.ly/3SyoqAL

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Badminton Adult Dropin Takhini Elementary 7:30 PM Open to everyone 18 years old and older and all skill levels

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Lunchtime Mat Class –Drop in 12:00 PM Velvet Antlers Productions This class will take you through a flowing series stretches intended to increase length and mobility, along with some light core conditioning. A great way to transition from work time to YOU time. https://bit.ly/3jPb9pX

Sun Mar 26 K.S.A Coal Mine – Alligator Lake Loop Group Ride 9:00 AM Coal Lake Road A group snowmobile ride up Coal Lake Road and looping around to Alligator Lake! Everyone Welcome! https://ksa.yk.ca/ coming-events

Sun Mar 26 Last Snow Sliding MeetUp of the Season! 1:00 PM Mount Sima For gender-diverse, queers and BIPOC folx. One and two plankers welcome Confirm your participation and/or register for lessons message us via messenger or email switchridecollective@gmail.com Costumes & friends are recommended!!

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Kids Muay Thai 4:45 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Muay Thai teaches combat skills that are good for self-defense along with positive holistic effects like respect, discipline, focus, and confidence. Open to ages 8 - 12.

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Intro to Ice Climbing Equinox Ice Towers 6:00 PM A friendly space to try ice climbing. This session provides everything you need to try this exhilarating winter activity. https://bit. ly/3m7u8xf

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Insanity Live –Beginner 6:00 PM The Heart of Riverdale Community Centre 8 week series, drop-in or register online https://bit.ly/3SyoqAL

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU

Eight Days Martial Arts 7:30 PM a grappling based art that utilizes takedowns, sweeps, joint locks and strangle holds to subdue your opponent or attacker. BJJ emphasizes a lot of drilling and live sparring also know as “rolling”

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 KIDS MUAY THAI

Eight Days Martial Arts 4:45 PM a dynamic and engaging martial art that can be traced to the middle of the 18th century. The sport is also referred to as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because it utilizes punching, kicking, elbowing and knee strikes. Muay Thai teaches combat skills that are good for self-defense along with positive holistic effects like respect, discipline, focus, and confidence. Open to ages 8 - 12.

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Women’s Muay Thai Kickboxing Eight Days Martial Arts 6:00 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Muay Thai

Kickboxing Eight Days Martial Arts

12:00 PM The art of 8 limbs, Muay Thai Kickboxing has proven itself to be the go to striking style of many martial arts champions.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Kids BJJ 4:45 & 6:00 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Children’s classes are focused on self defense Jiu Jitsu. A typical class starts with a warm up game, stretching, technique/ drilling, then ends with more fun games! These classes are appropriate for kids 4 - 12 years old..

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

6:00, 12:05 & 7:30 PM Eight Days Martial Arts Often referred to as the game of human chess, BJJ is a grappling based art that utilizes takedowns, sweeps, joint locks and strangle holds to subdue your opponent or attacker. BJJ emphasizes a lot of drilling and live sparring also known as “rolling”.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Salsa and Bachata –Beginner and Intermediate Classes

7:30 PM Heart of Riverdale Community Centre

A fun and person-centered class, including switching partners will be encouraged to promote communication & further learning open to couples or singles. Email salsayukon@gmail.com to register and for info

WELLNESS LISTINGS

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.

Monday, Tuesdays & Thursdays Sally and Sisters 11:30 AM Whitehorse United Church A welcoming environment where women and their children can enjoy a hot meal.

Tuesdays & Saturdays Counseling

Drop-In and Short Term Counselling Service 11:00 AM Canadian Mental Health Association, Yukon Free Drop-In counselling is offered every Tuesday 11am - 4pm and Saturday from 11am - 3pm. Call 668-6429 for more info.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) 8:00 AM 100 Lambert St. Common Room Want to improve or maintain a healthy weight? Join us! Every Wednesday morning. Call or text 867-3341725 for more details.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 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.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Dads Matter Group

5:30 PM NVD Place A group for dads, grandfathers, stepdads, uncles, foster fathers, all male caregivers are welcome. Join us to talk about parenting and meet other male caregivers. For more info contact 336-0795 or email ante.tokic@yukon.ca

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Arka Brotherhood

Circle: Porcupine Squad 6:30 PM Whitehorse For men eager to identify and move past self-limiting beliefs, stretch beyond their comfort zone and embody the best version of himself. To register email or call mjvernon@gmail.com 332-4722.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Overeaters Anonymous

Meeting 7:30 PM Overeaters Anonymous

For more information contact oayukon@ gmail.com for more information

Wed Mar 22 & 29 No Puffin Group (CM) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Beginner w/Experience

– Level 1 5:30 PM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs

Sun Salutation A+B, foundational standing poses. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@ mac.com

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Move with Life w/ Phillipe – All Levels 7:30 PM Alpine

Bakery – Upstairs A condition practice for movers of all types seeking agility, mobility, stamina and strength. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Drop in Morning

Wed Mar 22 & 29

Practice with Nakai 8:00 AM The Guild

Hall gentle and invigorating morning sessions, led by Nakai’s Artistic Director Jacob Zimmer. Drop in, admission by donation.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Hatha Yoga 12:00 PM Grace Space Find alignment mental and physical during this hour of inspiring hatha yoga,. Register online. https://bit. ly/3kFowWQ

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Inyengar Yoga 12:00 PM Church of Northern Apostles Join the Elder Active along with instructor Richard Mueller, register online. https://bit.ly/3Zl6J9H

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Mantra and Relaxation

4:15 PM White Swan Sanctuary This class is about developing awareness of your inner Light through the practices of chanting mantra and deepening relaxation

Thu Mar 23 & 30 KDCC Walking with Our Sisters Sewing Group 5:00 PM Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Vitality Yoga w/ Nancy 5:30 PM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs Kundalini yoga cleanses and detoxifies the body, neutralizes stress, rewires natural pathways. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Family & Friends Support Group 7:00 PM Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) A drop-in support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Call 668-6429 or email programs@yukon. cmha.ca for more info.

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Breathe + Stretch w/ Carrie 7:30 PM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs A slow paced class to stretch the body. PreRegister by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Thu Mar 23 & 30 AA Polar Group - O/M 7:30 PM Christ Church Cathedral Join our support group in person or for our zoom room address email aapolargroup@gmail. com

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Yoga wake up flow with Sheila 7:20 AM Online These classes are intended to help you build a consistent and comfortable yoga practice and build a community around that practice! https:// www.rootedtreemassage.com/book-online

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Morning Yoga Stretch 9:00 AM 7th Ray Studio Easing into the day with gentling warming up and stretching. All levels are welcome Register online.

Fri Mar 24 & 31 AA Whitehorse Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral Looking for support with your relationship with alcohol? Join the AA Whitehorse Group..

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Men’s Support Group for Indigenous men 18 and over CYFN

Council Of Yukon First Nations Family Preservation Services is hosting a Snaring & Trapping Workshop as part of its ongoing Support Group for Yukon First Nations and Indigenous men. Register now as space is limited!

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Slow Flow Resto – All

Levels 5:30 PM Stretch, flow + restore – a great way to end the week for a better weekend. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Yoga with Amber 7:15 PM Habit Health and Wellness book online or email habitcommunity@gmail.com for more info

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 AA Hospital Meeting 7:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 Kundalini Wake-Up with Nancy Alpine Bakery & Upstairs 9:00 AM Start the day with classic Kundalini yoga sets and meditations that stimulate the mind, activate the body and magnetize your energy. To register email wallymaltz@mac. com http://www.yogayukon.ca/yogayukon/ Schedule.html

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Vitality Yoga w/ Nancy 9:00 AM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs Kundalini yoga cleanses and detoxifies the body, neutralizes stress, rewires natural pathways. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2

Restorative Yoga

– All Levels 10:30 AM Alpine Bakery –

Upstairs Restorative poses are long holds over supportive props relaxing variations of backbends. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Self-Love Sunday

– Drop In 11:00 AM Velvet Antlers Productions This class is taught with an easy breezy feel, with a focus on poise and confidence.

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Candlelight YIN with Caitlyn MacMaster 6:45 PM Habit Health & Wellness Yin yoga is a calming practice, using long holds as an opportunity to journey inward, let thoughts settle, and build self-awareness.

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Live And Online

Kundalini Yoga 8:00 AM Online Kriya, mudra, and mantra awaken your body and focus the mind. We will follow one sequence until you are able to find yourself in the flow, before moving on

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Smart Recovery

Addictions Support 6:45 PM Sarah Steele

Building.

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Absolute Beginners

– Intro 5:30 PM Alpine Bakery - Upstairs

Introduction to yoga with Erica. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 CRUSH 2023! (or… what can a men’s circle do for me?) 7:00 PM Inclusion Yukon Meet the men involved and learn more about the two ARKA Brotherhood men’s circles changing lives in Whitehorse. http://www.arkabrotherhood.com

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Hips, Hams Core – All

Levels 7:30 PM Alpine Bakery - Upstairs Fairly vigorous classes with emphasis on breath and slower is stronger. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 AA New Beginnings Group (OM, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church

Cathedral

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Arka Brotherhood Circle: Grizzly Squad 7:00 PM Whitehorse

For men eager to identify and move past self-limiting beliefs, stretch beyond their comfort zone and embody the best version of himself. Register by email or phone bcdrisco@gmail.com/867-332-0465.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Drop in Morning Practice with Nakai 8:00 AM The Guild Hall gentle and invigorating morning sessions, led by Nakai’s Artistic Director Jacob Zimmer. Drop in, admission by donation.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Yoga with Barbara –All Levels 10:00 AM Whitehorse United Church All welcome, or register: Call/text 335-1996 or email bfraingower@gamil.com

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Sewing Circle 1:00 PM Champagne and Aishihik First Nations CAFN Sewing Circle is every Tuesday. A gathering space available to work on your projects. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Men’s Community Group 5:30 PM Mountainview Church We start with a meal and fellowship, then work through a biblical study, and take time to pray for one another, and for shared requests.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Intermediate – Level 2 5:30 PM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs Explore alignment and form in a wide range of familiar + new poses. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Yoga by Amber 7:00 PM 7th Ray Studio A yoga class that is for all levels and abilities, register online.

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 Better Backs Hips, Hams 7:30 PM Alpine Bakery – Upstairs Critical alignment therapy and therapeutic work for healing. Pre-Register by email wallymaltz@mac.com

Tue Mar 28 & Apr 4 AA UglyDuckling Group (C/M, NS) 8:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral New members always welcome, this is a non smoking group.

PROJEC TS FUND

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.

IS IT TIME FOR A NEW THRONE?

Round Vs Elongated:

Round bowls take up less space, making it popular for smaller bathrooms. Elongated bowls are about 2 inches longer, o ering adults more support and greater comfort.

Comfort height vs standard height

Standard-height toilets are typically 14-15 inches in height, making them ideal for children and users of average height

Comfort-height toilets are 16 inches in height or higher and are designed for people with disabilities but are also ideal for taller users and people with leg and back issues

Rough in measurement:

To ensure your new floor-mount toilet fits your space, determine the rough-in measurement. This is the distance between the floor drain and the wall. While the most common rough-in is 12 inches, some houses may have 10 and 14 inch rough-ins. Determine the rough-in by measuring from the wall behind the toilet to the middle of the bolts on the base.

Shop Toilets Online Now!

Single flush toilets

• Deliver a consistent ush every time

• Can be 6L or 4.8L

• Most commonly come with levers found on the side or front of the tank

Dual Flush toilets

• Choose between a light or full ush for improved water savings

• Usually a 3L/6L ush or 3L/4.8L ush

• Two buttons are typically located at the top of the tank but you can also nd ones with a side mounted push button and lever

MaP rating is the Maximum Performance rating used for toilets. It measures how many grams of solid waste can be evacuated in one ush

(GPF) which helps you compare toilets of di erent tank sizes. Even though a toilet may use plenty of water, it may ush fewer grams, or sometimes a toilet advertised as low water consumption may ush fewer grams. This measurement is what WaterSense and other certi cations use and is a great tool for consumers to use to compare units while shopping!

Ask us about incineration toilets!

The Cinderella Incineration Toilet is ideal for cottages or houses without easy access to plumbing, or in areas where a septic system isn’t an easy or feasible option.

• No Need For Water

• Eco Friendly

• Easy To Use

One or two pieces?

Two piece toilets are the most common type. With a separate connected tank and bowl, this type of toilet tends to be easier to maneuver and comes in a large range of styles.

Advantages

• More options for height, style and rough-in

• Easy to maneuver pieces for a simple installation

• Easy to ship

• Low- ush water saving options

• Generally, less expensive than one-piece toilet

One piece toilets feature a bowl and tank moulded together as a single unit.. One-piece toilets also tend to be sleek in appearance, making them well-suited to contemporary bathrooms.

Advantages

• Easy to clean since there is no seam between the bowl and tank

• Sleek style great for contemporary bathrooms

• Extremely durable and heavy-weight, due to the one solid piece

• Faster to install as no assembly is required

• Low- ush water saving options

NOTE: While one-piece toilets are more durable, if something breaks in the tank section, replacing the entire toilet is necessary. With a two-piece toilet, you can replace the tank and bowl separately.

CHELINI 4.8 L Cabot Round Toilet

AMERICAN STANDARD 4.1 L/6 L Tofino High Efficiency Dual Flush Elongated Toilet

FOREMOST 3 L/4.8 L Chaplin High Efficiency Dual Flush Elongated Toilet

YUKON’S OWN ‘GAME OF THRONES’

1. Anne Williams’ outhouse in Marsh Lake, which was built around 1988

2. A classy two-holer located at the family’s cabin at Bennett Lake

3. The outhouse was originally built in 1989 in the Mendenhall Subdivision. My neighbour and I hand dug the original hole in the spring that year. We burned and dug and burned and dug for days (nothing but clay and rock in our soil). It got an upgrade about 10 years ago and now my husband is decorating it to his liking. It is still in use!

4. This well-ventilated outhouse is the sole surviving structure in a work camp near Lewes Lake, circa 1940, maybe earlier

5. Built in 1982: it was the first building I put on my lot (outside of Whitehorse). As you can see it’s little logs, with a door built from slabs scrounged from an abandoned sawmill on the Mayo Road. The roof was actually part of an old army house from the Hillcrest site. It is covered with tin printing sheets that the Whitehorse Star used to sell once used. After 41 years, it still doesn’t leak!

6. A work-in-progress outhouse at Silver Creek, Kluane Lake

7. Located on our property at Fox Creek. I’m not sure of the age since it was there when we bought the property

8. Located at Tarfu Lake. There’s a faux stained-glass window, a screen door, a sink with a water pump (three-season), and a winter Styrofoam seat. And the white stick let’s others know you’re “in.”

9. The outhouse was built a few years ago by my son-in-law and is located off of Takhini hot springs road

Yukoners have been using outhouses for a long time. Sometimes they even race them. But whether they are made of old wood or new steel, they all have character and style that make them as much of a talking point as they do a place to park your bottom when Nature calls. Make sure to check out whatsupyukon.com to see some interior photos belonging to these amazing outhouses.

PHOTO: Heather Alton

PHOTO: Leslie Williams

PHOTO: Kathryn Brewster

PHOTO: Marc Paradis

PHOTO: Gordon Smith

PHOTO: Kelly and Sharon Choy

PHOTO: Pamela Hine

PHOTO: Tim Green

PHOTO: Jady Hurlburt and Pauly Sias

ENTER YOUR EVENTS ON-LINE |

Free. It’s Fast. It’s Easy.

Fridays Junior Shooting 7:00 Faro Recreation Centre

Saturdays Public Skate 2:00 PM Faro Recreation

Centre

Saturdays Open Gym 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Unstructured activity time where the gymnasium is available to students, families, and/or community members to play pick-up sports. Call 994-2375 or email recreation@faroyukon.ca for more info.

Saturdays Pickleball 1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Mondays Art/Entrepreneur Club 3:30 J.V Clark School

Held in the Lunchroom

Mondays Dinner and Movie Night 5:00 PM Mayo

Community Hall And Recreation Centre

Mondays Yoga 5:15 PM Mayo Community Hall And

Recreation Centre

Tuesdays & Thursdays Tabata Training 5:00 PM Mayo

Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Youth Archery 3:30 PM MMayo Community

Hall And Recreation Centre

24 & 31 Queer Yukon – Drop-In 11:00 AM Queer Yukon – Dawson City Open Community Engagement hours.

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Cards & Conversation 12:30 PM Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Dawson City Free! Drop-In! No registration necessary. Proof of double vaccination required for anyone ages 12+. For more info email recreation@cityofdawson.ca or call 993-7400 ext 299.

Fri Mar 24 & 31 Adult Rec & Roll 5:00 PM Robert Service School Gym Free indoor roller skating for ages 18+ Helmet required. Fri Mar 24 & 31 Rock climbing 6:00 PM Robert Service School All Ages, all skill levels, every Friday until March 10 – free.

Tuesdays & Thursdays Parent & Tot 10:00 AM Faro

Recreation Centre

Tuesday & Thursdays Carpet Bowling 1:00 PM Faro

Recreation Centre

Tuesdays & Thursdays Kids Club 3:30 PM Faro

Recreation Centre – Must be pre-registered, for more info call 994-2375

Tuesdays Archery 6:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Adult Floor Hockey 7:00 PM Faro

Recreation Centre

HAINES JUNCTION

Wednesdays Adult Volleyball 16+ 7:00 PM St. Elias

Tuesdays Disc Golf 7:00 PM Mayo Recreation Centre

And Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Curling 7:00 PM Mayo Recreation Centre And Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Drop-in Art Night 7:00 PM Mayo Curling

Lounge If you can bring a photo that you would like to work from that would be great. No experience necessary.

Wednesdays Pottery Class 3:30 PM J.V Clark School

Wednesdays Volleyball 7:30 PM J.V Clark School Held in gym

Thursdays Elementary Soccer 3:30 PM J.V Clark

School

Ross River, Teslin, Watson Lake.

CARCROSS

Second Sunday of Every Month St. Saviour’s

Church Services 2:00 pm St. Saviour Church 867668-3129

Mondays Light Walkers Group (OM) 5:00 PM Fire Hall meeting room 1137 Austin St.

CARMACKS

Wednesdays Toddler Time & Indoor Soccer/Learn to Play 10:00 AM Carmacks Recreation Centre

Wednesdays Teen Movie Night 7:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Thursdays Carmacks Open Gym 5:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Thursdays Family Movie Night 7:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Fridays CTJS Floor Hockey 5:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre Kids & Youth Floor Hockey (5-7PM) and Adult Floor Hockey (7-9PM)

Department has a variety of Driver, Fairway, and Putter Discs to use. https://bit.ly/3QIuxAs

Saturdays Drop In Pickleball 3:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre

Saturdays Laser Tag Battles 6:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre Ages 6-11 6PM, Ages 12-18 7:30 PM

Sundays Toddler Time 1:00 PM Carmacks Recreation

Centre

Mondays Drop-in Basketball 5:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre Ages 5-12 (5-7PM) and Ages 13 to adult (7-9PM)

Tuesdays Drop-in Basketball & Soccer 5:00 PM

Carmacks Recreation Centre Ages 5-12 (5-7PM) and Ages 13 to adult (7-9PM)

Tuesdays Laser Tag Battles 6:00 PM Carmacks

Recreation Centre Ages 6-11 6PM, Ages 12-18 7:30 PM

DAWSON CITY

Mondays Handbuilding Pottery Drop-in 6:30-9pm

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.

Tue - Thur St Paul’s Anglican Church Evening Prayer 4:00 PM St Paul’s Anglican Church Join us in person at the church, or online (Facebook Live) Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4pm Yukon Time for Evening Prayer.

Tue - Thu Saint Mary’s Weekday Mass 5:00 PM Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Join Father Emanuel for weekday mass Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Queer Yukon – Drop-In 11:00 AM Queer Yukon – Dawson City Wednesday drop-in offers Direct Aid and Harm Reduction services.

Wed Mar 22 & 29 Preschooler Gymnastics with Terrie Turai 4:00 PM Robert Service School Introduce your 3 and 4-year-olds to tumbling and rolling!

Thu Mar 23 & 30 55+ Free Fit 2:00 PM The Fitness

Centre All you need is comfy exercise clothes and indoor only shoes! There will be a trainer on site to help with any fitness questions!

Thu Mar 23 & 30 Youth Muay Thai Classes 5:00 PM Robert Service School Register online or contact the Rec Office at: 993-7400 ext 299, or recreation@ cityofdawson.ca

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 Under 5 Gym Drop-In 10:00 AM Robert Service School Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 Drop-In Walking Group 12:00 PM Robert Service School Open to all ages, children under 10 to be accompanied by an adult, Parents with strollers are welcome. Set distance goals to achieve or just come for exercise and socialization.

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 All Ages Amateur Parkour 12:00 PM Robert Service School Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.

Sat Mar 25 Downhill Skiing Clinics 2:00 PM Moose Mountain Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info.

Sat Mar 25 & Apr 1 AA North Star Group Dawson City 7:00 PM Royal Canadian Legion In person or Videoconference option available Call 867-993-5095 or 867-993-3734 for more information

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Under 5 Gym Drop-In 10:00 AM Robert Service School

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Free Public Skate 3:00 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre Free public skate every Sunday until the end of the season.

Sun Mar 26 & Apr 2 Yin Yoga 8:00 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre For a deep stretch and relaxation before bedtime Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 55+ Stretch & Strong Fitness Class 2:00 PM Minto Park A 6-week strength class for Dawsonites Call 993-7400 ext 299

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Badminton & Pickleball 6:00 PM Robert Service School Open to all ages (children under 10 must be supervised).

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Adult Drop-In Basketball 7:30 PM Robert Service School Gym – Free Call 993-7400 ext 299 for more info

Mon Mar 27 & Apr 3 Young Peoples Talking Circle 7:00 PM Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 Romp & Run 10:30 AM YOOP Hall Email Jen.Suttis@cdcyukon.ca for more info.

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 Preschool Learn to Skate 10:45 AM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre Half Hour program for stay at home preschoolers ages 3+. Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 Hatha Yoga 5:30 PM Art & Margaret Fry Rec Centre Improve your posture flexibility and strength. Email recreation@cityofdawson.ca

Tues Mar 28 & Apr 4 English Conversation Club 7:00 PM YukonU A weekly English Conversation Club for immigrants in Dawson City.

FARO

Wednesdays & Friday’s Seniors Games & Walks 1:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre Walk or play cards, engage in healthy living.

Wednesdays and Fridays Seniors Yoga 2:00 PM Faro Recreation Centre Wednesdays Public Skate 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Wednesdays and Fridays Basketball (Open Court) 4:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre Shoot some hoops, practice your skills on the open court. Call 994-2375 or email recreation@faroyukon.ca for more info.

Thursdays & Fridays Youth Group 7:00 PM Faro

Recreation Centre

Fridays Volleyball 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Fridays Kids Floor Hockey 6+ 7:30 PM Faro

Recreation Centre

Fridays Public Skate 3:30 PM Faro Recreation Centre

Community School Meet in the school gym

Wednesdays 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]

Wednesdays Boxing Classes Bill Brewster Arena 5:30 PM Reach your fitness goals by joining this boxing program! Participants must complete out a waiver provided. Call 634-2012 or email dgraham@cafn.ca for more info. https://bit.ly/3mGYALy

Thursdays Step It Up with Shelby 5:00 PM Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Fridays HJL Story Time 10:00AM Haines Junction Library Registration is required but the program is still run as a drop in. There is no commitment to come each week. https://bit.ly/3KmBdBC.l

Saturdays Step It Up with Shelby 7:00 PM Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Mondays Public Skate Bill Brewster Arena 9:00 AM & 2:00 PM

Mondays Step It Up with Shelby 7:00 PM Bill Brewster Arena Cardio Aerobic Step Class is a classic cardiovascular workout, using a 4 or 6 inch step platform.

Mondays Smart Recovery Meetings 8:00 PM Munku Hall Everyone welcome, call 334-5688 for more info.

Tuesdays Girls Club 6:00 PM St. Elias School Held in the art room, open to Girls and identifying as Girls from Grade 8 to 12.

Fri Mar 31 2023 Yukon Hardwater Racing 8:00 AM Pine Lake Campground 3rd Annual Race Event! Fun for the whole family, Kids, Trapper Class, Womens, and skimmer classes. Awards, dinner and dance afterwards!

MARSH LAKE

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays Jackalope Open for drinks and snacks 5:00 PM Marsh Lake Community

Centre

Thursdays North of 60 Seniors Coffee and Chat 2:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre

Thursdays Shuffleboard Marsh Lake Community Centre 6:00 PM

Saturdays Knitting Circle 11:00 AM Marsh Lake Community Centre Everyone wielding a hook, needle or pin is welcome.

Saturdays Pickleball Outside Marsh Lake Community Centre 12:30 PM

Saturdays Family Playtime and Open Gym 3:00 PM Marsh Lake Community Centre

MAYO

Mon thru Fri Morning Video Workout 6:15 AM Mayo

Recreation Centre

Mon, Wed & Fri Teen Workout 12:00 PM J.V Clark School

Weekdays Lunchtime Lengths 12:00 PM Mayo

Recreation Centre

Weekdays Mayo Mornings Parent and Tot Time 10:00 AM Mayo Recreation Centre

Mondays Video Yoga Classes 5:15 PM Mayo Curling

Arena Yoga Videos are used for leading each class. Bring your own Yoga mat or borrow ours. Drop-ins are welcome. For more info call 996-2043 8979962043

Thursdays Teen/Adult Floor Hockey 7:30 PM J.V Clark School

Sundays St. Mary’s Church Service 11:00 AM St Mary’s Church (867)667-7746

Sundays Communion Service St. Mary with St. Mark Anglican Church 11:00 AM where village members come together to worship and offer service to their community and the world

Mount Lorne

Thursdays Parents and Tots Playtime Group 1:00 PM

Mount Lorne Community Centre

Thursdays Community Drop-In 1:30 PM Mount Lorne Community Centre Play games, craft, chat walk, snacks, coffee & tea provided.

Fridays Drop-In Adult Hockey Lorne Mountain Community Centre 7:00 PM For members or nonmembers (for a small fee)

Mondays Drop-In Yoga Lorne Mountain Community Centre 7:00 PM By donation all levels welcome

Sun Mar 26 Youth-Run Seniors Cafe 2:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre Enjoy some treats by local youth who attended the Youth Kitchen Skills workshops.

Mon Mar 27 Yoga – Lower Back & Abs 7:00 PM Lorne Mountain Community Centre Join Jess and Lyndi for some stretching.

Mon Apr 3 Yoga – Lower Hips 7:00 PM Mount Lorne Mountain Community Centre Join Jess and Lyndi for some stretching.

OLD CROW

Sundays St. Luke’s Church Service 11:00 AM St. Luke’s Church 867-993-5381

Wednesdays Parent and Tots 4:00 PM Old Crow Community Center Call 966-3015 for more info.

Wednesdays Adult Card Game Night 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Wednesdays Stroller Walks 10:00 AM Kih Tsal

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

Tuesdays Adult Sewing 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

Tuesdays Youth Gym 6:00 PM John Tizya Centre & Old Crow Community Centre

SKAGWAY

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.

Wednesdays 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 School 4:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

Sundays Sunday Worship 10:00 AM First Presbyterian Church of Skagway

TAGISH

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

Wednesdays Yukon Learn at Tagish Library 1:00 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.

Wednesdays Intro to Yoga 4:15 PM Tagish Community Centre

Wednesdays Beginner and Intermediate Yoga 5:45 PM Tagish Community Centre

Wednesdays Coffee And Chat 2:00 PM Tagish Community Centre

Wednesdays Tagish Country Line Dancing 5:30 PM Tagish Community Centre For members and non members, beginners at 5:30 PM and Intermediate at 6:30 PM Email recreation@tagishyukon.org

Thursdays 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

Thursdays Carpet Bowling 10:00 AM Tagish Community Centre

Thursdays Tagish Local Advisory Council Meeting Tagish Community Centre 7:00 PM .

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

Mondays Tagish Butt Kickers Tagish Community Centre 11:00 AM Everyone Welcome, Biking, Hiking, Skiing Snowshoeing, Kicksledding, Ping Pong, Pickleball, Dog Walking & Morer

TESLIN

Recreation Centre

Saturdays Volleyball 7:00 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

SundaysAdult Futsol 7:00 PM Teslin School

Mondays The Teslin Tigers Cross Country Ski Club 3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre Must sign up at rex plex limited spots available.

Mondays Badminton 6:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Art & S.T.E.M Afternoon 3:15 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Youth Futsol Ages 8-14 5:30 PM Teslin School Tuesdays 3D Archery 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

Tuesdays Group Fitness 5:30 PM Teslin Recreation Centre

WATSON LAKE

Daily Public Skate Watson Lake Recreation Centre 8:30-5:30 PM, Wednesdays 7:30 – 9:30 PM and Saturday 10:00 – 6:00 PM

Sundays St. John’s Church Service 10:00 AM St. John’s Church Service (867) 536-2932

Wednesdays Drop-In Ninja Tumbling 5:30 PM Watson Lake Secondary School All ages welcome. Adults are welcome too, come to do some stretching or try some handstands etc.

Fridays Friday Night Lanes 7:00 PM Call 335-7979 to register

Saturdays Baptiste Power Yoga 7:00 PM Fees apply. A muscle-shaping and mind-sculpting workout, work at your own level and ability, set to electronic music.

Sundays Sunday Nite Volleyball 11:00 AM Watson Lake Secondary School

Mondays Learn to Skate Watson Lake Recreation Centre Sign up at the Rec Centre

Tuesdays Pickleball & Badminton Watson Lake Secondary School 7:00 PM

COMMUNITY  Victoria Gold’s Commitment to the Yukon First Nations Hockey Association

Victoria Gold is excited to support the 43rd Annual Kilrich Building Centres Yukon Native Hockey Tournament, presented by Victoria Gold Corp, taking place at the Canada Games Centre and Takhini Arena in Whitehorse from Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, March 26.

Victoria Gold has provided the Yukon First Nations Hockey Association, which organizes and hosts this popular tournament, with a multi-year funding commitment to help ensure the sustainability and success of this important event, which is a significant economic contributor to the territory. The tournament brings together hundreds of Indigenous hockey players from across the North and around the country and this year features a record 57 teams and the first-ever Women’s Division over the event’s four days of play.

“We’re so pleased this year’s Yukon Native Hockey Tournament is back in-person and appreciate all the comradery and skill development that comes with this event” says Victoria Gold President & CEO John McConnell. “We are very proud to be a part of how significantly this tournament contributes to the social and economic wellbeing of Yukoners.”

The Yukon First Nations Hockey Association was created in 1973 to promote Indigenous hockey for all ages and provide the opportunity for Yukon First Nations athletes to compete with players from other Canadian provinces and territories in the sport. The Yukon Native Hockey Tournament is the largest Indigenous hockey tournament North of 60.

“On behalf of Victoria Gold, I extend our sincere congratulations to all the organizers and volunteers who make the tournament possible and wish good luck to all the teams,” added McConnell.

YUKONERS AT PLAY

Victoria Gold is excited to support the 43rd Annual Kilrich Building Centres Yukon Native Hockey Tournament, presented by Victoria Gold Corp, taking place in Whitehorse from Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, March 26.

John McConnell, Victoria Gold President & CEO at the Yukon First Nations Hockey Association Kilrich Building Centres